Club Races 2007
Race 20, August 30

 Surprise Race at OOIP

This year, the Club Champion Surprise Race was an epic event that will forever be permanently etched in the archives of the Maumee Valley Wheelmen.  A race that's sometimes been regard as 'silly' or a 'recovery ride' was said to be "harder than any of the Club Champion races have ever been". 

The race was described as 'a twisted kind of team race infused with an omnium theme that was designed to be fast'.  The race was masterminded as follows:

 * Race 1: No points - 1 lap race
    This race determined two captains.  The captains were the first over the line and the last.   
    The winner of this race was none other than our own Midwest Steele(Rachel).
    Steve Sams and his rock solid track standing skills was the second captain.
    Each captain then picked their team for the next two races.

 * Race 2: 1 point to the winning team - 10 lap team pursuit

       The rules were simple - Shirts vs. InsideOutShirts for 10 laps that started on opposing sides of the course, each team trying to catch the other team.  However,     each team was only allowed to drop 3 riders.   
      The goal was to move the pack along as fast as possible while working together and trying to be smooth.  Some arguing was clearly present as both fields drove past the start/finish line.
       If any fans would have come out, they would have been impressed.
       The Shirts clearly won this race when they were in same straightaway in the closing laps.  At the end of the race they had put 20 second into the InsideOutShirts.

 * Race 3:  5 Points given to each of the top 5 - Crit 15 Min + 2 Laps

       The catch was that the team that did the most work, or appeared on the front was awarded 2 extra points for driving the field along and making it hard.

       There was clearly competition between teams to have someone on the front as much as possible which kept the race fast instead of having everyone wait for the sprint.

       After 10 laps of hard racing, the race ended in a sprint with Chris Brinkman (InSideOutShirt) leading Steve Clark (Shirt), Adam Slough (InSideOutSkirt), Horst Obereder (Shirt), and Rachel Steele (Shirt).

       It was clear that only the MVW Seniors had the grit to attempt and dominate such an arduous contest.

In the end, the bonus points were given to the Shirts for their ever present horsepower (Or HorstPower) at the front of the race.  This combined with the 3 points from the Crit won the Shirts everlasting glory. 

                        - Jason Mishka