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August 21st - Lapeer, MI.
The Lapeer Days Criterium, Michigan Challenge Points Series event #12, is part of a weekend festival held in downtown Lapeer.
The event was promoted by Team Essex Brass / Prestige Cycling Club who were the defending champions of the past two years.
This challenging and fast. 0.8 mile course features six corners, a slightly uphill, headwind back straight and a fast descending
final bend that hurdles you toward the finish.
Category 1 / 2 event:
David Mullins was the first animator of the event, riding off the front of the field causing a gap for the nervous field
to close. About midway into the event what looked to be a serious selection containing Bruce Rivera simply went wrong when
the two other racers would not work with Rivera. As one racer rode away, Bruce was left to chase with a wheelsucker. After
several laps, Rivera and his non-working companion were absorbed into the bunch. Late in the race with two solo racers up
the road, Jason Stephenson and David Mullins brought Bruce Rivera to the front and position him for the bunch sprint. As Rivera
and another racer exploded off the front they arrived at the finish line in photo finish.
Bruce Rivera - 3rd place
David Mullins - 11th place
Jason Stephenson - 13th place
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Masters 35+ event:
Right from the starting whistle, the field was a sinuous ribbon of color in full flight around the city streets. The field
was strong and reacting to every attack. Finally, after several laps nearly flat out, three riders managed to get off the
front. The field did not respond quick enough and this turned out to be the winning move. Team Essex Brass was not positioined
in the break. The relentless pace of the break forced one rider to drop off and soon after that, another agressive racer attacked
the main pack and chased up to the single rider up the road. This created two separate breakaways of two and left the
rest of the field to race for 5th place. The pace in the field varied with efforts to thin the bunch even more, including
a strong move by Paul Rivera to help stretch a group of six, including Paul Winocur away from the field. Rivera returned
to the field after his contribution and Winocur pulled hard to make this break go. In the final laps, Winocur chased
down an agressive attack from another competitor in the group, catching him just before entering the final stretch. When
the time was right, Winocur lit the fuse and captured the best of the rest.
Paul Winocur - 5th place
Scott McLarty - 13th place
Jeff Gray - 15th place
Paul Rivera - 17th place
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Masters 45+ event:
This event was one of the only events of the day that a break away group did not form. So the Essex Brass boys settled
in for a field sprint. Three laps from the end of the race the pace really began to elevate. The field would surge and stretch
like an accordion, railing into each corner. On the last lap, Bill Gilboe had positioned himself on the front of the field.
As the field hurtled down the descent at 35mph Gilboe was touched by another racer forcing him into the hay bales and causing
a chain reaction resulting in a horrific crash collecting about a third of the field. Chuck Powell managed to escape the wreckage
and arrive safely across the line in 4th position. As Gilboe lay in the road, the spirit of competition came over him and
he picked himself up and hobble to the line in 13th position. Bill remarkably had no broken bones, but did receive many stitches
to close cuts from what appeared to be caused by a chainring.
Chuck Powell - 4th place
Bill Gilboe - 13th place
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A special thank you to the family members and friends who helped with the promotion of this event. It was great to see
some of the team sponsors in attendance. Thanks to Dywer Subaru for the awesome pace vehicle...a tricked out 2006 Subaru Baja.
Thanks to American Cycle and Fitness - Royal Oak for donating nearly two dozen preems for the races. Simply the best bike
shop in town! A huge thanks to our title sponsor The Essex Brass Corporation.
August 14th - Dearborn, MI
The Hines Park Time Trial was Michigan Challenge Points Series event #11. The race against the clock took
place over a rolling and winding terrain of 20km (12.43 miles). The course was out and back and racers had to negotiate a
tight turn at the end of the leg. Road conditions were wet in sections with the conclusion of heavy showers which had passed
through the area two hours before the start of the event. Wind speed was low and the 70 degree temperature made the effort
just a little more bearable. Participation in the event was large with over 260 racers venturing out to test their level of
pain. The team enjoyed yet another successful weekend of racing with a win from Bill Gilboe and podium finishes from Ed Reid
and team sponsor Dr. Lisa Meils. Other members posted excellent results and placed near the top of their respective categories.
Good job by all team members!!
Masters 35+ event:
Paul Winocur - 6th place (0:28:05)
Paul Rivera - 9th place (0:29:21)
Jeff Gray - 11th place (0:30:02)
*******************************************
Masters 45+ event:
Bill Gilboe - 1st place (0:26:54)
Joe Matthews - 13th place (0:30:24)
Chuck Powell - 16th place (0:31:22)
*******************************************
Masters 55+ event:
Ed Reid - 2nd place (0:28:59)
*******************************************
Elite Women Category 4 event:
Dr. Lisa Meils - 3rd place (0:32:36)
August 6th - Ada, MI
The team traveled toward the west side of the state to the city of Ada. This would be the second year
that Ada has hosted the State of Michigan Criterium Championship, (Michigan Challenge Points Series event #10). The racers
faced a very unique 3 1/2 turn course, shaped like a triangle with a grade between turns two and three and a descent with
a slight bend en route to the finish line. The course was fast and the action hot as nearly every category was strung out
nose to tail. Many teams entered their riders into more than one event in hopes of capturing a coveted state championship.
