upcoming events @ hellyer president`s message: riders to the rail!

Velodrome
News
RIDERS TO THE RAIL! P2 / SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
NCVA President, Steve Jones gives Mike Hughes of Hughes Allmart gives
tips for insuring bikes and personal
us a peek at the 2013 race season
property
COVER /
P3
/ CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
Genevieve Fire shares tales of the
inflield in 1973
/ WHY I RIDE THE TRACK
Newbie Natalie Dell tries track cycling
after medaling at the 2012 London
Olympics
/ WHY I RIDE THE TRACK
Korina Huizar shares her track season
so far
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: RIDERS TO THE RAIL!
RACE SEASON IS AFOOT!
Wednesday Night Racing (WNR) at Hellyer kicked off April 3rd and has attracted an
average of 55 riders per week. WNR promoters include Team Specialized (Larry
Nolan), HWTPP (Michael Hernandez), Junior Racing Foundation (Greg Tsutaoka),
and Team Chica Sexy (Fergus Liam). They have been bringing the fun to the
sprinter’s lane with fast and furious Scratch, Points, Snowball, Win & Out, and Miss
& Out race variations weekly. A $100 cash omnium prize payout, plus primes and
prizes, have made this a must-see event for spectators and a must-race mid-week
fix for hungry racers.
In addition, the Get Ready for Summer (GRFS) series started April 27th, bringing
out more than 50 racers on a sweltering Saturday afternoon to compete in Team
Sprint, Keirin, Points and Scratch low key ATRA racing. Guest announcer Alfred
Nash was on the microphone as part of his “Keep on Trackin” California Velodrome
tour. Cool podium prizes and a bit of cash was up for grabs. A good time had by all.
Follow-on GRFS events are scheduled for Saturday May 18th and Sunday June
23rd. Much of the proceeds from GRFS will go toward the 2013 Hellyer Velodrome
Challenge cash prize pool.
Andalé Matadors and Bulls! Friday Night Racing (FNR) started on May 17 with
exciting racing and spectator fun! Old and new rivalries across categories P1/2/3,
W1/2/3, and Elite 3/4 battled it out for the $500 in cash podium money. The young
Ford-Hutchinson ladies brought their “A Game” to the “Kiddie Kilo” but alas! They
could not beat the Pelaez duo, who went “one-two” in the 2013 season opener.
Rumor has it that the Coler-Franklin boys are polishing their spokes for the May
24th grudge match.
P4
/ TRACK 101
The spectators’ “Quick Reference”
guide to this summer’s common
track races!
MAY 2013
SUMMER EDITION
The 2013 Hellyer Velodrome Challenge (June 28-29), our biggest event of the
year, is just around the corner. Registration is now open. Racers from across the
US will converge upon Hellyer to compete over the two day event for $10,000 in
cash and prizes. The event, which is included as part of USA Cycling’s National
Track Calendar (NTC), will coincide with our 50th Anniversary celebration. Please
plan to join us as we celebrate this milestone year in Hellyer history and witness
spectacular racing in San Jose, CA.
See you at the track!
Steve Jones
President, Northern California Velodrome Association (NCVA)
president@ridethetrack.com
FRIDAY NIGHT RACING - MAY 17 through Sept 6!
Join us weekly for exciting and hotly contested track racing!
UPCOMING EVENTS @ HELLYER
We look forward to more racers and spectators joining us in the coming weeks Friday night racing continues through September! Wines by MatadorVino will go
to the adult omnium victors at the heavily contested Friday night thrillers. Bring the
family for evening fun! Spectating is always free and complimentary frosty beer
(by El Toro Brewing in Morgan Hill, CA) is on tap, as well as other beverages and
stadium snack munchies. The weekly race cards are up to promoters NorCal Elite
Cycling, State Bicycles, San Jose Bicycle Club, and Almaden Cycling and Touring
Club (ACTC). Each night is guaranteed to be exciting!
