- Dan.

SCHEDULE:

April 17: Ceraland Joanne W. Daly Memorial Circuit Race

Joanne was the foundation of the IRS and an integral part of its success since the beginning in 1989. The longevity of my promoting career is solely the result of Joanne’s persistence even while battling the cold (Southeastway 2005), heat (Midwest Championship Weekend 2005), snow, rain, lighting (Ceraland 2002), wind and hail.  No matter the conditions, Joanne always wore a smile on her face and offered encouragement to all. In honor of her unwavering support and steadfast positive attitude, we will honor her with one of the biggest IRS races at the fabled Ceraland circuit race. My son, Colin, will lead the first lap for each category and then it’s ‘game on!’ C-land has something for all–playgrounds for the racing families, walking trails, miniature golf, outlet mall nearby, and a varied and interesting course layout. Pay tribute to JWD and celebrate the IRS opener in fine fashion. Rain/cold date April 25

April 18: Mooresville Circuit – The famed pack splitter returns to test your fitness and your will with repeated ascents up its unforgiving gradient. The Pioneer Park race course was voted most popular race in 2004 by the Midwest racing community. Come to Mooresville and see why, firsthand! The strongest always win on the Pack Splitter.

McCormicks Creek is postponed. A deceptively tough 4.5 mile loop that will make its return in 2010! Expect some breaks to form and Belgian-like wind in this late April Classic. Please check back for updates on when this race will be held. Thanks!

The Eagle Creek Park Fast Crit is postponed. The course features an elevation gain of only 9 feet per lap compared to Mooresville which is 45 feet per lap. Emphasis will be on leg speed at this venue. The rush of consistently going 25 to 30+ mph is something you won’t ever forget. Constant attacking will give GP plenty to yap about; get ready to get your hammer on.  Please check back for updates on when this race will be held. Thanks!

May 8: Eagle Creek Park Traditional; the longest continuously running bike race in Indiana features tight turns, sweeping downhill, and milder version of the pack splitter finish. The Black Mountain Series Champion will be crowned on this day.

The Black Mountain Musical Race Series will consist of the 5 races above. Points will be awarded to the top 30. The winner of the CAT 3, CAT 4, MAS 40+, MAS 50+ and Women overall Black Mountain Series will walk away with $100.00 in cash for their efforts.

I am committed to keep the races as long as possible, keep the entry fees the same, provide accurate results and make it a fun and safe experience for the racer. Have a great rest of the winter and see you this spring. Finally, thanks for all the prayers and support from the racing community. It has meant a great deal to me and my family.

I know this is hard to read and believe but Joanne left this world on August 25 in a tragic accident. She loved the bike business and all the nice riders who came to the races. She was a great official, a better mom, and an awesome wife. We will miss her dearly. Overall awards will be mailed and refunds sent but it will be some time before i can physically and emotionally go there.

Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home & Crematory

Joanne Daly will be sorely missed by all who met her. She was a light that shone brightly, but all too quickly. Joanne taught the kids so well and as the kids grow older, they will hear the stories and learn more as to how special they were to her.

I have posted the U2 video here, “Walk On” (my favorite version minus the Spanish subtitles), as  it perfectly summarizes what she would want us to do.

I’ve had some interest in doing an Omnium for this category for the IN Stage Race Weekend. If you are racing and want to be part of the Omnium, I will gladly do it. Not a problem. I will need 10 riders to e-mail me. I will put $200.00 in for the top 5 riders.

Attention Women racers, your start time for the Eagle Creek Fast Crit has changed. Your start time is now 10:15 a.m. Please note the change.

The Monrovia TT results will be posted later tonight. I will mail out the awards next week. Thanks for racing in the TT Series. Some fine times were posted and much progress has been made for many riders. Keep up the good work and see you in 2010!

A new 9 KM TT course will greet the riders (except for the hand-cyclists) in the afternoon. The TT has been moved from Fall Creek Parkway to the Eagle Creek area so that participants don’t have to travel to the other side of the city. The TT course will be point A to point B and will be an easy ride/drive from the Fast Crit.

The last leg of the stage race will be comprised of the always challenging Fort Ben Road Race. This course always keeps the riders on their toes with its twists and turns through the woods and the screaming descent to the finish line. This year will be no different. We are excited about the changes and look forward to some great racing.

For more information, download the race flyer from the schedule page.

