Hi RAAM Fans ...
"Stay on the bike. A steady pace wins the race."
Pete Penseyres
In the last update, I focused on Jonathon Boyer's 1985 Race Across America
where he rode across America in 9 Days and 2 Hours, which was the fastest
Coast-To- Coast Bicycle Crossing up to that point. Jonathon was one of two
of the most accomplished Road Racing Cyclists in America at that time and
was the first American to race in the Tour de France.
Jonathon Boyer said in the 1985 Race Across America, "Even though the Ultra-
Marathon cyclist can do the Race they're doing, they're not considered real
athletes as far as racing athletes or someone who does something on a
competitive level. My main competition I think is the clock. They're not
many other riders that can even conceive of doing what I want to do."
In the 1986 Race Across America, Jonathon Boyer decided not to come back and
compete. As Pete cranked into Texas, the great announcer Jim Lampley said,
"A part of Pete Penseyres was racing with Michael Secrest but another part
of him was racing with a shadow. As a central figure in the Ultra Marathon
culture, Penseyres had returned to the race, hopeful for a battle with
Jonathon Boyer. His heart still carried scars from what Boyer had said
about riders like him the year before. Deprived of the chance of riding
next to the man himself, Penseyres had etched the numbers and the pace that
would produce them into his consciousness. He was running ahead of that
pace."
Pete Penseyres responded with, "It's always bothered me that the cycling
world, as small as it is, can't be more of a family."
Pete also responded by riding the same course as the 1985 Race but with much
more difficult conditions in 8 Days, 9 Hours, 47 Minutes. 16 Hours Faster
than Jonathon Boyer the year before!!
Jim Lampley summed it up, "Second in the Race Across America in 1983,
victorious in 1984, and then back to win again, confounding those who
remember his come from behind approach by leading most of the way.
A friend to virtually everyone he meets, the 43 Year Old Nuclear Engineer
is set apart by a glowing tight knit family. We'll never know what Jonathon
Boyer would have done if he would have chosen to defend his title in 1986.
But we do know that he would have had to better his own record by more than
16 Hours to have a chance to beat Pete Penseyres!!"
How good was Pete's 1986 Race Across America?
Unbelievably good.
Better than World Class.
Jonathon Boyer's 1985 Total Average Speed was 14.3 MPH. This has only been
topped by the following few RAAM cyclists (in order of speed):
14.4 MPH by Bob Fourney in 1990
14.5 MPH by Paul Solon in 1989
14.6 MPH by Danny Chew in 1996
14.9 MPH by Rob Kish in 1992
15.4 MPH by Pete Penseyres in 1986
Notice that there is a HUGE GAP between the last two!!
The point is this: Pete absolutely destroyed Jonathon Boyer's record. And
don't forget: that is Total Average Speed with the clock ticking for every
minute you're off the bike including sleep breaks.
Pete's ride set a record that continues on the books 12 years later as the
fastest Total Average Speed -- and it looks like it will be mighty hard to
beat for many years to come!!
I have just viewed the 1986 Race Across America video which was the last of
five consecutive years where ABC Wide World of Sports produced coverage
for this event. Even though the 1986 show apparently didn't win an Emmy,
I am totally amazed at how excellent this show was. I think it's better
than 1985!! To order your video, go to:
http://www.CalTripleCrown.com
then to the 1998 Race Across America Hot Items Updates.
This year, Lon Haldeman 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 13 Days x 190 = 2470 Miles into the course and
Gerry Tatrai probably has just seen them.
Anyway, back to the 1998 Race ...
Hot Item -- Gerry Tatrai, The Wonder From Down Under (Australia), continues to
lead the Solo RAAM. However, there has been another major change in 2nd
Place: Wolfgang Fasching, last year's winner, has been passed by Rob Kish
who is now in 2nd Place!! On the last report, Gerry had a 9 Hour lead on
Wolfgang Fasching who was then in 2nd place. Now Gerry has a 7 Hour lead
on Rob in 2nd place at Time Station 43 (Lewisburg, TN) which is 2,373 miles
into the race. Gerry is actually through TS 46 (Chattanooga, TN) which is
2,497 miles into the race so Gerry has about a 125 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 125 Miles
and his Total Average Speed has decreased from 14.5 to 14.2. Don't forget:
no one except for Pete has broken the 15.0 barrier, let alone made it all
the way up to 15.4.
