August 13/04 1:15 am - Ontario Track League, Detroit 6 Day

Posted by Editoress on 08/13/04
 

Ontario Track League
Lawrence Kurtz

Once again, the Hummingbirds International Cycling Club will be host the Ontario Track League at Sunset Speedway near Barrie Ontario. Start time is 10am and runs to 1:30pm. Stick around and you can watch stockcar races later that afternoon. The session is informal....trackies and curiosity seekers are more than welcome. Track fee is $10. Bring your OCA card or racing licence.

For information on directions go to www.sunsetspeedway.ca
or call Lawrence Kurtz at (905) 886-7691
Lawrence Kurtz


Detroit 6 Day
Rob Good

Day 1

Well after a long flight from Victoria, a 3 hour drive to Detroit, Taylor Martin & I found ourselves on the line for the 2nd annual Detroit 6 Day track race. 7 "A" & 4 "AA" Teams were on hand last night to contest the 2 hours of racing. The "AA" riders hit the boards first with a Scratch Race & Madison, with 4 teams it made it much easier for the less experienced riders to feel comfortable in their exchanges. It turned out to be a very safe race with Chris Hughes & Jeff Starling winning the Madison and taking over the points lead after day 1.

In the Main event the 7 "A" teams started slowly so that all riders were comfortable with their partners, ( the format is that we change partners every night). On the ride to the race Taylor & I talked about how we got our "butts" handed to us on Sunday, in the Madison at Nationals, that will not happen again. The plan was to attack every time the pace slowed, as a result the other 5 teams were chasing hard during both Madisons. After the first 50 lap Chase, Luc & Taylor had built a good lead on points, but could be caught with a hard effort by the other teams. Early in the 100 lap Main, Martin attacked, no one countered, after they gained 1/2 a lap the pace in the pack picked up, (get lapped the team loses 10 valuable points). The lead stayed constant until my partner Matt Walp jumped & closed down the lead to 25 meter's, in another lap they were caught, then it was Ripp'n Ronnie Sinks turn to turn up the heat, with 10 laps to go for the half-way sprint points, they gapped the field. Jim Houston was slung into the race for the last 2 laps for the line, however closing fast was Martin & Cavendar, the 16 year old closed the gap, put Martin in for the last 1 1/2 laps and they won again. The speed had been high all night, with 50 to go my partner did a double pull (as I was gassed after sprinting for 3rd) & we gapped the field, although gaining a lap would be very difficult, we continued to keep the pack strung out. eventually the pack came back together with 20 to go, Martin jumped again, this put the teams that were just hanging on in a world of hurt, ( I've that phrase somewhere before), They were out on their own by 30 meter's, Houston closed the gap with 3 laps to go. With the last exchanges coming our team was just behind the fun at the front, Matt came with in 2 bike lengths before handing me the final 400m. Houston & Cavendar, forgot the they were racing other teams, I went over the top, however I got nipped at the line by the very fast 16 year old Cavendar. Good clean racing on the first night, Tonight Martin is paired with the power house, Rob Ackers. My partner is up and coming sprinter Nick Laughton. should be a Blast.

Final Results for Day 1

T. Martin & L Cavendar 77pts.
R. Sink & J. Houston 64pts.
N.Laughton & R. Denman 62pts.
M. Walp & R. Good 56pts.
D. Koesel & C. Watkins 50pts.
P. Apostoli & P Jaqua 37pts.
A. Champoux & R. Ackers 27pts.=

Day 2

With rain coming down very hard at 5:30, Taylor & I thought their was no way we were racing on Wednesday night. Race director Dale Hughes had said that if it was raining at 6:15 Day 2 of the Detroit 6 Day race would be canceled. 5:50 came and the rain was just easing so there was a little hope, from no where the cycling gods parted the skies, The sun came out, and the drying process began. We were on the track for warm-up at 6:30. Racing was delayed by 5 minutes but we did start the program.

8 "A" Madison teams & 5 "AA" teams were introduced and racing began.

The first Madison of the evening produced attack after attack on the 200m velodrome, because the partners are switched every night you never know who you are racing with or against until you arrive at the track. The team of Veteran racers, Dave Koesel & Rick Denman, dominated the point sprints, but it was Taylor Martin (Hamilton) and his partner for the night Rob Ackers who were constantly attacking off the front of the bike race. With the Pack suffering from the opening bell, Martin continued to push the speed for the first Madison. My partner for the night Nick Laughton & I managed to stay near the front keeping the gapps with in striking distance, with the largest lead being 1/2 a lap. With 20 laps to go Koesel jumped hard bridged up to Ackers, he used perfect handsling technique and put Denman into a lead that they would not relinquish. Martin & Ackers finished 2nd in the sprint, my partner Laughton managed to sprint for 4th.

