July 25, 1999
Granogue Estate
Greenville, DE

     In memory of Andrew Mein the Wooden Wheels bike shop put on what can now be called the most challenging and scenic race in Delaware. Last year the race was not held due to scheduling problems. Without any repeat business from last year it was hard to guess how many racers would show up. It was a good turn out with well over 200 racers competing in the heat.
     The beginner course (two 4.75 mi loops) was quite demanding even though the most difficult hill was eliminated. One memorable hill remained: "Munkle's Revenge"- The climb to the right of the water tower after crossing the railroad tracks on the paved road. It was in an open field with the sun beating down on the racers. I remember walking it as a beginner racer and thinking NO ONE could climb this on a bike. (Check out Dave Radziewicz's Interview - and well, there goes that theory).
     The start was on a paved road with plenty of distance to separate the racers before dipping into the singletrack. From the registration area the racers could be viewed by the spectators four or five times coming in and out of the woods.
      After turning right off the paved road you were dropped out on a fire road that turned into a double lane dirt fire road in a field with a high speed gradual downhill - over a short wooden bridge, then across a paved road and into some woodsy singletrack. A little more mix of woods and field (some short, tough climbing, then back into the woods for some winding, off-camber slightly downhill turns - around the pond on the fire road and back into the singletrack - through a rocky, dark tunnel, sharp right at end of tunnel so you don't end up in the creek - up through some long fields with two railroad crossings (they were ridable thanks to wooden palettes between the tracks).
     After the second railroad crossing, sharp left so as not to go into the corn field, then a right into the infamous motocross/BMX track. It takes a few rides through to get a feel for what gear to be in. The course wound around in the field with loose rocks, rutty turns and short steep dips and double dips. It was easy to carry too much speed and end up high in the air over some of the dips. There was always someone there warning the racers as they came by. Even so the track did claim one collarbone.
     After the motocross/BMX track you were spit out onto a short fire road, then back into the singletrack. Under a stone bridge - then turned to the left - where if you went right - it be would include the sport/expert loop that was approximately one more mile of VERY tough up and downhills through mostly woodsy singletrack.
     A combination of fire road, gravel road, and very short paved road over the railroad tracks brought you to the hill we already mentioned. That was the last difficult obstacle.
      Everyone I asked loved the course. There were a few in all of the classes that didn't seem to want to go the distance in the heat. Some of the Experts thought the course might be too short at 17.4 mi (three 5.8 mi loops) but no one was complaining about that after riding the course.

     THE CLYDESDALES

     William Davis dominated the Beginner Clydesdales with the number two man about five minutes back. Good job Mr. Davis!

THE SPORT RACE

     Joey Garramone clocked in at 1:07:29 taking the 1st Place Sport Senior and fastest Sport time overall!
     Shawn Ricci just two minutes slower than the fastest Sport time overall would have been the number two senior - except for the fact that he was the 1st Place Sport Veteran at 1:09:30! Great job!
     Mike Connair won the 1st Place Sport Master keeping Robert Jaggard about two and a half minutes back.

     Kevin McNamara was First Place Senior. He rode away from the pack in the beginning of the race and held onto an almost two minute lead until the end. The five man chase group behind him were all within two minutes of each other. A very competitive race.
     Ben Anemone was First Place Beginner Veteran. He won by almost a minute in a hotly contested Vet Beginner race with the top five riders finishing within three minutes of each other!
     Corry Hunter just pulled away from James Gordish (who was only six seconds behind) to win First Place Beginner Junior.