February 6, 2016, McDowell Park Circuit Race, Category Masters 60+
NE of Phoenix, AZ   30 minutes
Report from Lionel Space, Phoenix AZ

A beautiful day of 75 degrees, sunny, and calm. There were 13 of us at the start with a few 70+ racers separated behind who started soon after our start. Bill Bixby was my main competitor and this was the first time we raced together this year. We would have 3 primes to contest as well during our 7 laps of racing around the 1.6 mile course.

The race was very relaxed, averaging only 21.6 mph in the first 2 laps. We then got a bell for a prime, but the pace only picked up to an average 23.0 mph. As we went around the final corner, I was in 3rd position behind Bixby. I waited patiently until about 200m to go (which is just about the point that you can see the finish line around the final twists). Bixby jumped to the left of the rider in front, I went to the right and I beat him to the line by about a bike length. This was good for a pair of nice training tires.

The pack settled back together to a leisurely 21.6 mph on the next lap, as Bixby had fallen off the back with a flat tire. The following lap we got the bell for another prime. This was becoming a very easy race for me, since nobody was doing any attacking and the speeds were slow. For the next prime I jumped a little earlier, got a 4 length gap immediately and then just made sure I maintained it to the line with no real challengers. This netted me 4 inner tubes for training.

They gave us the bell on this prime as well as the 2 to go lap board. Half a lap later Bixby was back in the front of the pack, having made a wheel change and getting a free lap, joining the rear of the pack the last time we crossed the line. I welcomed him back and informed him that this was a prime lap, but apparently he didn't hear me as he did not contest the prime and was disappointed that he was unaware of it. So another easy prime win for a multi-tool wrench set.

Down to the final lap and I made sure I'd be on Bixby's wheel. Just as we passed the line for one to go, we could see the 70+ pack ahead of us. The rules in this race were that we could not mix with the other race, until the last lap where we could, which of course is exactly where we met. Some of the pack got excited and we had our fastest average of 24.1 mph. Some new faces came to the front and Bixby was about 6th position after the turn on the far side of the course, now in the much larger pack of both 60+ and 70+ racers. Barrett had a small gap off the front at that point, but I was pretty sure he would not stay away until the finish with that lead. I was a little concerned about getting boxed in, but half way down the back stretch, some other riders gave an attack and Bixby was quick to respond, with me right on his wheel. By the time we got to the last corner I was in the favorable position of third, sitting on Bixby.

I tried to be patient to time the beginning of my sprint. With 250 to go, I could see the final bend where the finish line would be visible after it. Bixby and the rider he was following were in the middle of the road, with Bixby a bit to that rider's right. So the shorter path would be to jump on the right side of Bixby, however just up the road, there was a rider that was about to be lapped right in that spot and I had no idea if he would maintain his course or wander right or left, blocking me. Bixby jumped just as we saw the line at about 200m to go, going to the right of his rider, thus the left was blocked by the rider that had been leading us, and the right was blocked by the about-to-be-lapped rider. I started to go to the right of Bixby, but didn't trust the lapped rider's intentions. I veered to the left of Bixby's wheel, but it wasn't safe to move enough to the left of him without possibly hitting the rider he just passed. I went back to the right and we were then past the lapped rider with less than 100m to go and I drag raced Bixby to the line, beating him by about half a length. Greg Barrett was third, as he often is behind Bixby and myself in these races.

The prize money for the win almost paid my entry fee. I also received a cute trophy.
Summary
Start
Time		 Distance
(Miles)		 Starters Duration Weather
(Deg F, mph)		 Speed avg
(MPH)		 Speed Max
(MPH)
1:42 pm 11.2 13 30.0 75, Calm 22.4 34.0

Results    

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