SWAMIS/PARAMOUNT DIF TO WIN AT CBR # 9 IN DOM HILLS

By John McKee

There are different ways to win a race and Gary Shuey and Monty Pettus used method # 1 and #2 at CBR's 9th race of the season on July 10th, 2011. 30 hardy and healthy 55 and 60+ racers came to CBR race course # 2 at Dom Hills. Chris Lotts had us racing on his new course on the west side of Wilmington Ave in the city of Carson. The old course which is the site of the upcoming Paramount  2011 SCNCA Masters Criterium Championship is not in any city actually. The mood of the race was tempered by the news of Swami's member Dale Luedtke being in the hospital for tests after a medical "incident" at his home. We all are wishing Dale a speedy recovery and return to racing. It didn't seem the same without Dale out there. Dale races every weekend unless his work keeps him away on Saturdays. SCNCA, CBR..doesn't matter. He is out there. See you soon, Dale. Swami's had 3 riders at this event and wanted to protect Dale's lead in the CBR BAR points in 55+. Fred Hoblit, Ricky Shorts and Pat Huber were next in line in BAR points so Mike Birditt of Swami's spent the entire race watching these 3 guys.
The 55/60+ race started right on time at 7:45 am. An early start but we are use to it. The masters women were already bitching about an early start at the Paramount GP for the 35/45+ championship crit. Like I told one of the women once the gals produce total entry numbers greater than some other group than they can move up the food chain. Otherwise TOUGH BANANAS, Ladies! We race early just about every week.
Since the 55/60+ guys were in their usual time slot it was no problem for the action to start early. Pat Huber of Velo Avanti got away with Steve Borer of SDBC and Alex Gonzeles of Velo Allegro right off the bat. No one felt much like chasing. Gary Shuey went to the front to pace and just keep us upright. The 3 adventurers actually got out of sight. I wasn't feeling that spry and didn't seem to have very good legs or  a good mental approach to this race. No SCNCA Socal points and I am way out of the BAR points which I won last year. Felt lazy.

Gary "Grasshopper" Shuey- winner of the 55+ race

Finally someone got off their duff and made a solo move but it wasn't solo for very long. Mike Birditt was all over Fred Hoblit. The 2 of them moved forward with no reaction from anyone else. Were there going to be riders all over the course? NO! The lead 3 fell apart and and Fred and Mike met up with them. Seemed like they all looked at each other and said....siesta time. We were all back together after 15 minutes of racing. We got 45 minutes of racing today so there were still 30 mins to go.  The minutes were counting down and not much was happening.
Pretty much everyone was following Gary Shuey around. Round and round we went. After a while Velo Allego's Ricky "Counselor" Shorts went up to Gary and put his arm around him. It looked like a very warm moment. Lol. Ricky said "Grasshopper, it is time for you to hop the pack. You must go solo". This really shook up the young grasshopper and he sprang forth. 7 laps to go and Gary was off the front in time trial mode giving it his all. Totally inspired by the sage and wise "Counselor".

Monty Pettus- winner of the 60+ race

Several others seem to also be inspired by Gary's example. Tom "Late Breaker" Reilly jumped and Steve Borer and Craig Jones chased and formed a threesome in chase of the "Grasshopper". With Swami's and Santa Clarita Velo ahead Fred Hoblit and Mike Birditt just sat in. The 3 riders were working well together and holding a small lead on the peleton. Gary was ahead of everyone and looking good.
Gary Shuey came across the finish line for the 1st rider in and the 55+ winner. Nice job, Grasshopper! The 3 other adventurers were also going to stay ahead of the pack. Don't think you could say there was a sprinter in the small group but here they came for the finish line. Tom Reilly bested everyone for 2nd place followed in by Steve Borer and Craig Jones. The pack was setting up for the field sprint with Santa Clarita Velo's Kirk Freeman on duty up front. Fred "The General" Hoblit was shouting orders to Kirk several riders back. The orders were the same every time. Go faster! The new course that Chris came up with is similar to the old one but slightly harder with a stinger hill between turn 3 and 4. After turn 3 it heated up with Mike Birditt, Fred Hoblit, Ricky Shorts, and Bob Wright shooting forward. Monty Pettus was right in the mix. I decided to stay on Monty's wheel this day. Tired of having trouble with bad "wheels" on the last lap. Monty knows what he is doing so I just stayed on him. Coming around the last corner the front mix was the same. Bob Wright was on his teammate, "The General" and whizzed by Monty and myself just before the last corner on the outside. Bob is very close in BAR points with Rich Stahlberg who was right behind me. Bob was looking good for a possible win in 60+.
Coming across the line were Mike, Ricky and Fred for 5, 6 and 7 in 55+. Things worked out great for Swami's in 55+. They won the race and none of Dale's competitors picked up as many BAR points as they could have. In 60+ Monty Pettus took the inside line and finished off Bob Wright. 1st place for Monty Pettus of Paramount. I clicked it up a gear and got out of the saddle and also got by Bob. 2nd place by the depth of my Envy carbon wheels. Bob checked the vid and filled me in. I knew we were close but figured I was ahead.
The race went well. A little sluggish at 24 mph. The 50+ race was 2 mph faster and the cat 3 race was 3.5 mph faster. It looks like at this moment that CBR will not be a separate race entity next year. Chris and Vera's races will most likely be part of the SCNCA. All cats will be get Socal points and elite categories will get upgrade points. They can still have their separate BAR series like Ontario does. I wish Chris and Vera the best. They are great for racing in Southern California. Thank you Chris and Vera for all you do for us, the racers! That's all for now folks! Train hard and race safe!
The finish lists for 55+ and 60+ are below:

