Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!

Author: air9r Date: 09-14-08 22:32

Thank you ALL that attended the first annual Root 66 Domnarski Farm Final. Everything went well, and when Jill sits down to set the 2009 schedule I hope to be in it.There were 124 racers, a bit down from the usual numbers, but not unusual turn-out considering it’s the end of the season and a Saturday race. I’m hoping that everyone talks it up and that we double the racers next year.The weather wasn’t perfect, but good enough for racing. Isn’t all weather good enough for racing? I race in any weather but I certainly prefer warm and sunny to driving cold rain. This was a strange wet year, and it did make the course even more difficult. Still, the racers handled the difficult terrain and I think there were smiles on their faces because of what they conquered.I’ve lived at 77 Bacon Road for seventeen years now and it’s the wettest year I’ve seen. Usually my pond is four feet low about now. That meant more mud that will probably not be there next year. Everything was rideable, until some areas just got too beat up. Cleaning the remainder of the course today I could see that the worst parts ended up being a bog on Swamp Trail, the mud hole just after the “Tree of Death” and the “Big Puddle Bridge” because its anchor stakes at been let go.The last two mud crossings, “Pine Tunnel” and “My Brother’s Brook” gave riders lots of trouble. It was kinda funny to see a few of the ladies finish with very little mud on them while mostly everyone else was covered to a point where officials sometimes couldn’t read the number plates. Those girls mud have took the time to walk around most of the bad spots.If the weather is the same I’ll be filling those holes and driving in more bridge anchors. One good note was that yesterday was a much better weather day than today (Sunday) would have been.Parking went smooth, registration good, no major injuries and I only saw one busted bike (saddle/seat post). I know there were at least three flat tires. I’m betting that there were more. I did find a fragment of a cog out on the course during clean-up after the race. I suppose I could do a forensic reconstruction to calculate how many teeth it was before it broke.Looking at the times, it was a good move to increase the Beginners to two laps instead of one. I’m looking for feedback from Beginner women. All the other times seemed to be consistent with the series.I pre-rode the course the day before with NATHAN RINQUIST and RANDALL JACOBS. It was evident to me why Nathan was the fastest racer of the day, able to complete two sub-hour laps for the Pro win. I think Nathan and JOHN FOLEY were the only two riders to complete a lap under one hour, and they had quite a battle going on. I’d like to hear the story where that race was won or lost.COLIN REUTER (Expert 19-29) was the ONLY rider to clean TEN DOLLAR PASS. I gave him a crisp ten dollar bill to frame and a bonus $20 for being the only one. The rain the day before and the mud just made it too slick. Other racers might have tried but were too busy fighting for top three, like the Sport 30-39 Class between 1. JOHNNY VALDEZ 1:04:15, 2. MICHAEL KENNEDY 1:04:23 and 3. DEREK SWIST1:04:56. An hour long race and these guys ended up being within 41 seconds .Pro Women? LINDA FIJOL took home $150 uncontested. I put $100 and $50 back in my wallet for 2nd and 3rd. Of course, you have to finish to earn the money.The course was difficult but the kind that I like. If nothing else, I figured everyone that raced would have an epic story to tell.If you have a comment or suggestion, positive or negative, please post or send me an e-mail. It would be particularly helpful if participants could e-mail me with the amount of money the spent in the local area i.e. If you spent $30 on gas in Palmer, bought a hot dog, brownie, stopped for breakfast, coffee, etc. It goes a long way to have example of the economic an positive boost that this type of event brings to the local area especially if I have to argue its impact.Some of my horse boarders have never met mountain bikers and thought you folks were very nice, polite, positive people. Thank you all for attending and thanks to my following helpers:JILL and CHRIS LOGAN, I couldn’t believe how easy you make it for a promoter and everything I got for the series fee.DICK & SUE LUTZ. Dick came out this summer to check the course, and Sue came up with a better organized plan for registration, on top of their USACYCLING official duties. Both had my back and were checking on me from time to time to make sure I didn’t get overwhelmed.SUSAN DILLAR for USACYCLING in Colorado. Talked to her on the phone and getting a permit was a pleasure.DEREK SWIST, MICHAEL DAVIS and MIKE NATHANSEN for riding the course and helping me with it all Summer.RYAN QUIGLEY & ANSEL for riding with me, and more important trail maintenance and marking.BRIAN RUTTER for coming the day before and helping me pick up litter and mark the course in my jeep. Those last minute helpers can be the best!DAN ABBE & PETE WILSON the official TEN DOLLAR PASS marshals. It was a great place to watch but they really had to pay attention. DAN was the first rider to ride the course with me and it came a long way.DOUG BILODEAU for handling registration. I handed him a big bag of cash, paperwork and helpers, and that was the last I had to be concerned with registration. I’m forever grateful to Doug