First Night of Track racing at Holland Speedway

First night of track racing 2009 and a pretty good turn out, 22 riders showed. Similar to the derby we had our favorites here, Ryan Nye (2:1), Mike Bridges (4:1), Kenny Thomas (6:1), Andy Cummings (10:1) and Jim Cowle (5:2), all ready to fly around the oval. And just like the derby a few outside challengers that the bookie liked, Joe Cooke and Scott Farrell and long shot Frank Mesi.

The first race after a great warm, (funny how pace lines are suppose to go at 23/24 miles to warm up the legs and next thing, your doing 30+). Back to the first race a standard 15 lap scratch race, no primes just first to the line. Long shot Frank Mesi tried to get away early on lap 12 held the lead for a couple of laps and realized that he was in need of a TO, but no time outs in horse racing so, waited for the chasers to catch up, which they did and proceeded to pass him and keep going. WOW they did not even say hello or goodbye before leaving Frank who continued his slide back to the pack. The 2 escapee, Ryan and Jim continued to ride away from the pack for the rest of the race.

At the end Jim beat the favorite at the line for the derby win, Ryan in second. The pack exploded when Mike, Kenny and Andy, with Joe Cooke in toll escaped before the bell lap. Joe came off the train, with Kenny, Andy and Mike getting show places, with Frank finding enough energy to catch young Joe just before the finish for 6th.

Nice way to start the Track season, I think everyone was a little tired after that output.

We held a second race, that night, and you could hear a few moans, when we shouted out point race with 4 sprints in the 20 Lap feature. This was going to be a real test for the legs after the first race. And you could tell what was on everyone’s mind as we rolled around the track before the first sprint at 20 mph. Sprint lap is rung and the pace goes from 0-30 in a hurry. Everyone is fighting for a wheel into the wind, around the corner and down the stretch we go, Ryan take the top spot with Jim, Ken, and Joe just out of the places. Similar pace going into the second sprint, this time Jim, Mike and Scott Farrell take points and again Joe is just out of the points. Well, Ryan saw this as a perfect time to leave the comforts of the pack and bang up the road he goes, with everyone waving good bye as he gets a ½ lap lead in no time. Frank starts a half hearted attempt to catch him and looks back, WOW we have a gap too, since the only one to go with him is Dave Kina. Still 2 more sprints with double points at the end, lets see how this works out. Ryan is time trialing away thinking about lapping the pack, Frank and Dave are working together waiting for the explosion from the pack as the bell rings for the next sprint. No answer from the pack, except from Lance Johnson and Ben Badagliacca. The points go to Ryan, Frank and Dave. Four more laps and the finish. Ryan has almost caught the pack and Frank, thinks that will get them going and urges Dave to work hard for the next few laps, they do and the pack is about a straight away behind. Ryan wins easily; Frank takes the sprint from Dave. The pack gets a little exited know the race is near over and Joe takes the sprint from Mike and Andy. But again no points for Joe, looks like a re-occurring issue for Joe, but I am sure by the next week Joe will not be content to finishing with no points.

Speaking of that the group did some flying lap and I must say for this time of year after 2 hard races the times were outstanding. Points for the race as follows

Points race totals and placing

1. Ryan 13 points
2. Frank 6 points
3. Jim Cowle 5 points
4. Dave Kina 3 points
5. Mike Bridges 2 points
6. Ken Thomas 1 pt
7. Scott Farrell 1pt
8. Joe Cooke
9. Andy Cummings


Flying Lap times


Mike Bridges 31.73
Joe Cooke 32.81 beat his best time from last year by a second.
Ryan Nye 33.36
Frank Mesi 33.54
Jim Cowle 33.85
Ken Thomas 33.88
Scott Farrell 35.34
Justin ?? 36.38
Chris ?? 37.35
Dave Kina 37.8
Jamie High 37.93
Keith ?? 39.36
Stephen Forrestel 39.74
Peter Ziolo 42.71

Thanks to Larry Reade for running the races and Joe’s mom for hold the lap cards. As we are leaving its starting to rain, you could not ask for more, great way to start the new year.

