VET'S IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Veterans Express Weekly Roundup S.A Veteran Cycling

with Richard Surfield

all photographs copyright impact internet services 2000 Ron Whitehorn Open 24-6-01 Strathalbyn It wasn't all that great a day for racing by the time 102 competitors were on the road and heading south west on the first leg of the Strath - Goolwa - Strath Road race last weekend [24/6/01]. Sure it was sunny, yes the skies were clear and as bright blue as any summer day, there was nothing wrong with the road conditions, the organization was pretty good, so after all that what was the problem? A howling Nor'wester was blowing an ill wind across the course and that would spell doom for many riders, in particular the division two competitors. Chasing the bunches on the road I watched as riders were dropped off the various echelons as they struggled through the first 34kms to reach the turnaround at Goolwa. Division 1 was all together at Goolwa but soon the two top guns from Team Mittiga would decimate the dwindling bunch and take command of the event. Past the Ashbourne turnoff and on a sharp rise there were words between the pack and then an attack came that would leave just three riders out in front for the last 17km of the race. It wasn't all that easy for the Mittiga riders but they rode like true professionals as they went on the attack. It could be likened to a couple of sharks sorting out a shoal of herrings. First they seperated the riders into three isolated groups with Moore clearly up front. Then McLoughlin dived through the thrashing, mortally wounded survivors to join with Moore and settle in to the task at hand, winning a bike race. It was no surprise to me, because when it comes to the consistency awards, Moore and McLoughlin are determined to get the big points and on this occassion they seemed happy to work with Mike Ellaway who had been clever enough to escape the carnage. After all, Mike is a hard working rider and no threat in a sprint. So that was it and unfortunately I had to scoot with the breakaway so I cannot give you a rundown on division two. In a quick downhill, tailwind sprint McLoughlin was a fraction to good for Moore and Ellaway was happy with the points for third and the prizemoney on offer.
There was still a concern for the two Mittiga riders because if Geoff Hillman was able to win Division 2 it would place him in equal top spot on the Impact Consistency Awards with McLoughlin. As organizer of the awards I was rubbing my hands with the prospect of what might evolve. Unfortunately Geoff was only able to manage 4th but it was a great effort by the former S.A Time Trial Champion and it still makes that points race interesting. full results click here HARBOUR CRACKDOWN V&LCC gets tough on rogue riders breaking traffic rules Leading South Australian veteran cycling club the V&LCC based in the north western suburbs at Outer Harbour is to be applauded for the tough stance it has instigated in a major crackdown on those riders who choose to disobey state traffic rules while competing in events conducted by the club. The tough penalties were instigated after discussions between corner marshall Ray Brock and senior club officials revealed that one bunch of riders chose to ignore the warning devices that were activated on the rail crossing at Strathfiled Terrace by riding around the boom gates and then across the line when a train was approaching. After prior discussions with the S.A Veterans Gazette regarding the article below, club official David Darrel was shocked to learn of the latest incident from Brock and the club executive quickly met to discuss the breach and formulate a penalty plan for future offenders. While the initial fine of just $10 per rider was just a "slap on the wrist", club referee Doug Kaesler wasn't mucking around when he warned all present [and in the strongest tones possible], that in future any offences at the "Harbour" will attract not only a wallet lightening fine of $50 but also a FOUR [4] WEEK SUSPENSION of a riders licence.
While this may seem tough to some people, it is a lot less of a penalty than riders would receive if booked for crossing a railway line as a traffic offence, eg:
Failure to give way to a train or tram at a level crossing #A297 $168[+$7] 3 demerit pts
Crossing unbroken lane lines/riding wrong side of road #A321 $104[+$7]
Failure to stop at a stop sign #A241 $205[+$7] 3 demerit pts
and just remember that if you are riding you're bike and you hold a drivers licence, the demerit points for some offences may be applied to it. It will now be interesting to see just what the SDV&L CC comes up with as an education process for the safety of their riders and officials. To accept less than the standards now applied by the V&LCC could be seen as being weak while at the same time undermining the determination of the "Harbour" clubs resolve to ensure riders act both responsibly and with an awareness that they alone hold the future to their riding careers in their hands.
