LUEDTKE/PETTUS WIN @ CBR #7

By John McKee

It's July 11, 2010 and CBR's 7th of 9 criteriums is scheduled for where? Domiguez Hills of course. The course was to be run clockwise which is the more standard direction. The course is slightly easier in this direction. 36 55/60+ racers showed up with 22 of them being 55 and 14 60+. 34 of the 36 got into the official results. The morning was typically overcast and cool with the temp running in the mid 60s. The weather has been running cool since June and we even got some rain on Tuesday morning during the OC early morning Coffee Crew ride(July 6th).

The 55/60+ race was scheduled to go off at 7:45 am and all 36 riders were off on time. Kal usually starts things off but not this race. Michael Edwards decided to not just lead us around but go off the front. After one lap Michael was back with us and the direction of the race was yet to be told. Kal and Dale decided to hold back early on and let teammate Steve Horine chase anything that looked dangerous. There were many attempts at breaks but none of them seemed to have the pop or commitment. Michael Birditt spent the most time off the front. Michael was there to do some speed work and pick up what primes were available. Michael won 2 bottles of wine, a CBR free entry and a package of Kool N Fit. Michael  gave one bottle of wine to Al Shorts because Al led him to the promised land on that prime.
There were many riders off the front but to name a few: Ken Burns, Mark Planellas, Kirk Freeman, Dale Luedtke, Kal Szkalak, Rick Stahlberg, Howard Miller, and several others. None of the efforts got too far away as the pack kept close tabs on the efforts plus like I said earlier none of the breaks seem to have the right mix to make a go of it. Kal is very picky as to who he will roll with and will not roll with Michael Birditt and carry him to the finish line and take the chance of getting out sprinted. Many racers chased and I put in 2 chases when things looked a little too dangerous and there were 5 or more riders off the front. The first time I chased Chris Lotts called me "conpression sock guy" as I went by the start/finish line. I have been wearing compression socks lately. I brought everybody with me.
Kal decided he was going to try and solo it in with 2 and 1/2 laps to go. There was a cadre of guys that chased and had a gap on the main field. Not sure if they actually met up with Kal. With 1 and 1/2 laps to go I chased this group and brought the peleton back and I thought everyone was all together but Kal was still away. The one lap to go came up to my surprise(I thought we would have 2 laps to go) and I was still a little winded but after turn one and after the downhill I felt fine. At turn 2 I came upon a rider that was breaking and going backward and I had to wait until around the corner and make up ground as at least 6 to 8 riders came by me. The pace wasn't too stiff between turn 2 and 3. Kal was still slightly ahead of everyone. This put UCC in a great position. Dale sat on the rider or riders chasing Kal getting an armchair ride to the sprint zone. Either Kal was going to solo it in or Dale was going to have a great chance of sprinting off the chase/leadout. Ricky Shorts started somewhere around turn 3 leading it out with Dale on his wheel and Don Denegal following. At around turn 4 the chasers had caught Kal but Kal wasn't going to quit. Ricky was leading coming around turn 4 as you can see in the picture. There is a small gap to the rest of the field. Dale came off Ricky and Don Denegal tried to come around Dale at the end but didn't have enough speed and power to do it. Dale Luedtke was the winner of the 55+ race and the overall win. Don and Ricky followed in for 2nd and 3rd and Kal hung in there for 4th. The 5th overall rider and 1st 60+ rider was Monty Pettus. Mark Planellas, Wayne Rosenkrante, myself(2nd 60+), Howard Miller, and Carlos Cruz(3rd 60+) followed in with the pack right there. The race saw a lot of action and there were no crashes or close calls to speak of. Some of the placings are below. That's all for now folks! Train hard and race safe!


55+Placings                                                                          

1-Luedtke                                                                           
2-Denegal
3-Shorts,R
4-Szkalak
5-Rosenkrante
6-Planellas
7-Miller
8-Prideaux
9-Mallory
10-O'Dell
11-Shorts, A
12-Borer

60+ Placings

1-Pettus
2-McKee
3-Cruz
4-Carvin
5-Stahlberg
6-Pags
7-Seri
8-Barney F
9-McKinney
10-Hofer

UCC/PARAMOUNT DOM POD @ 10 MBGP

By John McKee

It was June 27th, 2010 and the Mahattan Beach Grand Prix was scheduled. The 55/60+ race was set to go off at 8:45 am. 53 riders turned out which was slightly more than the 47 last year. Good showing of riders eventhough the pre registration started very slow. Thank you again to Eric Smith of SBW, promoter of MBGP and president of the SCNCA for giving the 55/60+ group one of the 8 racing slots in this big event.