INFO

Catch the Fever
TRACK CHALLENGE TRAINING SERIES
Holland Speedway – Holland, New York
Starting Wed May 13th 2009 AT 6:00 P.M

Open Training Session/ registration 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
May - June racing start at 6:00 pm $3.00 Entry,
July - Aug. racing start at 6:30 pm $5.00 Entry

FEATURE RACES: Changes every week
60/30 LAP SCRATCH RACE (A/B), 30 LAP or UNKNOWN DISTANCE, POINT RACE, Flying Lap, 1K TT, Pursuits & More

Calendar
May 13, 20, 27; June 3, 10 are open practice – $3 insurance fee
June 17, 24; July 8, 15, 22, 29; Aug 5, 12 - 1st-5th based on point accrued during night of racing

Special MID SEASON TRACK/CRIT Night, SAT June 20- Racing during the afternoon, with FINAL in front of the Saturday night Holland Speedway race night fans. (More to come)




HOSTED by
FRENCH MEADOW BAKERY- FORTISTAR RACING TEAM & BUFFALO BICYCLING CLUB

TRACK RACING 2009

TRACK IS BACK, STARTING WED MAY 13 at the Holland Speedway. More info to come

NYS TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS- KISSENA NYC

Well I made the trip to the big apple for the NY Track Championship with Todd Scheske of Preferred Care fame. Sunny, hot in the city with some wind which make the racing very interesting. Saw some close battles in some age group and some completed dominance in others. With the help I got from the all the track races this year, I was able to win the 50+ age group for the overall NYS TRACK CHAMPION. The events consisted of a 500m TT, a points race, a scratch race, 200m TT for seeding in match sprints and a tempo race. Points were given to the top 5 places and highest total wins the omnium or overall champion, a difficult assignment because you need to ride all events and score points.

I placed in all events, 3 Gold’s: Points, Scratch and Tempo, with a Silver in the sprints and Bronze in 500m and a finally a Gold for the Omnium.

Todd did his best Mike Phelps, and won every race.

Wish I was going to National now but that will have to wait till next year.

Thanks everyone for making the races fast and hard this year, next year I like to take more people down to race and meet some really nice people from the Kissena Track Club.

FINAL NIGHT TRACK RESULTS Aug 19

Tonight was the last Track Series at Holland Speedway, I want to thank Larry Reade, for volunteering his time to allow me to race and being the Chief Referee, Timer, Lap Counter and Field Judge. Now that is amazing when you think about it. So when you see LR Thank him. I also want to thank, Joe Cooke’s Mom and his Sister, who spent many evening helping Larry keep track of points and times. With out these volunteer we could not have the fun we had over the summer. I also would like to thank my sponsor French Meadow Bakery and Fortistar for helping with the cost of the track and the Bike Shop for donating the preem prizes.

So the last night may have been a little chilly based on some riders wearing knee warmer and arm warmers. Guess the blood got a little thinner during the summer; cross season is almost here better start putting on the winter fat.

The first race of the night was a simple 40 lap scratch race, based on the race I saw a lot of improvement in tactics from some riders. Usually I see the same faces making the race but others are now testing the waters and seeing that risks can give awards. First prime of the night had Scott Farrell (Ingram Micro) winning the sprint from Steve Toorongian (Ingram Micro) and Dave Kina (Wachovia Securities). A second prime 4 lap after had Joe Cooke (Bike Shop) winning from Mike Bridges (Shickluna) and Mike Luther (Handlebars). About half way thru, a third prime had Joe Cooke winning again, with Paul Mesi ( Bike Shop/French Meadow Bakery) and his Old Man just behind. Attacks were often token efforts, single riders testing the water but nothing stuck. So another prime saw a regular winner in Mike Bridges. Steve T was not far behind and Joe Cooke still in the hunt for another item. Right after that Mike Luther (Handlebars), Mike Loranty (Wachovia Securities) fresh from his big win in Rochester and another rider decided that sprinting may not be in their best interest and up the road they went. This time, rain did not come but Joe Cooke and another rider pored on the speed to try to catch the break. The pack looking content to watch these riders ride away. A couple laps later, and the three riders almost a half a lap up on the pack, Mike Bridges did his best Superman impersonation and tried to make contact with the 5 escapee. Down the back stretch and thru the finish he powered up to the two some still trying to catch the three escapees. A quick glance back saw a smiling Frank Mesi (French Meadow Bakery) sitting on his wheel. That was enough for superman and the Old man turned a few pedals and made contact, 2 down and three to go. Now that Mike brought him up this far, it seemed that old disc had enough energy stored so Frank keep on going to bring back the threesome. Everyone takes a rest and now the group and what is left of the pack is back together again. Now that fun racing. 30+ miles per hour during stretches. Again we are back to single riders trying that crafty art of riding away from a tired pack but Mike Loranty will have none of that and latches on to every move. Except for the winning one, off goes Mike Luther with no more than 4 laps to go and everyone watches wishing it was him not Mike going up the road. Sometimes, you just kick your self for letting that happen, but happen it does. Mike’s up the road and the group is racing for second. The bell lap and everyone is fighting for position. Just as the big wind-up is coming, Jason Skalski (Handlebars), better known as “Flash” take his patent flyer from the back and everyone is now fighting for third. Frank finds a hole and rockets around the pack for third, with Joe Cooke and Scott Farrell filling the top 5 places. Handlebars, shows the group how it is done with the top 2 places tonight.

