2019 Turkey Trot Cross: The Annual Gobbler Gathering
Something hit me. Something hit me on my right leg, calf. Not a thud type hit, more a splat type hit. My aaughh exclamation was not one of surprise, it was more augh! why did I put myself in a position to be hit in the leg to begin with. I mean I had been watching, from a different angle, the frosting fly from riders' fingers and hands for a couple minutes. I just had to move downstream from where the hand-ups of those little Patty's Cakes were taking place, I mean photos of mouths full with desserts are always attractive, yes? There was no lack of takers either; if I had left it parked close enough, I would have jumped on my bike to take one too. The problem, of course, was what to do with all that frosting, the frosting that didn't make it into your mouth, and is now a big white glop on your glove? Well, fling your hand downward quickly and let that stuff fly, and where it lands nobody knows. Except me. Carlos was the one exception, those bibs were going to have to be washed anyway - the ladies doing the hand-ups got a fun kick and laugh out of that.
The hand-up, it is just one of those little things that sets Cross apart.
But I am getting ahead of things a little, so let's back up for a minute; The 2019 Turkey Trot Cross took a turn from what had become a kind of traditional venue at Verdugo Park in Glendale. Instead, this years gobbler gathering took place on the opposite side of the metro area, way over by the coast, as in Costa Mesa. At a time when local road racing, with few exceptions, has been whittled down to industrial park criteriums, the SoCalCross team continues to bring us races at interesting venues; such as Estancia Park. Show of hands, how many people took a leisurely stroll up the hill to visit the restored Diego Sepulveda adobe? Well, after my one circuit of the course scared me away from attempting any more than that at a race pace I did and, as noted above it is an interesting place, with a long history - from land over which Acjachemen and Tongva people roamed to cattle ranch to growing city. You can now add cyclocross race venue to the historical timeline.
Speaking of history, how 'bout those bikes. I can't recall another race in which so many vintage and, shall we say unique, bikes were brought out to be raced. Some of those old steel rigs still making the circuit, but for my money the Schwinn with bell, wheel reflectors, fenders and single-speed (of course) won the prize. The silver helmeted kid riding that classic, after pausing for just a moment at the top, descended that last bit of hill like gliding down the face of a wave. Smooth and effortless.
A few hours later, and a whole lot of racing in between, someone nearby yelled out "Go Brandon!" as the front of the Mens 'A' race cleared the barriers and raced around that 180º turn that came right after. The problem with that is two Brandon's were battling for 1st and 2nd and, in a unison so perfectly timed you might have thought it had been planned, both responded with, "which one!?" Still closely chasing (and finishing only thirty-two second behind the other two), came Molly Cameron and, only a little further back Kent Hammond (currently 2nd in the Series standings). Then, in one of those rare moments reminding us that even the best mess up, Kent misjudged the first barrier and crashed down hard. It looked bad and there was genuine concern all around, but there was hardly a moments hesitation, before he jumped back up and continued on, racing to a 4th place finish behind the other three.
It was quite a day of action, all around, the venue turned out to be superb and the course challengingly designed. Alas, with only two more weekends on the schedule, the season is drawing down. But that is still a potential four days, four opportunities to come out and cheer, even give it a try - the first-timers' race is only a lap - I know you can do that!
Next up CACX Weekend at Irvine Lake, 30 November and 1 December. See you there!
Oh man, instead of getting more refined at the selection process I think I am getting worse. It was quite a struggle to get the race album narrowed down to 250 pics. Oh well, you can have at 'em here.
The hand-up, it is just one of those little things that sets Cross apart.
But I am getting ahead of things a little, so let's back up for a minute; The 2019 Turkey Trot Cross took a turn from what had become a kind of traditional venue at Verdugo Park in Glendale. Instead, this years gobbler gathering took place on the opposite side of the metro area, way over by the coast, as in Costa Mesa. At a time when local road racing, with few exceptions, has been whittled down to industrial park criteriums, the SoCalCross team continues to bring us races at interesting venues; such as Estancia Park. Show of hands, how many people took a leisurely stroll up the hill to visit the restored Diego Sepulveda adobe? Well, after my one circuit of the course scared me away from attempting any more than that at a race pace I did and, as noted above it is an interesting place, with a long history - from land over which Acjachemen and Tongva people roamed to cattle ranch to growing city. You can now add cyclocross race venue to the historical timeline.