The powerful UC Cyclery team showed up in force and was ready to rock and roll. Was there going to be enough co operation among the other smaller teams to counter balance the numbers that UCC was throwing out there in the 55+ category. It wasn't just the numbers but the quality of riders. All the riders were strong but had different levels of experience with Kal Szkalak and Dale Luedtke having the most on the local criterium circuit. The field was going to have to look to guys like Vito Czulak, Al and Ricky Shorts, Mike Birditt, Steve Cahill and Gary Shuey. Keith Ketterer couldn't make it having an opportunity to almost exclusive use of the Dom Hills track for some testing with his coach, Roger Young. KK is pointing toward elite Natz in the madison.

The 60+ category was wide open with no team having more than 2 riders from one team. UCC had the defending champion in John Rubcic who won the 2009 MBGP in 60+ with the "claw" on his arm. John had a broken bone in his hand. Monty Pettus of Paramount beat JR several years ago in 55+ and must be considered a major factor in the race even though he is coming off a bad crash at the SCNCA track championship. Monty is joined by his on form teammate, John McKee. Mike Fleming, George Chester and Bruce Steele are also riding strong in 60+.

After some pre race banter at the line with race announcer Ralph Elliot in his leopard ensemble, the riders were off. The race was very fast the first 3 laps. Kal Szkalak took upon himself to start the race off with a bang. There were times when the race was lined out. No moving up. Just hanging on. I knew the pace had to slow down and it did. This meant break attempts were going to happen and no group was going to form without UCC. Mark Helvie and Mitch Weinstock were very active with Mitch looking especially sharp.

The first break was a 5 pack including Kal, Alex Collins, Gary Shuey, Steve Cahill, and Mike Mueller. 2 of the members of this break group were from UCC but some how it fell apart after 2 laps. The pace was pretty fast at times with a number of riders lending a hand at setting pace and chasing down the group. The next break attempt also included 2 UCC riders in the name of Mark Helvie and Mitch Weinstock. The 3rd member was Mike Birditt and that meant one thing. Jams off. Remember Dick Lane use to announce roller skating from the Olympic Auditorium besides the wrestling in the 1960s. Whenever the breaking team with a skater off the front had run its course and passed all the opposing team members it could, the team captain would put their hands on their hips indicating jams off. Mitch and Mark threw in the towel on this one and put their hands on their hips. They didn't want to take Mike to the finish line with the way he is sprinting. Kal Szkalak tried to get across and make it 3 UCC riders but Vito Czulak covered this. Mike was controlled and neutralized and Kal was covered so everyone was back together.

Their were many primes which are always given to the first rider across the line whichever category they were. Since the 55s are younger and usually stronger, they take almost all the "stuff" given away. With the help of SBW team member Steve Whitsitt the race had a 60+ only $50 prime. It turned out to be one of the fastest laps of the race. UCC was lining up for John Rubcic. Bruce Steele was right on John and looking to contest the prime. I was hoping the pace would slow down for me to go up to JR but it didn't so Mr. Rubcic with his sun glasses stuck in his helmet rather than over his eyes took the cash. This was half way through the race.

The second half of the race seemed to go by very fast. There was a constant churning of riders but about 30 minutes into the race the overall pace was taking a toll. Kal also tried a solo effort but Gary Shuey put in a chase and it got down to a bunch with 5 laps to go. Dan Crain of Paramount rolled off the front with 3 laps to go and Mitch Weinstock joined him. It wasn't long before Mark Helive made it 2 UCC riders and it was game on. The M & M boys. Makes me think of 1961 and M & M stood for Mantle and Maris. Roger Maris hit 61 home runs that year breaking Babe Ruth's record. Dan lacks some experience and fell off the group and it was up to Mitch and Mark to pull it home for a UCC victory. It was up to everyone else to prevent this. The pace really picked up with 2 laps to go with most riders single file. Mark was burying himself in the effort to launch Mitch on to a solo victory. Could this work? With few laps to go like at San Pedro the stronger riders are reluctant to chase hard and then have nothing for the finish. Let someone else do the chasing but who was that going to be?

Ricky Shorts and Vito Czulak put in hard pulls to try and close the gap. With one and 1/2 laps to go the pace slowed. I was on Monty which was our team plan and I was getting worried we were getting buried. I pleaded with Monty to move up but he stayed on course. I had a choice to throw out our plan and move up on my own or stay the course. I decided to stay the course and stay on Monty. Thanks to Mark Planellas and Ken Burns of SC Velo who let me keep on Monty's wheel at a couple of spots.

Mark Helvie had decided to give everything he had to launch Mitch and gave his last pull with 2/3 of a lap to go. He was spent but gave a great team effort. The remaining team members had a very difficult balancing act trying to stay at the front and lining up for the sprint and not overtaking Mitch who was all or nothing now.

Taking the last corner at speed was critical to anyone's finish. There was 250 meters to go after the last 180 turn. UCC took the curve great with Mike Birditt in his SCNCA championship jersey too far back to sprint it out with them. The final lap was as perfect a team race as you can have. The pictures below are great and pretty much tell the story of the finish. The race pictures are courtesy of Jodi Borer.

Mitch won by a bike length with a one foot ruler deciding the placing between Paul Rodiguez, Kal Szkalak, and Dale Luedtke. Here is the call from Ralph Elliott "Looks like the champion is going to be hanging on MITCH WEINNNSSSTOCK!! Congratulations to Mitch Weinstock through all those laps of the break away. Holding on to the very end." Kal was 2nd by an eye lash with Dale 3rd and Paul 4th. The first non UCC rider was Steve Cahill followed in by Mike Birditt, Gary Shuey and Alex Collins.
The 60+ race was pretty much decided on the last curve. Mike Fleming was the first 60+ ride to go into the curve with John Rubcic taking the outside line. Monty Pettus with myself on his wheel dove into the inside line next to the fence. Monty took a great curve. Better than I could do. Monty passed both Mike and JR before coming out of the curve and then it was max speed home(you can see M in one of the sprint pics). I passed Mike after the curve and let it all out passing some 55s that had sat up. Monty set a personal best on his power tap at over 1200 watts in his sprint for home. He really wasn't contested. Monty Pettus the winner!
I came in less than a bike length behind JR for 3rd and the last podium spot. Carlos Cruz came on for 4th followed by Fleming, Steele, Chester and Gomez.
The video of the finish below is compliments of Alicia McKee. Nice work. Complete results below as well. That's all for now folks! Train hard and race safe!

Manhattan Beach Grand Prix (Rank 2.0)
Masters 60+
Place	License	Name	Team	SoCal Points
1	219074	Leo Pettus	Paramount Racing	28
2	48760	John Rubcic	UC Cyclery/JW Flooring	22
3	180386	John McKee	Paramount Racing	20
4	48651	Carlos Cruz	Canyon Velo	18
5	129293	Michael Fleming	Coates Cyclery Cycling Club	16
6	236498	Bruce Steele	South Bay Wheelmen	14
7	196820	George Chester	LIVESTRONG Army KC / Midwest Cancer Care	12
8	3793	Raphael Gomez	Cycles Veloce	10
9	50911	Richard Stahlberg	Ironfly	8
10	246256	Daniel Crain	Paramount Racing	6
11	195498	Donald Kimper	ACQUA AL 2/SDBC	4
12	45763	Robert Paganini	Pasadena Athletic Assoc (PAA)	2
13	50498	Richard Rodriguez	Pacific Sunset Velo/Pac Sun Velo	0
14	171652	Stephen Whitsitt	South Bay Wheelmen	0
15	305794	Robert Tompkins	Arizona Masters Racing	0

Manhattan Beach Grand Prix (Rank 2.0)
Masters 55+
Place	License	Name	Team	SoCal Points
1	55591	Mitchell Weinstock	UC Cyclery/JW Flooring	28
2	54522	Kalman Szkalak	UC Cyclery/JW Flooring	22
3	47262	Dale Luedtke	UC Cyclery/JW Flooring	20
4	58847	Paul Rodriguez	UC Cyclery/JW Flooring	18
5	204724	Steve Cahill	Moonlight Velo	16
6	47255	Michael Birditt	Swami's Cycling Club	14
7	44197	Gary Shuey	Citrus Valley Velo	12
8	46255	Alex Collins	Canyon Velo	10
9	46688	Michael Mueller	UC Cyclery/JW Flooring	8
10	230085	Albert Shorts	Velo Allegro	6
11	202041	Mark Planellas	Southern California Velo	4
12	276778	Witold Czulak	Amgen-UBS Elite Masters	2
13	49424	Howard Miller	Paramount Racing	0
14	61193	John Wagenaar	UC Cyclery/JW Flooring	0
15	107559	Rodney Malloy	Velo Allegro	0
16	245777	Steven Borer	ACQUA AL 2/SDBC	0
17	142249	Richard Keegan	ironfly	0
18	275439	Peter Boberg	Platinum Performance Cycling Team	0
19	52251	Ricky Shorts	Velo Allegro	0
20	34753	Rick Swanson	Radsport Cycling Team	0
21	95649	Ken Burns	Southern California Velo	0
22	155459	Thomas Reilly	PAA / RE/MAX	0
23	271566	Alex Gonzalez	Velo Allegro	0
24	23055	Reed Mayne	Swami's Cycling Club	0
25	56643	Robert Shupper	PAA / SIXTUMED p/b CARE FOR DIABETICS	0
26	47314	Gary Prideaux	Lightning Velo	0
27	29477	James Reilly	BikePalace/BackOnTrack	0
28	6082	Ben Cardenas	CarreraPromo Bianchi Open Road	0
29	297255	Mitchell Odell	Unattached	0
30	195876	Alain Levi	South Bay Wheelmen	0
31	301372	Tom Herman	South Bay Wheelmen	0
32	55635	Pedro Ordaz	Unattached	0
33	15760	Mark Helvie	UC Cyclery/JW Flooring	0