Finally it is time to ensure that all clubs have an active referee at each and every race conducted. Someone who is paid a small fee [to cover petrol expenses] and can do a few laps with riders and observe what is going on and have a presence at racing. If clubs can't do that every week then a shift will have to be made which may see extra "open" events incorporated on the calendar so that racing can be safely conducted and a referee is present. The descision on a referee may have to be forced on clubs by the state body if they [the clubs] fail to adopt the right approach to protecting the council, its members, sponsors and the general public while they are conducting races sanctioned by the SAVCC. Ron Whitehorn Memorial RR 17-6-01 Outer Harbour MORE WHITEHORN MEMORIAL RACE PHOTOGRAPHS click here Fine weather, streaming sunshine and clear skies made it a perfect winters day for competitors racing in the annual Ron Whitehorn Memorial at the "Harbour" this year. Everything appeared to be just right except for a chilling wind which lightly blew from the east across the 10km course, located in the north western suburbs of Adelaide. The route riders would take today incorporates a long stretch of picture postcard perfect blue seas, white sandy beaches and out to see a myriad of colorful marine craft sailing the coast line. Not that the riders would actually see much because right from the start, both divisions of the annual handicap event were under heaps of pressure. In Div2 it was the four minute bunch who worked hard to reel in the out markers and forge their way to a solid victory. In fact they did so well they took five of the seven major places today. Peter Cmeil grabbed an impressive win while fellow bunch rider and "evergreen" Stan Malbut took second. Special mention should be made of a couple of riders who did a sterling job to get amongst the placings. The first is Fred Smith, what a champion he is for his age. It doesn't seem to matter where the handicapper puts Fred he just gets inthere, busts his guts out and hey presto, a few bucks each week in the kitty. Well done Fred! Then there is Jeanette Margrate. Not riding all that long but always improving and having a go. Her perseverence was rewarded with 5th place overall. Keep it up Jeanette, you're also doing a great job and certainly a standout for the ladies. In Div1 it was a very impressive ride by the scratchmen who flew round the course early but then cruised in with a time of 74 minutes dead for the 50km's. While the 40.5kph average may seem to indicate a pedestrian rate for the "top guns" I can assure you that the bunch worked their collective butts off to catch the field and then just bided their time for a sprint finish. Credit where credit is due, they [the scratchmen] did a superb job to wipe out the 8 minute deficit before launching Mark Piro to the front. It was touch and go to the line but Piro was able to hang on in a photo finish. Piro also took fastest time with an added bonus of placings to Rick Staehr and Baden Brosnan. Special race awards went to Brian Kirwin [1st over 60 in Div1], Audrey Donsen [1st unplaced Female Div2] and John Jones [1st over 60 Div2]. full results click here SDV&LCC Road Race Chivers climbs to victory in Twin Peaks Greg Chivers took out the Twin Peaks division one in cold mid winter conditions to record his first club victory for 2001. It was not a day for scratch riders with several strong groups remaining in front up the steep and difficult climbs up Willunga and Wickhams Hills. All the place getters in division one started in the early groups. Dave Martini laboured solidly again to take second following up last weeks third place in B grade in the Dean Stephens Scratch races at the Flat. Claude Altin and Rob Gaggini both displayed a favourable return to form to claim third and fourth places. Barry Smith and Dave Clarke made a return to the winners list taking fifth and sixth places after working earnestly with a very fast group that caught some of the division two riders before the first climb on Willunga Hill.
Division two had early starters also feature in the major places. A tough fast ride from the 15 minute group saw Byron Gordon lead home Trudy Fenton and Dave Symmonds. Byron and Dave both continued their excellent run of results following up good places last weeks Scratch races. Trudy made a welcome appearance after an absence from the winners list for some time. Scratch riders took out the next three places with Steve Hazel improving on his last club result of eighth in the handicap event several weeks ago. Russell Osmond continues to impress along with Eddie Collins with both riders featuring prominently in results this year.
The fastest time on the day is no surprise with the irrepressible Shane Gill completing the difficult course in 1 hour 34 minutes and 36 seconds. Peter Blackburn continued his very admirable efforts to win the fastest over 65 and seventh place in division two while Vicki Birks showed excellent speed on the steep climbs to be the fastest lady clocking 1 hour 55 minutes and 49 seconds. full results click here SAVCC STATE ITT

