3/07 VC Meeting Minutes (Corrected)

The regular March meeting took place at Mangia's Pizza on Mesa Drive on Monday, March 5, 2007. VC president John Bartle called the meeting to order at approximately 7 PM. Highlights of the meeting included a brief recap of VC members' participation in various recent races and the distribution of new team clothing by VC past president David Wolfe.

Event Recaps: John Bartle discussed his participation in the Rouge-Roubaix race, a 100-mile road race that started in Baton Rouge, LA. The event included long sections of unpaved roads and some very steep (18%) climbs. WALBURG CLASSIC: Frank Kurzawa was 38th in the Senior 3 race. Jay Bond mentioned his own experience, including the very windy conditions, in the Masters 45+ race. Richard Hall placed 2nd in the Masters 55+ race, and Kim Wrinkle also took part. PACE BEND: John Schreffler won the field sprint for 12th place in the Master 45+ event at Pace Bend.  PRIMAVERA I & II: Frank Kurzawa placed 17th in the Saturday Masters 35+ event and 21st in the same category on Sunday. LAGO VISTA: Donna Lakomski placed 13th of approximately 40 starters in the Womens' A race. John Schreffler won the field sprint for 7th place in the Masters 45+ event. DIRT DERBY: Jay Bond and John Bartle also discussed their participation in the Tuesday Night "Dirt Derby" mountain bike and cyclocross races at the Austin-Del Valle Motocross Track.

Upcoming Events: The Kenny Hill Autowerks Criterium Series at the Driveway (a go-cart track located East of Austin near the interesection of Highway 183 and Bolm Road) begins on the first Thursday after Daylight Savings Time goes into effect and continues for the next 32 weeks. The first race gets underway at 5:45 PM; the entry fee is $10.

The May Club Meeting

Mayday, Mayday!

The Awfficial minutes of the VCSA

by Greg Hall

    President 'Wolfman' Dave reported that there are plans afoot for VC to put in a bid to host the next state cyclocross race. The location has yet to be finalized but talk of an in-town course were applauded.

    Race reports and results were delivered by several attendees which included Cold Sores road race, HummerFest stage race, Holy Mackeral Criterium, Friday Night Crack, Snake Criterium and Time Trail Championships. Congratulations to all those that particpated. Don't forget to put in for your rider reimbursement while there is funding available.

    A new clothing order was placed to replenish the jersey stocks. Contact El Prez is you are in need of some club threads. Don't wait until nex winter to pick up a keen set of arm warmers.

    Returning VC member Owen Dewing brought in a prime example of a vintage 1985 Jamlaine 'Sausage Wrap' jersey for display and disgust. He is searching for anyone that has a large 2002/2003 jersey they want to get rid of. Bring it to the next meeting.

    The $8 price for dinner was reduced to $6 which leaves the extra $2 to chip in for Bill's next pitcher of beer. Hooray beer.

And now, an ENCOURE edition of the Official Minutes of the VCSA from the May, 1996 Violet Crown News:

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

The Officious minutes of the VCSA

By Frank Kurzawa

    Well, I never made the time to check out the Timothy Leary internet web page and now he’s dead. On the other hand, as far as I know Ol’ Leary never got around to checking out bike racing either. It sure makes me feel old to see a man who did a lot to shape my generation die of old age. And now I’m at an age where the most preferred method to induce hallucinations is to go anaerobic for extended periods in criteriums.

    Speaking of which, our May membership meeting moved at such a fast pace that many of us went anaerobic just trying to keep up with it. So if any of this description seems hallucinatory, I’m sure that must be the reason why.

    Just when you thought our Rosedale ride was really over for the year, we had one last order of business to clear up. Prime movers Kenny L., Richard W., Al Godfrey, and Renee Prtizger took center stage. Kenny waxed poetic for an iterminable time about how we had 237 official riders and raised a whopping $3500 for the school (three and a half times what we raised last year). He then rolled out a wheel barrow with seventy thousand buffalo nickels and poured it over Steve Hammond (assistance Principal) and Gloria Simonson (Principal). Steve and Gloria rolled around in the money on the floor and generally made big fools of themselves. But hey, I would have done the same thing if someone poured all those nickels over my head.