Speaking of history, how 'bout those bikes. I can't recall another race in which so many vintage and, shall we say unique, bikes were brought out to be raced. Some of those old steel rigs still making the circuit, but for my money the Schwinn with bell, wheel reflectors, fenders and single-speed (of course) won the prize. The silver helmeted kid riding that classic, after pausing for just a moment at the top, descended that last bit of hill like gliding down the face of a wave. Smooth and effortless.
A few hours later, and a whole lot of racing in between, someone nearby yelled out "Go Brandon!" as the front of the Mens 'A' race cleared the barriers and raced around that 180º turn that came right after. The problem with that is two Brandon's were battling for 1st and 2nd and, in a unison so perfectly timed you might have thought it had been planned, both responded with, "which one!?" Still closely chasing (and finishing only thirty-two second behind the other two), came Molly Cameron and, only a little further back Kent Hammond (currently 2nd in the Series standings). Then, in one of those rare moments reminding us that even the best mess up, Kent misjudged the first barrier and crashed down hard. It looked bad and there was genuine concern all around, but there was hardly a moments hesitation, before he jumped back up and continued on, racing to a 4th place finish behind the other three.
It was quite a day of action, all around, the venue turned out to be superb and the course challengingly designed. Alas, with only two more weekends on the schedule, the season is drawing down. But that is still a potential four days, four opportunities to come out and cheer, even give it a try - the first-timers' race is only a lap - I know you can do that!
Next up CACX Weekend at Irvine Lake, 30 November and 1 December. See you there!
Some results:
Men 35+ B (CX3-5): 1st Brett Cowan (Snake Pit), 2nd Sam Selfridge (Velo Club La Grange), 3rd Warren Sutton (Velo Club La Grange)
Men 45+ B (CX3-5): 1st Jose Vigil (UC Cyclery / JW Floors), 2nd Darin Tanikawa (unatt), 3rd Toyoto Ono (Big Orange)
Women 55+ (CX1-5): 1st Patricia Murray (San Diego Bicycle Club), 2nd Rhonda Geiszler (UC Cyclery / JW Floors), 3rd Cindy Fenton (Sisterhood of Cycling)
Men 55+ (CX1-5): 1st David Turner (Turner Bikes), 2nd Jay Thornton (Dugast), 3rd Daniel Funk (Velo Club La Grange
Men 65+ (CX1-5): 1st Jon Miller (Stonehaus / Trek), 2nd Robert Willcox (UC Cyclery / JW Floors), 3rd Robert Bernhard (Cal Coast Bicycles)
Men 35+ C (CX4-5): 1st Juan Silva (Monster Media), 2nd (Jonathan Hyla (Dad Bike), 3rd (L. J. Miller (Bosch Knobbe Martens)
Men C (CX4-5): 1st Eric Martins (unatt), 2nd Matt Frazier (Dad Bike), 3rd Dylan Nerren (Monster Racing)
Men 35+ A (CX1-5): 1st Brian McCullock (Elevate / KHS Pro Cycling), 2nd Nicolas Moya (Rapha LA), 3rd Craig Northway (UC Cyclery / JW Floors)
Men 45+ A (CX1-5): 1st Derric Swinfard (Monster Media Racing), 2nd Chuck Anderson (Monster Media Racing), 3rd Carlos Matia Mendigochea (Subaru - Giant Santa Monica)
Men B (CX3-5): 1st Max Van Loo (Velosport), 2nd San Selfridge (Velo Club La Grange), 3rd Brett Cowan (Snake Pit)
Women A (CX1-5): 1st Kim Jaya (SDBC), 2nd Jeana Miller (CTS / Non Dot Adventures), 3rd Nicole Meichtry (Big Orange)
Women B (CX3-5): 1st Katie Rollins (Velo Club La Grange), 2nd Emily Lloyd (SWAT), 3rd Patricia Murray (SDBC)
Women C (CX3-5): 1st Tess Weir (Grouptrail), 2nd Sandra Pankow (unatt), 3rd (Sarah Vargas (The TEAM SoCalCross)
Men A (CX1-5): 1st Brandon Baker (Muscle Monster SDG), 2nd Brandon Gritters (Rock n Road), 3rd Molly Cameron (Point S Auto)
Oh man, instead of getting more refined at the selection process I think I am getting worse. It was quite a struggle to get the race album narrowed down to 250 pics. Oh well, you can have at 'em here.
Comments
Post a Comment