Touted as the toughest road race in Michigan, the Cone-Azalia Spring Classic serves plenty of punishment to racers and equipment alike. Each 10 mile lap subjects the racers to 3.5 miles of gravel road, 2 rail road crossings, 5.5 miles of asphalt patched road and 1 mile of brand new pavement, so smooth that you can finally relax and take a drink if your bottles have not been jolted out of their cages! The other grueling aspect of this event is that the wind is a constant force. The windswept course runs through open farm land offering no shelter. There were countless flats and broken wheels. Dozens of water bottles strewn about the course and the rate of attrition was about 40%. This was the 2nd event of the Michigan Challenge Points Series. The team persevered and all members finished. Ed Reid just keeps adding to his lengthy resume notching another podium finish. Reid missed the win by 0:00:00.5 seconds according to the timing chip!!!

Pro Cat 1 / 2 event:
        Jason Stephenson - 21st place

Masters Men 35+ event:
        Paul Rivera - 8th place
        Jeff Gray - 14th place

Masters Men 55+ event:
        Ed Reid - 2nd place    

Women Cat 1 / 2 / 3 event:
        Lisa Meils - 7th place

Michigan's Championship Road Cycling Series dubbed the "Michigan Challenge" kicked off with the Willow Time Trial hosted at Willow MetroPark. The course is flat and twists it's way around the park. The total race distance was 13.5 miles of sweet pain. 222 racers faced windy conditions and cool temperatures during their race against the clock. Let's see how slippery the team was........................

Masters Men 35+ event:
        Jeff Gray - 10th place
        Paul Rivera - 13th place

Masters Women 35+ event:
        Lisa Meils - 2nd place

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April 30th - Ann Arbor, MI
Quick Release Spring Training Series final event of the series. Team Essex Brass was protecting a scant two point lead going into the event. Series leader and team member Blair Dudley rolled to the line with a clear strategy in mind, stay out of trouble and mark the second place rider series. Dudley has been in this position before and prepared for battle. The field was large with 65 entrants and the temperature bumped the mid 50s with partially sunny skies. The stage was set for this nail biter.....................

The racers bristled away from the line quickly falling into that familiar formation when things get fast. The objective is to test the legs of the field with some attacks and eliminate the weak as soon as possible. The field stretched, minor moves were made but the field always seemed to stay as one. Near the end of the 50 lap event, there was a small break that formed. Trying with all their might they could not last out front as super domestique Scott McLarty put in one of his several lung bursting efforts to pull them back. As the field jockeyed for position, it was clear that this would end up in a field sprint. On the last lap, Blair Dudley made his move. With four quick stomps of the pedals he had gapped the field and was in full flight. Congratulations to Blair Dudley on his exciting WIN and SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP!

"A" Race:
        Blair Dudley - 1st place
        Scott McLarty - 12th place

It was a great Spring for Team Essex Brass landing several podium positions and the overall series championship. The team continues it's long tradition of great wins, team work and execution of race strategy.

Quick Release Spring Training Series race number three was run clockwise on the Runway Plaza circuit putting the finish line at the top of a small rise.  The team is currently grasping second place (Blair Dudley) and fifth place (Bruce Rivera) overall in the series. The turn out was large as the regional teams are beginning to show up in force, eager to show their legs. This one was going to be exciting...........

Blair Dudley almost immediately found himself at the sharp end of the race. This thing was strung out from the whistle. As the animators continued to yank on the front, racers were getting shelled off the back at a high rate. 25.7mph at the mid point of the race! The team placed Bruce Rivera and Dudley in breaks at different points in the race but the motivated field worked hard to keep things in check. Finally the right combination worked and a small group squirted off the front and managed to hold a minor gap over the field. On the last lap Dudley was forced to work and found himself being attacked just prior to the last corner and up hill finish. As luck would have it, the series leader also part of this elite group was dropped and did not finish the event. Blair Dudley's 5th place finish elevates him into first place overall in the series!

"A" Race:
        Blair Dudley - 5th place
        Paul Winocur - 11th place
        Bruce Rivera -  13th place     
        David Mullins - 21st place     
        Scott McLarty - 23rd place
        Jeff Gray - 30th place