2010 MBGP RACE PREVIEW

By John McKee

Mahattan Beach Grand Prix is Sunday June 27th. This is the second year that the 55s and 60s have been put back in this big event. 2009 was a successful showing of 55 and 60+ racer. There were 21 60 and 27 55 finishers in 2009. Not sure how many registered or showed up at the line. In 2010 there are 28 55s and 16 60s pre registered. Light on the 60s for sure.
Some of the favorites are shown in the pictures. This is only some of the favorites so please no one get bent out of shape because your photo isn't here. Keith Ketterer is entered in the race and will be an important counter balance to UCC. UCC dominated the action at SPGP. KK along with a grouping of other 55+ riders  like Mike Birditt, Steve Cahill, Al and Ricky Shorts, Rick Swanson, Alex Collins, and Mark Planellas should provide a strong non/UCC contingent. The UCC riders are in good form and are going to be dangerous. Paul Rodiguez won last year in a solo effort but with heavy team support. Paul is on good form having just won SPGP. If  it comes to a bunchie, look for Dale Luedtke or Mike Birditt. Kal Szkalak could win any number of ways.
In 60+ action look for John Rubcic to sit on the UCC train and use his great sprint to pull home yet another victory. Monty Pettus has won before at MBGP in 55+ and knows how to do it. Monty is hurting a little with his shoulder but doubt that will hold him back during the race. Mike Fleming is always dangerous at MBGP with his great bike handling skills. He does that last curve as good as anyone. Love to see an unknown win here but that is unlikely.
We must hope for a good clean race with NO CRASHES! Good luck and thank you to everyone that shows up at MBGP. This maybe our last year in the event unless we get some more same day regs. Hopefully with a few more registered riders Eric Smith will give us another shot in the lineup in 2011 at MBGP.

Pictured from top to bottom are: John Rubcic-60+, Mike Fleming-60+, Monty Pettus-60+, John McKee-60+, Mike Birditt-55+, Dale Luedtke-55+, Paul Rodiguez-55+, Keith Ketterer-55+ and Kal Szkalak-55+.

                                         

2010 SOCAL CUP TOP 10

SoCal Cup Standings For 2010

Masters 60+

Place	Name	License #	Team Name	SoCal Points
1	Bruce Steele	236498	South Bay Wheelmen	220
2	John McKee	180386	Paramount Racing	202
3	George Chester	196820	LIVESTRONG Army KC / Midwest Cancer Care	183
4	John Rubcic	48760	UC Cyclery/JW Flooring	175
5	Kenny Fuller	46765	Cycles Veloce	169
6	Raphael Gomez	3793	Cycles Veloce	148
7	Leo Pettus	219074	Paramount Racing	145
8	Glenn Baldwin	45047	SLO Nexus Cycling Club	122
9	James Morehouse	283640	Paramount Racing	113
10	Michael Fleming	129293	Coates Cyclery Cycling Club	103

SoCal Cup Standings For 2010

Masters 55+

Place	Name	License #	Team Name	SoCal Points
1	Kalman Szkalak	54522	UC Cyclery/JW Flooring	348
2	Dale Luedtke	47262	UC Cyclery/JW Flooring	266
3	Michael Birditt	47255	Swami's Cycling Club	201
4	Michael Mueller	46688	UC Cyclery/JW Flooring	187
5	Alex Collins	46255	Canyon Velo	173
6	Mark Huffman	59572	UC Cyclery/JW Flooring	152
7	Mark Planellas	202041	Southern California Velo	145
8	Steve Cahill	204724	Moonlight Velo	137
9	Robert Willcox	69952	UC Cyclery/JW Flooring	133
10	Eddie Morris	49080	Amgen-UBS Elite Masters	114