SWAMI'S SWAMPS STEVE HEDRICK 55+ CAT @ 2011 PARAMOUNT GP/SCNCA CRITERIUM CHAMPIONSHIP

By John McKee

"You all"(My Bama roots showing through) got the scope on the background of the 2011 Paramount GP held on July 17, 2011 in the 60+ write up. The 55+ race was being sponsored by Rick Swanson who had put in some money into the Paramount 55+ race in 2009. Rick wanted to do so again in 2011 and doubled up on the amount that he would put in but he didn't want the name of the race to have his business name on it. Rick instead wanted the race in the name of his long time friend that has since pasted, Steve Hedrick. I told Rick that we could have some script written up and read by the announcer but he wanted to say a few words himself. I worked with the officials and that was no problem. In attendance was Steve's wife, Gale and his son, Carson.

Rick Swanson talking about his friend Steve Hedrick before the "Steve Hedrick 55+ Memorial Race" at the Paramount GP

After the short presentation the racers were off. Over 50 strong. The 55+ field was near as strong as any other during the day. The race was going to be probed by Breakaway from Cancer and UC Cyclery/JW Flooring. Swami's was looking to contain all the moves and set up a bunch sprint for "on form" Mike Birditt and Dale Luedtke. Dale's form was unsure after a medical problem 9 days before but he was feeling good and ready for the race.

Malcolm Hill of Breakaway from Cancer leading the field around early in the race

Keith Ketterer and Malcolm Hill of Breakaway from Cancer were active early as was Paul Rodiguez, Mike Mueller and Mark Helvie of UC Cyclery/JW Flooring. Swami's was using Kim Bleth, Rick Swanson, Mike Birditt and Gary Shuey to counter and control the race. Early on Gary broke his chain and he was out of the race. Velo Allegro and Santa Clarita Velo were also looking to get into the action. Kenny Fuller was there for his second race and definitely was looking to get in a breakaway.

Paul Rodiguez and Mark Helvie of UC Cyclery/JW Flooring probing early in the race

Early break with Malcolm Hill, Mark Helvie, Paul Rodiguez, Mike Birditt, Fred Hoblit and Bob Pellkofer

None of the breaks lasted long even the one you see above. It looks like the "Heads of State" as Paul
Sherwin would say are in this group with almost all the teams represented. It didn't work. Another strong group got away in the picture just below but KK will shutdown if anyone is in the group and will not pull through unless there is some communication from the others. Swami's master plan was a bunch sprint and it looked like it was going that way but not if Kenny Fuller had anything to say about it.

Mike Mueller, Steve Hensler, KK, Kim Bleth and Ricky Shorts(blocked out)

Kenny Fuller jumps from the peleton with Breakaway and Swami's responding immediately

Kenny Fuller was very active late in the race and very serious about finishing it off in a break. The break you see above was covered quickly so Kenny goes again but even later in the race. Within the last 5 laps.

Kenny Fuller jumping the field late in the race

Why don't you chase him

 I can just hear what these guys were saying:

Mike Birditt: Why don't one of you guys chase him. I'm tired.
Mike Mueller: I don't feel like chasing him either. What about you, Bob.
Bob Pellkofer: Back in the day when I raced cat 1 with Kenny we use to....
Mark Helvie: Knock it off Bob. We don't want to hear about the good old days. What are we going to do now! He is a "beast".
Kim Bleth puts his head down and pretends not to hear any of this.
Malcolm Hill: I know he is a "beast". I train with him on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in the Coffee Crew training ride. I am tired also. Someone has to do something or he will be gone.
Bob Pellkofer: He is over 60.
Mike Birditt: Yeah but he doesn't race like it.

