November 20, 2004 - Page 2

After the question and answer period the 2nd and 3rd Place Series Champions were called up to receive their trophies that were handed out by Andrea Walheim who was kind enough to lend a hand with the banquet by posing with the winners for a picture and making sure everyone received the correct trophy. Andrea herself won the second place Beg Women 34 &under Series Championship.

Third Place Series Champions in attendance:

Hattie Warwick-Smith - Beg Women 34 &under
Josh White - Beg Senior I 19-29
Tim Schultz - Beg Vet II 40-44
Buddy Briggs - Sport Vet I 35-39
Dan O'brien - Sport Master II 50+
Robert Dudas - Expert Vet I - 35-39
Marc Vettori - SingleSpeed
Kyle Hammaker - Pro Men

Second Place Series Champions in attendance:

Andrea Walheim - Beg Women 34 &under
Lisa Walden - Beg Women 35+
Robby McElfresh - Beg Junior 12-18
Barry Jones - Beg Vet I 35-39
Brad Bugher - Beg Vet II 40-44
Amy Breyla - Sport Women 34&under
Andrea Morris - Sport Women 35+
Andrew Craig - Sport Senior II 30-34
Thayer Seese - Sport Vet I 35-39
Larry DiStefano - Sport Vet II 40-44
Paul Speranza - Sport Master I 45-49
Randy Hitchens - Sport Master II 50+
Mark Fitzwater - Clydesdale
Lauri Webber - Expert Women 35+
Christopher Fallon - Expert Vet I 35-39
Andre Goldstein - Expert Vet II 40-44
Chris Eatough - Pro Men

After the third and second place series champions came the "Most Devoted Racer" award. Bill Ringler won this award as he was in Florida on a family vacation for the Fair Hill race which had to use it's rain date. Bill flew up from Florida, won his race by a little over a minute holding onto his undefeated status and securing the 1st Place Beg Master I 45-49 Series Championship, then flew back down to Florida and finished the vacation! Now that's a devoted racer!

After reading this excerpt from an Escape from Granogue Interview: Did you have any interesting experiences during your race (exchanges with competitors/spectators)? "Joel Gwadz, who was in front of me, stopped to assist a racer who had crashed hard and was lying in the weeds about fifteen feet off of the trail. It's great to see that kind of sportsmanship and Joel should be commended." I thought it would be a good idea to have a Sportsmanship Award. Who better to name a sportsmanship award after than one of the most personable and helpful people I have ever met........... Andrew Mein. Andrew was killed in a single car hit and run accident while riding his bike on Elkton Road, Newark Delaware on a cold November night in 1998. Marc Vettori was one of Andrew's close friends and was kind enough to take the time to write a memorial speech in memory of Andrew and deliver it to the crowd before presenting the "Andrew Mein Memorial Sportsmanship Award" to Joel Gwadz of Baltimore. The following is that speech:

Ambassador for the sport! No better words could be used to describe what Andrew Mein was for mountain biking in our area. Andrew was for many a new rider, the first person in the “bike scene” to lend a helping hand. Andrew would often take folks under his wing and help foster their young passion for the sport. Andrew would teach us of the greatness of Tomac, six day racers, the Belgium classics, the Tour de France and men who would look at our scrawny legs and just laugh. Andrew never would flinch to help someone become initiated in the local racing scene, sorting out who was a true player, a sandbagger or just had too much disposable income. As a racer Andrew found much success.

As an ambassador Andrew would impact so many more riders. Andrew was one of the founding members of the Wooden Wheels mountain bike team, and as a technical rep for Specialized, Andrew traveled the country wrenching on peoples bikes, helping them to find the joy of cycling, and bring smiles to many faces. Andrew was selfless in his support often times forgoing racing himself, to support his teammates efforts. A very intelligent man, Andrew had very eclectic tastes. On rides Andrew would often lead choruses of Monty Python’s “I’m a lumber Jack and I’m okay…” “Henry the 8th I am, I am …” or the repeated chant of “fire, fire…” from one of Andrew’s favorite shows of the time Beavus and Butthead.

A huge proponent of technology Andrew was the first person in the area to run SPDs, and to set up a disc brake. Andrew also believed in the true suspension of a 2.3 tire in the front, and low pressure. Andrew was not a big fan of the corporatization of Mountain biking, and he would have been proud of the grassroots commitment of the Classic Series. Andrew could often be heard saying “ mountain biking is about freaky people in lycra riding their bikes in the woods” Andrew owned quite a fleet of bikes himself, including his heartfelt “SS vomit boat” a steel single speed/ fixed gear courier bike which he commuted on. Andrew would often say of commuting through Newark by bike, “15 minutes by car, 10 by bike” In late November of 1998, while finishing one of these commutes, Andrew was hit by a car on Elkton road in Newark, and passed away two weeks later at the Christina hospital. Andrew was survived by his wife Olivia, his parents Simon and Nan, and an army of cyclists whose passion for the sport was molded in its early stages by Andrew. Andrew Mein, ambassador of the sport, and tonight, in Andrew’s honor we present our Andrew Mein Memorial Sportsmanship Award.

Marc then announced the deserving 2004 winner of the first Andrew Mein Memorial Sportsmanship Award......... Joel Gwadz. Thank you Joel for traveling up from Baltimore to accept the award and setting an example for all of our racers by acting in such a sportsmanlike manner.

page 1, 2, 3, 4       next page>>>