May 17
Friday Night Racing starts! Weekly May 4-Sept. 6,
Gates open 6P, Racing 7P
May 18, 1-5P
“Get Ready for Summer” Race Series #2
May 26, 12:30-4P
Junior Series #2, session #1
Jun. 1, 12-6P
Human Powered Vehicle fun day Race
Jun. 2, 12:30-4P
Junior Series #2, session #2
June 4 6:30P
Hellyer Team Pursuit Championship Series #1
Jun. 7, 7-10P
Burbank Memorial Omnium Race
Jun. 8, 12P
Performance Cycle Sprint Series
Jun. 9, 12:30-4P
Junior Series #2, session #3
Jun. 15-16
NCNCA Jr. State Track Cycling Championships
Jun. 22
Festival in the Park - Track demos every hour; No
scheduled track sessions
July 30, 6:30P
Hellyer Team Pursuit Championship Series #3
Jun. 23, 1-5P
“Get Ready for Summer” Race Series #3
Aug. 18, 12P
Performance Cycle Sprint Series
Jun. 28-29
2013 Hellyer Velodrome Challenge
Sept. 7
Performance Cycle Sprint Series
July 6, 12P
Performance Cycle Sprint Series
July 9, 6:30P
Sept. 14-15
NCNCA Elite State Track Cycling Championships
Hellyer Team Pursuit Championship Series #2
July 13-14
NCNCA Masters State Track Cycling Championships
**Always check www.ridethetrack.com/calendar for updates and changes**
Photographs and images courtesy and copyright: Tim Westmore/ http://www.argentumimago.com, Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe, Bess Hernandez-Jones, Erika Fulk/Detroit Spoke, Genevieve Fire. Poster design by Steve Anderson.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Hughes Allmart - Mike Hughes
www.ridethetrack.com
Hughes/Allmart Insurance Agency has been assisting customers with choosing the
right product to meet their individual needs for more than 20 years. We provide a
variety of insurance and non-insurance products and plans custom designed to meet
the needs of their clients and customers.
Mike Hughes is an avid cyclist who has been riding and racing since the age of 15.
He has been a long-time supporter of Hellyer Velodrome as a sponsor, volunteer, and
parent. Mike has three daughters: Lauren 14, Ashley 12, and Emily 11. Emily is part
of the Hellyer Velodrome Junior’s program.
Did you know that you can insure your bicycles under your homeowner’s insurance policy and
that they can be covered, even if you are on the road or traveling?
I personally have a homeowner’s product that insures my bicycles for replacement cost, so if I buy
a similar bicycle in the event of a covered loss, it would be replaced after my deductible is met.
Here are a few tips for shoring up your insurance to cover your bikes:
• Pick a reputable insurance company and representative to help you. A broker is someone that usually represents multiple carriers and finds the best
product to match your needs. Captive agents may only offer one company that may not afford the correct coverage in the event of a loss.
• Keep receipts, pictures, maintenance records, and upgrades. Like other personal property, this will show what you have done to maintain and improve
the bicycles along with everything else.
• Take pictures of serial numbers, headbadges and other unique items that may identify your bicycles.
Make sure you have enough coverage for all of your bicycles in the event of a loss where your entire inventory goes missing. Replacement cost is a crucial
aspect of coverage. Depreciated values are often used at first after a loss, but usually when you replace the item for a like kind and quality product you will be
compensated fully after your deductible. Some carriers have sporting product limitations so you want to make sure that you are not with a company that has a
maximum payout of $500 for your $7500+ ride.
Your bicycle can be covered when it is away from your home too, when property is in transit, there is often coverage afforded for the time it is away.
For questions on insuring your home, personal property (including bicycles), business, etc., contact me at mike@allmartinsurance.com.
(510) 415-3962 office, (510) 415-3962 cell, or visit www.allmartinsurance.com.
BECOME A HELLYER VELODROME SPONSOR
Advertise your business at the velodrome
Hellyer has 8x3 foot rail board advertising space available on the inside of the rail boards on the track.
