The Recumbent Bicycle and Human Powered Vehicle Information Center



		Racer Profiles



		What's New?



		Spectators



		Event Pictures



		WHPSC Home



		Monday



		Tuesday



		Wednesday



		Thursday



		Friday



		Saturday



		Main Results

2004 WHPSC Monday Racing Pictures and Results
Words by Dave "FLJS" Larrington.

Monday's Results

Conditions on Muleshoe Road were perfect for qualifying in the morning, with four new rider/machine combinations to run. These being:

Ellen van Vugt / Varnowski
Ron Layman / Velox Solium
Frank Geyer / Big Gun
Tom Nowak / Rotator Super 7

Ron and Ellen both made two runs; Ellen without the windshield on the first before making a more serious attempt second time around. Ron's machine, the latest Cal Poly ASME competitor, unshipped its chain on the first run, but they were able to get the machine back to the start in time to make a second run. Frank said he was unaware of the very presence of the timing system while making his very first run in Steve Delaire's Big Gun, while Tom Nowak had a good run in his Rotator Super 7. Click on the pictures below for a higher resolution image.

	Al and Alice Krause steady the Varnowski prior to extracting Ellen van Vugt.
The catchers gather around Tom Novak's Rotator Super 7.
	Al and Alice, Mike Sova (in hat) and Paul Krieg hold the Big Gun.
The team prepares to free Ron Layman from the Velox Solium.

Speeds were thus:

Ellen van Vugt - 46 mph
Ron Layman - 43.79 mph
Frank Geyer - 35.01 mph
Tom Nowak - 37.8 mph

By the evening, though, the wind had picked up to exciting levels and unlike the usual behavior of the climate in Battle Mountain, it failed to drop as sunrise approached. In the event, only five riders elected to run; Tom Nowak declining to go after his exertions of the morning and Hans Wessels in the WhiteHawk because of the strength of the wind. Opinions of the conditions varied, but no-one had a kind word for the weather. "Windy!" said Ellen. Fast Freddy was more forthcoming. "That sucked!" he said. Sam Whittingham said that tonight was the slowest he'd ever been down the course, as well as being "definitely the scariest".

	Detail of the Velox Solium's rear air vent.
Steve Delaire fettles the Big Gun prior to launch. Pilot Frank Geyer (in hat and dark shirt) tries to pretend he's not nervous...
	While preparing the Varna Mephisto, Freddy Markham was visited by the P+nct+r+ Fairy. Better here than five miles down the course at 75 mph...
Sam Whittingham catches some rays.
	Hans van Vugt (right) and Steve Nash tape Ellen into the Varnowski.
Ryan Fowler (on the ground) and Larry Lem close up the Velox Solium; Carole Leone and Tom Nowak steady the bike.
	Carole Leone and Jonathan Whittingham prepare the Varna Diablo for launch.
Roadkill-eye view of the Big Gun.

Rider	Vehicle	Time (s)	Speed (MPH)	Legal Wind?
Ellen van Vugt	Varnowski	9.80	45.65	N
Ron Layman	Velox Solium	10.39	43.07	N
Sam Whittinghan	Varna Diablo	9.65	46.38	N
Freddy Markham	Varna Mephisto	12.12	36.92	N
Frank Geyer	Big Gun	11.96	37.41	N

All riders found themselves coping with a combination of head- and cross-winds, hence the low speeds. No run was made with IHPVA-legal wind.

You don't really want to know about my trip here, do you? You do? OK, I drove 1500 miles in three days to get here from Denver, narrowly avoided a speeding ticket from Lander County's finest and have very little skin left on my nose and forehead, which happens when one neglects to put on sunscreen and/or a hat when driving a convertible with the lid off.