RAW Track Week 10Well, it was back in the ‘Pussy Bus’ tonight, as Dan the bike man squeezed us into the Pushy Galore shuttle for what may be the last time this season. Dan is off for a replacement of the ACL, reports are the donor organ is now enroute from Canberra in an esky on the back of a fixie...
Scratch Races....8 Coasties fronted the starter this week, with two in each Division from Div 4 to Div 1.
Simon and I rolled out in the first of the Div 4 heats, with me taking the lead and keeping the pace up. I have found I feel much safer with the pace higher, especially after 4 came down in front of me last week in the very first corner because they were moving too slowly, with the pace high, you are far safer. Coming into the final laps, I moved back a little, wanting to try a few things out, of which none worked. :'( Simon went through as the boys turned the pace on from the bell, and took second place as he warmed up for the very special wheel race to follow.
Div 3 had Dan and Kraussie rolling around in the middle of the bunch, Dan earning yet another nick name. Having missed last week due to a business trip in New Zealand, read ‘junket’, Dan returned to set the track alight. Shoes on, number on, “hang on, I’ll just select one from the ATTA numbers I have been keeping safe for Paul.... Oh.. Here we go.. My personal number”! Now if I only had a jersey...
So as Dan rummaged through his bag, derision flying in from around him, he finally managed to pull out a woollen jersey... Fresh from New Zealand, Dan obviously had some memories he wanted to hold close.
Div 2 and the teaming of Millsy and Smithy went out to cause havoc amongst the protagonists. Always fun to watch, because none of us ever think to ask who is going to take the win, Millsy led Smithy out to watch him blow away the field.
Div 1 saw Gadget and Tosser rolling it around to warm up the legs...
RAW Track Fat Man’s RaceThis week’s feature event was the Fat Man’s race, and yes, we had an entrant. To qualify for this event, your handicap was worked out by how many kilos you were heavier than Crafty. Simon weighed in with enough to gain himself 23mts. As I waited at the start point to hold Simon, I watched as Chris Brown went by me telling me he had around 120-140mts, I can’t remember exactly, I know to see a Div 1 rider heading around to the back straight was going to make life a little tough for Simon. I gave Simon a ‘little’ push, and yelled for him to get a wheel. Each time Simon came past me, I yelled encouragement, knowing he had no chance.
Big Matty from Randwick-Botany, starting from limit, took the cash, no one able to catch him, and pocketed $120+. Well done Matty, and another show of the way Paul keeps these nights so interesting for everyone.
1 Lap Sprint....A standing start for once around the track, with the winner picking up 4 points and so on. I made my way up to sit in the first heat, and took the win establishing the fastest time of the night, 23:12, surely it would stand for the rest of the night!
Huggsy put himself at the bottom of the track for the start, until he slipped and was sent packing to the outside, and the long way round. Settling himself, he rode around the outside of the rest and took the win in 23:29, 2 for 2 for the Coasties.
I reminded the Sheep Shagger and Kraussie we were yet to lose a sprint as they left for their races. Kraussie started from the top, and his holder was still holding as the other 3 made it to the first bend “pedal Kraussie... pedal!” Kraussie came in fourth telling us the selection of the 100” gear may have been poor.
Dan flew around for second, in a time of 21:78.
Div 2 and the riders who always score us points were up. Millsy as usual rode around the outside (I really wish I could do this, it looks cool) and took the win, setting a time of 21:48. Smithy claimed second in his heat.
Div 1 and the riders were seeded. Glen went out and sat with two world champions in his heat, at least he can say he was beaten home by world champions!
Mick was drawn in with some quick guys, and rolled out with a smaller gear than he usually rides. Flying from the start, Mick brought it home in second place.
Mystery Race…A return to the mystery race! This is a killer, and I really hope we get to see it at Gosford for our Summer racing. Simon and I rolled up together, thinking it was going to be an all-in, numbers though had Paul splitting Div 4 into two heats. I went to the front and kept the pace up from the start, rolling off after a few laps to recover. Our race was only 5 plus ‘the card’. The mystery of this race is the riders don’t know when the bell will ring as a card is drawn determining the length of the race, and you only find out when the bell rings, unless of course you don’t get the bell on the ‘ninth’ lap, then you know you have a 10 drawn. We went through on the fifth, and I attacked, staying out there for 6-7 laps before tiring and coming back to the field, which still included Huggs. The laps rolled by and as we went through on lap 13, there was no bell. Of course this meant there really wasn’t the need for a bell as we were going to get it next time around. The pace had slowed at this stage, so as we hit the back straight coming into the bell lap, I went! I held them off all the way to the line, just not ‘past’ the line. The photo finish was called for, and David Lane of
http://www.actionsnaps.com.au/ was called upon to decide the winner.. Doh! Not me... :'( Huggsy came home in 4th, so we picked up some points.
Div 3 had Kraussie and Dan out there.... Somewhere...
Millsy and Smithy went out for their Div 2 heats, and Millsy was again in the winners seat. Coming around to start lap 14, Millsy riding smart and strong as ever, moved to the front as the bell was ringing, and he was away, with no one getting close to his wheel. Smithy got lucky, and pulled a long one, 19 laps, coming in around 6th.
Div 1 saw Gadget telling us he was ready for half a race, and he didn’t lie.
Mick was again in with Team Road Runner, who are dominating Div 1 and taking a little away from the racing for the spectators. Mick got in there and mixed it up, then watched the end of the race with us from the infield.
Combines…Simon went out for with the Div 4-5 Combine and rolled around without appearing to put in too much effort for a fourth place.
Dan decided to have a go in the Div 3-4 Combine and easily rode around the outside to take his final win of the season.
Kraussie took a while to warm up, and showed his true form, taking 4th in the non-Div 1 race.
Div 1 saw four Coasties out there, soon to be 3 as Gadget drove the bunch across a break. Then there were 2 as Millsy popped, quickly followed by Tosser. Smithy was our last remaining hope, and he popped too. :'( A great effort by the guys up there.
The trip home was full of sledging, and makes the night just a little more fun. Track is all about racing with your mates, ripping on each other, and cheering each other on. I think we may just be the noisiest club there, aye Kraussie!
Good luck Dan and hurry back, you are truly the highlight of our nights at DGV, always giving us someone to laugh at... I mean with!
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