60+ Finishers

1.  Monty Pettus - Paramount Racing

2.  John McKee - Paramount Racing

3.  Bob Wright - Santa Clarita Velo

4.  Richard Stahlberg - Ironfly

5.  William Carvin -

6.  Robert Paganini - PAA/Remax

7.  Cary Alpert - Southbay Wheelmen

8.  Mike Edwards - Herbalife La Grange

9.  Allen Kizuka - Velo Allegro

 55+ Finishers

1.   Gary Shuey - Swami's

2.   Tom Reilly - Santa Clarita Velo

3.   Steve Borer - Acqua al 2/SDBC

4.   Craig Jones - Velo Avanti

5.   Michael Birditt - Swami's

6.   Ricky Shorts - Velo Allegro

7.   Fred Hoblit - Santa Clarita Velo

8.   Don Denegal - Velo Allegro

9.   Pat Huber - Velo Avanti

10. Rodney Malloy - Velo Allegro

11. Brian Carrico - PAA/Remax

12. Gary Prideaux - Lightening Velo

13. John Sinz - Canyon Velo

14. Andrzej Fidelus - Ranchos

15. Kirk Freeman - Santa Clarita Velo 

16. Steve Diamond - Swami's

17. Tom Herman - Southbay Wheelmen

18. Pete Dern - Herbalife La Grange

19. Alex Gonzalez - Velo Allegro

20. Rino Barbagiovanni - Santa Clarita Velo

2011 ONTARIO GP #5 "EXTREMELY" FAST IN 55/60+

By John McKee

In honor of Paul Sherwin I used his favorite word in the title but the description was not far off in this race. This was probably the fastest race in 55/60+ that I have seen in quite a while or maybe the fastest ever in these categories. Ray Moreno of Dare and the promoter of the Ontario series had the 55/60+ racers using the Grand Prix course on this hot Sunday- July 3rd, 2011. The last 2 races at Ontario are always hot and this was no exception. I did get a pointer from a SDBC woman racer and former Paramount member. Take some ice and wrap it paper towels and stuff it between the boobs in the bra. She showed me so I know she did it. The problem was I don't wear a bra or have man boobs so this tip was no help to me. She did offer me some ice she pulled out of somewhere else but I don't know where it came from so I declined the offer. Thanks but no thanks.
The 55/60+ racers were to go off at 7:35 am but there was a crash on the last lap of the women's cat 4 race. You will have to check out how this woman was treated vs Kal Szkalak. The first aid crew which is this elderly couple that are very nice and provide very basic first aid. The first time I saw the woman she was on her back. No one wanted to move her. Suspected broken collarbone. We waited and waited for the paramedics to come but it took 20 to 30 minutes to get there. Ray said there was a miscommunication. Ray was over across from turn one with an Ontario police officer. They were trying to work with a tenant that was having an event and cone off some of our race course. Ray thought the first aid couple was going to phone for help but they didn't. Finally the paramedics got there. They took a long time before they took her away and in the end she didn't have a broken bone. Her shoulder was just bruised. I saw her back at the race course later with her arm in a sling. Compare that with Kal. A course marshall tried to badger him to get up and get off the course. Kal had a busted up shoulder, broken ribs and a punctured lung. Kal didn't want emergency aid which of course he should have taken. The race he was in wasn't stopped or shortened. Too bad, Kal. Just get out of the way.

Strongmen Keith Ketterer and Malcolm Hill of UBS/Breakaway from Cancer

Swami's speedsters- Mike Birditt and Dale Luedtke

After all was said and done the 55/60+ race was delayed between 50 and 60 minutes. We had a great turnout at somewhere between 45 and 50 racers. Most were 55+. When we all finally lined up we were told we were going to get 30 minutes to race vs the 40 we usually get there. There were a lot of strong 55+ riders  so everyone had better put on their seatbelts because they were in for a barn burner.
Swami's had their full race contingent. UBS/Breakaway from Cancer returned Keith Ketterer and Malcolm Hill from MBGP. No UC Cyclery riders were there. Fred Hoblit of Santa Clarita Velo was there with Kirk Freeman, Tom Reilly,  and Rino B. to support him. Ricky Shorts of Velo Allegro was there with Alex Gonzalez and Don Denegal to support him. With several shorts solo 55s in Steve Hensler and Steve Cahill the field was loaded with talent and fast riders. In 60+ the field wasn't quite as strong with the top 3 finishers from MBGP not in the field. Monty Pettus, John McKee, David Lang and Bob Wright looked to be the strongest 60+ riders in the field.
The race was off about 8:30 am. It started fast and kept up fast until the last 2 laps. Malcolm Hill and Keith Ketterer would tag team it with attacks off the front. Swami's would cover with Mike Birditt, Kim Bleth, Rick Swanson or Gary Shuey. A number of guys jumped in and there were quite a few small groups of riders that got not that far off the front. None of them seemed to have the right combination of riders to make a break work. There was one very strong group that fell apart about 1/3 the way through the race. KK, Mike Birditt, Fred Hoblit and Ricky Shorts got together. One of the riders wasn't pulling through and KK pulled the plug. The group stayed a short distance off the front and a number of riders were coming across the gap. At one point there were 7 or 8 riders off and in the end Fred Hoblit tried to take off with Mike Birditt but it was all back together shortly. The pace was almost always high. Coming around the last corner the speed was usually 30 to 32 mph with the sling shot dip at the last corner.
They don't have much in the way of prime sprints at Ontario but the Ontario series points prime sprint can be important. David Lang was in a commanding lead so I didn't try and contest him this time in 60+ and he took the prime sprint uncontested. Rick Swanson took the 55+ series primes points so Swami's is looking good there.
The final laps came up quickly with the shortened race. I heard 4 laps to go and we were all together. I was mostly up front and didn't see many of the 60+ racers. Monty was going to take it easy and move up later in the race because he had done a long training ride in Davis, Ca.. on Sat. and then drove over 7 hours to get home. He wasn't the only one a little tired. Malcolm Hill had done a 6 hour training ride on Sat. Malcolm is pointing toward Natz and Worlds. Malcolm was going to do the 55, 50 and 45 races at Ontario for training.
With the 4 laps to go Keith Ketterer went off the front solo. This is a very dangerous period for each race because solo riders don't want to use their energy to chase down someone because that would effect their finish. You would have thought Swami's would have brought some troops forward to put the chase on KK so that Mike and Dale could sprint for 1st place. KK didn't get that far away but he stayed there. It came down to 1 lap to go and KK was still out there. Gary Shuey went to the front to pace somewhere before the 1 lap to go card. He was pulling pretty good but not strong enough to eat into Keith's lead. Going into turn 2 of the 7 turns Gary was thinking, why am I doing this. I want to have a good finish as well. Mike Birditt had been right up there and I was on Mike and looking good if the pace stayed high the whole last lap but NO.... Once Gary turned it off all hell broke loose and this happens a lot in our races. I was getting swarmed and I was going to have to fight to stay in position. There were a lot of good 55s here plus David Lang, Bob Wright and Monty in 60+. I saw Monty move in good position and Bob Wright went by me so I grabbed onto his wheel. Should have raced against the field rather than specific 60+ riders but that's what I did. Dale moved up near Mike. With 3 corners to go it wasn't that fast.
KK is ahead and going to win. No one is going fast enough to catch him. Keith was actually looking to work on his field sprint but you take a win however it comes. Nice job, Keith. His teammate Malcolm as tired as he was had enough left to lead it out around the last 2 corners. Mike and Dale were playing off each other perfectly. They came by Malcolm with about 100 meters to go with Dale taking the field sprint for 2nd place and Mike taking 3rd place overall.
Monty Pettus had gotten himself in good position and finished very strong. Monty didn't get out of the saddle but finished after Mike for 4th overall and the first 60+ spot. Nice win for Monty. Ricky Shorts, Malcolm Hill, Steve Hensler and Fred Hoblit followed in. I would have thought Fred would have taken a flyer on the last lap like he did at MBGP but he didn't.
I was on Bob Wright and went wide around the last corner to come around his group and try and finish as high as possible. Monty was too far ahead but thought about another Paramount 1/2 finish. I went too wide
on the last corner and threw Kirk Freeman and Gary Shuey way off. Sorry guys.
I was coming home pretty good but wasn't paying close enough attention and saw a 55+ racer at the last second right in front of me and I tapped my brakes to keep from hitting him. Right then David Lang(2nd place) jumped hard and flew by me and Bob Wright(3rd place) did as well. Oh well. I finished 4th and behind me were Don Kimper, Phil Richards(Phil did some work on the last fews laps so didn't have a lot left in him), and Jim Swigart in 60+. Mike Fleming had done some pacing on the last few laps and didn't finish as didn't a few other 60+ riders.
The overall pace was over 26 mph. Gary Shuey had 26.5 on his Garmin GPS 500 computer. The fastest I have ever heard of here. Maybe not quite as hard as the previous week at MBGP but pretty close except on the last few laps. That was the standard treadmill mama bear speed. No crashes so that was great. Complete results below. Remember the Paramount Masters champ race is July 17th. $500 for 60+ and $1,000 for 55+. If anyone wants to contribute money or product for prime prizes, please contact me(ajmckee@sbcglobal.net). That's all for now folks! Train hard and race safe!

