OBRA: OBRA Chat: RE: Thank you from Burnaby

RE: Thank you from Burnaby

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Jamie Mikami

2001-02-26

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Well, the Burnaby track races was a lot of fun, and even though I love =

our track, and hate the idea of ever crashing on a wood track, I think =

their track is a little bit more fun. The banking is just a touch =

steeper (47.5 to our 42/43%), the front straight is not really possible =

to walk up (my guess is about 20% plus) and it is only 200 meters so you =

get around really fast. Lap times under 15 seconds are common and under =

12 possible.=20

Although there were two crashes in the warmups I did not see any during =

the races. The surface itself seemed bad/different at close inspection, =

just a bunch of wood planks up on end and put together on the bottom and =

plywood at the top, and lots of very small seams. But after a few =

warmup tracks I am pretty sure that top speed is just a touch over our =

track, and it seems much smoother, but that could just be me. I still =

think a lot of movement is not recommended, but overall, a very safe =

track and very fun.

As for the racing the Oregon contingent put on a good show, well in the =

B race anyways. We had Marty Cahill, Dean Tracy, Darien Curl and =

Norrene Valente race about as smart as possible to take the top three =

spots in the Omnium. After Dean, Marty and Darien crushed in the =

Olympic Sprint, Dean took a lap and Marty ended up with the most points =

in the Points Race. But the real story was how they did it with Norrene =

and Darien attacking to draw the Canadians to pull them in only to have =

Dean and Marty ready for the counter. It worked so well, that the other =

teams tried to organize together before the next race. The Oregon A's =

did well in the Olympic sprint as well taking the top 2 spots with =

Chauncey, Woody Cox and myself on the winning team and the "A team" of =

David Godfrey, Morgan Montgomery and Brian Abers in second. Although =

there was some controversy as the "A team" actually beat us to the line, =

but I guess they must have started early, although they claim with only =

one watch per team .. Blah blah, we won :)

The A's points race was a bit of a challenge for guys like me with a =

very little miles in so far. I tried to stay at the front as was able =

to cover one attack before falling out of the group and then quickly =

dropping out after the second sprint only 20 laps into the race. David =

of course made it to the finish with the group and scored some points, =

but did not make the top three as that went to Murray Solem, and I think =

Stephanie Hannos and another rider. None of the A's were able to get =

organized to take a lap, even though all you really needed was a ten =

second gap. Morgan, Brian and Chauncey all rode great for a bunch of =

sprinters and stayed in much longer than me, I think Morgan even =

finished.=20

That left the scratch race and Keirin. In the scratch race the B's once =

again showed why they are cat 3s and 4s as they organized and took it to =

the Candians again. Once again attack after attack went off the front =

causing the Canadians to chase it down, and Marty even managed one prime =

and missed another by less than a wheel. The end was left to a pack =

sprint and although Darien started the lead out at just after 5 to go =

and Norrene took over just before 3 to go, with Marty and Dean were one =

rider apart and the rider that was between them snuck through for the =

win. Still Marty and Dean had a lock on the Omnium by placing 2nd and =

3rd. The As was another survial race for me, well suicide might be a =

better term as I took off after one lap and stayed away for about 4 or 5 =

before being reeled in. After that I went off the back and stayed in =

for 30 laps this time before again being the first rider to drop out. =

David once again stayed strong to the finish and Morgan, Chauncey and =

Brian all killed each other trying to stay in the whole race.

So with the Madison officially cancelled, the keirin was up and I was =

pretty much the freshest rider in the field. First heat up was Chauncey =

and David with David taking the win and getting into the finals, =

Chauncey ended up out with no reps. Next heat saw Brian Abers edge out =

mutli national champion Jennie Reed, while I slipped in on Murray's =

wheel (actually my own wheel that I lent him) for second to make the =

finals as well. In the B qualifiers Darien was left to fend for herself =

and missed out on the finals while Marty rode based on luck going under =

a non-teammate who opened the door in the final corner while taking Dean =

high. Marty and Dean lucked out and both made it in with Norrene again =

sacrificing herself to lead the boys out for the early laps.

