Hi RAAM Fans ...

After a victory in the Race Across America (RAAM), Lon Haldeman said he'd
rather ride into a headwind than tailwind because headwinds demoralized his
opponents and sapped their strength.  But he trained daily to cope with
adversity by riding with the wind in his face every chance he got.  He said
also that if he stopped to rest in a headwind his opponents were gaining on
him more slowly than they would riding with a tailwind.  Lon had the
mindset to ride into a headwind all the way across America.  
He knew how to cope.
               "Coping with Adversity" by Bill Aiken in OCW Newsletter 10/96  

At the end of the PAC Tour Southern Transcontinental in 1990, Lon and I
were walking back to the Hotel after the celebration in the Atlantic Ocean.
There was a long pause in the conversation.  Lon broke the silence by
saying, "You know, there's no fakin' it in this sport.  You had a great
experience because you did the training."  I'll never forget that one.
               Chuck Bramwell

This update is dedicated to Lon Haldeman who won RAAM in 1982 and 1983, then
finished second to only Pete Penseyres in 1984 and 1986.  Lon is known as the
Babe Ruth of Long Distance Cycling -- and if you ever ride with him you'll
see why!!

Lon is currently on the RAAM Route having started a group of PAC Tour RAAM
Riders who are riding 190 Miles a day for 15 days.  Riders completing the
entire tour will qualify for RAAM next year.  They started on July 18th so
they had a 5 day head start on the Solo RAAM Riders.  As of now, Lon and
his group should be 12 Days x 190 = 2280 Miles into the course and Gerry
Tatrai should be seeing them soon.  

If anyone out there hasn't ridden a PAC Tour with Lon, they should make it a
goal -- Lon and Susan are the best!!  PAC Tours are like going to the
University of Long Distance Cycling.  Some PAC Tours are as short as 115
Miles per Day.  Lon and Susan have helped so many people in this sport,
it's amazing.  Speaking for myself, I've learned a ton from Lon and Susan.

As previously reported, Bob Forney in his Human Powered Vehicle had to abandon
the Race today after passing through Roswell, New Mexico at 4:47 AM, 1003
Miles into the Race.  No, Bob wasn't abducted by aliens at that hour in Roswell.
Nor was he carted off to a Space Ship and beamed up.  Nor was he abducted by a
secret agent from the UFO Museum.  Bob had to drop out due to overheating.  I
can understand that -- I was overheating at the start of RAAM without a
fairing around me!!  Bob really did rev up the engine: he had a Total Average
Speed of 20.8 MPH at Gila Bend, Arizona, 391 Miles into the Race.  Therefore,
he basically completed a Quad Century in 18.8 Hours -- in other words, he
rode 4 back to back Centuries each in 4.7 Hours!!  Wow, that's impressive
-- no wonder Bob overheated!!

Anyway, back to the Race ...

Hot Item -- Gerry Tatrai, The Wonder From Down Under (Australia), continues to
lead the Solo RAAM.  Rob Kish in 2nd Place has moved up on Gerry from a 7 hour
gap to a 6 hour gap at Time Station 36 (Memphis, TN) which is 2,117 miles into
the race.  Gerry is actually through TS 39 (Chesterfield, TN) which is 2,227
miles into the race so Gerry has a 109 mile lead on Rob.  

Hot Item -- In my previous E-Mail, I was comparing Gerry Tatrai's Stellar
performance here to Pete Penesyre's 1986 RAAM where he had a Total Average
Speed of 15.4 MPH.  Since the last update, Gerry has ridden another 109 Miles
and his Total Average Speed has increased from 14.3 to 14.4 -- so he was
refilling his sleep tank on the last report.  Don't forget: no one except for
Pete has broken the 15.0 barrier. 

Hot Item -- Overall Position numbers on these reports are based on the
following Race Categories:
Solo RAAM, Men and Women, Numbers 1 ... 20
2 Man Relay Team & 70 Plus Teams that started with Solo RAAM, Numbers 1 ... 3
Team RAAM and Human Powered Vehicle, Numbers 1 ... 11 

Hot Item -- Last Year's Men's Champion Wolfgang Fasching has more than
recovered from his earlier problems as he has moved up from 10th to 9th to 6th
and is now in 3rd  place.  He continues behind Rob Kish by about 2 hours.

