Da Weasel

[onegeardoug]

I came out 4 hours before my race so I could watch the 3/4 35+ and the 3/4 race. (Sorry 4's...I couldn't make it that early!) My race wasn't that exciting, so I'm going to write Chris Pare's race report instead:

Chris lined up in the front row of the 3/4 35+, with only 3 people to worry about: Paul "Bag-O-Sand" Curley, Dan "Everybodyluvsme" Baker and Marvin Wang. Dan and Marvin are Chris's nemeses and cross-crash foes, so this should be a Battle Royale. Paul belongs in the Elite race, so nobody has any idea why he's actually in this one, other than that he likes to win. I like to win, too, but...

Anyway, Chris had a great start and before long, the 4 contenders were off the front and 5th+ wasn't a factor. Marvin was clinging to life and was clearly the weakest of the 4. Curley found himself on the front, which is a really unfamiliar position for him. Chris was stuck to Curley's wheel like a white on rice, with Dan right behind. Curley basically has no weaknesses, though, (other than knowing what category he should race) so he was fast through the turns and fast on the straights. Chris was very impressive, turning lap after lap and staying within one bike-length of Curley, at worst. Dan, on the other hand, was getting gapped in the turns and was sprinting back on in the straight-aways.

Around lap 3, Curley got tired of pulling, so he swung off and stopped pedalling. Wisely, nobody pulled through. They were going so slow that Marvin was able to rejoin the group and I was forced to yell "Are you guys gonna pedal, or what?" Chris looked over and smiled. The next lap, Curley did the same thing, so Dan pulled through and led all the way down the backstraight. Curley passed him as they entered the turns, though, and Chris was 3rd. I got really worried that Curley would gap Dan and leave Chris in a huge hole, so I yelled "Pass him NOW!". He did, and got right back on Curley's wheel. Good advice. Dan was gapped almost immediately afterwards.

With 1-1/2 to go, Curley decided to drill it. Marvin was already off and Dan was dangling, but he couldn't dig any deeper and got dropped and was no longer a factor. Chris was still stuck to Curley like glue, though. Very impressive. With a half lap to go, I decided to run over to the finish line so I could see the climax unfold. Chris had decided to make has move with 3 turns and 2 short straights to go. Curley had been taking a wide line all day, so Chris planned to take the inside. Curley went wide, Chris went inside, but then Curley swung back inside so fast and so hard that you could hear the door slam all the way over at Foxboro stadium. Chris actually had to stop pedaling momentarily to keep from running right into him. He recovered and stayed close, but a few seconds later they were on the short finish straight and he had no chance to overtake Curley for the win.

As I told him after the race: There's no shame in getting second to Paul Curley, but it would have been really sweet to have beat him. Chris rode the perfect race, and was there for the finish...but Paul is one crafty S.O.B. Nice job, Chris!

[onegeardoug]

My race, on the other hand, was considerably less interesting. I had only to finish in the top 20 to solidify my victory in the Zank SS Series, so I didn't feel a lot of pressure. The front row was a who's who of the SS series: Me, Curtis Boivin, Cort Cramer, Matt Myette, Mike Rowell, Shawn Mottram. I had a decent start, but found myself in 7th or 8th down the back straight. I drilled it and moved up a few spots before the turns. I was riding a really good race, sitting in 6th place and feeling okay, but it's been a long season and I haven't been riding much. I'm finishing the second full lap and thinking to myself, "am I going to see 3 or 4 laps to go." The answer: 5. Crap. This could be a problem.

I settle in and try to focus on who's in front instead of who's behind. Curtis has a mechanical and is just getting it back together when I pass him. He goes by me shortly thereafter, but I jump on his wheel...looking for the free tow upstream. He eventually gaps me and gets on Shawn's wheel just in time for Shawn to slip out in a turn, with Curtis riding right into him into a pile. I'm 10 feet behind, so can easily avoid that mess. Curtis is back up and chasing, but Shawn is going backwards. He went into the pit a few minutes later, and came out on his MTB bike. Game over.

Matt was clearly on top of his game, and he rode away from everyone else. CJ Congrove put in a great race for second. Mike Rowell raced the Elite race immediately before the SS race, and paid the price in the later laps. He was far & away in front of me in the early laps, but I actually entertained the idea of catching him in the last lap. Curtis had caught and passed him for 3rd, but I had no chance. Instead, I was looking over my shoulder for the last lap & a half. Two blue Zank jerseys had been chasing me and were gaining as I faded. Scott Rosenthal had been towing Cort Cramer around the course all day, but with 1/2 lap to go, Rosie dropped him and had his sights set on me. I put in just enough effort to stay out front, but not enough to go too deep and make some stupid mistake. It paid off and I finished 5th, 8 seconds in front of Rosie.

For the series, I got a W, a second, two 3rds, a 5th and a 7th. That equals a W for the overall. I'm definitely not the fastest guy in the series, just the fastest guy who did all of the races.

[jraguin]

Great job Doug! You didn't make the rules, you just played by them and won! Big win in the overall series!

Nice racing Chris! Sounded like a fantastic performance.

[pace21]

Ha! You're the best, man! You pretty much nailed it too... I replayed the race over in my head a bunch, and in the final analysis I think my strategy (wheelsucking) and the timing of my attack (a few corners left in a spot where I knew he would take the outside line) were my best chance of winning against Curly. Turns out he would rather crash than lose the World Championsh.... oops, I mean a Cat 3/4 35+ race at a non-Verge event in December.

Also left out of the race report ---- that I *could* have returned the favor, HARD, in the last corner of the race (I've been on both ends of the "block pass" many times in Moto...). I chose not to, I guess I'm getting soft in my old age....

...but Paul is one crafty S.O.B.

That's one way to put it

[swawersik]

Congrats to both Doug and Chris for great results.

I wish I'd been able to see more of Chris's race than occasional glimpses of him at the front in the early laps. I did get a view of Chris hopping the barriers the first time through, even though it was only in my peripheral vision. And I think its a good sign that you're NOT willing to punch a nun just to win a race.

[Smudger]

Chris, That's almost pro getting someone to write your race report. Nice result though putting Dan in his place. How can PC race a Cat 3/4 race!!!!

Doug, Outstanding win. You laid this out as goal at the start of the season and you did it. What do you get for the series? Custom SS frame???

[onegeardoug]

I got an immense level of satisfaction...and what you see in the pic:
http://crankthezank.blogspot.com/2011/12/beer-me.html

[JeremyC]

Congrats on a great season guys!