Don Hanson

Mike, thanks for the reply to my suggestion about splitting off the
masters.
I'm asking for us older Masters because I am an older master now, but
each year, there are going to be more of you getting older, too. I bet
you will still be wanting to race your bikes, but probably not so much, if
your only option is to start with guys 20+ years younger every time..
I've been in contact with other 50+ and > racers from around the
country, trying to find out how it works for them. Many have said they have
'age group' masters racing available, quite often, in their areas;
especially in the east and the Midwest.. BC has masters racing on the
"Australian Pursuit" format..where the oldest start first on a handicap
time formula and everyone finishes when they cross the line....I'll be
heading up there to give that a try this season at some point. My Canadian
masters friends love the format.
I have raced some age group events in Arizona, and I do the Huntsman World
Senior games in Utah each season, where a 5yr age group field might have 2
or 3 former or current national champions at the line.
The interest is here, amongst us older competitors. The organizers just
need to hear that we'd enter if they offered us a race. It doesn't hurt to
ask..
The format used in the Huntsman road race is they start us at one minute
intervals. The rules specify no drafting or working with other groups and
it's kinda on the honor system. Some years, we've worn different color
survey tape on our numbers so you can identify your own competition..Good
fun. The combined field hits over a hundred, so the interest is there, for
sure. Everyone is on the road within about 8 minutes, so the traffic
interruption is no bigger than a 'normal' race..
I'll be there at the OBRA state RR again this year. We all had a great
race last season amongst ourselves. We may be older, but we still race
hard....Give us more, you organizers, please? (You have to ask before you
get...right?)
Don Hanson