Extremely Hot Item -- The battle for 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th place is
really HEATING UP with all of these cyclists separated by only 3 hours!!

Extremely Hot Item -- Danny Chew has moved up from 6th to 4th place.

Hot Item -- Tom Buckley has continues in 5th place.

Hot Item -- Fabio Biasiolo has dropped from 4th place to 6th place.

Hot Item -- Andreas Clavedetscher continues in 7th place.

Hot Item -- Steve Born continues in 11th place.

Hot Item -- Seana Hogan has dropped down from 14th to 15th place, having been
passed by Giovanni Zilioli.  

Hot Item -- I was side tracked in my project to upload my RAAM Start Line
Photos.  Instead, I spent the time to put all of these updates online so you
can easily go back and see anything you missed.  Go to:
http://www.CalTripleCrown.com
then to 1998 Race Across America Hot Item Updates.

Don't forget Nick's masterpiece photos at:
http://www.RAAMOnline.com

Hot Item -- Let's talk about the Rookies.  

Mark Patten is from Saratoga, California continues in 8th place.

Harold Trease from Jemez Springs, New Mexico continues in 9th place.
 
Andreas Clavedetscher from Liechenstein continues in 7th place. 

Andrew Bohannon from Sunnyvale, California continues in 10th place.

Rick Anderson from Woodside, California has moved up from 13th to 12th place.

Hansgeorg Haus from Permasens, Germany, has dropped back from 16th to 17th
place.  

Tim Kinkeade from Moscow, Idaho has moved up from 17th to 16th place.

Charlie Liskey from Somis, California continues in 18th place.

Bernie Comeau from Ottawa, Canada continues in 19th place.
  
Hot Item -- 1989 Winner Paul Solon has dropped from 12th to 13th place.

Hot Item -- In the 70+ Division, Team Secure Horizons has extended their lead
over Team 70+ from 10 to 12 Hours. 

Interesting Item -- Team Secure Horizons has now passed all of the Solo Riders
including Tatrai. Can these 70 year old guys roll into Savannah before those
Solo Young Whipper Snappers?  (Go Guido and buddies) They currently lead Gerry
by about 1 hour.  These 70 year young guys are a major inspiration to all of
us young whipper snappers!!

Hot Item -- Team Action Sports beat Team Pacificare to Time Station 31 by 32
minutes.  They need a Total Average Speed of over 23.0 in order to beat the
Team Kern Wheelmen's 1995 Record and at this point, the Pacificare guys continue to
have a Total Average Speed of 22.5 MPH.

Hot Item -- The 4 Man Teams that started Sunday, 3 days after the Solo Riders
are now passing the Solo Riders.  Team Action Sports is now behind Paul Solon
on the road.

Hot Item -- Team Gustavo Rmo Franca is a two man Team from Brazil that just
continues to Rock and Roll.  Their Total Average Speed is 16.8 and they are in
Georgia, having covered 2551 Miles.

All Rider Web pages were searched for Notes and Time Penalties.  The only new
item was that of Bob Forney's Overheating.

Technical Note -- As you may have found, this report is difficult to print
well.  In the prior few E-Mails, there are instructions on how to print it with nice
columns.  Let me know if you need these instructions again.

