Vance Russell, Race Team Director
I am honored to be the Race Team Director for 2002. I would first like to thank the 2001 Race Team Board for all of their hard work last year. Special thanks to outgoing director Jim Mansoor for helping to secure a generous budget for the Race Team from the DBC General Club which will allow us to continue the Juniors program, secure cheaper uniforms for our racers and continue to support our racers for in-District and out-of-District racing. Many thanks to the General Club for your continued support! We were also fairly successful in garnering sponsorship through a number of sponsors. Thank you again to all of our great 2002 sponsors and if you see Gilbert Khachadourian, Neil Michel (Axiom), Judd (UCDMG) or folks from our local sponsors thank them!
We are hoping to consolidate team efforts at all levels this year. By this I mean that each category will designate a leader to convene everyone targeted races. The teams should try to get together at local race rides to practice tactics and then have everyone show up at the targeted races for some serious hiney-whuppin’! You may also want to get together on weekends with the team for group rides. Clint Butler has agreed to lead the 3’s, and Tom Coulter and I will be leading the Masters 1,2,3’s. 3’s and 1,2,3’s are already planning on practicing tactics at the Aggie, DBC and River Race rides as well as some weekend training rides. Steve Madden has agreed to help coach the Master’s riders and the juniors. Of course, the Juniors will be led by our stalwart crew of Shawn Miller, Rick Parks and John Steggall. I would very much like to see someone step forward for the women, 4/5’s, and 1,2’s.
As mentioned in the January meeting we expect all riders to help volunteer at various DBC events such as the Double Century and Foxy’s Fall. I hope that we continue our success with the 4th of July Crit as a well-known classic around Northern California that really defines the Davis Bike Club and expand on the number of riders that participate in the Dunlap Time Trial (tell as many triathletes as possible to compete this year!), which will host the Junior District Time Trial Championship and is on a course that continues to receive kudos for its time trial challenges.
I wish everyone much luck for the upcoming 2002 racing season. I look forward to seeing you all out on race rides and at the races.
Speedy recovery wishes to Diana Hassel who was hit by a car in January on Richards Blvd. She’s OK, but just has some scrapes and bruises.
The Davis Bike Club Race Team would like to thank our 2002 sponsors: