Tuesday Night Racing at the San Diego Velodrome
TNR The Plan,
The first TNR of 2018 will be on April 3rd, and I’m excited to be promoter and race announcer for TNR this year. In my opinion, the primary goals of TNR should be that it is safe, fun, and a good workout*. Additional goals should be to grow the track cycling community and to provide racing experience for up and coming riders.
Some of the other things I’m trying to keep in mind when developing a schedule are:
Finishing up by 9PM or pretty damn close to it.
Concentrating on “ traditional” races such as scratch, points, Miss- n- out
Providing some TNR racing for madison racers, sprint oriented riders, Women, and Cs
Providing training opportunities for riders training for championship events.
For many years TNR contained 3 race categories,usually and A, B, and C category. However as the number of racers grew, the move was made to start FNR, move C’s to FNR, and create the D category. At the same time, TNR was broken down into Aces, B+, and B categories. However for much of 2016 and 2017, there were not enough B racers to separate them into B and B+, and TNR typically had 2 categories. One of my goals is to go back to 3 categories on most nights. The current plan, is to have A and B racers on every night, with B racers getting at least 80 laps, and Aces 100. But also having a 3rd category on several nights of the month. I think I’m pretty good at moving a race schedule along, and I still plan to have us finished by 9PM. We ease into this schedule the first month of racing, and then the general plan is to have a similar schedule on each week of the month:
The first Tuesday of each month ( starting in May) will have racing for A, B, and C Categories
The second Tuesday of each month( starting in May) will have racing for A, B, and pre-approved sprinters (details coming)
The Third Tuesday of each month will have racing for acing for A, B, and a women’s category
The 4th Tuesday will have for A and B 5 lap Scratch Qualifiers and Final + Madison
When there is a 5th Tuesday, we’ll see what happens.
I believe that this schedule provides a good mix of racing. The second Tuesday sprint category will be for riders who primarily train and race for sprint events, and riders may not race both mass start and sprint events. The 4th Tuesday provides an opportunity for madison riders to race their favorite event, while providing short races intended for non-madison racers, that also attracts some sprint oriented riders. This is the only night when A/B categories do not get 100 laps, but the madison racers get plenty of racing, and the other A and B racers still get plenty of racing with an opportunity to race in shorter events.
Below is the tentative schedule for April and May. I’m sure some lessons will be learned in April and May, and the schedule for the following months will reflect those changes. We may institute a points competition of some sort from June- September, but only after assessing the first two months of the season.
Below is the TENTATIVE Schedule for the first 8 weeks of TNR. I consider this a smooth draft. Things will change, we’ll have to wait and see how much. Final schedules for each night should be available only no latter than the Friday before. I'm open to rider feedback both before we start racing, and once the season starts. If it's respectful and useful, I'll always take racer concerns into account. I’ll see you on Tuesday nights.
* I credit Eric Hollenbeck for first describing it this way
TNR Master Schedule for April and May ( tentative)
Racing/MPWU Starts at 6:45
$10 for Members, $15 for non-members
$5 for juniors
4/3 Opening Night Racing for A and B
4/10 Racing for A and B
4/17 Racing for A, B, and Women
4/24 Racing for A and B 5 lap Scratch Qualifiers and Final + Madison
5/1 Racing for A, B, and C Categories
5/8 Racing for A and B ( Long Scratch Final) Possible Sprints ( Pre- Qualified Sprinters)
5/15 Racing for A, B, and Women
5/22 Racing for A and B 5 lap Scratch Qualifiers and Final + Madison
5/29 Racing for A and B
4/3 Opening Night Racing for A and B Racers
Start 6:45pm
30/45 lap Motor Paced Warm Up: B’s Aces
B Grade 6-lap scratch race.
Aces 9-lap scratch race.
B Grade 8 lap Tempo points race.
Aces 12 lap Tempo points race.
B Grade 8K scratch race (24 laps)
Aces 10K scratch race (30 laps)
Subject to change
MPWU (30, 45 laps)
Lap board counts down from 30, 15
· B = 30 laps (pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go and picks up Aces)· Aces =15 additional laps (Pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go)
4/10 Racing for A and B Racers
Start 6:45pm
30/45 lap Motor Paced Warm Up: B’s Aces
B Grade 3K scratch race.
Aces 5K- scratch race.
B Miss-n Out
Aces Miss-n Out
B Grade 12k Points Race Sprints every 6
Aces 16K Points race Sprints every 6
Total Laps Per Category: B = 85 A = 120 Laps
Subject to change
MPWU (30, 45 laps)
Lap board counts down from 30, 15
· B = 30 laps (pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go and picks up Aces)· Aces = 15 additional laps (Pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go)
4/17 Racing for A, B and Women
Start 6:45pm
25/30/45 lap Motor Paced Warm Up: Women, B’s, Aces
Women’s 12-lap Triple Sprint (3 x 4 laps, regrouping after each sprint)
B Grade 3K-lap scratch race
Aces 5K-lap scratch race
Women’s Miss-n-Out
B Miss-n Out
Aces Miss-n Out
Women’s 6K Points Race Sprints Every 6
B Grade 12k Points Race Sprints every 6
Aces 16K Points race Sprints every 6
Total Laps Per Category: W= 65 B= 81 Aces = 111
Subject to change
MPWU (25, 30, 45 laps)
Lap board counts down from 25, 5, 15
W = 25 laps (pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go and picks up Aces
· B = 5 additional laps (pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go and picks up Aces)
· Aces = 15 additional laps (Pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go)
Women who qualified to race A or B categories may choose to race those categories.
4/24 Racing for A B Racers, Madison
Start 6:45pm
30/45 lap Motor Paced Warm Up: B’s Aces/Madison
B Grade 1 Mile scratch Heats
Aces 1 Mile Scratch Heats
24 lap Madison, sprints every 6
B Consolation Scratch
B 1 Mile Scratch Semis
A Consolation Scratch
A- 1 Mile Scratch Semi
24 lap Madison, sprints every 6
B Consolation Race
A Consolation Race
B 1 mile Scratch Final
A 1 mile Scratch Final
50 Lap Madison sprints every 10
Total laps per category: B 50 laps, A, 65 laps, Madison 98 madison laps plus 45 lap WU
Subject to change
MPWU (30, 45 laps)
Lap board counts down from 30, 15
· B = 30 laps (pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go and picks up Aces)
· Aces/Madison = 15 additional laps (Pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go)
In the interest of time, racers may race scratch heats OR Madison. NOT Both
Scratch Heats:
Heats will be 5-10 riders per heat, with 2-3 moving on to the semi and then same for final
5/1 Racing for A, B, and C Racers
Start 6:45pm
25/30/45 lap Motor Paced Warm Up: B’s Ace
C Grade 3K Scratch
B Grade 4K scratch race.
A Grade 5K Scratch
C Crage 3K Tempo
B Grade 4K Tempo race.
Aces 5K Tempo race.
C grade 5K Scratch
B Grade 8K scratch race (24 laps)
Aces 10K scratch race (30 laps)
Total Laps Per Category: C=58 B= 78 A= 105
Subject to change
MPWU (25, 30, 45 laps)
Lap board counts down from 25,5, 15
C = 25 laps (pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go and picks up Bs
· B = 30 laps (pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go and picks up Aces)
· Aces = 15 additional laps (Pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go)
5/8 Racing for A, B, and Sprints
Start 6:45pm
30/45 lap Motor Paced Warm Up: B’s Aces
Round 1 match Sprints
B Grade 7K scratch race.
Round 2 match Sprints
A Grade 10k Points, sprints every 6
Round 3 Match Sprints
B Grade 10k scratch race
Round 4 Match Sprints
Aces 15 k Scratch
Total Laps Per Category: B= 78 A= 125 laps
Subject to change
MPWU (30, 45 laps)
Lap board counts down from 30, 15
B = 30 laps (pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go and picks up Aces) Aces = 15 additional laps (Pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go)
5/15 Racing for A, B and Women
Start 6:45pm
25/30/45 lap Motor Paced Warm Up: Women, B’s, Aces
Women’s 12-lap Triple Sprint (3 x 4 laps, regrouping after each sprint)
B Grade 3K-lap scratch race
Aces 5K-lap scratch race
Women’s Miss-n-Out
B Miss-n Out
Aces Miss-n Out
Women’s 6K Points Race Sprints Every 6
B Grade 9k Points Race Sprints every 6
Aces 12K Points race Sprints every 6
Total Laps Per Category: W= 65 B= 81 Aces = 111
Subject to change
MPWU (25, 30, 45 laps)
Lap board counts down from 25, 5, 15
W = 25 laps (pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go and picks up Aces
· B = 5 additional laps (pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go and picks up Aces)
· Aces = 15 additional laps (Pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go)
Women who qualified to race A or B categories may choose to race those categories.
5/22 Racing for A B Racers, Madison
Start 6:45pm
30/45 lap Motor Paced Warm Up: B’s Aces/Madison
B Grade 1 Mile scratch Heats
Aces 1 Mile Scratch Heats
18 lap Madison, sprints every 6
B Consolation Scratch
B 1 Mile Scratch Semi
A Consolation Scratch
A- 1 Mile Scratch Semi
18 lap Madison, sprints every 6
B Consolation Race
A Consolation Race
B 1 mile Scratch Final
A 1 mile Scratch Final
40 Lap Madison sprints every 10
Total laps per category: B 50 laps, A, 65 laps, Madison 45 Laps WU + 76 laps madison
Subject to change
MPWU (30, 45 laps)
Lap board counts down from 30, 15
· B = 30 laps (pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go and picks up Aces)
· Aces/Madison = 15 additional laps (Pace bike drops down with 2 to go, pulls out with 1 to go)
In the interest of time, racers may race scratch heats OR Madison. NOT Both
Scratch Heats:
Heats will be 5-10 riders per heat, with 2-3 moving on to the semi and then same for final. Total Number of heats, riders moving on, etc will depend on total number of entries.