All credit for this work should go to RAAM Headquarters manned by the SCOR
Club and headed by Larry Mahrenholtz.  The Web Site is totally awesome and if
you don't have Internet Access, you need to get it in order to really see what
each rider is doing through each time station, etc.  Check out:
http://www.RAAMOnline.com

Chuck Bramwell
California Triple Crown Guy
RAAM Web Page Transcriptionist


RAAM Route Individual Standings (1998)
Created on Wednesday, July 29, 1998 at 11:25 pm (est)
*****************************************************************************
*
*
*  DIVISION REPORT - Solo Divisions
*
*
*****************************************************************************
Division: Solo, Men
Division Leader:
Rider #150 (Gerry Tatrai) passed through station 39 (Chesterfiled, TN) at 
10:45:00 PM (EDT) on Wednesday, July 29, 1998, 2226.52 miles into the race.
                                           Total  Total  Ave  Ave  Mi  Hr.
    Rider         Station Time/Day        Hrs.   Mile Mi/Day MPH Back Back
150 Gerry Tatrai     39 7/29/98 10:45 PM 154.50 2226.52 346 14.4 0.0 0.00 1
39 Rob Kish          36 7/29/98 10:14 PM 153.98 2117.46 330 13.8          2
201 Wolfgang Fasching35 7/29/98 10:28 PM 154.22 2095.42 326 13.6          3
129 Danny Chew       34 7/29/98  7:13 PM 150.97 2031.05 323 13.5          4
196 Tom Buckley      34 7/29/98  8:31 PM 152.27 2031.05 320 13.3          5
210 Fabio Biasiolo   34 7/29/98  9:20 PM 153.08 2031.05 318 13.3          6
223 Andreas Clavedets34 7/29/98 10:15 PM 154.00 2031.05 317 13.2          7
229 Mark Patten      33 7/29/98  6:28 PM 150.22 1942.10 310 12.9          8
231 Harold Trease    33 7/29/98  6:43 PM 150.47 1942.10 310 12.9          9
222 Andrew Bohannon  33 7/29/98  7:28 PM 151.22 1942.10 308 12.8         10
97 Steve Born        33 7/29/98  8:25 PM 152.17 1942.10 306 12.8         11
220 Rick Anderson    32 7/29/98  9:59 PM 153.73 1898.35 296 12.3         12
80 Paul Solon        32 7/29/98 10:04 PM 153.82 1898.35 296 12.3         13
219 Giovanni Zilioli 30 7/29/98 11:10 PM 154.92 1819.75 282 11.7         14
161 Seana Hogan      29 7/29/98  9:37 PM 153.37 1784.05 279 11.6         15
226 Tim Kinkeade     28 7/29/98  6:45 PM 150.50 1718.75 274 11.4         16
225 Hansgeorg Haus   28 7/29/98  7:20 PM 151.08 1718.75 273 11.4         17
227 Charles Liskey   25 7/29/98  6:25 PM 150.17 1554.10 248 10.3         18
224 Bernie Comeau    24 7/29/98 11:12 PM 154.95 1523.20 236  9.8         19
114 Aldo Calandro    21 7/29/98  7:22 PM 151.12 1376.30 219  9.1         20

**** Did Not Finish ****
230 Bob Kimber        8 7/25/98  6:10 PM  53.92  512.50 228  9.5        DNF
221 Tomas Celta       1 7/23/98  5:17 PM   5.03   83.96 400 16.7        DNF

Division: - 2 Man Relay Team
Division Leader:
Rider #TM57 (Team Gustavo Rmo Franca) passed through station 47 (Resaca, 
GA) at 8:28:00 PM (EDT) on Wednesday, July 29, 1998, 2551.95 miles into the
race.
                                          Total  Total  Ave  Ave  Mi  Hr.
    Rider         Station Time/Day        Hrs.   Mile Mi/Day MPH Back Back
TM57 Team Gustavo Rmo47 7/29/98  8:28 PM 152.22 2551.95 402 16.8 0.0 0.00 1