Ontario Grand Prix  (Rank 1.5)
Masters 55+
Place	License	Name	Team	SoCal Points
1	48434	Keith Ketterer	Breakaway-UBS Elite Masters	21
2	47262	Dale Luedtke	Swami's Cycling Club	17
3	47255	Michael Birditt	Swami's Cycling Club	15
4	52251	Ricky Shorts	Velo Allegro	13
5	156650	Malcolm Hill	Breakaway-UBS Elite Masters	12
6	15874	Steve Hensler	Team Redlands	10
7	16360	Fred Hoblit	Santa Clarita Velo	9
8	52086	Cyril Hunte		7
9	206734	John Huber	Velo Avanti Cycling Team	6
10	18156	Craig Jones	Velo Avanti Cycling Team	4
11	30596	Wayne Rosenkrantz	Pinnaclife Racing Team	3
12	21364	Jonathan Livesay	Montrose Cycling Club	2
13	44197	Gary Shuey	Swami's Cycling Club	0
14	250331	Peter Dufour	ACQUA AL 2/SDBC	0
15	66553	John Sinz	Canyon Velo	0
16	47314	Gary Prideaux	Lightning Velo	0
17	277180	John Roest	Rock N' Road Cyclery	0
18	155459	Thomas Reilly	Santa Clarita Velo	0
19	34753	Rick Swanson	Swami's Cycling Club	0
20	93812	Donald Denegal		0
21	49191	Kim Bleth	Swami's Cycling Club	0
22	178495	Steve Diamond	Swami's Cycling Club	0
23	186482	Rick Skalak	Santa Clarita Velo	0
24	271566	Alex Gonzalez		0
25	174212	Brian Carrico	PAA/REMAX	0
26	9271	Pete Dern	Herbalife LaGrange	0
27	61504	Andrzej Fidelus	Ranchos Cycling Club	0
28	167453	Bob Estupinan	Citrus Valley Velo	0
29	245777	Steven Borer	ACQUA AL 2/SDBC	0
30	12354	Kirk Freeman	Santa Clarita Velo	0
31	204724	Steve Cahill	Celo Pacific	0
32	49110	Rino Barbagiovanni	Santa Clarita Velo	0

Ontario Grand Prix  (Rank 1.5)
Masters 60+
Place	License	Name	Team	SoCal Points
1	219074	Leo Pettus	Paramount Racing	21
2	107852	David Lang	DARE	17
3	39024	Bob Wright	Santa Clarita Velo	15
4	180386	John McKee	Paramount Racing	13
5	195498	Donald Kimper	ACQUA AL 2/SDBC	12
6	238828	Phillip Richards	Citrus Valley Velo	10
7	228631	James Swigart	ACQUA AL 2/SDBC	9
8	50498	Richard Rodriguez	Pacific Sunset Velo/Pac Sun Velo	7
9	45763	Robert Paganini	PAA/REMAX	6
10	45342	Domenick Forte	PAA/REMAX	4

2011 MBGP HAS NEW "OLD" STAR IN 55/60+ RACE

By John McKee

It was the 50th year of the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix which started in 1962. SBW founder Ted Ernst started the race. Nice story about this in the Daily Breeze newspaper -
http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_18351653?IADID=Search-www.dailybreeze.com-www.dailybreeze.com
In 1962 Kenny Fuller traded in a paper route back when newspapers were delivered by bicycle for bike racing. Kenny's first major event was the 1st MBGP in 1962. Kenny has stayed with bike racing and in those 50 years has amassed 7 world titles, 42 national titles and over 750 wins and the holder of the world record in the one hour time trial on the track in 55+. Astonishing record. Of course. Another article in the Daily Breeze about Kenny- http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_18351660?IADID=Search-www.dailybreeze.com-www.dailybreeze.com

Kenny Fuller and his wife Pam relaxing after the race in the VIP tent. They are enjoying a nice serving of salad. Lol. Pam is looking a lot better here. Days before she had laser treatment on her face and she looked like someone took a 2 by 4 to her.