Frank Moore - Team Mittiga

Dave Gomer - Herb Valley

MEN - distance 17KM

35-39 1 P MOORE 23.49 2 S GILL 25.04 3 D MARTINI 25.11

40-44 1 T MCLOUGHLIN 24.16 2 M KOESTER 24.43 3 P TAYLOR 24.51

45-49 1 D GOMER 24.05 2 G CHIVERS 24.57 3 J GILES 25.23

50-54 1 R DEED 25.20 2 J OLDS 26.29 3 J AMOS 26.45

55-59 1 J DISTEFANO 27.08 2 T TRANENT 27.31 3 G HILLMAN 27.56

60-64 1 G BARNES 27.32 2 G BANKS 27.52 3 M BOAS 28.20

65-69 1 P BLACKBURN 28.56 2 B KERWIN 28.59 3 B HARGREAVES 29.24

70-74 1 F MOORE 26.37 2 KNOCKLES 29.14 3 S WILTON 32.23

75-79 1 D WHITEHORN 30.00 2 B SWEETMAN 40.23

WOMEN - distance 17KM)

35-39 1 J MARGRATE 33.00

40-44 1 V BIRKS 27.44 2 C DANGERFIELD 28.10

45-49 1 K HAARSMA 30.31

50-54 1 K LOGAN 30.01 2 D GODDARD 33.21

55-59 1 K JONES 43.46

WAKEUP CALL FOR SAVCC It was only a few short years ago that racing was banned for cyclists on the roads of South Australia after a clever, but anti-cycling member of the public found a law prohibiting vehicles from racing on the roads within our state. While the act really meant cars, motor cycles and the like, because our state considers that a push bike is a vehicle, racing was stopped. Eventually all parties associated with promoting cycling events on the road agreed to a set of management rules that would be strictly adhered to. It seems that the SAVCC and its two clubs have a short memory and a decided lack of concern for the legal implications to their members and the legal implications of the members should they be involved in an accident while clearly breaking the law. Lets look at a couple of good examples.
Down at the "harbour" they have to race across a railway line. On TWO [yes two(2)] occassions I have seen riders blatantly go around the boom gates when the crossing is closed and a train was coming. To make it worse, this was done in FULL VIEW of motorists who then reported to the flag marshall on Strathfield Terrace their displeasure. Now as Len Nieuwenhoven [club president] knows and is fully aware of, this had been going on for some time,but their attitude is that a stupid, blatant, breach of the road traffic act needed just a slap on the hands for the riders concerned. Last two occassions I was at the "harbour", riders from the club were across TWO lanes of the highway one[1] kilometre from home, totally disregarding the rule that riders must keep to the left of the road at all times.
Last weekend I was at the "southern vets" for their grade race at Blewitt Springs. Once again riders showed a toal disregard for the rules of the road by riding 5 and 6 wide [in two grades] while on one occassion blatantly blocking the progress of a motor vehicle. To make it worse in both of these instances one rider rode on their own on the right hand side of the road while climbing the hill, on a narrow approach to a blind rise.
The Trek Open at "the range" provided another insight in to how a lack of responsibility could jepodize all the hard work done to get us back on the road and see cycling banned again! The biggest problem here is that traffic belts through the finish line and when I saw riders coming some 120 metres from the finish and a four wheel drive coming head on at them I attempted to stop the car and was told to piss off as they drove through. The reason this happened is because open events are classed as a "MANAGED EVENT" under the original agreement struck with S.A POLICE [and all parties] and requires a flag marshall to control traffic with a red & green flag. This didn't happen and so cars [to give them the benifit of the doubt] continued through at normal speeds. This is not the first time that this has happened at "the range" when aggressive drivers have charged through nor when riders on the same course have riden blatantly on the wrong side of the road, on corners, across double or unbroken lines in total disregard for anyone else. It's time it stopped because one day we are going to see a tragedy that just might end in a coroners court and that will be the end for everyone.