Team Essex Brass was also on this game plan. As a result, the fields were huge and the horsepower was high. It was also noted
that there were several out of state teams present to test the waters. The team perform well and was able to support Bruce
Rivera to top finishes in two events. Great job to all members. Here are the team results...........
Pro 1 / 2 event: (average speed of 28mph)
Bruce Rivera - 13th place
David Mullins - 24th place
Jeff
Gray - DNF
Jamie Smith - DNF
Masters 30+ event: (average speed of 27mph)
Bruce Rivera - 5th place
Scott McLarty - 15th place
Paul
Winocur - 17th place
David Mullins - 22nd place
Paul Rivera - 26th
place
Jeff Gray - 27th place
Masters 45+ event:
Jamie Smith - 19th place
July 31st - Grayling, MI
Avita Black Bear Road Race
This event was point to point road race from Grayling to Oscoda, Michigan. Attendance was high and
the weather was perfect as racers sped their way around northern Michigan. Smith coming off rehab for knee surgery earlier
in the season rode a strong race and appears to be on take for some late season form. Nice job Jamie.
Jamie Smith - 18th place / 4hrs 21mins. (54th place overall of 205 starters)
July 30th - Fenton, MI
Tour des Lacs
The event began with the field darting up a climb and thinning itself in the process. As this was
a new course, several racers were content to follow and learn the course for the subsequent laps. Each lap was 13 miles and
feature several climbs and fast descents. About 20 miles into the race Bill Gilboe decided to test the competition with some
surges of power. By 28 miles Gilboe had forced a selection and was riding with three other break away companions. The stage
was set. As the pace turned fierce, Gilboe shed two of his companions. With about six miles in the race, Bill Gilboe rode
the remaining racer off his wheel and soloed in for a uncontested WIN. Congratulations to Bill Gilboe on another dominating
win.
Bill Gilboe - 1st place
July 29 - July 31
The several team members took part in the Make-A-Wish charity event. This charity organization works to
grant the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions in hopes of enriching their situation with hope, strength
and joy. Team members sought pledges and made personal contributions to the cause, while riding their bikes some 350 miles
over a three day period.
"It was neat to have a part in the kids lives and bring a small bit joy to them." reported Cat. 2 team
member David Mullins. Overall it was a touching and rewarding experience for the Essex Brass Cycling Team. A simple reminder
to us all how fortunate we are.
This is the first of three charity events that the team participates in and donates time, money and resources.
Our way of giving back to the community and fostering the sprit of cycling.
July 24th - Grand Blanc, MI
Michigan Challenge Points Series event #9 was hosted in northern Oakland County in the city of Grand Blanc,
Michigan. Racers woke up to a full onslaught from Mother Nature, thunder, lightning, high winds and torrential rains. Starting
times were delayed and then delayed again in hopes that at least the thunder and lightning would pass. Finally officials assembled
the categories and started the event. Racers completed about 30-45 miles before the bolts of lightning returned prompting
the immediate suspension of the racing activities by the chief official.
The big, big build up of the State of Michigan Road Racing Championships was quickly declining. There
was confusion about if the results would stand due to the abbreviated race distances. At one point the results were final,
but points toward the series would not be awarded, etc. etc. At the end of the day, the official decision was to neutralize
the event. It was unfortunate as the team did very well in this wet and wild one. Stay tuned for a re-schedule of the State
of Michigan Road Racing Championships.
Team sponsor Dr. Lisa Meils braved the inclement conditions lined up for her first ever road race. Lisa
has posted a couple of top results already this season in time trial events and now has decided to test herself in the peloton.
Dr. Lisa splished and splashed her way around the road course.
July 10 thru July 17
The Michigan racing calendar was light on competition this weekend, so some team members took the opportunity
to travel to Wisconsin and participate in the International Cycling Classic (Super Week). This cycling extravaganza offers
17 consecutive days of elbow to elbow competition. There were pro teams, national teams and elite amateur racers from teams
world wide to take part in arguably the world's largest cycling festival. The crowds are treated to spectacular racing by
current and future pro riders.
Team Essex Brass was represented well at the International Cycling Classic with several top 20 placings,
as well as, some camera time while driving the breaks! Overall it was a great experience and tune up for the up coming Michigan
State Championship Road Race. Way to go team! Notable finishes include:
Bruce Rivera - 11th place / 16th place / 18th place
David Mullins - 12th place / 22nd place
While some team members were doing battle in Wisconsin, Master 45+, Bill Gilboe was "vacationing" in Connecticut.
Gilboe just happened to have his trusted Trek with him and was promptly entered in the Connecticut State Criterium Championship.
It was a show of Essex Brass force as the one man wrecking crew soloed off the front of the field and rode to a convincing
win! Gilboe has scored victories in criteriums and road races this season and every time trial he has entered. Awesome job
Bill!
Bill Gilboe - 1st place
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Prestige Cycling Club, 2009 |
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