Weather and fall foilage were both perfect for the first New River Valley Speedway Criterium, hosted Sunday, October 12, 1997 by the East Coasters Bicycle Racing Team and sponsored by East Coasters and Backstreets Restaurant. A big thanks go to all of our sponsors and volunteers for making this event happen. The venue, a 667-meter auto speedway, was perfect for the event, providing mild corner banking and an excellent racing surface. Racers, look for this event in your spring District and Velonews calendars, then come on out and join us at this beautiful double-length velodrome in the scenic New River Valley.
The early laps saw a good deal of excitement with several hotly contested primes. The first two were taken by Blacksburg rider Clive Vorster. But Wes Wilmer, a strong Roanoke Cat. 2 and Masters racer, put the power on late to steal the third prime from Vorster. Riders began to fall off the pace at that point, starting a race of attrition for the remaining laps. Wilmer took the next two primes, in the process splitting and eventually lapping the field. Andrew Adamson also took advantage of his prime to break away, but was unable to catch Wilmer in the end.
Primes (3) Wes Wilmer, Blue Ridge/Xaloy, Roanoke VA (2) Clive Vorster, East Coasters, Blacksburg VA (1) Andrew Adamson, Unattached Masters (40+) 1. Wes Wilmer, Blue Ridge/Xaloy, Roanoke VA, 1st overall Cat. 5 Seniors 1. Andrew Adamson, Unattached, 3rd overall 2. Timmy Downey, Unattached, Fairlawn VA, 4th overall 3. Clive Vorster, East Coasters, Blacksburg VA, 5th overall 4. Brad Cooper, East Coasters, Blacksburg VA, 7th overall Juniors 1. David Patterson, Snow Valley, Lexington VA, 2nd overall 2. Colin Ward, East Coasters, Blacksburg VA, 6th overall 3. Dylan Ward, East Coasters, Blacksburg VA, 9th overall 4. Forrest Smith, East Coasters, Blacksburg VA, 10th overall Women 1. Alicia Navaros, Blue Ridge/Xaloy, Roanoke VA, 8th overall
The Senior race was packed with primes and tactical racing. East Coasters started well, using good leadouts by Alex Barry and Ed Hernandez to allow the team to take the first two primes. But Wes Wilmer of Blue Ridge/Xaloy finally broke the East Coasters one-two combo and took the third prime. From that point, Wilmer battled for each prime with Glen Augustine of East Coasters, with each rider taking three more. Wilmer found himself heavily marked by four East Coasters riders, with numerous attacks and gaps to be closed. But he showed he still has his late-season fitness, keeping with the pace until the bell lap. Augustine started the finishing sprint, with Wilmer and Mike Swope of East Coasters on his wheel. Wilmer came around in the last 200 meters, taking the final sprint from a late-charging Swope by a bike length.
Primes (4) Wes Wilmer, Blue Ridge/Xaloy, Roanoke VA (4) Glen Augustine, East Coasters, Blacksburg VA (1) Mike Swope, East Coasters, Blacksburg VA (1) Ed Hernandez, East Coasters, Blacksburg VA Senior Men 1-4 ($28, 6 places) 1. Wes Wilmer, Blue Ridge/Xaloy, Roanoke VA, Cat. 2 2. Mike Swope, East Coasters, Blacksburg VA, Cat. 4 3. Glen Augustine, East Coasters, Blacksburg VA, Cat. 3 4. Alex Barry, East Coasters, Blacksburg VA, Cat. 4 5. Ed Hernandez, East Coasters, Blacksburg VA, Cat. 4 6. David Patterson, Snow Valley, Lexington VA, Cat. 3