Nick had indicated that his legs were not there tonight, (bad thing). As the Final Madison started again Martin & Ackers were gapping the field who would chase, catch, then they would launch another. With 5 teams suffering, coming to the mid-race points sprint Ripp'n Ronnie, Andre Champoux, & Deman closed the gap. with 3 to go for the sprint our team was able to bridge up to the leaders & position ourselves for the upcoming sprint, we managed 3rd behind Koesel (Denman) & Ackers (Martin) however it proved to be costly as Nick blew really hard, in the next 30 laps, Koesel (Deman) took a lap on the entire field. Taylor continued to push the pace once the pack reassembled with 15 laps to go. In the finale again Koesel (Denman) won the sprint going away with Martin (Ackers) 2nd. the other teams limped home to lick our wounds.

One good thing is that tonight is a whole new ball game, with 2 additional teams coming out, the pace should be even harder than the first 2 nights.

Racing begins at 7pm. Live music by the Pit Crew, let's hope the weather improves from the blustery 15 degree's last night.

Results Day 2 Not available

Day 3

Cool temperatures were again the order of the day, It felt like a fall evening instead of a mid-August humid night. 8 "A" Madison Teams lined up for racing action. Taylor Martin was paired with local road racer turned track rider Steve Gerrling. Detroit favorite Dave Koesel ( leader of the bike race on points) was with Rob Ackers, as it turned out this was the team to beat on the evening. Ripp'n Ronnie Sink & I were ready to do battle.

In the first Madison of the night, U.S. Marine, Steve Milujak (finished 19th in the US Olympic Trails on the road) set a steady tempo, trying to string out the field. His tactic worked as 3 teams were immediately put in trouble. 20 laps in it was Martins turn to put in an attack, that saw 3 teams lose a lap in the first chase. With 15 laps to go Koesel & Milujak wound the speed up to stop any sudden accelerations from the Martin team. This seemed to work, as with 3 to go, Milujak jumped but was caught on the final straight by Matt Walp who had stayed in the lead 5 teams for the entire Madison, Ronnie finished a very close 3rd, Martin 4th, Koesel in 5th.

This being the 3rd Day of the Bike race several of the racers, are feeling the effects of the first 2 hard days of racing.

In the second Madison, the strategy was the same, go hard, make as many teams hurt as possible. The pace in the last race of the night was higher than the first Madison from the opening bell. First Milujak, then Martin, then Sink, then Apostoli, all 4 teams seemed to team up on the Keosel team. with the continual attacks Keosel & Ackers were down 1/2 a lap in the early going. The mid-race sprint for points was fast approaching so a little strategy came into the race for the first time, the pace slowed enough that Ackers was able to catch & go over the top with 4 laps to go for valuable sprint points. I threw Ripp'n Ronnie into the bike race with 5 to go which set us up for the final push for the 20 points, Andre Champoux had other ideas as Milujak had made a prefect exchange & Andre went over everyone. 1 1/2 laps to go it was my turn, over Martin, I caught Champoux in the last corner, just nipping him at the line. Still 1/2 the race to go, the pace had not calmed down, right after the sprint, Guess who, Martin & Koesel Jumped trying again to break up the field. Not tonight all the teams were ready for the attack & it was shut down right away.

The last half of the race was hard but uneventful, Our team had to win to move up or stay in 3rd, Ronnie was content to stay on Milujaks wheel as he continued to pull the train around the track during his efforts, Koesel sat at the back watching & waiting, Martin trying several attacks they went no where. The evening came down to the last 10 laps from nowhere 16 year old Luc Cavender put in the most serious attack of the night, no one chased, his teamed gained 1/4 lap instantly, 5 laps to go Luc was gassed, then it was Milujaks turn to make us hurt. I threw Ronnie in on Milujaks wheel, good move as he missed the exchange & had to do a double, Ronnie attacked giving us the lead with 2 to go, my turn to finish it off, everything was good untill 100m to go (all the blood drained from my entire body) teams started going over me like I was standing still (not a good feeling), we ended up 3rd in the finale, & a solid 3rd for the night in the standings. Taylor & his partner finished in 5th for their efforts, Keosel & Ackers win, Milujak & Champoux 2nd.

Very competitive and hard, should be interesting who our partners are tonight, as I'm writing this I think Taylor & I will be together, we shall see once we get to the track tonight. Back to the car for another 3 hour drive & border crossing.

Overall Standings
D. Koesel 139 pts
T. Martin 136 pts
J. Houston 132 pts
L. Cavender 130 pts
R. Ronnie 118 pts
M. Walp 108 pts
C. Watkins 104 pts
N Laughton 102 pts
R.Good 96 pts
P. Apostoli 95 pts
P. Jaqua 89 pts
R. Ackers 86 pts
A. Champoux 80 pts
S Milujak 75 pts

Racing begins at 7pm, If you are in the Windsor area the track is 25 minutes away, for $3.00 admission there is a lot of entertainment. The Pit Crew again will be providing the music. See you there.