The ads are seen by racers, spectators, and are often captured by professional photographers who
document the action of our weekly races.
Advertising space rate is $600 per board plus $160 for full color printing & installation of vinyl signage
by Zaavy (www.zaavy.com). If you need graphic art assistance to create the best looking sign possible,
Zaavy can help you at an additional charge. Check out www.ridethetrack.com/sponsors/advertise/ or
contact sponsorship@ridethetrack.com.
WHY I RIDE THE TRACK
Korina Huizar
When I moved to San Francisco last year, several friends of mine introduced me to the track. They encouraged me to
come down for a Saturday beginner session and see how I enjoyed racing there. One of my mentors, Steve Jones, also
encouraged me to sign up for the Women’s Track Clinics. After that, I was hooked. Michael Hernandez then started the
Hellyer Women’s Team Pursuit Program (HWTPP) and solidified my desire to be a track racer.
I’m competitive by nature and love the challenge of the track. I love that you can do five different races in a night,
explore new tactics, and improve racing skills. It also fosters a great communal environment; I love races because it’s
an opportunity to hang out with friends and compete in a sport I feel very passionate about. Track racing has helped me
improve my bike handling and pack riding. I’m a much better sprinter on the road because of learning how to sprint on the
track.
I would have never imagined that only a few months after my first time on the track, I’d
be racing at US Nationals and bringing home a silver medal. After Nationals, our team (Beth Newell, Amanda Seigle and I)
received an invitation to a USA Cycling Talent ID camp focused on finding riders for the 2016 Olympics. A few months after
camp, I was invited by the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation to race in Trinidad at the Easter International Grand Prix.
The Women’s Track Clinics (run by Annabell Holland and Bess Hernandez-Jones) and HWTPP have helped me develop as a
rider and supported me throughout this crazy process. I owe Hellyer a lot!
My season is just starting. I take off for Frisco, Texas on May 17th for the Matrix Track Cup. After that, Jennifer Zierke and I are
racing the National Track Calendar (NTC) and excited to represent Hellyer. My goals are to do well in the Endurance events of
the NTC, but my focus is on Nationals where I want to do well in the Team Pursuit and Omnium. It’s been an exciting season
so far and I’m just hoping to keep learning and improving.
www.ridethetrack.com
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
1973 - Genevieve Fire
www.ridethetrack.com
Genevieve (Jenny) Fire was one of only a handful
of women racing at Hellyer in 1973. She started
racing on the road at age 14 for Pedali Alpini
and found out about track racing while attending
Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, CA.
How did you get started in bike racing?
Ken Spears recruited me for the Pedali Alpini
bike club after seeing me riding around in my
neighborhood in Sunnyvale, CA. I raced mostly
in the Bay Area and once in Nevada for the State
Road Championships. Back then, my parent’s
did not approve of my bike racing, so traveling
around to races was not ideal. I came from an
academically-focused family that did not really
approve of spending time on sports. I often joke
that I could have been a Nobel Prize winner like
my brother Andrew, but I preferred to race my bike
instead!
How did you
get started at
Hellyer?
I only raced
track for about
3 years, but
I have fond
memories. I
heard about
it from other
Pedali riders
and it was a
great chance
to race close
to home. On
weekends we
went to San
Jose to train
and race. At that
time, there were
very few women
on the track locally. Some would come down from
Davis but I remember being one of a few women
at any given time. I used to borrow a track bike
from someone in the club. I worked in a local bike
shop as a kid and eventually was able to save up
WHY I RIDE THE TRACK
Natalie Dell
Life after Hellyer?
After going off to UC Berkeley, I had very limited
time for cycling. My academic programs were very
intensive and Berkeley did not have an organized
women’s racing team so it was hard to get
anything going. While attending grad school at UC
Davis, I joined the Davis Racing team for a while.