A few other notes: We have some very nice pictures of the Eagle Creek Fast Crit. See the results page for the link. Please give proper credit if you decide to use them.  Thanks to Brian West for taking such nice photos and letting us relive that nice day. A map of the Monrovia TT course is also posted on the schedule page. The Indiana Stage Race is taking shape and the race flyer will be posted soon. A solid line-up of races.

Enjoy the short week.

Dan.

April 18 – Ceraland Classic: Test winter legs on this classic, gently rolling circuit with enough flats to keep you in the game and its biting, uphill finish to separate contenders from pretenders.

Great family venue with playgrounds, miniature golf course, paddleboats and don’t forget nearby Edinburgh Outlet Mall to keep spouse and kids entertained.

April 19 – Mooresville/REJ Circuit: REJ has been gone 10 years now but his spirit lives on at the longest continuous running race in Indiana where the pack splitter demands that the strongest rider wins.

Like Ceraland, Mooresville’s Pioneer Park offers another family friendly venue with playgrounds, bike paths, plenty of race viewing locales, and Gray’s Cafeteria is just a short drive away.

May 9 – Traditional Eagle Creek Park Crit: The final leg of this early season triple crown challenges riders’ fitness and skill with the uphill finish and twisting, downhill lap after lap.

Back for his 3^rd season, Geraint Parry of Team Tortuga man’s the microphone, entertaining the crowd and revving up the peloton with his distinctive welsh accent and wry British wit.

Like year’s past, the IRS offers several time trials and other classic road venues. For the complete Indiana Race Series Schedule, please visit http://www.indianaraceseries.com. For more info, please contact Dan Daly at abrdaly@aol.com (317) 502-8851.

Welcome to the 2009 Indiana Race Series! I know many of you have been training hard and eagerly await the chance to test yourselves on the road. As you look at the first set of flyers, you will see a few changes for ‘09. I have made a concerted effort to increase distances for many of the races because, if you are going to a race, you should feel like you left it on the road and not in the car. You train hard and I think the racing experience should coincide with what your workouts have been. I can’t control sponsors leaving (economic climate), but I can control the distance/duration you race. I can also control the lack of late fees in nearly all of my events. The cost of doing another race has been reigned in to a very reasonable amount: $10.00. I am not going to force you to pre-register, either. When uncontrollable things happen in your life or if the weather is bad, who wants to be “forced” to race? I also won’t make you get a yearly license. USAC charges a good bit and I feel that getting another license might be a hardship for some.

With that said, I am glad to be starting the season at CERAland. It’s a great opener, as the course won’t tax you completely – we’ll leave that for REJ in Mooresville. There have been many epic battles at C-land and I fully expect to witness some turmoil and drama again this year. Things will heat up for sure with the first race of the IRS. Geraint Parry will be at the announcing helm, which can only mean great things for the ears of the racers and spectators alike. We are lucky to have a guy like GP. I will help pay the cost to use the park this year (new fee in ’09). To race at a place like Cland is well worth it in my mind..

On to Mooresville and REJ, where racers will be tested again and again by pack splitter hill. The strongest rider typically wins this race, all things being equal. This is especially true in the higher categories as there is no place to hide, so be ready. The distances have remained the same from last year as the park is requesting that I exit at noon, so there is not much room to expand the schedule or add categories. Bob Jordan, one of the greatest, was very fond of this race and would show up fashionably late in his black Celica to smoke the field. On a side note, this is the longest running race in the history of IN, now that the Great Race is no longer. Like, hate, despise, loathe, or love me, there is something to be said for longevity and continuity.

Fast forward to May for the Eagle Creek Park Traditional Race. A classic that is a fun race – and a little crazy fast as I remember from last year – to participate in. The subtle grade seems much harder after a few fast laps. The park is a great place to bring the family and enjoy nature. Grab a blanket and enjoy the music and awesome announcing by GP. A day in the park doesn’t get any better.

Lastly, the categories have been altered some for 2009. The MAS 3-4 group has been rolled into the MAS 40+ group. There are a number of reasons behind this move, both pro and con. We will take a look at how this weekend plays out and can always modify this category for future races. The prize list, unfortunately, has been reduced in many of the categories due to the rising cost of venues, increased support staff costs, and loss of sponsorship in this difficult economic climate. A perfect storm, per say, in reverse for promoters. With that being said, I am committed to IN racing. Thank you for your many years of support. I can’t wait for the season to begin. Best, Dan.