Kenny Fuller is still dishing it out nowadays. Not as often as he use to. The run of the mill local criteriums don't strike his fancy any more but he does like the big events like- natz, worlds and of course MBGP. The 55 and 60+ racers are always on the "clock" here as the SBW promoter and president of the SCNCA watches to see that all categories that are in the event are well attended. One year and I think that was 2008 that the women 3/4 took our place in the lineup but struck out with their numbers. Ever since the 55/60+ racers have had great turnouts. I believe this year we had between 60 and 65 sign ups. Not all finished. Thank you to all you guys that signed up. Your why we will continue to race at MBGP and else where. Great job! I want to also thank Eric Smith for giving us a second chance and keeping us in this awesome event.
The South Bay Wheelmen have always produced this event since it started and always do a great job and this year was no different other than it was a significant anniversary-50. The winners jersey was way cool. Yellow with a very nice but subtle design. Capo made. High quality. Looks great. The course has had a good number of crashes over the years and everyone talks about the final turn which Ralph Elliot the Southland's best bike race announcer calls the "Chevron Spin". It is a little tricky but no one crashes on it. It is always on the top of the course or after coming out of the turn. The cat 4 race traditionally has crashes and this year was no different. They piled up 25 or so coming into the finish line. It took quite a while to move everyone off the course and off to the local hospitals. This moved the 55/60+ start time back. There was a crash in the cat 3 race before the 55/60+ race and of the 5 guys that went down 3 were my teammates from Paramount. Not a very good start for the day for Paramount. None of the guys were hurt badly.
By the time rolled around for the start of the 55/60+ race it was 9:30 am. 45 minutes late. Our race was reduced 5 minutes to 35 minutes. We lined up with all of the strongest riders in 55+ and 60+ in the race. Kal and Alex from UC Cyclery were not here but everyone else was. The 55+ field had Keith Ketterer and Malcolm Hill from Breakaway For Cancer. Paul Rodiguez and Mike Mueller from UCC were at MBGP with Mike having just won the previous weeks SPGP. Swami's was there with a different strategy. No breaks with Paul R. or Mike M. unless Mike Birditt was in it. UCC's counter strategy was no go in breaks with Mike B. Pretty simple. The breakaway guys were going to try and do just that. KK and Malcolm would work with whoever thinking that they probably would be able to win the sprint. Fred Hoblit of Santa Clarita Velo has had good form and has a long sprint and would be looking to ride to his abilities.
In 60+ Kenny Fuller would like to go in  a break. John Rubcic of UCC was going to shadow Kenny and hope for a bunch sprint and come off Kenny at the end like he usually does. New 60+ racing sensation Mike Marotta hasn't done all the races but always does well in the ones he does and hasn't lost a crit he has done this year. He has a very long sprint and works with that premise. Monty Pettus and John McKee of Paramount were looking to come off a good wheel and sprint at the end. Bob Wright of Santa Clarita Velo and Fred Nicolet of SDBC are riding well in 60+ and could be factors in the race.
The riders were off with 35 minutes of racing. The early action was frenetic. Hard! Fast! KK, Malcolm Hill, Kim Bleth, Mike Mueller, Steve Bernede and Kenny Fuller were working and making the pace reasonable fast to very fast. At the end of the first lap 60+ racer Mario Seri lost control of his bike near the inside barrier after coming out of the "Chevron Spin". There are different stories as to what happened like clipping a pedal or his wheel locked up. Don't know but he lost control of his bike and he fish tailed and went down. Al Shorts was right behind him and went over the top and did a face plant into the orange wrought iron fence. I was on the outside and saw this and it freaked me out for a moment. I just tried to put it out of my mind and continued to race. The next time around the pack got the slow down because an ambulance was there picking up Al. Al was taken to a local hospital and got stitches in his lip, checked out and released. Hope Al is feeling better after what looked very ugly.
The course was slightly downhill from the start/finish line and also downwind. All that speed could then be used to race up the one short power climb and then the first 180 which wasn't bad. The top stretch of the course was hard because it was into the wind and had one small climb which added to the lung stress. Over the hump and it was a little easier and fast to the last corner the infamous "Chevron Spin". They changed it a bit this year and made you go wider where it was a little narrower. After the turn it was 250 meters to the line per the sign.
Any time in the race that Birditt showed his face in a break group... Shutdown! One time he hid behind Steve Cahill who was coming across a short gap to a small break group. Once there....Shutdown! No group of riders got far away from the reach of the peleton. About a third of the way through the race I started to see more 60+ riders moving up and made me worry. I always try and stay near the front and watch for 60+ guys. Kenny and John Rubcic were always at the front. Of course. John hasn't raced much this year but is still riding and racing at a very high level. I have told JR this many times before but he should go to natz. After about 25 minutes the pace was taking its toll on some 60+ riders. Some were falling off the pace or moving back in the pack.
There were many great primes. 2 place primes and primes for both 55 and 60+ racers. This drove the race. Fast. Ease off OR keep it going for a break move. The last major and I guess the only major break move started with Malcolm Hill, Pedro Ordaz, Rick Swanson and Mark Helvie. They had been going for a prime and keep it going. This was with about 6 laps to go. Pedro dropped off pretty soon. Rick was next to be dropped. Warning bells should have then gone off to Swami's but Mike Birditt decided to take a siesta. He figured the break would be caught and let himself go back a ways to take a breather before the finish. In the mean time Kenny Fuller went off in chase. He was using his time trial strength to catch the 2 leaders and help make the break really work.
Up front Mark Helvie was having mechnical troubles. His deraileur cable broke and his rear cassette was stuck in the 12. He either had to be in a 42 x 12 or 53 x 12 and Mark felt it was hurting their speed. The first news of laps to go was a call for 4 laps to go. Mike Birditt is back in the middle of the pack on his siesta time and the bells go off. Wow. 4 to go! Mark and Malcolm were still away and Kenny was gaining on them. The pace was pretty steady. The 2 laps to go call came up and someone unknown went to the front and hit it hard. KK jumped right on it and many thought it was him leading the peleton including a teammate that was watching the race. Keith was just following the wheel of another rider. The group got very close to Kenny and you could see it was curtains for him. Not sure when Kenny finally got picked up. I thought he would be very tired but not Kenny. A regular energizer bunny he is. The second to last lap was pretty hard. I was at the front but some of the starch was missing from my body.
The bell lap came and Gary Shuey of Swami's was pulling big time to bring everything back together. Swami's had waited too long but could still pull it out if everything went right for them. Mike Birditt came out of his slumber but was still pretty damn far back. We turned the top corner and the race just got harder. In the last few years the pace would let up because no one wanted to give themselves up to set a faster pace or UCC was off in a break. Coming to the little hill Mike Birditt went by me on my left. The correct side to move up on because the right side was death into the wind. If the left side had been clogged, I don't know what he would have done. Once over the hill Mark Helvie was picked up but Malcolm was still ahead. The pace slowed a bit and there was a shuffle of activity. Malcolm was picked up and Fred Hoblit launched it. KK was right on this as was 60+ rider Mike Marotta. They turned the "Chevron Spin" with a little bit of a gap. Mike Birditt, Paul Rodriguez, Steve Bernede, Dale Luedtke, Kenny Fuller, and John Rubcic were closing in on them. JR was "all in" on the follow Kenny strategy.
Fred was taking it from too far out to win but it was good for KK and Marotta. Marotta finished 1st. KK was the 2nd person across the line but the 1st 55+ rider. Mike Birditt was the 2nd 55+ rider and about 1/2 a wheel behind KK and 10 ft short of winning but that's bike racing. The first person across the line NOT the rider that is going the fastest. Fred Hoblit hung on for a well deserved 3rd place and the last podium spot. In 55+ Fred was followed in by Paul Rodiguez, Steve Bernede, Dale Luedtke and Mike Mueller.
In 60+ action John Rubcic played his cards perfectly from his master plan but opps.... John got by Kenny about 100 meters from the line but the new super star of 60+ Mike Marotta was the very 1st person to finish MBGP in 55/60+ and would be taking a well deserved winners jersey home with him. JR was 2nd and Kenny followed in. Monty Pettus and myself finished within a foot of each other at the line with Monty taking 4th. Everyone streamed safely in to finish off another addition of MBGP- 55/60+ style. Hard, fast, a little dicey and dangerous. Podium picks and complete results are below. That's all for now folks! Train hard and race safe!

