When I mentioned I was going to write a year end review I didn't realize what a monumental task this would be. There were LOTS of races and LOTS of different championships that many of you raced in and won or did well in. The season had many highs and lows. The low in our sport is a crash or worse a tangle with a automobile and a number of you did that in 2009.
I have to think back to the "Wide World of Sports". I use to watch it most every Saturday from 5 pm to 6:30 pm. You all must remember the "thrill of victory and agony of defeat". In the agony of defeat some poor athlete messed up in the ski jump and wipes out really bad. ABC showed that every week. Some claim to fame.
Those that I know that tangled with cars are Steve Horine, John Edwards, Barney Feigenbaum and Ernie Hoffer. Not sure what happened to Steve but I know John Edwards got smacked by a trailer, Barney had a car turn in front of him and he did a 360 over it. I am saving the worst for last. Ever set up on the street in front of your house thinking about getting a good training ride in. Ernie Hoffer did but much to his surprise a neighbor had something different in store for Ernie.
His neighbor slammed into the back of Ernie sending him through the windshield backward and then as a late panic maneuver the neighbor puts on the brakes. A little late right. This sends Ernie flying out and onto the street many feet from the car. Ernie had a number of broken bones including in his face but is recovering and hopes to race again in 2010. What are neighbors for but a good takeout.
There were a lot of high moments in the season and many of you had some great races and have medals and jerseys to show for it but one person comes to mind and that is Kenny Fuller. Kenny has been winning medals and championship jerseys most of his life but had a mind blowing great year in 2009. Kenny doesn't enter many local races but builds his form for the "big fish". The one that usually gets away from the rest of us but Kenny bagged a good number in 2009. Kenny won the SCNCA TT and road championship building his form. Kenny went to Natz in Louisv
ille, Kent. and destroyed everyone else in each of his races-TT, road and then criterium. Kenny bagged his 38th National Championship. Kenny took his great form to Worlds and won the TT and podiumed the road race. If that wasn't enough Kenny heard about the one hour record for masters and thought he would give it a go. Roger Young the director of the LA Velodrome worked with Kenny on a plan to break the one hour record in the 60+ category. Keith Ketterer of Amgen was also going for a record on the same day in the 50+ category. The deal in the one hour record is to go as hard as you can for one hour on a closed velodrome and see how far you went. With a UCI official there Kenny went further than anyone had before. A new world record! Now if that isn't a great way to cap off a season. KK by the way also set a record in the 50+ category.
The racing season for us mere mortal type racers started in Imperial Beach in El Centro and Mothballs in Santa Barbara. Dale Luedtke entered the 55+ category in 2009 and with Kal Szkalak also of UC Cyclery/JW Flooring gave the 55+ and 55/60+ races a speed surge at the end that amazed me and most everyone. Kal was fast but Dale was really fast. Dale showed his great form throughout the 2009 season and won many races as did Kal.
UCC/JW Flooring proved to be the dominate team with John Rubcic also of UCC/JW Flooring cleaning up in the 60+ category making things very difficult for all 55/60+ racers with this lethal mix of very fast racers.
The 2009 season wasn't all about the favorites winning. Take the SCNCA Masters Championship in Dom. Hills hosted by Paramount Racing. Yes the 55+ race had Dale, Kal and Carlos Soto finishing in that order as you might expect but the 60+ race had a surprise finish. A 5 pack of riders shed Phil Richards and John McKee leaving Bruce Steele, John Rubcic, and Kenny Fuller. Coming into the last lap Bruce knew he had to do something exceptional or JR would outsprint everyone
at the finish. With a little less than one lap to go Bruce made a move on the downhill northside. John R was hoping Kenny would chase but Kenny wouldn't chase leaving Bruce off into a twilight zone that he had nevered experienced before in bike racing. Bruce gave it 100%. He was as they call in Vegas "All In". John Rubcic decided he couldn't wait any longer and made a desperate chase with 2 corners to go but alas Bruce had done it. This day, this race Bruce Steele was the winner and champion! I love stories like this because I always liked the underdog. Whenever I saw a 50s cowboy and Indian movie back in the day I always rooted for the men of color but I knew the pale faces would win in the end. The 55+ road race was won by Kal in a small field sprint in Bakersfield. I already mentioned that Kenny won the 60+ race as I mentioned Kenny won the 60+ SCNCA TT. The 55+ was sweep by TTing specialists. I must say I have some disdain for those that only do TTs when we are trying to build group racing in our categories but I do understand some of the reasons...crashes.