    As usual, Amblin’ Jack pointed out that the Thursday Niters are still happening with way big crowds and people going faster than humanly possible, faster even than Lance without the mountains. I can always count on Jack for a good quote that I don’t even have to make up. Maybe the rest of you people who stand up at the meetings and give dull, boring speeches can take a lesson from him. Or is it just more fun to find out what you said when you get your newsletter?

    According to our spiritual leader, His Chainstayness, Pope Orr, our shorts are now in so you no longer have to race in your dirty underwear. If you prepaid for yours, you can pick them up. We also have some spare mediums for sale. Unfortunately, they don’t have the way cool thick chamois, just the cheesy type of chamois like we get in our skin suits; but at least it doesn’t show skid marks.

    Just in case you’ve had your head stuck in your bottom bracket all season. Our very own dear, sweet, never-hurt-a-flea Collette “Sonic Boom” Haney has been wiping the competition up off the floor with dirty skinsuits and worn out sew-ups. She and Tony went off to Natchez and Collette promptly got 4^th overall while Tony snagged 13^th. Nothing like a good result to color one’s view of an event. Collette thought it was the best-organized thing this side of the Tour DuPont. And the promoters even cleaned up all the blood stains from Mike Haney’s experience at Natchez last year. Ask Mike or Richard for an alternative view of the 9 hour drive (each frickin’ way) to/from Natchez. Oh year, Collette has also revived a handsome suitable-for-framing invitation to the Tour de Toona. And she had some great results at Rubicon.

    So with that, the meeting was adjourned and the assembled crowd broke up into small groups to roll around in left over nickels and discuss Lance’s raging Tour DuPont and his new Nike shoe deal.

And now, an ENCOURE edition of the Violet Crown Meeting Minutes from the July 8, 1986 meeting: Jay Bond opened the meeting by commending the riders who finished the State Championships, Senior 35+: Tom Paterson (2^nd place), John Dietz, Jack Pritchard and Bill Hart. Women: Cynthia Delgado (10^th place). Senior Men: Bill Riffe (11^th place), Kevin Yates, Jon Etheredge, Brandon Zastrow and Jim Keene. Jay also thanked those who helped support the riders: Mike Broderick, Phil Tomlin, Rick Blincoe, Steve Borthwick and Sean Blashill.

The April 2006 Club Meeting

President Wolf reported that a new shipment of jerseys had been ordered. There's still a goodly amount of team clothing available so contact El Prez. The Rider Reimbursement program has been funded for 2006. Go to an event and pay the registration fee, wear a current team jersey, fill out the form, turn in the form, get $10 per event back. Simple enough. The Thursday Night crit series starts up April 13. Membership decided not to include weekly crit series as part of the rider reimbursement. War stories included John Bartle getting first place at Lago Vista Day 2 55+. Zaza took first place at LV Day 1 45+ with Schreff getting third both days. The membership voted to approve donating $250 to the Alkek Velodrome as a show of support for their programs. Financial analysis of the club coffers concluded that the price of meeting the pizza/salad/drink dinner could be returned to $6 which in fact it was.

Former VCer Kristin House wanted me to pass along "Hope things are going well, tell everyone at the meeting that i said hello! Go VC!" Kristian recently won the British Premier Calendar race 37th Girvan 3 Day (http://tinyurl.com/qdfp3)

The March 2006 Club Meeting

No real official business between the time El Presidente David called the meeting to order and the motion to adjourn. Unofficial business was mainly war stories of Walbuuuurg, Peace Bend, Belterror and Gesture. Andy 'Hillbilly' Austin related how he rode a borrowed bike to glory and a first place. Also in attendance were Coach Karthauser and his wife's pet Canadian Phil Cortes. Phils attendance brought the average age of the room down to 50.5. Coach regaled us with Euro trip'n bachelor party stories he and buddy Ricky recently experienced. The details got fairly fuzzy right about the time they stopped in Amsterdam. Suffice it to say much beer drinking, not enough bike riding and plenty of pro peloton watching ensued.

