(Photos by Terry Martin)
Although the phenomenon only occurs once every three to seven years, every time it rains in California it's blamed on El Nino. And when the media buries the term through overuse, they just change it to La Nina. Simply put, we make a big deal of rain around here. People can't handle it and our topography wasn't designed for it. When it rains it floods the streets. Drivers panic. All outdoor activity ceases. Most hide indoors and wait for the rain to stop.
A RAINY DAY SCARE
Bonelli Park is home of Puddingstone Lake, Raging Waters and Brackett Air Field. We race through all that plus a picnic field, RV park, horse stable and golf course. It's a fast course over mostly rolling terrain, with the addition of one rocky grind. The park has great trails, an amusing atmosphere and a unique feel.
Yes, it did rain hard on Saturday. Team Big Bear spent all day in the mud and designed a ridable course. Some racers even showed up for a preride. The rest of us just freaked. We continuously logged on to TBB's site to get the latest race update.
Then we stressed. Riders searched for mud tires. Some fabricated rain gear. Others rushed to the store to buy Pam. Because the fast, ten mile course also included a mile long stretch of pavement, Trek-VW's Mike Lee decided to dust off his cyclocross bike.
A WET SOCAL RACE WITH A GREAT TURNOUT
In the end it was much to do about nothing. The rain ceased Saturday evening. Since Bonelli's packed sand takes water so well -- and TBB did such an exceptional job modifying the layout -- the rain actually made for a better course. The sun broke Sunday morning and it warmed up. Even the water crossings were fun.
Below is MBA's list of the fastest riders at Bonelli.
TEN FASTEST 3 LAP RIDERS
1. Neil Shirley...Pro...Trek-VW...1:29:55.69
2. Cameron Brenneman...Pro...KB Home...1:30:00.894
3. Charles Jenkins...Pro...Giant West...1:32:51.585
4. Scott Wingo...Semi-Pro...1:32:54.395
5. Jamey Yanik...Pro...1:32:59.210
6. Peter Anderson...Semi-Pro...CPTL Coat...1:33:39.700
7. Mike Lee...Pro...Trek-VW...1:34:03.299
8. Leonardo Sandoval...Semi-Pro...Helens...1:35:24.799
9. Perry Paolini...Jr X...Balance Bar...1:35:26.415
10. Damon Roberson...Pro...Nema Clothing...1:35:42.117
Fastest 30-34 Expert: Blair Mathieson...1:35:50.285
Fastest 25-29 Expert: Jeff Schalk...Redwood...1:39:01.021
Fastest 40-44 Expert: Todd Stephenson...Velosport...1:39:22.755
Fastest 35-39 Expert: Kevin Mckenna...Velosport...1:40:16.485
Fastest 45-49 Expert: Scott McPherson...Trek-VW...1:41:49.310
Fastest 19-24 Expert: Juniper Filanc-Bowen...Back Alley...1:40:41.678
TEN FASTEST 2 LAP RIDERS
1. Kevin Grant...Spt 35-39...Velosport...1:09:21.222
2. Jason Perkins...Spt 30-34...Camarillo...1:09:25.159
3. Tom Arnold...Spt 40-44...Amgen-Abic...1:09:35.505
4. Ben Pfeifer...Spt 30-34...1:09:47.142
5. Paul Garcia...Spt 40-44...Amgen...1:09:56.788
6. Wayne McGilvery...Sng Spd...Conejo Bike...1:10:08.082
7. Mark Damaske...Sng Spd...Spot...1:10:15.005
8. Chris Sproul...Spt 30-34...Amgen-Abic...1:10:22.600
9. Jason Vorell...Spt 30-34...Velo City...1:10:27.502