The MBGP is proably the biggest non champ race on the calendar. Paul Rodiguez won the 55+ category in a break which was great for him and UCC/JW Flooring but slowed the pace behind him and bunched everyone up. John Rubcic won out in the 60+ race as was pretty much the custom when John lined up. John had a great year and won MBGP with a soft cast on his arm from a training accident.
There were many of you that podiumed at Natz on the road, cyclocross or the track. I will try to include everyone but if I leave you off, let me know about it. At the road championships in Louisville we know that Kenny Fuller proved to be super human but Gary DeVo
ss managed to podium in the 65+ criterium. Fritz Tomasello with his teammate Dave Prechtl won the 110 division in a 2 up sprint in the road race as you can see in the photo.
ss managed to podium in the 65+ criterium. Fritz Tomasello with his teammate Dave Prechtl won the 110 division in a 2 up sprint in the road race as you can see in the photo.In cyclocross Natz Bob Llamas placed 2nd in 65+ in Bend, Org. with freezing weather. John Rubcic placed 6th in 60+ which is one off the podium and this author knows what that feels like. Lousy!
In track Natz racing held in Colorado Chuck Watson showed great form and won the red, white and blue jersey in the 65+ points race. Barney Feigenbaum was 3rd. Chuck also got 3rd in the 65+ sprint while trackie Steve Whitsitt placed 3rd in the 60+ points race.
Trully sorry I couldn't mention more names and get more of you in my report but I think the final SCNCA points standing are a good way to get more people some acclaim for their racing efforts. The final points standing are a result of your placings and the number of events that you pointed in. The final standings for the top 10 racers in 55+ and 60+ were:
SoCal Cup Standings For 2009
SoCal Cup Standings For 2009 SoCal Cup Standings For 2009
| Masters 60+ |
| Place | Name | License # | Team Name | SoCal Points |
| 1 | John Rubcic | 48760 | UC Cyclery/JW Flooring | 302 |
| 2 | Bruce Steele | 236498 | South Bay Wheelmen | 226 |
| 3 | Kenny Fuller | 46765 | Team Simple Green | 188 |
| 4 | John McKee | 180386 | Paramount Racing | 178 |
| 5 | Paul Springer | 33679 | Citrus Valley Velo | 165 |
| 6 | Loren Stephens | 234791 | EDGE Racing | 149 |
| 7 | Benjamin Maciel | 275832 | Citrus Valley Velo | 148 |
| 8 | Leo Pettus | 219074 | Paramount Racing | 140 |
| 9 | Michael Fleming | 129293 | Coates Cyclery Cycling Club | 124 |
| 10 | Phillip Richards | 238828 | Citrus Valley Velo | 97 |
| 11 | James Morehouse | 283640 | Paramount Racing | 87 |
| 12 | Donald Kimper | 195498 | ACQUA AL 2/SDBC | 82 |
| 13 | Michael Crystal | 8283 | CA Pools Racing | 80 |
| 14 | Glenn Town | 205555 | Simply Fit/Action Sports | 66 |
| 15 | Mario Seri | 61278 | Kahala LaGrange | 59 |
| 16 | Steve Close | 204901 | Team Chicken Ranch | 59 |
| 17 | Stephen Whitsitt | 171652 | South Bay Wheelmen | 55 |
| 18 | Domenick Forte | 45342 | PAA / RE/MAX | 48 |
| 19 | Joseph Wells | 48252 | EDGE Racing | 45 |
| 20 | Robert Paganini | 45763 | Pasadena Athletic Assoc (PAA) | 42 |
| 21 | Richard Rodriguez | 50498 | DARE | 41 |
| 22 | Glenn Baldwin | 45047 | SLO Nexus-Gym One | 38 |
| 23 | William Langstaff | 49334 | Cycles Veloce | 36 |
| 24 | Sydney Duck | 58170 | Unattached | 34 |
