I had no idea what to expect going into the festival and I was feeling under-prepared. Going into the 4th of July weekend I rode a couple hammer fest group rides and then went up to the Gaps in north GA… I was busted. Then I stayed off the bike until Wednesday night racing at the track last week. It was the hardest Wednesday night of the year and I could not get on top of my gear. The next day (Thursday) I picked up my dog from the hospital after some pretty rough surgery and it proceeded to rain…. So no riding…. I did spend some time on the trainer which I had not done in months but at this point was critical. So Saturday finally comes and I’m nervous and it is 95deg and steamy. I get on my bike and was surprised to actually feel really good.
Warning - the text below contains specifics and may come off as boring and/or self absorbed. i appologize, however since i personally enjoy reading other people's race reports i don't actually feel bad.
The races started with 5 Lap Scratch heats. My heat had 4 riders and I was able to be in the right position. I rode 3rd wheel for the first 3 laps and then people tried to make a couple moves. The first 2 riders wanted to give up their positions but we weren’t having it. Coming into turn 3 on lap 4 and the rider in 4th position made a strong move over the top. Fortunately we were riding fairly high on the track and I was able to respond quickly underneath and grab his wheel. We turned it on and I just sat in 2nd position until turn 3 on the bell lap. We were coming in all together and I was able to come over top and take the sprint. The winners of the Scratch heats were now qualified for the Handicap race later in the evening.
The next race was a 15 Lap Point A Lap. The first rider over the line each lap would get a point and the rider with the most points wins the race. I sat in for the first few laps and then decided to make a move. I pulled around for a point and then looked back to notice that no one responded. Instead of waiting for the group, I tried to push a smooth line and collect a couple more laps. I’m getting updates from some spectators who are telling me that I have to keep it up… I’m 50 meters out… I collect 7 points and then I’m caught. I tried to do the math and realized that I left 8 points up for grabs. I’m watching the riders in the front and could not tell who was collecting the points now. I then hear over the PA something about a “2 way tie”. I wasn’t sure if this was for first place but I didn’t feel like risking it after the effort that I had put in for this race. I stood up going into turn 1 from about 6 riders deep and took the last lap to guarantee the win.
The next race was a 30 Lap Points Race. We would race for 30 laps (6 miles) with a sprint every 5 laps which scored 3 deep. The rider with the most points wins the race. I don’t exactly remember this race except that it was long and difficult and I was able to get into a small break at the end and somehow come up with enough points for the win.
Later in the evening we raced a Miss And Out which is always super stressful. The last rider across the line each lap is eliminated until the field is reduced to 3 riders. These 3 riders will continue for a 2 lap race. Positioning is very important and I’ve only ridden this race a few times so I’ve yet to find anywhere I would consider comfortable. We were down to about 8 riders and I was completely boxed in at the bottom of the track between turns 1 and 2. We are riding very tight and I feel someone coming down on me. I’m communicating for the rider to “STICK” which means for them to hold their line. The next thing I hear is someone going down right behind me. I look back expecting to see several riders, but it was somehow just Kurt. We roll up the track to clear the scene the next time around and then I look back again to see that he is already gone. Then during a neutral lap, I see Kurt rolling back into the field and the race is back on. That was awesome! Kurt earned some serious cred… I decide to move into the front and attempt to control the pace. If anyone came over the top I would be able to attempt to sprint and there was a good chance that a rider would be boxed in behind me and I would survive another lap. We race for a few more laps and I look back and realize that we are now down to the final 3 – and I’m still alive! We roll through our ‘neutral’ lap and then the bell. I’m riding 2nd wheel and on the back straight 3rd wheel makes his move. It seems that he has decided to box me in instead of completing his pass. I slow a bit and move up and behind him. I’m ok with 3rd wheel for the moment but I realize I need to make a move soon… I have to come way over the top and the final sprint is super tight. We finish all within a bike length and I barely squeeze out the win.
Finally – I’m ready for some hanging out and sports beverage drinking while watching the pros rip it up… but we have the Handicap Race. This is a little complicated, but the winner from each heat of each cat’s Scratch Race is now on a ‘team’. The Women start on the back straight, the Experts start between turns 1-2, and the Pros start on the front straight. It’s a standing start with holders and then nail it for 4 laps. The idea is to have all groups sprinting in the end for places… We Experts put together a game plan and are going to try to be at top speed by turn 3 and then take half lap pulls until the end. We are given the “GO” and my holder gives me an amazing push and I was immediately ahead of one of my ‘teammates’. I get on Kurt’s wheel going into turn 3 and he pulls until turn 1. He pulls up and it’s my turn… I’m pulling as hard as I can and I look back to see no one. This is always a hard decision in the Handicap Race – Do I wait for my team which appears to be all broken up or do I just put my head down and spin as hard and fast as I can. I decide to just go…. I pass the women and I’m feeling really good. I come around for the bell lap in first place and then I all of a sudden felt real bad… I hold on for as long as I can and I’m coming into turn 3 when I look back to see the Pro group (they were still together!) coming up really, really fast… they blew past me like I was standing still and I though about trying to catch a tow from them but there was no way I could have caught on. Then I realize that Alex (a fellow Expert) had caught on with them – smart move!
Once we finished the Handicap Race it finally occurred to me that I was done for the day. I had survived my first Festival of Speed and actually did pretty well. I was excited to grab a beer and relax. Later that night I found out that there was a payout for the Expert class. I thought the money was only for the Pro class and the opportunity did not even occur to me... who would have though that I might be in a position for any type of payout…. So, I got paid a little which was a fantastic surprise and another first for me. I’ll just say that I earned my registration money back and maybe some lunch money…
Full results: RESULTS
All photos by Chris Kelly: PHOTOS
