Velotek.com Summer Sizzler

Cycle Works Firecracker 500 Crit

Race #2

July 4th, 2003

The Fire was a crackin as temps approached 100 degrees in sunny Lawrence Kansas for the 2nd Annual Firecracker 500 Crit. Using the short fast and furious half mile course of the Twilight race meant lot's of corners. The 37 rider Category 4/5 race finished with out incident and the pack shattered into smaller groups with the 105+ heat index. Nebraska's Big Red Machine Jeremiah won the crit (and plenty of primes) and 17 year old Team X Junior Chris Hall pulled in 4th. KCOI's Craig Bissell showed why he's always in the money in crits with a solid 6th place finish.

New comer Tom Meyer won the Cat 5 race in a sprint with 14 year old Team X Junior Austin Fick. Alta-Sport regulars Jason Fife and Dan Cool rounded out the top 4 in the Cat 5 race. Bike's and Board's Jill Thole was first woman in the Category 5 race. Jill's really coming on strong the last month or so. She's definitely a rider to watch.

The competitive woman's race saw new comer Trina Brock pull the whole race including the final lap. Trina comes from a long history of running and triathlon and definitely has some aerobic ability. Future Doctor Mounday race strong to finish 3rd. Glenda Taylor showed her consistency by once again finishing in the top 3.

The Junior age 13 to 18 was a Team X Cycling Sweep with Austin and Ben battling for supremacy. New X juniors Christian Lewis won the 12 and under junior race.

As the heat increased the Category 3/4 men "upped" the temperature even more. A 5 man break escaped to lap half the field. The extreme temps saw engines over heating the entire day. Curt Shelman's 2 laps to go attack on the hill put the screws to Team X rider Jim Whittaker. With one lap to go Phil Todd and Curt Shelman hit the small hill again to open a gap that Ed Noll, David White and Jim couldn't close. Bike Shacks Phil Todd takes the Rudy Project Eyewear 1st prize and honors.

The premier pro 1/2/3 race at 12:30pm was simply disgustingly hot with temps at 99 degrees and the heat index 110+ with full sun. The pack shattered the 1st lap and it wasn't a matter of "if" Steve Tilford would lap you but "when". Brian Jensen's slow start saw him chasing solo almost the entire day to finish 2nd and Shadd Smith grabbed 3rd. The lone dissenter Russ Tolle from Wichita's River City Racing Club gave Steve a little motivation when he grabbed the small break away pack prime.

KCOI's Pat Houttacker pushes the pace.

Jeremiah  "Big Red" was a sprinting machine.

Team X top 2 junior Sprint.

Bill Anderson racer and portable restroom donor.

Curt Shelman drives the 3/4 break-away.

Steve Rouff controls what's left of the 3/4 pack.

Promoter Jim Whittaker finish 3rd.

The 3/4 final sprint.

Ring the bell here comes the train!

Steve Tilford Mr. Heat Miser laps the field.

Wheatland's Robert Chapman wins one of his two primes.

Photo Gallery at bottom of page.