Division: - 70 Plus Teams
Division Leader:
Rider #TM19 (Team Secure Horizons/SCOR) passed through station 39 
(Chesterfiled, TN) at 9:40:00 PM (EDT) on Wednesday, July 29, 1998, 2226.52
miles into the race.
                                          Total  Total  Ave  Ave  Mi  Hr.
    Rider         Station Time/Day        Hrs.   Mile Mi/Day MPH Back Back
TM19 Team Secure     39 7/29/98  9:40 PM 153.42 2226.52 348 14.5 0.0 0.00 2
TM36 Team 70+        34 7/29/98  6:33 PM 150.30 2031.05 324 13.5          3
*****************************************************************************
*
*
*  TIME PENALTIES and NOTES -- All Solo Riders and Teams that Started Thursday
*                              With The Solo Riders
*
*  Listed in order of Rider's Last Name
*
*  Last Updated: 7/29/98 11:25 P.M. EST by Chuck Bramwell from each
*                        Rider's Web Page
*
*
*****************************************************************************
Anderson, Rick
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Biasiolo, Fabio
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Bohannon, Andrew
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Born, Steve
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Buckley, Tom
     Date: 7/26/98 Time: 10:56 AM
     Note: 7/25/98 11:27 PM 7 milesafter RP 309. Detained 11 minutes by
police.
     Date: 7/27/98 Time: 2:18 AM Note: Per Mike Shermer to receive a credit of
11 minutes for being detained for 11 minutes by the police.
     Date: 7/28/98 Time: 2:45 AM Note: Today is his 44th Birthday--Happy
Birthday

******************************************************************************
Calandro, Aldo
     TOTAL PENALTIES = 15 min.
     Time: 15 min. Reason: Failed to stop at stop sign RP#51, called in by
Mike Roark

******************************************************************************
Celta, Tomas
     Date: 7/25/98 Time: 11:01 AM Note: Rider dropped out due to Heat
Exhaustion, location was not given.

******************************************************************************
Chew, Danny
     No Notes or Time Penalties
******************************************************************************
Clavedetscher, Andreas
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Comeau, Bernie
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Fasching, Wolfgang
     TOTAL PENALTIES = 0 min.
     Time: 0 min. Reason: Warning given by Tracie Holmes for excess time next
to pace vehicle

******************************************************************************
Haus, Hansgeorg
     TOTAL PENALTIES = 0 min.
     Time: 0 min. Reason: warning given by Tracie Holmes, did not pull vehicle
completely off road when assisting rider

******************************************************************************
Hogan, Seana
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Kimber, Bob
     Date: 7/25/98 Time: 6:25 PM Note: Dropped out at RP 191. 6:10 PM 7/25/98.

******************************************************************************
Kinkeade, Tim
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Kish, Rob 
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Liskey, Charles
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Patten, Mark
     TOTAL PENALTIES = 15 min.
     Time: 15 min. Reason: Tracy Holmes called in at 3:30 am 7/25/98 Jockeying
for position rider could not pass.

******************************************************************************
Solon, Paul
     TOTAL PENALTIES = 5 min.
     Time: 5 min. Reason: Tracy Holmes called in at 3:30 am 7/25/98 Not
displaying slow bicycle ahead triangle.

******************************************************************************
Tatrai, Gerry 
     TOTAL PENALTIES = 0 min.
     Time: 0 min. Reason: Warning at RP# 040 urinating while on the bike

******************************************************************************
Team Gustavo Rmo 
     TOTAL PENALTIES = 20 min.
     Time: 15 min. Reason: Caravanning vehicles behind rider on narrow road,
given by Lannie Smith
     Time: 5 min. Reason: Crew penalty for following rider in Arizona during
day time, given by Lannie Smith

******************************************************************************
Team Secure Horizons
     TOTAL PENALTIES = 15 min.
     Time: 15 min.  Reason: Tracy Holmes Headlight was not on bike before TS
#8

******************************************************************************
Team 70+
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Trease, Harold
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Zilioli, Giovanni
     TOTAL PENALTIES = 45 min.
     Time: 30 min. Reason: Failed to stop at a red stop light at RP# 042,
called in by Mike Roark
     Time: 15 min. Reason: Failed to stop at stop sign at RP# 038, called in
by Mike Roark

