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Who put the Albatross
around our Neck ?
by Marc Vettori - Wooden Wheels Team Director |
Prologue
First and foremost I want to congratulate the Shaffers and all of Sofa king Fast on their dominate performance at Allamuchy. This story is in no means intended to take away from their outstanding victory. Craig did a great job keeping his team focused when it counted most, and the team came up big with the win. I said all along the Sofa Kings were the team to beat, They knew it, took the ball and ran away with it. Great Job to the Allamuchy Champions. With that said I will say a dark cloud hung heavy over the other Wooden Wheels 5 person team at this year's 24hrs of Allamuchy. The team originally created during a night of drinking in Newark was supposed to be 4 women and 1 boy. The original premise was to poke fun at the Playboy Extreme Team, by having the Hustler Magazine Extreme Team ( i.e. One man to 4 women ratio). (Brettany, Katie, Jeanie, Diane, Marc) In the end I chickened out, and played it conservative and went with Wooden Wheels Racing. Next year will be Mr. V and the 4 evil V's. Well on paper anyway...
Misery starts a week early...
In celebration of Jeanie and Mike's upcoming wedding a number of us had congregated in Newark for an evening of lively libations. After imbibing much alcohol, Diane and Katie decided to continue their year long wrestling grudge match outside of the Deer Park Tavern. Everyone seemed to enjoy the battle especially the part where Katie slammed Diane on the ground and jumped on top of her. The crowd went crazy. Diane was slow to get up and said, "I think I broke a rib" Being the loving husband that I was I told Di, "stop being a nancy girl and get up off the ground" The next evening we spent the better part of the night in the ER and sure enough my girl had a couple of busted up ribs. Enter substitute Ted McDaniel....
Rotation One:
After one full rotation, I felt that our team was in good position. We were 2 minutes out of first and despite a double flat on her first lap, Brettany turned a strong lap, and we were in what I felt was a good position. I figured if nothing else the two WW teams could pace off each other through the night and pushing each other to strong finishes. Sorry guys we didn't hold up our end...
All Hell Breaks Loose:
Having competed in 12 24hr races, I have learned these things are won at night. The team that makes the right moves, rides clean, and has no mechanicals wins. This weekend was not for us. Katie heads out on her 2nd lap only to flat and loose her lights. Ted's lower back is killing him, he takes a fist full of advil and heads out on to the course. Things are looking good as Ted shaves 10 minutes off his first lap... Jeanie heads out and 3 miles into the loop rips her derailer off.. Ouch this one hurts, Jeanie, runs the final 8 miles of the lap finishing with a 2:45, over an hour longer than her first lap. But wait there's more, I screw around the transition area waiting for directions from our team leader, should have just started my lap, and loose another 5 minutes. I get back and we have dropped to 8th place. Brettany heads out and flats again. Next Katie goes, and flats and looses light again. At this point we are all pretty dejected, it's 3:45 we're in 12th and most of our spirit is gone....
Always a happy ending...
Enter Ted the Hero... Ted was strong the entire race, and as he comes in I notice we have begun to fight back a little, as I leave we are in 5 place 4 minutes down on 3rd. The Shaffers and another team are clearly running away with the race... As a finish my lap, I tell Brettany that we are still in the race and to go like hell. After a quick review, I see we have moved into 3rd up by 2 minutes. Back at the campsite, I throw down my best Knute Rockne speech, and get everyone fired up again... Ted goes out runs another great lap... Were in 3rd by 15 minutes, Katie runs a sick 1:09 in the morning and builds our lead over 4th to 30 minutes... Just about at the buzzer we get Jeanie off for her final lap at 10 of noon... We locked up 3rd as the 4th place team didn't get another rider out in time, and we finish on the lead lap (17) !!!
Moral to the Story:
I love 24hr team racing, it's fast and it's hard. Most importantly it tests your character. We were in a really bad spot, and although we lost by over an hour, it would have been easy to throw in the towel when we were in 12th. But we didn't, we kept fighting, in the end I was very proud of our finish, and the character of our team. Final tally: 2 broken ribs, 6 flats, 2 broken lights, 1 destroyed derailer hanger, and a hard fought 3rd place finish in the 2000 edition of the 24hrs of Allamuchy. Thanks to Mike Brevoort - the best team director in 24hr racing and Diane the "chunky Monkey" for supporting us even though she didn't get to race.
 Mike Brevoort |
 Diane Vettori |
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 Hustler Magazine Extreme Team Wooden Wheels Racing |
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