Race Director Sarah Frost - Executive Director of JORBA (Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association) worked her magic again this year and put together a challenging 24 hour race August 27,28 & 29, 1999 at the Mt. Allamuchy Boy Scout Reservation. All proceeds go to support the the 900 acre (surrounded by 3000 acres of state park) Boy Scout reservation.
      The emphasis of this race is that all of the riders are winners. The prizes are given out by drawing so that even the slowest rider might win something.
All of the racers get a slew of goodies: T-shirt, custom enameled medal, flashlight, stickers, coffee all night, oatmeal breakfast on Sunday am, sandwiches at the awards ceremony. Picture frames were given as prizes (with each team member receiving one). They are hand painted by the promoter. Over 165 different frames have to be painted for this race...a two week long endeavor.
Marty's Reliable Cycle, Specialized and NiteRider also sponsored the event.
   The course was a 10 mile loop with a couple of rocky sections thrown in to make things interesting. It was overcast, hot and humid with temperatures in the 90s. Over 260 racers competed in what some would consider an "out of your mind" mountain bike racing experience. However, in order to complete a 24 hour race (especially for the solo racers) above average skill and endurance are required.

Independent Racers
     
      Lee Crowell - Team LOFT
won the first place Independent Racer Men's 45+ category and was also the solo racer overall winner, riding 120 miles (12 laps) in 24:19. Lee has only been riding mountain bikes for three years! Lee is 46 and the father of six children. Check out his race interview!!  
      Lee Schwarz won the first place Independent Racer Women's 19 to 39 category and was also the solo racer overall women's winner, riding 100 miles (10 laps) in 23:50! In the race flyer it warns that independent racing is for the more experienced rider. At 34, this was Lee's FIRST race, plus she had never ridden at night before. Pop-tarts? No support? Could have done another lap but was tired of going around in circles? - READ HER INTERVIEW!!

      Will Overbagh the only other racer to complete 12 laps, won the first place Independent Racer Men's 19-29 category completing 120 miles in 25:16, 57 minutes behind the solo racer overall winner Lee Crowell.
     Frank Forster -West Wood Velo won the first place Independent Racer Men's 30-39 category completing 11 laps in 19:13.
     Ken Durrua won the first place Independent Racer Men's 40-44 category completing 9 laps in 25:59.
      Kathy Burns - Femme Fossil won first place Independent Racer Women's 40+ category completing
9 laps in 25:48 making her second overall women! Great job Kathy!

4 Person Teams
     
     Although no 5 person teams completed 23 laps - two 4 person teams did.
     Victory Cycle - Bob Campos, Robert DiGirolamo, Joseph Dinielli, and Jeff Mellio won first place 4 Person (117-156 combined ages) completing 23 laps in 23:42. This put them 1st overall 4&5 Person teams and exactly one hour ahead of the second place overall team.
     Mad Dog - Sicklors - John Arye, David Fey, Brian O'Donnell, and Joe Shedlock won first place 4 Person (73-116 combined ages) completing 23 laps in 24:42. The only other team to complete 23 laps! 
     Team Perimeter - Doug Nichols, Dough Finley, Bob Freed, and Mike Werkheiser won first place 4 Person (157+ combined ages) completing 21 laps in 23:44.
     rpmcycling.com - Robin Culver, Zina Newell, Christine Nicholson, and Mary Zadnick won first place 4 Person All Women completing 15 laps in 23:25, three laps more than the second place All Women's team.

INTERVIEW WITH
LEE CROWELL
MEN'S 45+ SOLO &
OVERALL WINNER!

INTERVIEW WITH
LEE SCHWARZ
WOMEN'S 19 TO 39 SOLO
WOMEN'S OVERALL WINNER!

INTERVIEW WITH
TEAM PERIMETER
DOUG NICHOLS
4 PERSON TEAM 157+ WINNERS!

INTERVIEW WITH
SPLIT ROCK RACING
PETER GILMAN
5 PERSON TEAM OPEN WINNERS!

INTERVIEW WITH
CHRISTINE NICHOLSON
ALL WOMEN'S TEAM
WINNERS!

     Team Single Speed & Rodeo Clowns Fear Us - Tom Boffa, Sean Grady, Jeff McKeon, Stephen Oksienik, Ian VonHold, Kris Webber, and Mike Zaleski won first place Corporate Open completing 21 laps in 24:13, two laps ahead of the second place Corporate Open team giving the rodeo clowns more reason
to fear this team.

5 Person Teams

     Split Rock Racing - David Baker, Catherine Coloff, Peter Gilman, Scott Hummel, and Dough Verge won first place 5 Person Open completing 20 laps in 24:17. The only 5 person team to complete 20 laps.

2 Person Teams

     Who 207? - Gary Mangee and Nathan Taylor won first place 2 Person Men completing 17 laps in 23:57 two laps more than the second place 2 Person Men's team.
     Westwood Velo - Jack Parks, Anna Soroka won first place 2 Person Coed completing 15 laps in 23:35, three laps ahead of the second place 2 Person Coed team and just 8 minutes back from the second place 2 Person Men's placing 3rd overall in the 2 Person category!

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