Hellyer was so far away (and the only velodrome
at the time) so it was hard to find time to get down
there.
my money and buy my own candy apple green
Schwinn Paramount track bike.
Around 1974, Jack Disney and his family moved
from SoCal and started racing at Hellyer. Alice
Disney (Jack’s wife) and Jackie Disney (his
daughter) were some of the other women who
raced at the time. Jackie and I were school friends
and Jack became my track coach. Fremont High
let us substitute bike riding as PE so we were
able to train with him.
I currently work for the City of Mountain View as a
civil engineer. I believe my love of bike racing and
the mechanics of bicycles contributed to my career
path. I’ve worked on a number of projects to build
bike facilities, including two bike boulevards for
the city. I ride on the road now – commuting and
endurance riding with a group of women called
“The Bike Moms.” We ride together almost every
Saturday.
I still see a few
Hellyer friends and
track riders like
Mike Jacoukowsky,
Terry Shaw, and
George Mount at
annual events like
the “Old Farts.” I
occasionally see Vic
Black, the official
who gave me the
ABLA sanction back
in 1975.
What are some of your Hellyer memories?
Jackie, Alice, and I were on the track in a 3-up
match sprint. We were inching around the
track when Alice dove down and cut me off.
I was only about 17 at the time. I got angry
and used a swear word or two. I received
a sanction letter from the Amateur Bicycle
League of America (ABLA). I still have that
letter today.
I loved hanging out on the infield with my
friends and other diverse riders – high school
kids like me, older guys, and even some
Olympians including Jack Disney, Smiling
George Mount, and Leonard Harvey Nitz.
The Gatto’s were a local family and they
had a bunch of kids (Gus, Richard, and Vince)
who raced. There we also a lot of team rivalries
between clubs like Pedali Alpini, San Jose Bicycle
Club, and Palo Alto, but everyone was really
friendly on the infield and camaraderie was great!
The last time I was
at Hellyer, I was a
spectator; over 22
years ago. I used to
go for Friday Night
Racing but it’s not the same as being in the infield
– that was something special. Even though I will be
out of town for the 50th anniversary celebration, I
hope to get out to the track again sometime soon!
Training full time, all year is a challenging commitment. But selection for Olympic boats, occurring 6 weeks
before the 2012 Games, was unparalleled in intensity. It was an honor to be selected with 3 incredible
boatmates to represent the United States.
After 9 years of training, my fiancé and I moved to the Bay Area for a “permanent vacation.” I kept an open mind
as to whether I would pursue another Olympic cycle in rowing, but as the months passed, I still had no urge to
pick up a piece of rowing equipment. I did, however, start cycling.
Natalie is a retired US Olympic rower,
who recently moved to the Bay Area
from Pennsylvania. After discovering
rowing in college, she trained hard
and received an invitation to the USA
Rowing Training Center. She has
competed in two world championships,
two World Cups, and eventually
competed for a seat in the Olympic
Women’s Quad (four rowers, 2 oars
each, for 2,000 meters). Natalie and her
team went on to win the bronze medal,
becoming the first USA crew in history
to win an Olympic medal in this event.
My teammates from the Bay Area suggested track cycling to me.
Watching the London velodrome events and seeing the size of the
legs out there definitely made me curious (the rowing motion is largely
leg intensive as well). When we moved to Redwood City and realized
the track was only 30 minutes away, it was a no-brainer. I started
bicycling in November 2012 and attended my first track session in
December. I couldn’t stop talking about it. What stood out the most
were the open arms and welcoming attitude of everyone at Hellyer.