for getting my mtb start on TEAM DOUGLAS/Yankee Candle – AC Pocumtuck back in the mtb boom.JD BILODEAU for being there with promotion supplies. Even if I didn’t need them, I had piece of mind knowing I could call him up and he’d have them.STEVE ROSZKO for inventing BIKEREG and making promoter’s and racer’s lives easier and more connected!MEGAN QUIGLEY, TODD SOMERSETT, LINDA & RON KLAY for making time to help at registration. MICHAEL DOMNARSKI for getting up early to make sure parking started off right, then making sure the Beginner Loop got switched to The Big Loop.SCOTT SAWICKI, for taking a day off from work and then taking over the parking detail that he would normally get paid lots of money to do if he were wearing a uniform.JUSTIN KASUNICK for being a course marshal and the redundancy guy to make sure those ribbons got moved.JASON STERNFIELD for showing up on crutches and handling the pavement safety marshalling. Those of you that did not keep right were scaring him to death.DAVE HEBERT for being my GO TO GUY for special missions in case there were trouble spots, then going home to grab his ATV and being ready to handle the remote Powerline Patrol.BRETT HEBERT for helping my son HENRY DOMNARSKI to sell brownies, hand up water and motivate the racers with his triangle.CRYSTAL DOMNARSKI, my niece for helping my brother marshal “My Brother’s Brook”.FRED, the Weiner Wagon guy and his son, for bailing me out last minute when my other food vendor couldn’t make it.LINDA FIJOL for riding with me and bringing the Specialized Canopy, which would have been very useful if it rained.RONDA & MICHAEL SHAW, my horse boarder and her husband for offering their ATV to build the first bridge, and for offering it again on race day if it was needed.MY HORSE BOARDERS for giving up a day of horse riding so hundreds of others could enjoy the farm.BEN DOMNARSKI for guarding the farm with his plastic gun and entertaining guests.KRISTEN & MARK STOTZ for making the best part of my day sitting at the picnic table and eating fresh sauerkraut and kielbasa with some beers, after it all wound down.DEAN LISIEWICZ for helping my clean up!ALL OF THE MERCHANDISE and CASH SPONSORS listed on http://dffinal.blogspot.com. Those prizes and donations are needed to cover costs and make the race more special.Most of all: LISA DOMNARSKI, my beautiful wife for tolerating my distractions and welcoming strangers to share her home & business www.DomnarskiFarm.com.I’m sorry if I forgot anyone, but you know how promoting can turn a person’s brain to MUSH! Matthew J. DomnarskiAir9r@aol.com413-237-6560Post Edited (09-14-08 22:40)
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: logansrun66 Date: 09-15-08 06:11Matt,You ROCK and we all had a great day at Domarski Farm. Thanks for joining the Root 66 clan and yes, there is always a place for you on our schedule.Jill and Chris
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: 73pbass Date: 09-15-08 06:23Thanks for throw an awesome event; the course was fantastic, and the pond very refreshing!
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: kaizenmtb Date: 09-15-08 07:30Thanks for an excellent race. It was a great one to end the season with. I don't remember the last time I ended up with that much mud on me or my bike. Fabulous.Thanks to Jill and Chris as well for a wonderful season. Already looking forward to next year.Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: armand Date: 09-15-08 08:38Hey Matt,Thanks for a great race. The course had everything a course should have...difficult but not impossible. See you in '09.Armand
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: CouchingTiger Date: 09-15-08 08:50Matt,Many thanks for a great event and season finale. I think for next year you should stash some inflatable animals and radios along the course ala the old Surf N' Dirt race. Not sure why but the race had sort of a similar feel to me.I also personally blame your and your devil course for me getting absolutely shelled in the A race at Amesbury yesterday. Good stuff and see you at the races :)Mike
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: guiltybyassociation Date: 09-15-08 11:05Matt,I like the approach that you had on your email. I think its important that you also look at the impact that the race has for the area. For your information I carpooled from NOrwalk, CT with two other guys and we spent:$60 Gas + tolls (Gas was paid in CT not in your area)$25 at the Wendy's next to exit of the Highway.A few bucks on the Brownie stand.About the course:Positive: 3 hard climbs that were spread apart. One at the begining, the second being that lose rock gravel road after the paved road and third the powerline climb.Negative: Even though I think every race must have some areas of gravel roads and ATV trails to transition, I think this course could benefit from a little less of that and maybe some extra singletrack.I had tire problems and basically flatted twice in the first lap. Thanks to the guys that stopped by and helped. One ryder even stopped and gave me his CO2 and adapter. Crazy! Thank you man. About the Mud...what can you do, you cant control mother nature, you deal with the conditions you are given. I think that your suggestion of adding some "bridges" to the swampy areas will help make the course more rideable after the rain, and also prevent erosion.Thank you for your time and congratulations on another very well organized race.
