Team Essex Brass left their mark at the Michael R. Rabe Memorial Stage Race. This was event #8 of the Michigan Challenge Points Series. The weather was outstanding and the team was determined to enjoy another weekend of top results. The fireworks began in the prologue as Bill Gilboe turned the fastest time in his class. Several other team members captured top 6 results. The short course stage saw Bruce Rivera take the 1st place honors as he out kicked the competition to the line. Paul Winocur, Paul Rivera and Jeff Gray all finished in the top 10 of the short course event. The next stage was the long course and once again, each squad stamped their authority on the event. Bruce Rivera finished 3rd amongst a highly talented pro 1 / 2 field. Winocur and Gray finished in the top 10 and Bill Gilboe won his second stage of the weekend! It was an exciting weekend and great to see the team working like a well oiled Dura Ace drivetrain. Good job by all !!

At the end of the weekend the general classification was:

Elite Men Category 1 / 2 event:
        Bruce Rivera - 3rd place overall
       
Masters Men 35+ event:
        Paul Winocur - 6th place overall
        Paul Rivera - 7th place overall
        Jeff Gray - 8th place overall

Masters Men 45+ event:
        Bill Gilboe - 1st place overall

Michigan Challenge Points Series event #7 was held Sunday on Hines Drive. This event would serve as the Michigan State Time Trial Championship. Racers competed on a out-and-back course. There were four legs of 6.21 miles, with a turn around at the end of each leg. Total distance of this rolling, winding course was 40km. The weather was sunny, hot and humid, with 8mph SW winds. As the racers scorched the pavement and cheated the wind, the magical sound of solid disks wheels permeated the air. Deep concentration and expressions of pain reminded spectators how tenacious these competitors are. Team Essex Brass has had a remarkable season to this point, let's find out how the team faired in the race against the clock....................

Elite Men Category 1 / 2 event:
        Bruce Rivera - 9th place - 57:24
        David Mullins - 14th place - 58:52

Masters Men 35-39 event:
        Paul Winocur - 2nd place - 59:05  (Silver Medal)

Masters Men 40-44 event:
        Paul Rivera - 3rd place - 1:02:06  (Bronze Medal)
        Jeff Gray - 4th place - 1:04:25

Masters Men 45-49 event:
        Chuck Powell - 11th place - 1:09:26

Masters Men 50-54 event:
        Bill Gilboe - 1st place - 57:22  (Gold Medal)
       
Masters Women 40-44 event:
        Dr. Lisa Meils - 2nd place - 1:12:00  (Silver Medal)

As a side note: Several racers voiced that they had measured a longer than 40km (24.85 miles) course on their computers. Most agreed that the course was in fact 25.25 miles in length.

The Essex Brass boys continue to get results in the hotly contested Michigan Challenge Points Series. Allen Park played host to event #6 on the Michigan Challenge Points Series calendar. The skies threatened rain most of the day, but the attendance was abundant. Fans were treated to some of the largest fields of the season. The action was fast and furious in every event! On to the action................................

Pro 1 / 2 event:
The premier event featured many motivated racers on a fast, almost circular course. The result was a furious pace and average speed of 28mph for over an hour! The team had it's opportunities with each member placing himself in a break at some point in the race, but the motivation of the field won out in every case. Each break was gobbled up and absorbed by the hungry peloton. The winner of this event would have to have a motor plus nerves of steel to sprint out of this very crowded bunch. The race ended in a sprint finish and the squad came up short in spite of their hard work.

Paul Winocur - field
Bruce Rivera - field
David Mullins - field
Jason Stevenson - field

Masters 35+ event:
This field was stacked with horsepower as many category 1 / 2s were using this event as a warm up. This event began with the field quickly forming into a long, thin line that stretched from corner to corner! The first two laps were at speeds above 29mph. Team members Jeff Gray and Scott McLarty sat on the front of the field covering each of these attacking efforts. Each escape was nullified and it was shaping up as a massive field sprint finish. The last two laps saw the Essex Brass train form to lead out sprinter Paul Winocur. Paul Rivera was the final lead out, he elevated the pace at the front in an attempt to launch Winocur to the line. With the execution of their strategic plan, Paul Winocur galloped to a 7th place finish. A very solid finish in the midst of this very large, very competitive field of racers. Congrats to the entire squad.

Paul Winocur - 7th place
Paul Rivera - 17th place
Scott McLarty - 22nd place
Jeff Gray - 24th place

Masters 45+ event:
This event also was loaded with racers with big motors. Average speed for this race was over 26mph! Series points leader Bill Gilboe was being watched like a hawk by all teams. The race stayed together for the most part with an organized field pulling back any escape attempts. The squad was riding with some extra fire power in the form of Masters 55+ points leader, Ed Reid helping the cause. With three laps to go Joe Matthews moved to the front to snap the elastic. Matthews poured on the coals, but could not get the field to split. It would be another bunch sprint. Bill Gilboe shot off the front and captured 5th position. Very nice job by all squad members.

Bill Gilboe - 5th place
Ed Reid - 15th place
Joe Matthews - 18th place
Chuck Powell - 19th place