| 25 | Scott Hennessy | 15827 | VOS Racing | 33 |
| 26 | Warren Keyser | 180504 | Bike Religion | 33 |
| 27 | James Heise | 163415 | South Bay Wheelmen | 31 |
| 28 | Michael Barnes | 220804 | Rock Solid Cycling | 31 |
| 29 | Alan Morrison | 166644 | TBS Racing | 27 |
| 30 | Jim Roebuck | 115793 | Southern California Velo | 25 |
| 31 | William Carvin | 101582 | Unattached | 23 |
| 32 | Vicente Gomez | 3794 | Team Simple Green | 21 |
| 33 | Cully White | 188249 | PAA / RE/MAX | 21 |
| 34 | Daniel Crain | 246256 | Paramount Racing | 20 |
| 35 | Ernest Hoffer | 57726 | EDGE Racing | 20 |
| 36 | Cary Alpert | 203244 | South Bay Wheelmen | 18 |
| 37 | Peter Schindler | 98729 | 8th Wonder Cycling | 18 |
| 38 | Charles (Chuck) Watson | 37370 | South Bay Wheelmen | 16 |
| 39 | Richard Lilleberg | 64127 | South Bay Wheelmen | 16 |
| 40 | Michael Edwards | 50406 | Kahala LaGrange | 15 |
| Masters 55+ |
| Place | Name | License # | Team Name | SoCal Points |
| 1 | Kalman Szkalak | 54522 | UC Cyclery/JW Flooring | 354 |
| 2 | Dale Luedtke | 47262 | UC Cyclery/JW Flooring | 321 |
| 3 | Richard Pollock | 219983 | Citrus Valley Velo | 188 |
| 4 | Warren Wicks | 202108 | Swami's Cycling Club | 145 |
| 5 | Ricky Shorts | 52251 | Velo Allegro | 125 |
| 6 | Albert Shorts | 230085 | Velo Allegro | 110 |
| 7 | Howard Miller | 49424 | Paramount Racing | 109 |
| 8 | Paul Rodriguez | 58847 | UC Cyclery/JW Flooring | 87 |
| 9 | Donald Davidson | 48278 | Citrus Valley Velo | 76 |
| 10 | Craig Jones | 18156 | Velo Avanti Cycling Team | 75 |
| 11 | Mark Huffman | 59572 | UC Cyclery/JW Flooring | 75 |
| 12 | Carlos Soto | 47380 | Unattached | 74 |
| 13 | Karl Weber | 47819 | CA Pools Racing | 72 |
| 14 | Mitchell Weinstock | 55591 | UC Cyclery/JW Flooring | 72 |
| 15 | Steve Bernede | 126351 | Team Simple Green | 68 |
| 16 | Raphael Gomez | 3793 | Team Simple Green | 67 |
| 17 | Richard Stahlberg | 50911 | Ironfly | 56 |
| 18 | Rick Swanson | 34753 | Acme Racing | 55 |
| 19 | Kenny Fuller | 46765 | Team Simple Green | 50 |
| 20 | Rino Barbagiovanni | 49110 | Santa Clarita Velo | 49 |
| 21 | John Rubcic | 48760 | UC Cyclery/JW Flooring | 44 |
| 22 | James King | 226956 | Unattached | 44 |
| 23 | David Holt | 182726 | Sho-air/Sonance | 42 |
| 24 | William Tippets | 125634 | UC Cyclery/JW Flooring | 40 |
| 25 | Wayne Rosenkrantz | 30596 | EDGE Racing | 39 |
| 26 | Reed Moore | 61353 | UC Cyclery/JW Flooring | 38 |
| 27 | George Chester | 196820 | Amgen Cycling Club | 37 |
| 28 | Bob Guglielmelli | 14374 | Central Coast Magazine | 35 |
| 29 | Stanley Appel | 1825 | Fog Racing | 35 |
| 30 | Thomas Reilly | 155459 | Pasadena Athletic Assoc (PAA) | 34 |
| 31 | David Kelley | 65663 | Alto Velo Racing Club | 33 |
| 32 | Steven Borer | 245777 | ACQUA AL 2/SDBC | 29 |
| 33 | Stephen Horine | 195618 | UC Cyclery/JW Flooring | 27 |
| 34 | Brad Holland | 244084 | Pasadena Athletic Assoc (PAA) | 25 |
| 35 | Eric Nelson | 108843 | SLO Nexus-Gym One | 25 |
| 36 | Mike Marotta | 72880 | Simply Fit/Action Sports | 24 |
| 37 | John Wagnon | 266614 | Liquid Fitness/Adageo Energy Reno | 23 |
| 38 | Hans Jorgensen | 222120 | Unattached | 21 |
| 39 | Todd Schooler | 49144 | Alliance Cycling Team | 21 |
| 40 | Henry Pfister | 187845 | Simply Fit/Action Sports | 20 |
That's all for now folks! Train hard and race safe!