I’ve participated in Saturday sessions, Intro to Racing, GRFS, the
Women’s Track Racing Training Series, Team Pursuit clinics, and
Wednesday Night Racing so far. This season, I’m looking forward to
working with a team again. As fun as it is to whip around the track solo, it’s within a team that I get the biggest
rush. After Olympic selection and the racing that followed, nothing scares me. Racing bikes is pure fun –
exciting, fast, fun!
www.ridethetrack.com
TRACK 101 Spectator’s Quick Reference Guide to Common Track Races at Hellyer Velodrome
www.ridethetrack.com
“Scratch” Race: All the riders in a Scratch race
the team can come in and ride for a turn. During the
balancing precariously. The reason for this tactic is
start at the same time. The riders all cover the
changeovers, the rider coming off the track literally
the lead rider wants to force the rider behind to take
same distance, with the winner being the first rider
throws the second rider into the race with a handsling.
the front in order to gain the benefit of the “draft” in
to cross the finish line at the end of that distance.
The Madison is considered to be the ultimate event in
the final sprint. By drafting, a rider not only gets to
Although speed is important, tactics and teamwork
bicycle track racing, not only because of the length of
keep a watchful eye on their opponent, they can also
are equally vital. Groups of riders often take an early
the race, but also because of its incredible combined
save enough energy for an extra burst of speed to
lead, and then work together to increase it while their
demands of speed, endurance, teamwork and tactics.
the finish line. Winners of each match advance, while
teammates try to block and slow down the “field.” On
losers are either eliminated or given a second chance.
a small track, the leaders may gain an entire lap
This second chance is called the “repechage” bracket
on the other riders and then join in with the main
or rep round. Most tournaments follow the double
group again which is called “lapping the field.”
elimination format, with riders exiting after 2 losses.
Points Race: A variation of the Scratch race,
Once the field has been whittled down to the top 4
points are awarded to the top placing riders in
riders; the gold, silver and bronze medal winners
a series of sprints contested at various intervals
are decided in a ‘best of three’ match sprint contests
during the race. The winner of a Points Race is
between pairings.
not necessarily the first to cross the finish line, but
Team Sprint: Teams of three men or two women
rather the rider who has accumulated the most
compete in these timed events, with the men riding
points during the race.
3 laps of the track and women riding 2 laps. From a
Win-And-Out: A type of mass start race where
standstill, the riders sprint from the start and line up in
the winner is decided on the first sprint. The race
pace line form, accelerating to top speed as quickly
then continues on as the winner pulls out. Second
as possible. The first team member sprints one lap
place is awarded to the winner of the second
on the front and pulls off. The second rider continues;
sprint. The second place rider pulls out, and the
and either finishes the race (for the women) or for
race continues on. Third and final placing is then
the men, pulls off with one lap to go. In the men’s
decided upon the last sprint of the race. It can be
race, the third rider continues solo for the final lap,
a very difficult race for the athlete who goes for the
driving through to the finish. This is an all-out drag
win and doesn’t get it, but has to stay in the race
race, dependent on explosive speed, teamwork and
and challenges for second or third.
precision.
Miss-And-Out: This race is sometimes called “Devil
Kilometer, or 1k Time Trial: A timed race that pits a
Individual Pursuit: A race in which two riders start
Take The Hindmost,” because the last rider to cross
solo rider against the clock, the “Killer Kilo” is a test
on opposite sides of the track and chase each other
the line after each (or every other) lap is taken out of
of speed and stamina in which each rider covers a
for a given distance. If one rider “catches” the other
the race. The field diminishes rapidly, until there are
distance of 1000 meters in as little time as humanly
before they’ve gone the full distance, the race ends
only a few riders left to contest the final sprint. Always
possible. The Kilo is three laps on 333 meter tracks
immediately (although the winning rider may have to
a crowd favorite!
and 4 laps on a 250 meter track. Ridden from a
continue on to ‘go the distance’ so that he may record
Keirin: This Japanese version of the Motorpace,
standing start, the Kilo is won by a rider pushing to the
his overall time). If neither rider catches his opponent,
which is subject betting in Japan, has become very
utmost limits of strength and endurance.
the race goes the full distance, and is won by the rider
popular in the US, although, so far, without the
Match Sprint: A A short event with 2 to 4 riders
who covers the distance in the least amount of time.
betting. Keirin races, in which all the riders on the
competing head to head in tournament format. Riders
Women and juniors go a distance of 3k, amateur men
track jockey for position behind a single motorbike,
often do a flying 200m time trial for seeding. In the
go 4k and there are Masters distances of 2k.