The February 2006 Club Meeting

We’re already a month into the new year and just a reminder that everyone needs to fork over their annual club dues. Fill out the form and send in the cash.

The 2006 Rider Reimbursement program has been funded once again. Fill out the form then submit it at the monthly meeting.

There is still clothing available from David Wolfe so contact him if you need any.

Web page updates will be handled by sending in any postings to a club officer for publication. Tom Linehan agreed to stay on as a surrogate weberator for taking care of club photos.

The cyclocross season has ended and VC cleaned up in the Div I masters category with David Wolfe 1^st, Chris Thibodeau 3^rd and Jay bond 7^th in the 45+, John Bartle won the 55+ and was the highest scoring overall individual in Div I. Jay Bond took 2^nd and Chris Thibodeau 3rd in the Div II 45+. Consequently the team overwhelmingly took the 45+ and 55+ Div I team prizes. Thanks to the efforts of the cyclocrossers VC is currently 4^th in the Div I and II overall club standings for the year.

Other race results include Frank Kurzawa 9^th and Greg Hall 12^th in the 35+ Copperas Cove road race.

Our club track day was canceled due to construction being done at Alkek velodrome. Rescheduling may be an option but not likely.

Rob Andrews is now officially a race official. He joins a long list of past and present VC officials that includes (I know I forgot someone so please add your comments):

Bill Baker

Jackie Phalon

Linda Craig

Karen Hall

Brandy Zastrow

Susan Lesser

John and Susan Bravenac

Sean McNeal

Shayln Bridges

Kenny Lloyd

Dave Henderson

John Schreffler

James and Darlene Karthauser

Bonnie Walker

The January Club Meeting

New Administration Puts a Door Prize in Everyone's Hand.

Un-used race prizes and extra club paraphernalia were given away at the usual Mangia-fest. New Prez, David Wolfe was either trying to curry favors for the new club administration, or was just cleaning out the back of his truck.

The Webberville cyclocross race was a success; 80 riders entered and it turned out to be one of the more popular courses. And the club turned a profit. Thanks again to all the club members who helped.

Masters have continued to be successful in the Round Rock and Houston CX events, but  scored no wins in the designated State Championships. Current TXBRA Division I standings in 45+ are David Wolfe1, Chris Thibodaux 4, Jay Bond 7 and John Miller 17. Jay is 3rd in Division II, David is 4th. Chris 7th. John Bartle is 1st. in the 55+.

Comming up:

Copperas Cove mass start race Jan 21. (54 miles)

Llano dirt road ride Jan. 29. Call John 443 1645 for details.

VC Track Day in Feb. or March.

USCF Official Training Feb. 3/4.( VC pays club member's official licence fee.)

AND THE NEW OFFICERS ARE:

President David Wolfe, President Elect John Bartle, Secretary Greg Hall, Treasurer Greg LaKomski, and Weberator Dave Henderson (should he decide to accept this mission)

December Meeting

A group of mostly non-mustachioed VC members met Monday to drink, eat, talk AND prepare for the next year of races.
Prez Za za was ill and could not attend so Pres. Elect David Wolfe took over duties one month early and promptly postponed elections until more of a quorum was present. In order to speed his recovery and oblige him to attend next month's meeting, Za za was nominated for Pres. Elect.

The Annual Club Awards were presented at the Christmas party; and the winners are (not necessarily in order of importance):

Best Dressed: John Schreffler - has this man not won this award before?!
Best Beef: David Orr - with extra points for style, but closely contested by Slim.
Rider of the Year: John Bandy - 5 firsts and 5 seconds in 16 starts for the season!

The 'cross season continues, David Wolfe and John Bartle continue (6 races) winning streaks in their respective Masters categories. Chris Thibodeau has raced very strongly until injured. We wish him the best of luck at Nationals in Providence R.I. this weekend. Jay Bond has also put in some stalwart performances.