60+ podium with reigning natz champ Kenny Fuller in the 3rd place position. Mike Marotta at the top. John Rubcic was working the race and couldn't make the podium.

Fred Hoblit- 3rd place, Keith Ketterer- winner, & Mike Birditt- 2nd place

60+ winner Mike Marotta with 55+ winner Keith Ketterer

Manhattan Beach Grand Prix  (Rank 2.0)
Masters 55+
Place	License	Name	Team	SoCal Points
1	48434	Keith Ketterer	Breakaway-UBS Elite Masters	28
2	47255	Michael Birditt	Swami's Cycling Club	22
3	16360	Fred Hoblit	Santa Clarita Velo	20
4	58847	Paul Rodriguez	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	18
5	126351	Steve Bernede	Team Werks	16
6	47262	Dale Luedtke	Swami's Cycling Club	14
7	46688	Michael Mueller	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	12
8	93812	Donald Denegal		10
9	52251	Ricky Shorts	Velo Allegro	8
10	156650	Malcolm Hill	Breakaway-UBS Elite Masters	6
11	52086	cyril hunte		4
12	50532	Deogracias Asuncion	SBW	2
13	61193	john wagenaar	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	0
14	204724	Steve Cahill	Celo Pacific	0
15	206734	John Huber	Velo Avanti Cycling Team	0
16	107559	rodney malloy		0
17	55635	Pedro Ordaz		0
18	44197	Gary Shuey	Swami's Cycling Club	0
19	280155	Victor Miera	FFKR Architects/SportsBaseOnline.com	0
20	49110	Rino Barbagiovanni	Santa Clarita Velo	0
21	178495	Steve Diamond	Swami's Cycling Club	0
22	271566	Alex Gonzalez		0
23	23055	Reed Mayne	Swami's Cycling Club	0
24	34753	Rick Swanson	Swami's Cycling Club	0
25	49191	Kim Bleth	Swami's Cycling Club	0
26	245777	Steven Borer	ACQUA AL 2/SDBC	0
27	222764	Thomas Buescher	South Bay Wheelmen	0
28	222523	Rick Carrera	Team Simple Green/Bike Religion	0
29	12354	Kirk Freeman	Santa Clarita Velo	0
30	301372	Tom Herman	South Bay Wheelmen	0
31	47314	gary prideaux	Lightning Velo	0
32	6082	Ben Cardenas	CarreraPromo/Competitive Edge	0
33	167453	bernard estupinan	Citrus Valley Velo	0
34	50765	richard Roberson	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	0
35	15760	Mark Helvie	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	0

 

