iMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM DARREN CLARKE REFERENCE LAST LUDGERSHALL
Dear all,
Well this is going to be the last in the series of Ludgershall… I have just filled envelopes with over £1000 for the series top riders. The 4th cats that have progressed to 3rd cat have had their 3rd cat points added to their tally for fairness. The E123 have many riders with 10 points so the cut off has been pushed up to 8th position. I hope that you have enoyed the series and that the racing has been exciting and allowed you to get fitter for the real racing this year. The racing has been excellent and it is always pleasing to see the bunch stretched to the limit lap after lap with all riders working hard. There have been crashes which have marred the racing somewhat, they are always bad and nearly always caused by rider error, please ride safely during your careers and see this as the priority.
There will be a quick prize presentation at the start of each race with the podiums out so if you are a top 3 winner please come along and collect your prize. There will be bubbly spilled, top 10s will get your money at the race! I know that the weather will be bad so all presentations will be done quickly, including the Inter Club competition between the Army Cycling Union and the Andover wheelers (won by the ACU) which will be presented at the start of the 3rd cat race.
See you there.
As before…
THE PARKING FOR RIDERS WILL BE BEHIND THE GUARDROOM , OFFICIALS AND SPECTATORS WITH CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO PARK ON THE RAMP (MAX 20 SPACES), NO PARKING AT THE TOP OF THE RAMP.
- The toilet facilities is the portaloo in the car park. you can urinate eu natural around the top part of the circuit out of vue from the the HQ trailer, save the portaloo for a No 2s. Do not expose yourself in view of spectators, Tim the chief commissaire is handing out fines for perpetrators. Also whilst changing try to reduce exposure of bodies, use a towell to cover your modesty.
- Warming up will be over the railway line at the top of the ramp approx 100 metres worth. If you need more bring your turbo trainer along, personally I warm up on lap 1. There is to be no warming up either on the main camp or outside the front gate. You will also get 2 laps warm up prior to your race.
The action this weekend will be as follows:
Signing on for the racing will open at 0830.
It will be an odds and even race with riders with odd numbers in race 1 and even numbers in race 2. Max field size for each race is 40 riders.
0940 – Race 1 – 30 mins + 3 laps
1020 – Race 2 – 30 mins + 3 laps
3rd cat race. with any 4th cat riders over the maximum field of 80 riders in the first 2 races.
1100 – 35 mins + 3 laps
E123 cat race.
1145 – 45 mins + 3 laps
Race pointers for those new to racing:
The circuit is under 1 mile so you are allowed a lap out for a mechanical issue, this needs to be confirmed by the commissaire. The owness is on the rider to present themselves to the commissaire to be given a lap out. Tim the commissaire will either confirm or deny your lap out, if denied you will need to catch up with the bunch. You are expected to bring your own tools and spare wheels to the event, there is no neutral service and other riders are not to be used without permission.
The 4th cat racing is 30 minutes plus 3 laps. No laps out with 3 laps or under to go. The finish is excellent for sprinting with a sweeping last bend but this means that we usually get blanket finishes. We have a forward facing camera for the on the line shot and a rear facing camera which picks up the numbers some 50 metres up from the line, these are then cross checked for the result. It is still not 100% but close. It is best to ensure that your number is clearly visible and well pinned on in the middle of your back over where your pockets are. If you are rider 13 have it the right way up, not the wrong way up else you get DQ’d, do not have a gilet covering the number else you may not get placed.
Safety is the No#1 priority for me we have had some nasty crashes in the last couple of weeks, if you are struggling with the proximity of other riders stay at the back until you gain the experience- don’t worry it will come it just takes time. During the racing ride well, ride fast and look out for one another, indicate your intentions to those around you, try not to brake sharply and keep your line. It is a race so have a go at a breakaway, make your race memorable! There will be a £100 prize for any breakway gaining more than 1 minute (valid for the 4th and 3rd cat races only!). Keep your front wheel behind the rear wheel of the rider in front lest they take your balance away by switching you.
Hope this helps, lets have a great, safe race.
See you Saturday
Kind Regards
Darren Clarke
Army Cycling Union
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