Hot Item -- So when will Gerry get to Savannah? This year's Route is 2,907
miles and Gerry has covered 2,497 so he has 410 miles to go. At his current
Total Average Speed of 14.2, he should get there 29 Hours from 7/30/98 8:20
P.M. Therefore, Gerry should make it to the Finish on Friday 7/31/98 at about 1:00
A.M. EST which would be a 8 Day, 13 Hour Transcontinental Crossing!!
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
to 3rd to 2nd and back to 3rd place. He follows Rob Kish by only about 1 hour
-- so this is going to be neck and neck.
Extremely Hot Item -- Danny Chew continues in 4th place but is only 1 hour
behind Wolfgang.
Hot Item -- Tom Buckley continues in 5th place.
Hot Item -- Fabio Biasiolo continues in 6th place.
Hot Item -- Andreas Clavedetscher has moved all the way up from 10th to 7th
place.
Hot Item -- Steve Born has dropped down from 9th to 10th place.
Hot Item -- Seana Hogan has dropped back 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.
Also, you can order the RAAM Videos from there!!
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 has dropped from 8th to 11th place.
Harold Trease from Jemez Springs, New Mexico has dropped from 7th to 8th
place.
Andreas Clavedetscher from Liechenstein has moved back from 10th to 7th place.
Andrew Bohannon from Sunnyvale, California has moved up from 11th to 9th
place.
Rick Anderson from Woodside, California has dropped from 12th to 13th place.
Hansgeorg Haus from Permasens, Germany, has dropped 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 continues in 12th place.
Hot Item -- In the 70+ Division, Team Secure Horizons continues with a lead of
12 Hours over Team 70+.
Interesting Item -- Team Secure Horizons has now passed all of the Solo Riders
including Tatrai. On the last report Gerry had passed the 70 Year Old guys but
as of this report, the Team Secure Horizons has passed Gerry back!! There's
some good competition going on here!! Can these 70 year old guys roll into
Savannah before those Solo Young Whipper Snappers? (Go Guido and buddies)
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 34 by 47
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 Action Sports guys
have dropped their Total Average Speed from 22.6 to 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 has moved all the way up
the field from Andrew Bohannon to now Danny Chew 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 continues at 16.4 MPH
and they are in Georgia, having covered 2876 Miles. In fact, by the time you read
this, Team Gustavo Rmo Franca has undoubtedly made it to the Finish Line!!
All Rider Web pages were searched for Notes and Time Penalties and nothing new
was found.
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 Thursday, July 30, 1998 at 9:36 pm (est)
*****************************************************************************
*
*
* DIVISION REPORT - Solo Divisions
*
*
*****************************************************************************
Division: Solo, Men
Division Leader:
Rider #150 (Gerry Tatrai) passed through station 46 (Chattanooga, TN) at
8:20:00 PM (EDT) on Thursday, July 30, 1998, 2497.24 miles into the race.
Total Total Ave Ave Mi Hr.