Manhattan Beach Grand Prix  (Rank 2.0)
Masters 60+
Place	License	Name	Team	SoCal Points
1	72880	mike marotta	Action Sports/Simply Fit	28
2	48760	John Rubcic	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	22
3	46765	Kenny Fuller	Team Simple Green/Bike Religion	20
4	219074	Leo Pettus	Paramount Racing	18
5	180386	John McKee	Paramount Racing	16
6	39024	Bob Wright	Santa Clarita Velo	14
7	50911	Richard Stahlberg	Ironfly	12
8	3793	raphael gomez	Rage Cycling	10
9	107852	David Lang	DARE	8
10	195498	Donald Kimper	ACQUA AL 2/SDBC	6
11	45047	Glenn Baldwin	SLO Nexus-Gym One	4
12	238828	Phillip Richards	Citrus Valley Velo	2
13	189814	Leo Longo	South Bay Wheelmen	0
14	188249	Cully White	Pasadena Athletic Assoc (PAA)	0
15	101582	william carvin		0
16	170779	Edgardo Potes	Bike Palace	0
17	236498	Bruce Steele	South Bay Wheelmen	0
18	50498	Richard Rodriguez	Pacific Sunset Velo/Pac Sun Velo	0

UC CYCLERY SHOWS SOME OLD FORM IN 55/60+ @ SAN PEDRO GP

By John McKee

It's Sunday and Father's Day. Most of the 55/60+ racers don't have their father around any more but most are dads themselves so a early start was appreciated at the 2011 San Pedro Grand Prix. Not as early as usual but 9:35 am sounded pretty good. Unfortunately the area for the course of the SPGP has lots of parked cars and unaware folk. There were parked cars on the course that had to be towed away before the event could start and stack that with a pile up in the cat 4 race that stopped that race and we added 30 minutes to the start time.
UC Cyclery/JW Flooring came in with a lot of same day entries including president, Joey Valdiva. Pre reg Mike Marotta decided to forgo the SPGP to race the high point value ultra race in Lone Pine. For not seeming to understand the point system he sure caught on fast. His decision would move him into 1st place in 60+ for Socal Cup points.
It looked like a titanic battle shaping up between Swami's and UCC in 55+. Santa Clarita Velo had a limited crew of 2. In 60+ John Rubcic of UCC was there and looking fit. The Paramount duo of Pettus/McKee was there. This was Monty 1st shot at this course but I had done the race every time since it was brought back several years ago and won the 60+ cat in 2008. Fred Nicolet and Don Kimper of SDBC were there to add to the depth of the 60+ field.

Mike Birditt on a flyer after the MBGP prime-All pics from Jodie Borer

The race in 2011 was taken over by the Ironfly club and they were trying their best to put on a good race. I think they will get better as they learn the finer points of producing a race. The 55/60+ group finally got off a little after 10 am with about 40 riders. 60% of the riders were 55+. The first couple laps were lead by Gary Shuey of Swami's. Once we settled in and did the free entry for MBGP won by Steve Cahill and John Rubcic, Mike Birditt went on a flyer. He was just trying to stir the pot and see what shook out. It didn't work but A for effort. Lol. The first half of the race saw a number of moves and the pace was pretty high for this course. The only 60+ rider up near the front was John Rubcic and myself but Fred Nicolet joined in the action up front after about 15 minutes. It was pretty hard. Malcolm Hill of Breakaway from Cancer was there and is a super strong rider but didn't seem comfortable out there. The 1st race I have done that he has been in. I see him all the time on the Coffee Crew training ride in OC and know how strong he is. I hear he was working against Swami's and pretty much with UCC. He did do some early attacking countering off of Paul Rodiguez of UCC who also countered off of Malcolm. Were they working off each other? You think?

Tom Reilly, Mike Birditt & Paul Rodiguez- Steve Hensler in chase

About half way through the race Tom Reilly, Mike Birditt and Paul Rodiguez took off near the top of the course. Steve Hensler came across the short gap to join in the fun. I don't think Paul had his heart in a break with Mike. Why tow him to the line I assume was his thinking. Paul's mantra was "ABS". Anyone but Swami's. The group didn't last 1 lap. I think Mike should have put more effort in the break. Tom and Steve would surely have been game. Once caught the pack slowed of course. The pace was very surgee in the pack. When a block was on the pace would go way down but when a chase started the speed would really hit you in your lungs.

The next action was started by Mike Mueller and Gary Shuey jumped aboard quickly as you can see in the picture. Check out the faces of the 2 riders. They are really digging deep to get away. At  some  point

Mike Mueller jumps away with Gary Shuey in close pursuit

Mike Mueller leading off the winning break

Gary Shuey in chase of Mike Mueller

Tom Reilly joins Gary Shuey and Mike Mueller- You can still see the supreme effort being put in on their faces

The block was on from Swami's and UCC and the pace slowed way down

Tom Reilly joins the twosome. This was a full on lets try to take it to the house break. Since the 2 major teams had a strong rider in the mix, the block went on. The pace went down and though I liked the ease of the pace I knew that this was bad for me but maybe good for my teammate Monty Pettus. Monty was hoping for this exact thing before the race and he got it.
After a couple of laps Tom Reilly fell off the pace set by Mike Mueller. Gary was hanging in there. Malcolm Hill started a mini chase but didn't follow through and I know he could have. It was pretty much up to the strong solo riders like Steve Cahill, Steve Bernede and Steve Hensler all riding without a teammate to pull through and chase Mike and Gary.