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: kenskibike Date: 09-15-08 14:42no complaints...I'm too new...all positive! Just like every other course this year, this had it's special charms, "hurdles" and holy @#$% sections :)Armand was good enough to tow me around the first lap, and put the hurt on me, while we figured out where to go :)See you next year, when I'm hoping to try the 10 mile loop!! gulp!! I'll bring distress flares!Spending...the gas to get there, and I visited the Subway in town for $6.00(not a big spender!)'til next year...Ken
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: endochamp Date: 09-16-08 01:03Hi Matt,Awesome race, my favorite of the season!! I'm a beginner women (19-30-something) and I know that we voted as a group to do one lap but my vote for future races is definatly two laps...if the guys can handle it, the women can also. And as far as building more bridges/filling in holes...don't bother! In fact, if it is a dry year next year, break out the hose and flood the place again, the best part of the race was slogging through mud up to my knees while a few of the beginner guys (cough!) picked their way around it. Mo' mud mo' better! no offense guys ;)
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: air9r Date: 09-16-08 09:32Seinfeld Reference:"Her Mutha was a mudda. Her Fadda was a Mudda!"
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: bellullabob Date: 09-16-08 12:02Great course indeed and thank you very much for putting it together for us. It is very very much appreciated. things I liked: 1)Great venue and good place for kids to come and be entertained while they wait for dady to finish his masochistic business. They loved the horses. My oldest one now wants one...(not so good)2)Some great singletrack. Right off the start this course set the tone. Great course overall, including all the mud sections and long a$$ climbs. I can't believe someone actually made that crazy climb. I struggled to just walk up it. My hat is off to you, who ever you are! 3)I had entertained the idea of moving up to expert and this course made me glad I only had one 10 mile lap to do and was a good reality check for me. things I did not like or wished for:1) Hitting that tree pretty hard..2) Wished for a bigger reward after those two long climb: More singletrack down instead of fireroad.3)burgers....
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: cyclescotty Date: 09-16-08 13:49The event was well done, all around. As usual the Root 66 crew had a well organized event and the Domnarskis put together a great venue and course.I have to say, that was one of my favorite courses of the season. I'm having a little trouble deciding but I think it may just edge out Stonewall Farm and Mt. Snow.Things I liked:- lots of LONG climbing, we don't see enough of it (just my opinion)- random power sections between single track- lots of good single track- the overall flow of the course.- the idea of ten dollar pass, give people a reason to really try and climb something- since it was a big loop, the sports took off shortly after the experts getting us all out and rolling before noon. (I realize it's a little more complicated with the multiple lap courses.)- equipment choice and set up was critical to riding fast AND surviving- one skinny bridge unexpectedly rolled to the right on me, that was really entertaining, but I rode it the whole way.- cash prizes! How often do people in non-pro categories get paid? Though at the same time when I've managed to win a merchandise prize before it has always come in useful.Okay so I could go on and on...Things I didn't like:- walking the bike. it was minimal for me, but it was mostly due to recent weather patterns so what can you do? Not a whole lot.- serious brake fade sent me flying too hot through more than one corner and into the foliage. And again, not a problem with the promoter.basically, things that were out of control for the promoters.Overall, I think the course was completely fitting for the series final. Fun and tough with a variety of mountain bike skills and fitness needed to stay fast throughout. Can't wait to ride it again.
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: colinr Date: 09-17-08 21:52"COLIN REUTER (Expert 19-29) was the ONLY rider to clean TEN DOLLAR PASS. I gave him a crisp ten dollar bill to frame and a bonus $20 for being the only one."I definitely didn't clean the pass, nor get $30. You must've given it to some other guy!
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: air9r Date: 09-18-08 00:18Must have got the race number mixed up but I DID hand out the $30. Will the REAL "Mr. Ten Dollar Pass" please come forward?
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: sammy Date: 09-18-08 08:00Monty Python - Bicycle Repair Man. http://youtube.com/watch?v=rxfzm9dfqBw. Mr F.G. Superman has a hidden identity! He's really Bicycle Repair Man. ...
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Re: Thanks for Racing @ Domnarski Farm!
Author: air9r Date: 09-20-08 09:25And now for something really different...U think Bicycle Repairman was also Mr. Ten Dollar Pass?