By the way did I mention that Stephanie was our motor. They have had =

problems with the bike inside, so Stephanie did a great job of setting =

the pace, although she never really figured out the pull of with two to =

go thing that was announced every time and pulled off with three to go =

each time. Must be that Canadian conversion factor. So the Finals were =

set and the As decided if we try to create a strategy we will just screw =

it up, so we say lets just go out there and race. Well we are pretty =

good at that screw it up thing as with half of the field, we ended up 4, =

5 and 6. The race started with me asking Jennie if she wanted the =

motor, I was one and she was two. She said eh, whatever. I took this =

to mean no, and since you need to be going 30 to stay on the track, =

Stephanie was going by quick (remember Canada =3D kph). So I jump hard =

and start to drop down, when zoom there goes Jennie. Damn she is quick. =

I figure no big deal I will just ride her wheel till the motor pulls =

off. Hmmm, there goes Murray by me and then another, so I figure fine I =

will go to the back and attack. So I drop back and go up high as we =

come up to three to go. I jump down hard thinking I will pull Dave =

around and lead him out to the finish. Well Jennie looks over at me as =

I start to come down, and I never made it in front of her .. Hmmm. =

Maybe she sped up, maybe I slowed down not sure. But in the process I =

see Murray on her wheel and figure if I can't lead Dave out at least I =

can box Murray in. We touch a little but I basically stay right on =

Jennie's hip for 300 meters until I see a rider come around with 300 =

meters to go. Great that must be Dave . ah . Brian, nope its that other =

Canadian guy. Damn, as I watch him I move up track a little and open =

the door for Murray, damn. Now riders are passing me on both sides and =

no teammates to be seen. Finally Dave and Brian come around me, but not =

in time as we end as I mentioned 4, 5 and 6 with Murray getting the win =

and I think Jennie was third, leading the whole way.

The Juniors must have done better in their final as Dean and Marty ended =

up first and second again, I was too tired to even watch except the very =

end. It is going to be tough trying to tell them what to do in the =

future if they keep winning and I keep well . With that done, Dean =

takes the omnium, Marty gets second and Darien squeaks into third, with =

her Olympic sprint points for a clean sweep. Brian ended up 5th in the =

Omnium, I think because he beat Dave in the keirin, and I am pretty sure =

that Murray won. All in all we all got prizes and all had a blast. I =

hope that we get a few more Oregon riders to make the quick trip up, not =

much further than heading to Medford.

So thanks back at you Stephanie, and everyone else back in Canada for =

putting on a great race.

Jamie Mikami

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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>Well,=20

the Burnaby track races was a lot of fun, and even though I love our =

track, and=20

hate the idea of ever crashing on a wood track, I think their track is a =

little=20

bit more fun. The banking is just a touch steeper (47.5 to our =

42/43%),=20

the front straight is not really possible to walk up (my guess is about =

20%=20

plus) and it is only 200 meters so you get around really fast. Lap =

times=20

under 15 seconds are common and under 12 possible.<SPAN=20

style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Unicode MS'"><?xml:namespace prefix =3D o =

ns =3D=20

"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>=20

Although=20

there were two crashes in the warmups I did not see any during the =

races. =20

The surface itself seemed bad/different at close inspection, just a =

bunch of=20

wood planks up on end and put together on the bottom and plywood at the =

top, and=20

lots of very small seams. But after a few warmup tracks I am =

pretty sure=20

that top speed is just a touch over our track, and it seems much =

smoother, but=20

that could just be me. I still think a lot of movement is not =

recommended,=20

but overall, a very safe track and very fun.

As for the=20

racing the Oregon contingent put on a good show, well in the B race=20

anyways. We had Marty Cahill, Dean Tracy, Darien Curl and Norrene =

Valente=20

race about as smart as possible to take the top three spots in the =

Omnium. =20

After Dean, Marty and Darien crushed in the Olympic Sprint, Dean took a =

lap and=20

Marty ended up with the most points in the Points Race. But the =

real story=20

was how they did it with Norrene and Darien attacking to draw the =

Canadians to=20

pull them in only to have Dean and Marty ready for the counter. It =

worked=20

so well, that the other teams tried to organize together before the next =

race. The Oregon A's did well in the Olympic sprint as well taking =

the top=20

2 spots with Chauncey, Woody Cox and myself on the winning team and the =

“A team”=20

of David Godfrey, Morgan Montgomery and Brian Abers in second. =

Although=20

there was some controversy as the “A team” actually beat us =

to the line, but I=20

guess they must have started early, although they claim with only one =

watch per=20

team …. Blah blah, we won :)<o:p></o:p>

The A’s=20

points race was a bit of a challenge for guys like me with a very little =

miles=20

in so far. I tried to =

stay at the=20

front as was able to cover one attack before falling out of the group =

and then=20

quickly dropping out after the second sprint only 20 laps into the =

race.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> David of course made it to the =

finish=20

with the group and scored some points, but did not make the top three as =

that=20

went to Murray Solem, and I think Stephanie Hannos and another =

rider.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> None of the A's were able to get =

organized to=20

take a lap, even though all you really needed was a ten second =

gap. =20

Morgan, Brian and Chauncey all rode great for a bunch of sprinters and =

stayed in=20

much longer than me, I think Morgan even finished. =

<o:p></o:p>

That left=20

the scratch race and Keirin. =

In the=20

scratch race the B’s once again showed why they are cat 3s and 4s =

as they=20

organized and took it to the Candians again.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> Once again attack after attack =

went off=20

the front causing the Canadians to chase it down, and Marty even managed =

one=20

prime and missed another by less than a wheel.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> The end was left to a pack =

sprint and=20

although Darien started the lead out at just after 5 to go and Norrene =

took over=20

just before 3 to go, with Marty and Dean were one rider apart and the =

rider that=20

was between them snuck through for the win.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> Still Marty and Dean had a =

lock on the=20

Omnium by placing 2nd and 3rd. =

The=20

As was another survial race for me, well suicide might be a better term =

as I=20

took off after one lap and stayed away for about 4 or 5 before being =

reeled=20

in. After that I went off =

the back=20

and stayed in for 30 laps this time before again being the first rider =

to drop=20

out. David once again =

stayed strong=20

to the finish and Morgan, Chauncey and Brian all killed each other =

trying to=20

stay in the whole race.<o:p></o:p>

So with the=20

Madison officially cancelled, the keirin was up and I was pretty much =

the=20

freshest rider in the field. =

First=20

heat up was Chauncey and David with David taking the win and getting =

into the=20

finals, Chauncey ended up out with no reps.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> Next heat saw Brian Abers edge =

out mutli=20

national champion Jennie Reed, while I slipped in on Murray’s =

wheel (actually my=20

own wheel that I lent him) for second to make the finals as well.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> In the B qualifiers Darien was =

left to=20

fend for herself and missed out on the finals while Marty rode based on =

luck=20

going under a non-teammate who opened the door in the final corner while =

taking=20

Dean high. Marty and Dean =

lucked=20

out and both made it in with Norrene again sacrificing herself to lead =

the boys=20

out for the early laps.<o:p></o:p>

By the way=20

did I mention that Stephanie was our motor.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> They have had problems with =

the bike=20

inside, so Stephanie did a great job of setting the pace, although she =

never=20

really figured out the pull of with two to go thing that was announced =

every=20

time and pulled off with three to go each time.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> Must be that Canadian =

conversion=20

factor. So the Finals =

were set and=20

the As decided if we try to create a strategy we will just screw it up, =

so we=20

say lets just go out there and race. =20

Well we are pretty good at that screw it up thing as with half of =

the=20

field, we ended up 4, 5 and 6. =

The=20

race started with me asking Jennie if she wanted the motor, I was one =

and she=20

was two. She said eh,=20

whatever. I took this to =

mean no,=20

and since you need to be going 30 to stay on the track, Stephanie was =

going by=20

quick (remember Canada =3D kph). =

So I=20

jump hard and start to drop down, when zoom there goes Jennie.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> Damn she is quick.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> I figure no big deal I will =

just ride=20

her wheel till the motor pulls off. =20

Hmmm, there goes Murray by me and then another, so I figure fine =

I will=20

go to the back and attack. =

So I=20

drop back and go up high as we come up to three to go.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> I jump down hard thinking I =

will pull=20

Dave around and lead him out to the finish.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> Well Jennie looks over at me =

as I start=20

to come down, and I never made it in front of her …. Hmmm.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> Maybe she sped up, maybe I =

slowed down=20

not sure. But in the =

process I see=20

Murray on her wheel and figure if I can’t lead Dave out at least I =

can box=20

Murray in. We touch a =

little but I=20

basically stay right on Jennie’s hip for 300 meters until I see a =

rider come=20

around with 300 meters to go. =

Great=20

that must be Dave … ah … Brian, nope its that other Canadian =

guy.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> Damn, as I watch him I move up =

track a=20

little and open the door for Murray, damn. =20

Now riders are passing me on both sides and no teammates to be =

seen.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> Finally Dave and Brian come =

around me,=20

but not in time as we end as I mentioned 4, 5 and 6 with Murray getting =

the win=20

and I think Jennie was third, leading the whole =

way.<o:p></o:p>

The Juniors=20

must have done better in their final as Dean and Marty ended up first =

and second=20

again, I was too tired to even watch except the very end.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> It is going to be tough trying =

to tell=20

them what to do in the future if they keep winning and I keep well =

…<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> With that done, Dean takes the =

omnium,=20

Marty gets second and Darien squeaks into third, with her Olympic sprint =

points=20

for a clean sweep. Brian =

ended up=20

5th in the Omnium, I think because he beat Dave in the =

keirin, and I=20

am pretty sure that Murray won. =

All=20

in all we all got prizes and all had a blast.<SPAN=20

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> I hope that we get a few more =

Oregon=20

riders to make the quick trip up, not much further than heading to=20

Medford.<o:p></o:p>

<SPAN=20

style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: =

'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =

EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">So=20

thanks back at you Stephanie, and everyone else back in Canada for =

putting on a=20

great race.

<SPAN=20

style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: =

'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =

EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Jamie=20

Mikami</BODY></HTML>

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