| The RBCC Two day Tour consisted of 4 stages this year, a
time trial, two criteriums and a 55km road race (all handicapped). For
the first time ever we held the road race on the 5 kilometre circuit around
Penrith Lakes at the International Regatta Centre. It was an
absolutely glorious day with not a breath of wind, nor a cloud in the sky.
The Regatta Centre staff were fantastic. So let's get straight to some
images of the day. |
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| Here is the crew who competed this year standing under a
glorious blue sky with the magnificent Penrith Lake in the background with
not a ripple on it, not to mention the magnificent smooth bitumen surface.
Leave your spares kits at home for this one. |
Group 3 in action (third group off in handicap road race).
Dave Lippman on the inside, Big Bazza Mourad on the outside with Warwick
McAlpine behind Baz and Andrew Swan one further back |
Group 3 a little further into the tight left hander at the end of the
straight. Had to show this one else Scotty Rice might have got upset
with me. There's Scott in white top behind Dave Lippman. |
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| Here's our "Chopping Block" team working hard to get back
group 3. Andrew Kirk takes the boys through a series of lefts and
rights on this nice tight and technical part of the circuit. Dieter
Winkler is in second wheel, with Andy Matthews third and Neil Morris on the
back. |
Bit further into the corner and Dieter Winkler comes into
view. Will someone please hide those yellow arm warmers from Andrew
Kirk and while you are at it, steal Slappers too ! |
The "Scratchies" and big Calvin Smith takes the boys through some more
tight lefts and rights before they go over the bridge. Crispin is
starting to struggle a little at this stage and just starting to lose
contact with Calvin's wheel. Further back is Anthony Taylor enjoying the nice "left hander". |
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| Boys on the climb. Yes it has a climb and it's bigger
than the pimple at Heffron. Rick Jordan takes the boys up the climb whilst
Graham Ferguson, eventual winner of the road race sits happily at the back
with second place getter Matty Hynes. |
Here's the combined group of Chopping block and group 3 who
came together late in the race and set about reeling in the groups in front.
When this big group got working they started taking time back off the
scratchies who then never looked like catching. |
The combined group takes the right hander at the end of the straight
with about 3 to go.(15 kilometres) |
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| The pace of the scratchies was a little tuff for Crispin and
with 3 to go the boys were down to 3 riders. They worked hard but were
unable to pull back any time on the large group in front of them. Sean
O'Neill leads them through with Calvin on his wheel and Anthony Taylor in
third wheel. It was unfortunate for the scratchies that 2 of their
group, Steve Foster and James Dalton did not contest the final round.
Without them and with the loss of Crispin, the boys were really behind the
eight ball. |
Sean O'Neill was a big help though. Sean only
contested the road race which was a club championship in its own right.
The boys told me that Sean did HUGE turns. We are talking kilometre
turns not 10's of metres. Above Sean looks over to Helen and Joanne
almost begging for them to ring the bell. |
Talking about the girls. Here's Joanne and Helen all rugged up.
Joanne wearing the very stylish boots that she picked up in Crookwell where
we stayed for the State TTT championships at Gunning. If you want a
magnificent pair of boots like these go to the Crookwell shoe store and see
Bert and Jo and tell them that Joanne sent you. |
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| So where was Freddy while all this was happening? Well
he was just layed back in his Rolls Royce fold-up chair enjoying the
beautiful sunshine and "The SERENITY" |
Every now and then Fred's peaceful slumber was broken by the
gentle "whoosh" as our cyclists went past. Where were you Higgo?
You would have enjoyed the serenity. (That's an in-joke, Suggest
that those of you who don't understand, hire the Australian movie, 'The
Castle') |
Graham Ferguson charges in to take first place in Stage 4 of the Two Day
Tour, the 55km handicap road race. Graham was able to put some
distance between himself and second place getter Matt Hynes in the final
couple of kilometres. Matt is pictured coming in just behind Graham.
In fact Freddy performed another very important role in the two day tour.
He was the other end of our start/finish line. |
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| Note: I hate to put a
dampener on this report, as all who did the road race adored it. The day,
the weather and the venue all nothing less than gorgeous. The question
begs to be asked however, Why, with this glorious venue to ourselves, did
only 24 riders out of approx 240 members turn up?? Yes our elite team
were at Tattersals and about half doz competed at Tamworth (who incidentally
changed the date of their race after we had booked Penrith)but this only
amounted to some 10 riders away at the opens, what happened to the other 200
plus members ?????????????
This track cost the club a considerable sum. We had to submit
comprehensive paperwork including a full risk assessment analysis before we
were granted consent to use the venue. Similarly, with our coming Hill Climb
we have had to prepare traffic management documentation for Police and RTA
to gain consent. We don't mind putting in what is a significant amount
of work to give the members great venues other than running around Heffron
Park every week. You get to ride, at the International Regatta Centre,
The International Dragway and the magnificent Eastern Creek road race
circuit. Do you want to race at these venues? If you don't then
let us know because I can tell you that outlay in terms of time, money and
effort is not justified by the attendance of just 24 riders.
I have opened a discussion topic on our forum to discuss this matter.
I have relaxed security so that you may register as a member by simply
supplying a bona-fide email address. To enter the forum,
click here. |