Having dispensed with business and news, general discussion proceeded.

October 2005

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MISSED THE MEETING ... IT WAS A LOOONG FIVE MINUTES ... BUT THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE ELICITED ...

Christmas party at John Bandy's December 3, Saturday. Nominations for annual awards are being considered.

Officer elections are next meeting. Nominations ? Volunteers ?

Racing at Texas Research Park. Val wins 35+! Gregg Hall is "umpteenth" in the 1/2/3s.

Frank beats "a bunch of old men" (sic) at the Senior Olympics - 4 Golds - and Val also medals in all four events.

The AMLI crit is looking for volunteers. Saturday Oct.22.

And the always exciting treasury report, "not too bad".

(this should take care of any nominations for this individual as secretary next year)

JB

September 2005 Meeting

The meeting and photo shoot were held at the new Gracy Farms Mangia.

The Team Photograph with all in the Jullian Design Jerseys was accomplished in the fading evening light thanks to the efforts of Richard Whittington. Everyone behaved well. We then went inside for pizza and race stories.

James Karthauser, Directeur Technique Par Excellence, told of his 8th. visit to the (37th.) Tour de L'Abitibi. He took 6 Texas Juniors to this international event of 160 riders. He brought souveniers and memorabellia to the club meeting and accounts of fast racing, hard tactics and riding out of the earth from the only Junior World Cup Event this side of the Atlantic. Unfortuneately, a crash took out half of Team Texas with 2 days to go out of the 6 day/8 stage race. Best placing from Texas was Marcus Torres, 8th. in KOM and Kart who was elected the Best Team Director (and esspresso barista).

It's late in the season but VC racing is still going strong with a good showing at Chappell Hill. All 10 team members finished in the 45+ pack, including Linehan 3rd. and Schreffler 6th.

Hotter Than Hell - Schreff and G.Hall place in the top ten.

Friday night racing at Alkek for Schreffler, Hall, LaKomski and Bond.

Columbus Stage Race - won by John Bandy with help from Haney and Hargrove. Bandy secured a 4 1/2 minute victory  and has placed 3rd. overall in TXBRA, 55+ for 2005!

AND COMING UP: a Helotes road race Sept. 24, the "skills -based" State Championships Oct.8, Ride for the Roses, Gruene TTT, and the first cyclocross race of the new season Oct 29 at Rocky Hill. The VC 'cross race at Moya Park is scheduled Dec. 17 (practice at Moya is Thursdays at 6 pm.)

JULY 2005 MEETING MINUTES

A Typical Summer Meeting - "It was a select group...."

The business was brief, the pizza was plentiful.

1. Race Reports. Donna LaKomski 9th. in the Nationals at Park City, Utah! We hope to get a first hand account next month.
We tried at Helotes and Schreff made the top 10, and the top 3, 5? at Research Park in San Antone.
There are two more races in this series. Saturday, 9:00 am start.

2. The Violet Crown Charity and Education Fund. Thanks to the work of Frank Kurzawa we now have a chariable organization branch to which tax deductible contributions can be made.

3. Creedmoor Time Trial. Thanks to Beth Allen and the Austin Flyers the first of four Wednesay night time trials went off. Registration is at the Aquaplex, 1.5 miles past the Creedmoor Store on Old Lockhart Road. Ten miles of hills and pain!

4.Group Photo. Resurrecting an old club tradition, we propose to have a photo made of club members at the September Meeting. Details later.

5. State TTT. August 7, 2005, Brookshire. Here is a preliminary list of the VC 45+ teams.

Jorge Alvarado John Bartle
Greg Hall Mike Haney
Rick Hall Chris Thibodeau
John Schreffler David Wolfe

Alternates; Frank Kurzawa, Jay Bond.
Please contact John Bartle at johnbartle@earthlink.net for changes, additions etc.
Training is Wednesdays at Creedmoor.

6. Door Prizes. Everyone who stayed got a prize.