After all that Mark Helvie puts his head down and charges off to pull everyone back to Kenny. He doesn't get there but sets up teammate Paul Rodiguez who comes across the gap to join Kenny. 2 strong but KK also charges off from the back of the pack with Ricky Shorts in tow. D. Asuncion of SBW made it 5. Pretty sure that KK saw Ricky "The Shadow" Shorts behind him and shut down. That made the break just Kenny and Paul. 2 laps to go and Kenny was pulling hard. All in for Kenny. Paul was pulling through as well but not quite as hard. 1 lap to go and the 2 of them were still ahead but Rick Swanson and Mike Birditt kept them close and Rino B. and Bob Wright of SCV closed them out between turn 1 and 2 of the last lap. A bunch sprint it be, my laddies!
Dale Luedtke has a long sprint and he started his from a longs ways out. Longer than usual up the inside or right side about half way between turn 3 and 4. He got clear of most everyone. Don Denegal was on his wheel but was barely hanging on. Mike Birditt was caught in the pack for a bite but broke free before the last corner and put the after burners on. Dale used that sprint of his to race for home. Dale Luedtke the SCNCA Criterium Champion! Mike Birditt 2nd and Don Denegal 3rd. Fast hard good race. The highest purse in $1,000 of any 55+ race in the country. EVER! Paid out to 14 places with a way cool event glass to go with it. Thanks to all that came out and thumbs down to those that didn't. Full results below. Photos courtesy of Jodie Borer(outstanding) except the podium pic which was taken by Scott Sharp of Paramount. That's all for now folks! Train hard and race safe!

Don Denegal comes in for 3rd place

Podium shot- Don Denegal, Dale Luedtke and Mike Birditt

SCNCA Masters Crit Championships  (Rank 3.0)
Masters 55+
Place	License	Name	Team	SoCal Points
1	47262	Dale Luedtke	Swami's Cycling Club	42
2	47255	Michael Birditt	Swami's Cycling Club	33
3	93812	Donald Denegal		30
4	58847	Paul Rodriguez	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	27
5	52251	Ricky Shorts	Velo Allegro	24
6	156650	Malcolm Hill	Breakaway-UBS Elite Masters	21
7	18156	Craig Jones	Velo Avanti Cycling Team	18
8	219074	Leo Pettus	OCW/Paramount Racing	15
9	206734	John Huber	Velo Avanti Cycling Team	12
10	50532	Deogracias Asuncion	South Bay Wheelmen	9
11	48434	Keith Ketterer	Breakaway-UBS Elite Masters	6
12	16360	Fred Hoblit	Santa Clarita Velo	3
13	48760	John Rubcic	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	0
14	107559	Rodney Malloy		0
15	47652	Bob Pellkofer	FRANCO MRI Racing p/b Wins Wheels	0
16	15874	Steve Hensler	Team Redlands	0
17	15760	Mark Helvie	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	0
18	222764	Thomas Buescher	South Bay Wheelmen	0
19	61193	John Wagenaar	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	0
20	50911	Richard Stahlberg	Ironfly	0
21	167489	Jon Miller	Platinum Performance Cycling Team	0
22	46255	Alex Collins	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	0
23	174212	Brian Carrico	PAA/REMAX	0
24	230085	Albert Shorts	Velo Allegro	0
25	46688	Michael Mueller	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	0
26	52086	Cyril Hunte		0
27	222523	Rick Carrera	Team Simple Green/Bike Religion	0
28	178495	Steve Diamond	Swami's Cycling Club	0
29	47314	Gary Prideaux	Lightning Velo	0
30	49191	Kim Bleth	Swami's Cycling Club	0
31	61504	Andrzej Fidelus	Ranchos Cycling Club	0
32	277180	John Roest	Rock N' Road Cyclery	0
33	61353	Reed Moore	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	0
34	49424	Howard Miller	Paramount Racing	0
35	189814	Leo Longo	South Bay Wheelmen	0
36	9271	Pete Dern	Herbalife LaGrange	0
37	301372	Tom Herman	South Bay Wheelmen	0
38	187428	Michael Evans		0
39	50765	Richard Roberson	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	0
40	66553	John Sinz	Canyon Velo	0
41	23055	Reed Mayne	Swami's Cycling Club	0
42	50302	Richard Lee	San Diego Cyclo Vets	0
43	167453	Bob Estupinan	Citrus Valley Velo	0
44	245777	Steven Borer	ACQUA AL 2/SDBC	0
45	49110	Rino Barbagiovanni	Santa Clarita Velo	0
46	46765	Kenny Fuller	Team Simple Green/Bike Religion	0
47	126668	Joey Valdivia	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	0
48	238828	Phillip Richards	Citrus Valley Velo	0
49	177283	Eugene Poyorena	Santa Clarita Velo	0
50	34753	Rick Swanson	Swami's Cycling Club	0
51	101582	William Carvin		0
52	39024	Bob Wright	Santa Clarita Velo	0