Race Changes/Updates/Explanations

First of all, thank you to everyone who has signed up to race this year. Terri and I take great pride in RAO and appreciate your taking part in this event. While there’s truth to the adage ‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.’, we’ve always asked for your feedback on how we can make the race better. We listen to your input and, if we believe it will make positive changes to the event, we’ll use it. For example, changing the race date. There were a number of problems regarding moving the date – conflicts with other events, SummerSki season at Timberline, the heat, racers who told us they would no longer be able to do the race if we moved to July and the fact that RAO had established itself over 8 years as taking place the first weekend of June. On the other hand we had a number of racers tell us they’d wanted to do the race but that it was too early in the season. We didn’t like the conflict with RAAM and, most of all, were tired of worrying about snow moving the finish to Government Camp. We’re glad we moved – the first weekend of June ‘06 featured pouring rain, heavy fog and cold temperatures. Can it snow on Mt. Hood in late July? You bet. However, the chances for warm weather and sunny finish are much better than in early June.

Division changes: As you can tell from the numbering system, we’ve added a 50+ division. While the 50 – 59 year olds will be racing in their own division they will be going head to head with the other competitors for the honor of first overall. However, we will now recognize 49 and under, 50 – 59, 60 – 69 and 70 – 79. When we can coax a Great Grand PAC Masters team of 80 and 90 year olds out here we’ll be happy to add divisions for them as well.

Recumbents: We’ve wanted recumbents racing RAO since it’s inception. I’d approached Bike-E a number of times to enter a team and twice it looked like it would happen. We were psyched when we received the entry from RAO Speedwagon in ‘05 and totally caught off guard when two solo recumbents registered as well. I’d been told in the past that a recumbent would never do well on the RAO route. I wasn’t convinced as I thought there were enough downhills and flats to make a recumbent competitive. Speedwagon proved me wrong. They were competitive alright but by recruiting 4 of the best racers around they were able to keep pace on the climbs as well. Okay – so Speedwagon was not technically a ‘recumbent’ team as they also had an HPV and a faired ‘bent. When Bacchetta signed up we asked if they’d mind racing in the same division against a team made up of recumbents and HPVs. They told us to bring ‘em on. When Speedwagon showed up as the first team to the top we were faced with a problem – who won the 4 person division? Was it fair to have ‘bents and uprights racing against each other? We got hit with this again when James Kern arrived as the 3rd placed solo racer. Wade Baker and Kern provided us with a solution. Baker and Kern were in a tight battle for 2nd place as they turned up Timberline Road. Though crew feedback was that they possibly were in seperate divisions (unlike the teams, we’d lumped the soloists together) neither one cared what type of bike the other was on. They wanted to beat each other to the top. So this year while we will recognize the first upright solo/team and the first recumbent solo/team, we will also have awards for the first solo.team to the top. Overall placing will be listed in order of arrival.

Definition of a Mixed Team: This is an easy one for Two Person – one man/one woman. Questions arise when it comes to a Four Person. In the past a Mixed Four Person Team was made up of 2 women and 2 men. A few years ago, RAAM began allowing mixed teams with a 3 to 1 ratio. At first we didn’t think this was especially fair. Then we took a realistic look at it. If a team was made up of three men and one woman should they race against a team made up of four men or 2/2? If a team of 3 women and 1 man entered would they race in open women or mixed? A lot of strong women have raced RAO – Sandy Earl, Terri Gooch, Becky Smith and Cassie Lowe have all placed in the top five solo. Sandy actually led the ‘00 race for a number of miles. Terri, Becky and Cassie were all in 2nd at some point in their races. The Leopard Ladies 5 person women’s team led and/or beat mens and mixed teams. We decided that a 2/2 would be competitive with a 3/1. We would love to see a team of 3 women and 1 man take Mixed Division title some year.

Rookie of the Year: As of today, the battle for RAAM Qualification and Rookie of the Year is going to be against Hugh Gapay, Frederick Mulder, Upton Dabney and Scott Youngren. John Spurgeon and Jodi-Annette Ashley will also be competing for Rookie of the Year. As RQ status depends on divisional competition, Ashley will qualify with an official finish.

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