******************************************************************************

*****************************************************************************
*
*
*  DIVISION REPORT - Team Divisions
*
*
*****************************************************************************
Division: Team RAAM
Division Leader:
Rider #TM37 (Team Action Sports) passed through station 31 (Camden, AR) at
10:36:00 PM (EDT) on Wednesday, July 29, 1998, 1867.95 miles into the 
race.
                                          Total  Total  Ave  Ave  Mi  Hr.
    Rider         Station Time/Day        Hrs.   Mile Mi/Day MPH Back Back
TM37 Team Action Spor31 7/29/98 10:36 PM  82.60 1867.95 543 22.6 0.0 0.00  1
TM9 Team Pacificcare 31 7/29/98 11:08 PM  83.13 1867.95 539 22.5 0.0 0.53  2
TM58 Team Austria    27 7/29/98  9:32 PM  81.53 1668.25 491 20.5           3
TM42 Team Colorado   25 7/29/98  6:46 PM  78.77 1554.10 474 19.7           4
TM61 Team Coast Guard25 7/29/98  8:54 PM  80.90 1554.10 461 19.2           5
TM60 Team Adventure C23 7/29/98  9:20 PM  81.33 1477.00 436 18.2           6
TM56 Team Tyler      23 7/29/98 10:07 PM  82.12 1477.00 432 18.0           7
TM53 Team Men In Moti22 7/29/98 10:12 PM  82.20 1438.70 420 17.5           8
TM54 Team New York   20 7/29/98  8:18 PM  80.30 1328.60 397 16.5           9
TM59 Team Jimmy      20 7/29/98  9:59 PM  81.98 1328.60 389 16.2          10

Division: Human-Powered Vehicle
Division Leader:
Rider #H1 (Bob Forney) passed through station 16 (Roswell, NM) at 4:47:00 
AM (EDT) on Wednesday, July 29, 1998, 1003.1 miles into the race.
                                          Total  Total  Ave  Ave  Mi  Hr.
    Rider         Station Time/Day        Hrs.   Mile Mi/Day MPH Back Back
H1 Bob Forney        16 7/29/98  4:47 AM  64.78 1003.10 372 15.5 0.0 0.00 DNF
*****************************************************************************
*
*
*  TIME PENALTIES and NOTES -- All Teams and Bob Forney who Started Sunday
*
*  Listed in order of Rider's Last Name
*
*  Last Updated: 7/29/98 11:25 P.M. EST by Chuck Bramwell from each
*                        Rider's Web Page
*
*
*****************************************************************************
Forney, Bob
     TOTAL PENALTIES = 15 min.
     Time: 10 min. Reason: 7/26/98 @ 6:40 PM TS 2. Ran Stop Sign. Reported by
Mike Shermer.
     Time:  5 min. Reason: Reported by Mike Shermer @ Holtville just after TS
3 a 5min penalty no details
     NOTES
     Date: 7/29/98 Time: 12:09 PM Note: Rider dropped out due to overheating
East of Roswell, NM.

******************************************************************************
Team Action Sports
     TOTAL PENALTIES = 5 min.
     Time: 5 min. Reason: Penalty by Mike Shermer Parking on shoulder of
freeway and forcing the rider into the lane of traffic on the freeway. Between RP 271
& 272
     Time: 0 min. Reason: WARNING by Mike Shermer Parking on shoulder of
freeway and forcing the rider into the lane of traffic on the freeway

******************************************************************************
Team Adventure Cycles
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Team Austria
     TOTAL PENALTIES = 15 min.
     Time: 5 min. Reason: Reported by Mike Shermer failed to stop at stop sign
at Holtville just after TS 3
     Time: 10 min. Reason: Reported by Bruce Hartley. Urinating in public. RP
309 8:10 AM 7/28/98.
******************************************************************************
Team Coast Guard
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Team Colorado
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Team Jimmy
     TOTAL PENALTIES = 15 min.
     Time: 15 min. Reason: 7/26/98 Run Stop Sign @ Start. Reported by Kurt.

******************************************************************************
Team Men in Motion
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Team New York 
     TOTAL PENALTIES = 0 min.
     Time: 0 min.  Reason: (Warning) From Booth Hartley Team 54 @ Route Point
84 Pace Vehicle parked in driving lane during transition. Warning only.

******************************************************************************
Team Pacificcare 
     No Notes or Time Penalties

******************************************************************************
Team Tyler 
     No Notes or Time Penalties


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