The SACVCC is the controlling body for its members racing here in south australia and they MUST call the club presidents and the club delegates to a meeting and lay down the law in the strongest terms possible. They must ensure that each club has a REFEREE at each and every event who FOLLOWS the riders and hands out some penalties to offending riders [ie $10 plus loss of any prize monies coming for 1st offence, $25 and loss of licence for 1 month where a rider again breaches the road traffic act]. The council is not a toothless tiger and it has the consitutional powers to act on what is happening at club levels. In the end it will all fall on the councils heads. The time has come to act in an URGENT manner and not let these blatant disregards continue in veteran cycling here in south australia. The clubs wanted a VETERANS COUNCIL, the clubs wanted to run their own affairs and from my point of view they are doing a piss poor job on safety that is just not in the spirit of what we set out to achieve when veterans voted to run their own destiny. SDV&LCC WRAP-UP reports thanks to SDV&LCC MEDIA ..... Barry Timmins reporting
Further information on the SDV&L CC please contact
Press officer Barry Timmins ph 8323 8634
email ...........here 10-6-01 In form Shane Gill took out a deserved first place in the A grade division of the Dean Stephens Graded Scratch races on Sunday. His recent form would have made him favourite to win his section. He was runner up to Peter Moore in last weeks State Championship Time Trials at Outer Harbour in Category One and a winner in May in the A grade Trek Cycles event . Results from that event have a remarkable similarity to today with Alan Gill and Peter Moore showing a continuation of their excellent form to gain places once again. Category Three State Time trail Champion Dave Gomer and third placed John Giles made up an impressive group who where never going to be challenged for the places in a tough Grade.
James Russell and Martin Refermat continued their regular battle in B grade finishing as they did in the Trek Cycles event in May. Paul Bell was another place getter who also featured in the Trek event and continues to show steady form. Dave Martini ( Third in State Time Trial Category One ) and John Amos( Third in Category Four ) took the remaining spots.
C Grade saw the form book not predicting the result with a good win to Brian Martin. Jimmy Olds, Norman Hoy, Ian Davis and Marcus Roberts ( promoted from D Grade in the Trek Cycles event after taking second ) took out the places.
Justin Dawson repeated his good form from the Trek Cycles but improved on his fourth place and blitzed the field to take out D grade. His most recent club event two weeks ago suggested that he would do well when he was placed ninth on a difficult race day in a handicap event. John Lapidge, Eddie Collins, Wayne Stevens, and improving President Dave Milne took out the places.
E grade was won by Laurie Pearce who seems to like this style of racing. He was the winner in F grade for the Trek Cycles event and showed strength to hold off a fast finishing group headed by State Womens Category Five Time Trail Champion Kate Logan. Dave Symmonds showed considerable courage after falling off and getting some painful injuries to get back on to the group and take out fourth. Byron Gordon, and Dave Beaumont took the remaining places. full results click here RACE FOR POINTS John Giles [Blackwood Velo-City] leads Shane Gill & Dave Gomer[Herb Valley] Consistency Award sets new record for entries The Herb Valley Consistency Awards are booming with already record entries attracting the points as the chase for the most consistent rider in south australia really hots up. Don't forget that the State Road Champs gave 10 bonus points and they could [at the end of the season] mean the difference between being in the prize monies and awards or missing out all together. Also there is an ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD each OPEN RACE that is in the Consistency Awards with beaut prizes to keep the interest high in this very challenging series open to all holders of a current AVCC licence who are registered with a south australian SACVV club. full details AND results click here Enquiries for the Southern Veterans(McLaren Vale) can be directed to Peter Blackburn on (08)8373 0224.
Enquiries for the Outer Harbour Veterans can be directed to Len Nieuwenhoven on (08)826 03181.


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