What's a Wheel Race:
More commonly called a Handicap race. This event, which is extremely popular in Australia, is a short distance race where the strongest riders give a lead to the less strong. Typically a national register of all riders "handicap "marks" is kept, and is regularly updated. The riders' distances spread out according to their rankings from the best rider who is known as the "scratch". The handicapper (promoter) is trying to make all the riders cross the finish line together in a "blanket finish". All riders start from a standing start (A start where the rider is clipped in and held upright by a holder who gives a little push at the start to help the riders go faster) The race is only three or four laps as a rule, the riders desperately struggle to catch up with the "long markers", or slower riders who are given the greatest head start from the scratch man.
How will the Wednesday Wheel Races work?
Thanks to the help of our Australian connection, Jeff Hopkins, we've come up with a simplified version that will allow us to create our rider "Register" over the coming year. Remember we need all riders to help out to make this happen efficiently.1. The top three riders from total points scored in the first two races of each category will compete in the event.
2. Each rider will be placed a predetermined distance apart from the Scratch Man in the following order: (The distances are subject to change should we deem it necessary to make the event more competitive... remember this is our trial year, so be nice if we get in wrong at first.)
Elite 1st Place - Scratch
Elite 2nd Place - 5 meters
Elite 3rd Place - 10 meters
Expert 1st Place - 60 meters
Expert 2nd Place - 65 meters
Expert 3rd Place - 70 meters
Competitive 1st Place - 120 meters
Competitive 2nd Place - 125 meters
Competitive 3rd Place - 130 meters
3. The Scratch race will be a total of 4 laps, with the scratch starting at the start finish line and doing the full 4 laps.
Other Wheel Races
Over the coming months we will be announcing additional Handicap events. We will try to give plenty of advanced notice beforehand.Wheel Race Cup
For now we will be awarding the rider with the most Scratch wins at the end of the season a trophy. Similarly to the "Rider of the Year" trophy, this will be a traveling trophy that will have your name and year engraved on to it. Any category rider (other than the New Racers Category) could be the overall winner.
The winner and only the winner will score 1 point per race. The rider with the most points at the end of the season wins.Sponsorship
Interested in sponsoring the event? We'd love to hear from you. Maybe you'd like to donate a item to the nightly winner, or maybe you'd like to throw a little cash in to the kitty for the overall yearly prize. If you're interested please let me know.... Email Wayne