10. Luke Kinney...Jnr 15...Specialized...1:10:37.600
Fastest 16 Junior: Austin Carroll...1:11:42.843
Fastest 25-29 Sport: Josh Chauvet...1:12:03.257
Fastest 19-24 Sport: Devin McGhie...Cycle...1:12:12.116
Fastest 25-29 Beginner: David Dougherty...1:13:04.239
Fastest 45-49 Sport: Steve Colford...Simple Green...1:13:11.692
Fastest 40-44 Super Sport: Jeff Volpe...Velosport...1:13:36.695
Fastest Clydesdale: Mike Holt...Cane Creek...1:14:11.287
Fastest 50-54 Expert: Jon Miller...Amgen...1:14:18.108
Fastest 17-18 Junior: Travis Harpster...Velosport...1:15:10.642
Fastest 35-39 Beginner: Alton Omura...1:15:14.254
Fastest 30-34 Beginner: Ray Taylor...Marlboro...1:17:15.066
Fastest 50-54 Sport: Mark Alvarez...Mission Cycle...1:18:01.088
Fastest 55+ Expert: Stan Ford...Back Alley...1:18:20.222
Fastest 45-49 Beginner: Larry Fletcher...1:18:49.733
Fastest 35-39 Super Sport: James Cross...Sport Chalet...1:19:14.258
Fastest 60+ Sport: Cal Bargart...1:19:17.186
Fastest 40-44 Beginner: Rodd Feingold...1:20:17.856
Fastest 35+ Clydesdale: Michael Dulin...1:21:58.920
Fastest 50-54 Beginner: Rick Curtis...Big Gear...1:23:19.530
Fastest 19-24 Beginner: Zach Goldman...Bike Empire...1:23:50.858
Fastest 55+ Beginner: Bob Endicott...1:24:24.151
Fastest 55-59 Sport: Ron Warpack...1:25:52.770
Fastest 35+ Beg Clydesdale: David Long...1:28:45.415
Fastest Beg Clydesdale: Mike Siegel...1:33:00.789
TEN FASTEST TWO LAP WOMEN
1. Ruby Evans....Exp 30-39...Helens...1:16:17.162
2. Cheryl Roth...Exp 40-49...Helens...1:17:26.430
3. Amy Bowen....Exp 30-39...Spatdog...1:18:55.589
4. Ruth Clemence...Exp 40-49...NSB...1:18:56.334
5. Heidi Faller...Exp 19-29...Titus...1:19:24.553
6. Maegan Merrifield...Exp 19-29...Amgen-Abic...1:19:46.438
7. Deyanira Guerrero...Exp 19-29...1:21:21.664
8. Jenny Wood....Exp 30-39...1:21:59.435
9. Christie Miller...Exp 19-29...Checkered Flag...1:23:12.382
10. Wendy Gabriel...Spt 30-39...Team Ironclad...1:23:17.477
Fastest 19-29 Sport: Linda Stiles...Velosport...1:25:56.423
Fastest 40-49 Sport: Suzanne Davis...1:28:23.565
Fastest Junior Expert: Rachel Throop...Ritchey-Nova...1:29:50.557
Fastest 50+ Sport: Doris Matyasovich...Team Oxygen...1:47:40.467
TEN FASTEST BEGINNER WOMEN (1 lap)
1. Dawn Lyons...19-29...PMBC...0:45:31.948
2. Georgina King...30-39...0:45:42.190
3. Dena Feingold...30-39...0:47:35.766
4. Katy Endicott...40-49...0:49:05.287
5. Donna Vargas...30-39...0:50:09.834
6. Merisol Velazquez...19-29...Spatdog...0:50:13.587
7. Meghan Oneil...19-29...0:51:43.126
8. Carolyn Chen...19-29...0:52:40.275
9. Deirdre Allingham...30-39...0:53:46.544
10. Theresa Bondurant...50+...Depraved...1:07:50.143
EXTENDED LAP WINNERS
Junior 14: Brad Oien...14...0:40:35.658
Junior 13: Brandon Lee...13...Trek-VW...0:40:36.004
ONE LAP JUNIOR WINNERS
14-Under Women: Barton Essence...Giant-Dirt...0:47:51.902
12: Kody Adams...Downhill X...0:50:04.584
10: Michael Hansen...1:43:04.634
SHORT COURSE JUNIOR WINNERS
12-Under: Ryan Blanchette...0:10:47.349
10-Under: Brian Kmetz...0:08:45.912
14-Under Women: Lauren Arasim...I.E. Bikes...0:09:58.242
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