Before I launch into today's excitement, let me tell you a little about Jeff... who you all now know as Big Pit.... because the type of guy he is, ties directly to today's tale.
Jeff spent 25 years as a Air Traffic Controller, so to say nothing rattles this guys cage is an understatement. I would bet on my life that if Jeff was standing in the middle of a burning building with his mustache smoldering he would calmly walk to the door... after he finished his coffee.
So... we begin. We woke up to freezing rain and temps well below freezing.
Today was Big Pit and Just Jerry's Pre-qualification race. They were both assigned to race in Heat 1, scheduled to go off at 10:50.
We wanted to get on course no later than 9:00 for course check out... but by the time we got there we realized chaos had arrived well in advance.
A bunch of guys with shovels, and an end loader driven by a mad man, several gators and a bunch-o-stressed out UCI officials were all racing around in circles trying to make last minute corrections to a course that looked like it had been frozen in time.
The mud had frozen solid. So, what had previously been a sloppy mud slog, was now a field of frozen ruts... deep enough to bend a rim, or snap a fork.
Jeff wasn't thrilled with the whole frozen rut deal, since he had little experience on the stuff... so his attitude towards his prequalification race ranged between wanting to blow it off all together to just rolling up to the starting line and slowly rolling around the course until the officials had mercy on him and pulled him... so the Flea and I, knew we had to keep and eye on him.
Ten minutes prior to the start, Karen and I headed to the start grid expected to meet the guys, and take their warm up clothing.
Just Jerry was already in the Grid... Big Pit wasn't there yet, but he was still warming up and we expected him to roll up within a few minutes.
The officials give the 5 minute warning... no Big Pit... everyone else is in the grid. The Flea is getting agitated. I am confident that he will roll up any second.
The officials give the 2 minute warning... no Big Pit... guys who know he should be in the grid are looking around. The Flea is well beyond agitated. My eyes are beginning to bug out...
The officials give the 1 minute warning... no Big Pit... guys in the grid, no longer give a crap. The Fleas' head is spinning 360 degrees and she is speaking in tongues, while my sphincter is slamming shut loud enough for the officials to hear!
The whisle blows.. NO FREAKING BIG PIT.... WTF??????
As calmly as I can, I ask the French UCI Official the obvious question. "If loser boy shows up... what can we do?"
In the perfect Detective Clouseau accent, he responds... "E wel av to com bak er to stat."
After 5 long minutes... far off in the distance, we see Big Pit rolling up the service road towards the start line in the wrong direction and actually enters onto the course (heading in the wrong direction)... and rolls up to the 3 start officials who are now all in a rage, arms flapping, yelling in various accents. After a few minutes of scolding... Big Pit is turned around and sent off to chase ofter the rest of the pack.
To his credit... Big Pit did a great job. He caught the pack and picked off 5 riders... getting himself a 5th row call up... just 1 place shy of the 4th row... maybe next time he'll show up on time!
Just Jerry had a great race and finished 9th in his heat!
Hey, this is a good hair day!
You go first... No, You go First!
Jeff, you have to get out of the car... it's time to race.
2 minutes... Just Jerry is on the line... No Big Pit
Ummmm... where is he?????
The field is gone and no Big Pit... WTF!
One of the few guys to ride this really gnarly hill
Go Blue Steel!
Tomorrow is Tom's Championship race at 11:20... we have pit duties again.
More fun, more updates.
Til later,
Kath
