Press Release 10.14.2005

GO FAST TURN LEFT - Race info and results from Sept.25 race.

by Tom Houff

The venue for Virginia’s only track bike racing has simple rules posted on the gates:

”No Tank Tops.  No Open Toe Shoes. No Shorts. You Will Not Be Admitted With Firearms.” and, USCF officials grin at this one, “There is a $25 fine for crossing the track during a race – NO EXCUSES.”

Fortunately, many of those rules don’t apply during Richmond Ruckus’s “Go Fast – Turn Left” track bike series.  The second of the series will be held Sunday, Oct. 16.

Last September 25. Richmond’s Southside Speedway’s banked 1/3 mile oval asphalt track was the closest many of the fixed gear riders have gotten to a velodrome.  

For NASCAR fans, Southside Speedway is Americana since it’s one of the original stock car racing tracks. Above the grandstands are the legendary names of stock car racers.

Matt Mega wins at the Go Fast, Turn Left cycling series held at Richmond’s legendary Southside Speedway.

For bike racers, Southside Speedway is what the cycling future could be for Richmond. It’s a good place for fixed gear track bikes get to play. For road bikes, in America, where criteriums are so popular, it’s difficult to sit down and watch the race unfold.

“As a spectator, I was overwhelmed by the support given by the people in attendance,” said 3Sports Mark Connelly.  He didn’t race. Like many spectators, Connelly said he wasn’t excited about racing in an out of racing season.

“But it was the bomb!” Connelly said. “I have already called and told numerous people about it and told them how they missed a great time.  Heck, even my wife liked it!”

Matt Mega of Team Snow Valley, presented by Seal-On proved to be the big winner of the day, taking the Points Race and Scratch Race in the first series of races.

“Racing at the speedway was a lot of fun. It showcased the best part of racing, the finish, in an easy to view setting,” Mega said. “I think people could really appreciate the racing because the riders were never out of sight, so the tactics and action were easy to follow.”

When the multi-gear road bikes rolled out, Tim Mullins, of Richmond Ciclismo, took advantage of some early strategies to string out the field.  He found himself in a solo at the front.

“Oh boy, lot’s of pain then,” Mullins said. “I saw Bill (Malone of Team Cobblestone) and Mason (Haymes of SP Imports) coming up – fast.

Mullins jumped on.

“Bill made some hard accelerations and it seemed Mason was happy to have it play out in the sprint,” Mullins said. “I knew from my warm-up and the other races that the sprint started on the back stretch. I found myself in front rounding the first turn and I gave it everything on the back stretch, first into the last turn.  I was able to pick a good line and I had so much speed I was fighting to keep it upright. I could not pedal for a while, which let me rest, then I drove it to the finish.”

The next in the series will be held October 16.  Like this race, there will be track bikes and road bikes events. For race information, go to www.sprintclubrva.org/gofast.html

POINTS RACE
Name	Team
Matthew Mega	Snow Valley
Jeff Buckles	Sprint Club
Joe Notarnicola	Richmond Ciclismo
Andrew Wolak	3Sports
Tony Hall	Richmond Ciclismo
BEGINNER SCRATCH
Name	Team
Ian Dunwiddie
Brad Hall
Robert Fisher	Coffee Nostra
Latane Coghill
Jim Temple	Richmond Ruckus
4/5 ROAD
Name	Team
Mark Junkerman	3sports
Henry Cullen
Daniel Rickey
Steve Spears	Shore Velocity
Jim McCaskill	Richmond Ciclismo
2/3/4 ROAD
Name	Team
Tim Mullins	Richmond Ciclismo
Mason Haymes	CSK/CVCC
Bill Malone	Cobblestone
John Gaudio	Richmond Ciclismo
John Schindler	Richmond Ciclismo
POINT A LAP
Name	Team
Jeff Buckles	Sprint Club
Andrew Wolak	3Sports
Tony Hall	Richmond Ciclismo
Daniel Rickey
4/5 SCRATCH
Name	Team
Matthew Mega	Snow Valley
Jeff Buckles	Sprint Club
Andrew Wolak	3Sports
Tony Hall	Richmond Ciclismo
Stuart Louder	Richmond Ruckus