Hellyer
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motorcycle.
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fastest races the second slowest, and so
Pursuit, except that it involves two teams of riders
laps to go and the riders sprint madly to the finish line.
on. To start, two riders line up on the start line with a
instead of two individuals. There are four riders on
Madison: Named for the famed Madison Square
holder, then roll or pedal off – all the while keeping
each team, and they ride in a single file “pace line.”
Garden in New York City, and known as the
a close eye on their opponent. The first lap is taken
Each of the riders takes a turn at the front, changing
‘American’ race in Europe, this most prestigious of
at a slow pace, with riders eyeing each other or
the lead every lap or every half lap. The front rider
track events is a race for teams of two riders. All
jockeying for position. Approaching the final lap, the
swings up the track’s banking, letting his teammates
riders start at the same time, and the winner is the
race evolves into a tactical sprint for the finish line.
pass, and then drops back down to catch on to the
team covering the most laps in the time allotted. Each
Depending on the track, this race is contested over
back of the line. The team’s total time is taken as the
team has only one rider in the race at any given time.
2 or 3 laps. It’s in the Match Sprint that you may
last rider in the group crosses the line. Teams only
After covering one or two laps at top speed, that
witness a “trackstand,” wherein a rider brings his/
need to have 3 (of 4) riders finish.
rider drops out of the race so that another member of
her bike to a complete stop and remains upright,
NCVA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2013 NCVA Executive Officers and Board Members
Steve Jones
President
president@ridethetrack.com
NCVA VOLUNTEER COMMITTEES
Elizabeth (Bess) Hernandez-Jones
Vice President
vicepresident@ridethetrack.com
Infrastructure
Liz Reap Carlson (chair) infrastructure@ridethetrack.com
Rich Allen, Peter Bohl, Steve Jones, Bess Hernandez-Jones
Supervisors
Bess Hernandez-Jones(chair) supervisor@ridethetrack.com
John Simmons, Greg Tsutaoka
Greg Tsutaoka
Secretary
secretary@ridethetrack.com
Track Scheduling
Greg Tsutaoka (chair) scheduling@ridethetrack.com
Rich Allen, Bess Hernandez-Jones
Policy and Procedures
Steve Jones (chair) policy@ridethetrack.com
Bess Hernandez-Jones
Steve Jones (Acting)
Treasurer
treasurer@ridethetrack.com
New Racer Development
Michael Hernandez (chair) development@ridethetrack.com
Anthony Borba, Liz Reap Carlson, John Cheetham
Upgrades
Dan Smith (chair) upgrades@ridethetrack.com
John Simmons
Rich Allen
Peter Bohl
Beth Lubov Butrymowicz
Liz Reap Carlson
Michael Hernandez
Dan Smith
Marketing/PR
Special Sub-Committee - 50th Anniversary
Beth Lubov Butrymowicz (chair) marketing@ridethetrack.com Beth Lubov Butrymowicz (chair) marketing@ridethetrack.com
Bess Hernandez-Jones
Bess Hernandez-Jones
We need you! Contact the committee chairpersons below to volunteer at Hellyer or
sign up for current volunteer requests here: http://tinyurl.com/c9suaca
Sponsorship
Rich Allen (chair) sponsorship@ridethetrack.com
Beth Lubov Butrymowicz
Newsletter design and editing by Ampersand Ellipsis Jones LLC
Copy editing by Beth Newell and Liz Reap Carlson
www.ridethetrack.com
Special Sub-Committee - Velodrome Challenge
Bess Hernandez-Jones (chair) velodromechallenge@
ridethetrack.com
Hellyer County Park Velodrome is
operated in partnership with