The end of the racing season has come to an end here in Michigan and Northern Ohio, with it comes the task of keeping our fitness levels up over the next several months. The members of Mom & Pop Racing have had a great season and are already looking to March and the beginning of another awesome season of riding, racing, running, hanging out with each other and traveling the Midwest in search of new adventures.
In the last month of the 2011 season, we competed in nine more races, with outstanding results. Here’s the highlights:
On September 3rd Dave toed the line at the Manatoc Experience- Big Valley Festival in Peninsula, OH.
On October 1st, Jeff, John, Jimmie, and Melissa lined up at the first ever Grampian Challenge held in and around Oakland County’s Addison Oaks Park. Jimmie finished 11th overall in the Men’s Expert class while Melissa finished 5th in the Women’s expert field. Jeff and John completed in the Men’s Sport field and finished 31st and 35th, respectively.
The 6 and 12 Hours of Addison Oaks was held on October 8th. Kim lined up in his new Mom & Pop Racing kit and tore it up in the Men’s Single Speed class. I heard from a great source (Jim Senska, and old teammate of mine) that he and Kim battled and rode together for most of the second half of the 6 hour race. Kim won out by about 12 minutes and took first place. Not too bad for a guy that’s been out of the racing business for several years.
October 15th brought about the last Northeast Ohio Power Series race held at Vultures Knob just out side of Wooster, OH. Dave lined up and finished his inaugural mountain bike racing season in style. Dave has really worked hard throughout the season and made great improvements. We hope that he plans on returning to race for Mom & Pop in 2012.
Christine competed in the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon on October 16th. Despite the cold and rainy weather she raced hard and finished in just over two hours. She has had a great season this year, competing in a few 5k races and completing two half marathons. Rumor has it that a full marathon is in the works for next season.
With cyclocross in full swing Brad traveled to the “D” and raced in the Mad Anthony CX Race held on the grounds of historic Fort Wayne, on October 22nd. Brad, in his first year of full on cross racing, has improved greatly and soon will a force to be reckoned with. On a side note several members of the Mom & Pop Racing community rode from Sweet Bikes in Canton, MI down to the cross race, 43 miles later we were back home, ride completed, two flats fixed, Mexican food digested, and great times shared by all.
On October 29th Brad met the most challenging cross course in Michigan head on at Vet’s park in Ann Arbor, MI. Brad raced hard and finished with the pack in the “C” race.
The Iceman Cometh Challenge, held in beautiful Traverse City, MI was the last stop for Mom & Pop Racing this season. Seven members of our team traveled north and took to the dirt roads and single track that comprise this classic race. In the end three of our team made the podium. Jimmie won the Men’s 38 category, by two minutes. Melissa took second in the \Women’s 30-34 category. Wendy completed our trio of podium finishers taking second in the Women’s Single Speed category.
Looking back on our second full season as a team, we raced at 37 different events in Michigan and Ohio. We entered 63 different categories at those events and had 32 different podium appearances.
I’d like to take a moment to congratulate the members of Mom & Pop racing for a great season. THANK YOU and we’re looking forward to a great 2012 season.
A HUGE THANK YOU to our sponsors- Sweet Bikes, Original Gravity Brewing Company, Zilke Vegetable Farm, Midwest Wheelsmith, Moon Winks Café, and TSS Photography. Thanks for your support!!!
Watch out in 2012 we’re already training and planning our race schedules.