Paul Mesi asked about having a team pursuit tonight guess the Olympic fever is everywhere, so we planned on having sponsor teams race each other, but not enough rider from every team showed, something to work on next year. So we had 4 captions pick up and had a “bragging right’s” race of 4 laps.

The Teams were,

Team Flash, Jason Mike Loranty, John Moore
Team Get Away, Mike Luther, Joe Cooke, Erb and Stuart
Team Superman, Mike B, Paul M, Scott F and Chris
Team Old but not Slow, Frank, Steve T, Adam T and Dave “the hammer” Kina

The first race was Team Get Away and Superman, with Mike shouting commands his team held off the group of “get away” artist for the win and the chance to ride again.

Next up Team Flash vs the Old but not slow group of Frank’s in a nail biter Frank’s team pulled out a win by 3 tenth of a second.

The final pitted Mike Bridges Superman vs the team of Frank Mesi “Old but not Slow”.
This is were the hammer comes from David started his group off near 30 mph, for the first lap, keeping the group close to Superman and his cartoon hero friends, The race was close for 2 laps but the Old man and his younger teammates finished off Superman with a Kryptonite blast in the final lap.

WOW bragging right’s till next year for the Old Man. Yahoo!!!

The final race of the year turnout to be a chamois (Chammy) burner, 4 laps with a fixed gear of 39/17. With those gears you would think a junior would spin away from the field, and Joe Cooke did try for 3 laps but no the Flash showed everyone that he is not only a big gear pusher and sprinted the back stretch for a easy win. Mike Loranty second and Mike Bridges 3rd. Goes to show you “a sprinter is a sprinter in any gear. LOL


See you next year.


Thanks for a fun summer at the track everyone.

LAST TRACK MEET OF THE YEAR

Catch the fever
TRACK CHALLENGE TRAINING SERIES
Holland Speedway – Holland NY
Tuesday, August 19th 2008 AT 6:30 P.M $5.00 Entry Fee

Open Training Session/ registration 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

FEATURE RACES: Scratch race 40 laps with primes. Plus a Team Pursuit Italian style (teams must have 5 riders with same jersey to race) Special trophy will be given to winning team and the making for a annual event. Team winners will have their name placed on the trophy each year and for the rest of the group a Italian Pursuit to finish the night. Flying Laps for all racers to end the evening, let’s see if you can improve on your best time.

Form your team before the event and register by emailing me at fpmesijr@aol.com or pick up at the race.

Weekly prizes - $100 total purse per night Merchandising primes from The Bike Shop of East Aurora.

1st-5th - based on finish on the scratch race


HOSTED by
FRENCH MEADOW BAKERY- FORTISTAR RACING TEAM

Upcoming Events

**** Last Track Event of the Year******

Tuesday, August 19th - 6:00pm registration, 6:30pm racing begins
- Special Trophy to be awarded, along with other prizes

$5.00 entry fee each week (covers insurance and prizes)


stay tuned for posting of events for this tuesdays track

*canceled if track is wet, email BBCTrack@gmail.com for track conditions

Track Racing results Aug 12 2008

No rain today, yahoo, track racing full speed ahead and start our engines we did. Got there a little late but looked like a good crowd for the 2nd last track series this year. Temperature a little cooler, fall is coming and the winds out of the southeast made for fast finishes. 19 racers decided that the Rochester crit was not fast enough on Saturday so they came to test their legs once more on the track at Holland.

The first race of the night was a simple 20 lap scratch race to warm up the legs, the pace was tentative to start and people were eyeing each other waiting for some one to make the move. And wait we did till the bell lap, Joe Halter (Handlebars) took the lead down the back straight into the wind, looking behind to see what was coming. What he saw was a pack of edgy riders looking for a wheel to get them out of the wind. Joe turned on the jets thru the corner. Wachovia Securities rider new kit and all Jim Cowle bring the group up to Joe, Mike Bridges (Shickluna) makes a jump to pass with Ken Thomas (Wachovia Securities) fighting with Frank Mesi (French Meadow Bakery/Fortistar) for the wheel. At the finish Joe held off the train, Mike Bridges finishing 2nd , Kenny getting around Jim for 3rd and Frank filling the final point spot.

Our next event was a hold over from last week, the strong man event the Individual Pursuit, the riders choosing to do 6 lap which is a little short of the 3000m standard distance for senior or the shorter but not easier 4 lapper. Joe Halter again proved to be the leader of the pack with a respectable time of 3:52 and some change. The next fastest had old man Mesi with a 4:01, Ken Thomas 4:06, Jim Cowle 4:08, Mike Bridges 4:10, for the 6 lap distance, a complete listing will be up shortly.

Our final event a 15 lap point race, this time the pace was blistering from the start, Jason Skalski (Handlebars) rode into town with guns blazing and everyone was holding a wheel and nothing more. The first sprint was fast and furious, Bridges, Thomas and Cowle with Steve Toorongian (Ingram Micro) taking points. Everyone looking to rest but Jason again says no and takes up the pace, bring Frank with him. This time there will be no rest for the group and the carnage is great. Riders are falling off the pace and out the back and we have not heard the second bell sprint yet.

Frank is off the front, 3 riders catch up Ken Thomas and Mike Bridges and Steve Toorongian. The bell lap rings and Ken is leading out the group. Frank gets around Ken for the sprint win and points are taken by Ken, Mike and Steve. Frank is getting the idea that the pursuits may have taken some sting out of the legs of some riders and takes off in search of greener pastures. He holds this for another sprint win, Joe Halter immerges from the group to get 2nd followed by Greg Jenson (the Bike Shop) who showed everyone his sprint, like he did by winning the cat 5 race in Rochester Saturday (congrats)and Ken Thomas.

Frank looks behind him sees the deer in the head light look from the pack and continues his pursuit to the finish. The pack is now hoping that he dies or someone sacrifices himself for the good of others.

Just when he thinks he may get to the line by himself for the easy win, up from the ashes comes a blistering Joe Cooke and Mike Bridges, damn he think now there is going to be a sprint to the finish. But Joe is not waiting for that to happen and takes off, just as the bell for the final lap rings. Ten meters head and holding off Frank with Bridges in toll. Down the back straight they go, Joe still in the lead and winding up for a fast finish. But no Mike Bridges will have none of that and click, click ups the gear and leaves a tired Frank in his wake and catches the fast junior just before the line. Ties Frank in points and wins because of the final sprint. Welcome to the Holland speedway fun and games. Jason takes the field sprint with Dave Bisnius (Wachovia Securities) picking up the last point places, our juniors are becoming more aggressive.

For the night, Joe Halter wins again, Mike Bridges out paces Frank Mesi for 2nd and followed by Ken Thomas and Jim Cowle.

Next week is the last of this years Tuesdays night Track Training series, I like to thank the Bike shop who has donated a bunch of prime prizes this year, and French Meadow bakery/Fortistar who gave the BBC the money to rent the track and help with cash prizes, I hope for a great turnout next week to close out a return to the track, here at Holland.

Thanks everyone who came out to race this year.

Introduction

The Holland Speedway is, without a doubt, one of the least exciting cycling tracks in North America. Its relatively long length (450m+or-)and has virtual no banking (10deg) but makes riding far more thrilling than a four corner crit because of the speed. This track training series is help riders become familiar with track racing and get faster. Hope to see you at our next event.

TRACK RESULTS for AUG 5

The night did not look so good but 20 hearty racers showed and got to race a 40 lap scratch race, adding 4 prime sprints made for a fast night at the track.The 40 laps, was timed in 27:13, just over 27 mile per hour avg. Now you can see why everyone who comes is getting a great workout and making themselves faster to boot.

The race started a little slow but things heated up for the first prime. Scott Farrell (Ingram Micro) took first followed by Chris Tirone (French Meadow Bakery) and Steve Toorongian (Ingram Micro)). Just when everyone was about to relax, another bell two primes sprints in a row, Larry Reade knows how to get the most out of the riders. Next thru was Mike Bridges (Shickluna) , Frank Mesi (French Meadow Bakery) and Jim Cowle ( AGEdwards). The races had some minor attacks till 24 laps to go and another prime. This time Mike Luther (Handlebars) took the sprint with Mike Loranty (AGEdwards) and Adam Trost (the Bike Shop) close behind. The fire works started to fly after that, 18 laps to go Frank took his first prime of the night followed by Cowle and Bridges. Two lap later Mike Luther and Paul Mesi (guns showing) rolled off the front and stayed away till 3 to go. A couple of riders tried to bridge up to the two escapes, but no one could match the pace setting. Finally Mike Bridges made a huge jump from the pack, Frank Mesi decide the race was going up the road and tried to bridge up, from there it was a death march to the finish. Bridge blew his wad and sat up with one go just as Frank made contact. The bell ringing meant it was no time to relax, Frank passed his son in turn 2 and needed to get up to Mike Luther who saw what was coming and fled the company of Paul a half of lap before. Down the back straight the race was on. Knowing the he was on empty Frank tried to roll to the finish but got caught by the hard charge Jim Cowle just before the line.

The Finish had Mike Luther winning in grand style, Jim Cowle 2^nd , Frank Mesi 3^rd, Chris Tirone 4^th and Frank Grillo (Job One) rounding out the top 5.

Pursuit, were canceled due another storm passing thru. So I will try to get another round of ITT next week. Junior/Master 4 laps, Senior Men 6 Laps.

We will hold off on the great escape from Holland Speedway for another time. LOL hope you got back home before mid night, Mike B.