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Asheville Training Series
May 20, 2003
A break in the rain
By Chris Kamm
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The Asheville Training Series was cancelled two weeks ago due to weather, and this edition was in doubt for the same reason. However, Tuesday evening dried out just long enough to get in all the events. Five minutes after the conclusion of the last race the rain began anew and we considered ourselves lucky.
The Liberty Bicycles Kids Races started things off with Andrew Sizemore, Mitchell Karriker, Corey Sizemore, Joshua and Nicholas Coit, and James Hoffman contesting the under ten one lapper. Mitchell and Joshua headed the field and went on to push Paul Lawrence in the under fourteen three lapper. Age prevailed as Paul eked out the win in an exciting finish.
The Women’s Race, sponsored by Cane Creek Cycling Components and Asheville Family Health Center, showcased the power of emerging star Nancy Daigler, known elsewhere as The Dagger. She took all but one of the sprint laps in a commanding performance. Patricia Pinner and Robin Pace took the lower honors. They were tied on points but Pinner notched the remaining sprint lap to break the tie.
In the Mission St, Joseph’s Health System B Race, Wes Dickson got even with prior winner David Forkner. He scored throughout the race this time and took the finale to cement the win. Phil Wikoff and Forkner finished tied just behind Dickson, with the nod going to Wikoff on sprint lap wins.
Hearns Cycling and Fitness backs the Fixed Gear events, and these produced some of the best and funniest racing of the night. It is worth noting the field was augmented by some riders visiting from Columbia, South Carolina where the CarolinaVelo Club is converting another former NASCAR Bull Ring into a velodrome. In the opening Scratch Race, The Fletcher Arrow overpowered the field with a closing kilometer effort that revealed his focus for the upcoming regional championships.
For the middle event we borrowed an idea from the Herne Hill Track in London and divided the field for a running of the Hounds and Hares. The Hares proved elusive in the chase and were never caught, led home by DeLux himself. Afterwards, I announced that the Hares might have gotten a bit too much of a head start, but no protests were filed. It was also observed that the look of a team pursuit line in full flight is unmistakable. The Hares had that look, the Hounds, not.
The Points Race returned the hierarchy to its normal order. With the evening up for grabs, it looked like rush hour coming out of turn four on the double points finale. The Two Towers led the field as Frodo just beat The Arrow to the line and wrested the win from last season’s champion. In their wake, The Dagger got by Special K in another photo finish. Despite this drama, Delux held on to third overall due to his big win in the handicap.
Drs. Jim McMillan and Steve Miller sponsor and ride with the 40+ guys, while Hearns Cycling and Fitness backs the A Race. Both events had similar results thanks to The Redhead and Slim Shady. Those two took control of the Masters Points Race and kept a lid on the field while dividing the spoils. The Metronome gave his all to change the outcome, but the top two were unstoppable, and he collected third place for his efforts.
The A Race followed a similar script save that Stephen Austin Walker accounted for the show spot. As a highlight, there was a moment in the middle of the race when The Redhead and Slim Shady took a tea break. Asheville Club president Andy Poozer absconded with a sprint lap and the crowd cheered loudly. The Redhead is clearly running on all eight cylinders. Even at this early stage of the season, the perch of two-time defending champion Joe Coddington looks to be in jeopardy.
Dramatis Personae
Brian Pierce - The Arrow
Blair Hobgood - Frodo
Nancy Daigler - The Dagger
Mike Koerschner Special K
Don Lux - DeLux
Randy Parker - The Redhead
Scott Duncan - Slim Shady
Richard Dunn - The Metronome
Thanks again to The Asheville Parks and Recreation Department, and all our sponsors:
Hearns Cycling and Fitness
Asheville Bicycle Racing Club
Liberty Bicycles
Asheville Family Health Center
Dr. Stephen Miller, DDS
Cane Creek Cycling Components
Mission St. Joseph’s Health System
Photos
Images by George and Kelly Riedesel
- All eyes were on the young guns as the eight and under took the start for the first youth race of the season.
- Bike stand courtesy of the Thinking Fellers Union, and not a gear lever in sight. This is the way it is intended!
- Dusk arrives, the lights go up, and the 60 lap A race takes to the tarmac.
- The Asheville Parks and Recreation Department and The Asheville Velodrome Group took a Saturday morning to play with area youth.
Results
6 Lap Scratch 1 Brian Pierce 2 Blair Hobgood 3 Nancy Daigler 4 Michael Koerschner 5 Mark Mullinax Hares and Hounds 1 Don Lux 2 Doug Graul 3 George Riedesel 4 Jim McMillan 5 Scott Galloway 15 Lap Points Race 1 Blair Hobgood 2 Brian Pierce 3 Mark Mullinax 4 Michael Koerschner 5 Nancy Daigler Omnium Points YTD 1 Blair Hobgood 14 pts 2 Mike Koerschner 9 3 Brian Pierce 6 4 Don Lux 5 5 Andy Applegate 4 6 Nancy Daigler 4 7 Mark Mullinax 3 8 Doug Gaul 3 9 Mike Despeaux 2 10 Bill McBee 2 11 George Riedesel 2 12 Young Young 2 13 Janet Trubey 2 14 Jim McMillan 2 15 Mike Smith 2 16 Rostand Smith 2 17 Scott Langford 2 18 Paul Battenfeld 1 19 Scott Galloway 1 20 Matt Martin 1