Mike still pressing the pace with Gary hanging on and Tom tiring

Malcolm Hill leading a chase

Malcolm turning off the chase- no solo rider pulls through- UCC/Swami's/SC Velo won't

Mike and Gary keep it up and Tom comes back to the pack. They are going near max and working it together. They aren't going to be caught. On the last lap Mike jumped Gary and got a pretty good gap that Gary couldn't close and Mike Mueller rolled across the line the winner of the 55+ category! Gary Shuey was 2nd. Good job guys. UCC bested Swami's on this one.

Mike Mueller winner of the 55+ category

Back in the pack the pace was slow. Fred Hoblit, Steve Cahill and Paul Rodiguez jumped away within the last few laps. Mike Birditt and Malcolm Hill were marking each other and let this go. No one else chased.
On the last lap the pack hadn't reved it up until arrival at the top of the hill. About this time a car comes out of no where and gets between the threesome ahead and Mike Birditt who was leading the chase. I had been on John Rubcic's wheel but kind of freaked out and lost my focus. Fred Nicolet took a chance and jumped into the gutter and hit it. Birditt was almost drafting on the car. The driver didn't know what to do but finally pulled over to the right. Dumb shit.
From there to the last turn was a blur. I ended up on the outside of Tom Reilly's wheel going around the last downhill 180. I had been taking the turn well picking up spots each time. Braking early and then letting it go and taking it a little wider and faster than most. Tom locked up his bike and took it way wide and I had no choose but to stay outside him. 10 riders or more jumped inside me. My race was over.

Paul Rodiguez leading in the chase threesome

Paul Rodiguez lead the threesome in followed by Steve Cahill and Fred Hoblit. The field sprint followed with Malcolm Hill taking it from way outside. Malcolm was followed in by Dale Luedtke, Mike Birditt,

Field sprint won by Malcolm Hill- You can see John Rubcic in the middle with his head down- John won the 60+

and Don Denegal. In 60+ action John Rubcic passed Fred Nicolet coming home to win the 60+ category and add another victory for UCC. Fred was 2nd with Monty Pettus taking 3rd. It was Father's Day so it was time to pay honor to our fathers and except the praise from our children. Usually a fun special day for most. Happy Father's Day to you Dad and to all of your fathers and you that are fathers.  I had asked for pictures of you racers with your fathers and only got one response and that was from Jim Morehouse so there will only be 2 pics.  The rest of you are lolly gaggers. Podiums below along with complete placings. That's all for now folks! Train hard and race safe!

Clint and Jim Morehouse- 1971- Inglewood

John and Jack McKee- 1947- Long Beach

Paul Rodiguez-3rd, Mike Mueller-1st,  Gary Shuey-2nd

Monty Pettus-3rd, John Rubcic-1st, Fred Nicolet-2nd

San Pedro Grand Prix  (Rank 1.0)
Masters 55+
Place	License	Name	Team	SoCal Points
1	46688	Michael Mueller	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	14
2	44197	Gary Shuey	Swami's Cycling Club	11
3	58847	Paul Rodriguez	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	10
4	204724	Steve Cahill	Celo Pacific	9
5	16360	Fred Hoblit	Santa Clarita Velo	8
6	156650	Malcolm Hill	Breakaway-UBS Elite Masters	7
7	47262	Dale Luedtke	Swami's Cycling Club	6
8	47255	Michael Birditt	Swami's Cycling Club	5
9	93812	Donald Denegal		4
10	15874	Steve Hensler	Team Redlands	3
11	52086	cyril hunte		2
12	61193	john wagenaar	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	1
13	155459	Thomas Reilly	Santa Clarita Velo	0
14	206734	John Huber	Velo Avanti Cycling Team	0
15	49424	howard miller	Paramount Racing	0
16	126351	Steve Bernede	Team Werks	0
17	301372	Tom Herman	South Bay Wheelmen	0
18	245777	Steven Borer	ACQUA AL 2/SDBC	0
19	47314	gary prideaux	Lightning Velo	0
20	34753	Rick Swanson	Swami's Cycling Club	0
21	178495	Steve Diamond	Swami's Cycling Club	0
22	222764	thomas buescher	South Bay Wheelmen	0
23	167453	bernard estupinan	Citrus Valley Velo	0

San Pedro Grand Prix  (Rank 1.0)
Masters 60+
Place	License	Name	Team	SoCal Points
1	48760	John Rubcic	UC Cyclery/JW Floors	14
2	26089	Fred Nicolet	ACQUA AL 2/SDBC	11
3	219074	Leo Pettus	Paramount Racing	10
4	3793	Raphael Gomez	Rage Cycling	9
5	180386	John McKee	Paramount Racing	8
6	195498	Donald Kimper	ACQUA AL 2/SDBC	7
7	188249	Cully White	Pasadena Athletic Assoc (PAA)	6
8	238828	Phillip Richards	Citrus Valley Velo	5
9	170779	Edgardo Potes	Bike Palace	4
10	107852	David Lang	DARE	3
11	50911	Richard Stahlberg	Ironfly	2
12	61278	Mario Seri	Herbalife LaGrange	1
13	101582	William Carvin		0