Rider Station Time/Day Hrs. Mile Mi/Day MPH Back Back
150 Gerry Tatrai 46 7/30/98 8:20 PM 176.08 2497.24 340 14.2 0.0 0.00 1
39 Rob Kish 43 7/30/98 5:35 PM 173.33 2372.86 329 13.7 2
201 Wolfgang Fasching43 7/30/98 6:55 PM 174.67 2372.86 326 13.6 3
129 Danny Chew 43 7/30/98 8:00 PM 175.75 2372.86 324 13.5 4
196 Tom Buckley 41 7/30/98 6:58 PM 174.72 2295.16 315 13.1 5
210 Fabio Biasiolo 41 7/30/98 7:00 PM 174.75 2295.16 315 13.1 6
223 Andreas Clavedets40 7/30/98 8:15 PM 176.00 2259.46 308 12.8 7
231 Harold Trease 39 7/30/98 6:43 PM 174.47 2226.52 306 12.8 8
222 Andrew Bohannon 39 7/30/98 7:35 PM 175.33 2226.52 305 12.7 9
97 Steve Born 38 7/30/98 6:23 PM 174.13 2191.63 302 12.6 10
229 Mark Patten 38 7/30/98 8:30 PM 176.25 2191.63 298 12.4 11
80 Paul Solon 37 7/30/98 7:57 PM 175.70 2163.29 295 12.3 12
220 Rick Anderson 36 7/30/98 6:28 PM 174.22 2117.46 292 12.2 13
219 Giovanni Zilioli 34 7/30/98 8:00 PM 175.75 2031.05 277 11.6 14
161 Seana Hogan 33 7/30/98 3:22 PM 171.12 1942.10 272 11.3 15
226 Tim Kinkeade 33 7/30/98 6:20 PM 174.08 1942.10 268 11.2 16
225 Hansgeorg Haus 32 7/30/98 10:06 AM 165.85 1898.35 275 11.4 17
227 Charles Liskey 30 7/30/98 8:02 PM 175.78 1819.75 248 10.4 18
224 Bernie Comeau 27 7/30/98 7:43 PM 175.47 1668.25 228 9.5 19
114 Aldo Calandro 25 7/30/98 3:52 PM 171.62 1554.10 217 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 54 (Guyton,
GA) at 8:05:00 PM (EDT) on Thursday, July 30, 1998, 2876.73 miles into the
race.
Total Total Ave Ave Mi Hr.
Rider Station Time/Day Hrs. Mile Mi/Day MPH Back Back
TM57 Team Gustavo Rmo54 7/30/98 8:05 PM 175.83 2876.73 393 16.4 0.0 0.00 1
Division: - 70 Plus Teams
Division Leader:
Rider #TM19 (Team Secure Horizons/SCOR) passed through station 46
(Chattanooga, TN) at 5:21:00 PM (EDT) on Thursday, July 30, 1998, 2497.24
miles into the race.
Total Total Ave Ave Mi Hr.
Rider Station Time/Day Hrs. Mile Mi/Day MPH Back Back
TM19 Team Secure 46 7/30/98 5:21 PM 173.10 2497.24 346 14.4 0.0 0.00 2
TM36 Team 70+ 42 7/30/98 6:19 PM 174.07 2337.16 322 13.4 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: 7/30/98 9:36 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 42 (Franklin, TN) at
7:47:00 PM (EDT) on Thursday, July 30, 1998, 2337.16 miles into the race.
Total Total Ave Ave Mi Hr.
Rider Station Time/Day Hrs. Mile Mi/Day MPH Back Back
TM37 Team Action Spor42 7/30/98 7:47 PM 103.78 2337.16 540 22.5 0.0 0.00 1
TM9 Team Pacificcare 42 7/30/98 8:34 PM 104.57 2337.16 536 22.4 0.0 0.78 2
TM58 Team Austria 34 7/30/98 3:03 PM 99.05 2031.05 492 20.5 3
TM42 Team Colorado 34 7/30/98 6:46 PM 102.77 2031.05 474 19.8 4
TM61 Team Coast Guard34 7/30/98 8:21 PM 104.35 2031.05 467 19.5 5
TM60 Team Adventure 32 7/30/98 7:16 PM 103.27 1898.35 441 18.4 6
TM56 Team Tyler 31 7/30/98 7:15 PM 103.25 1867.95 434 18.1 7
TM53 Team Men In Mot 31 7/30/98 8:40 PM 104.67 1867.95 428 17.8 8
TM54 Team New York 28 7/30/98 6:07 PM 102.12 1718.75 404 16.8 9
TM59 Team Jimmy 27 7/30/98 6:25 PM 102.42 1668.25 391 16.3 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: 7/30/98 9:36 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
Return to 1998 Race
Across America Hot Item Updates