Dan, Darren and the Pope.
By Dave Empey
The first Dirt Crits for the 22/23 season was held last Tuesday night with a big crowd of newcomers. It was a 12-lap, first-past-the-post race which made it easy to see who had been riding over winter and who’s been putting in the ‘hard’ work on the couch.
The race started off with Elise Empey taking most of the field on the wrong track. However, after she stopped and consulted Google Maps, this was soon rectified.
Dan Friday took line honours in 44.53. In typical Dan Friday fashion, he complained about not having ridden much lately and promptly rode away from everyone else.
Second went to Archie Smith in an impressive ride; all the more impressive considering he complains about riding uphill and still hasn’t mastered clipping into his pedals without holding onto a tree!
Third place went to last week’s road race winner, Ryder Chadd, the most versatile MMBCC racer of the (one week old) season so far. In contrast to Archie, Ryder can clip into his pedals but complains about riding downhill.
It was great to see so many new faces and a very competitive race. Here are the results.
Recent Dirt Crits stalwart Darren Bakker was missed - maybe he just didn’t get the memo. Or maybe it was like that time Hawthorn won the flag three years in a row and he was found three days later at the Lost Dogs Home with with his arms around an Irish Wolf Hound and a vacant stare in his eyes. Hopefully, we’ll find out what happened at next Tuesday’s XC race at Rifle Butts.
Dirt Critters also started last Tuesday with about a dozen Primary School aged kids having a great time improving their bike skills. To join in and more details call Luke on 0455 604 785.
Finally, the Thursday night road race was cancelled in the morning due to the forecast of heavy rain. Hopefully next week’s race on Howes Creek Road can go ahead and that the compulsory mask, snorkel and flippers won’t an aerodynamic hindrance. Entries via Entry Boss.
For up-to-date information on race status, join the club’s WhatsApp group. (And we’re still using Team App for messages too.) You’ll find out all sorts of interesting stuff on riding, racing and club members. For instance, did you know former club President Craig Wilson once met the Pope? It was when John Paul II visited the US in 1993. Wil was lost on his way to a KKK convention and he asked the nearest bloke in a white robe for directions. Wil offered him a beer as a thank you but JP declined, he only drank red.