Ever been the lead car for a road race?

[crazycanuck]

Umm, i've just volunteered myself to drive the lead car @ the 50km route on the Tour De Perth this weekend.

Anyone ever done this type of thing before? I have to wait until tomorrow for further info but i just thought i might ask

Here's some info

Thanks

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BE ACTIVE CYCLE INSTEAD

TOUR DE PERTH

“WA’s Premier Road Event”

APRIL 4TH, 5TH & 6TH 2008, THIS WEEKEND!



Registrations are now open for this year’s Tour de Perth for the following categories, Open Men, Open Women, Support Men, & Support Women.

www.tourdeperth.com.au

Registrations for Saturday Stages will be on Friday night at Midvale Speed Dome 5.30-7.00. 'Pasta night' with Track Racing to follow.

Stage 1: Road Race – Saturday – Roleystone- Brookton Hwy (Registration Starts 8.00 am)

Stage 2: Time Trial – Saturday – Roleystone Circuit (Registration Starts 1.15pm)

Stage 3: Road Race 2 – Sunday – Kalamunda- Pickering Brook Circuit (Registration Starts 7.45 am)

Stage 4: Criterium – Sunday – Kalamunda CBD (Registration Starts 12.50 pm)

** REGISTRATIONS CLOSE TUESDAY 1ST APRIL 5.00PM



JUNIOR TOUR

Registrations are now open for this year’s Junior Tour for U17 Male & Female, U15 m/f & U13 m/f

www.tourdeperth.com.au

STAGE 1: (Saturday) ROAD RACE for U13, U15 & U17 male and female riders on the circuit at Rolystone. (Registration Starts 8.00 am)

STAGE 2: (Saturday) Time Trial, for U13, U15 & U17 m/f will commence prior to the Tour de Perth Time trial, on the circuit at Rolystone. (Start time 1.00pm)

STAGE 3: (Sunday) ROAD RACE for U15 & U17 male and female riders on the circuit at Pickering Brook. Following the conclusion to the Tour de Perth races. (Reg. Starts 10.00 am)



LYCOPODIUM HILLS CHALLENGE

Registrations are now open for this years participation ride on Sunday 6th April, coinciding with the tour, over 3 distances- 25km, 50km & 100km

Ride packs will be available on Friday from 5.30pm onwards at Midvale speed Dome. Come and meet the Tour riders, sponsors, all in conjunction with a special Track racing evening.

www.tourdeperth.com.au

CHALLENGE: 100km - Starting and finishing at Kalamunda completing 2 out and back circuits.

MIDI CHALLENGE: 50km - Starting and finishing at Kalamunda completing 1 circuit.

MINI CHALLENGE: 25km - Starting at Mundaring riding only to Kalamunda

(Registration 7.00-8.15am for 100 & 50km riders and 8.30-8.50am for 25km riders)

** REGISTRATIONS CLOSE THURSDAY 3RD APRIL 2.00PM



** VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED

VOLUNTEERS- Be part of the action.

If anybody wishes to take part as a volunteer, there are a number of options.

3x Drivers, 6x marshals, 2x lads for set up & breakdown, 2x registrations, 4x assistants, contact Volunteer Manager- TourDePerth@yahoo.com.au. All volunteers will be looked after on the days with meals and merchandise.

[Eden]

I haven't driven lead, but I've done follow 1 and wheel car. My husband has driven lead.

Pointers for lead

Know the course - you don't want to be the lead car that goes in the wrong direction... (this has happened at one or two races around here - with guys off the front, oops - now technically its the responsibility of the rider to know the course and to not blindly follow the lead car, but still....)

If its the same as around here, you'll also be responsible for radioing ahead to the corners to let them know that you are coming, so you'll want to have a good landmarks in mind to use to know when to call it in. Be sure to call ahead giving the corner marshalls enough time to stop traffic. It's also helpful for the corner to know if there is a break and how much time between the break and main field (or break, chase, main field, etc) so that they know how long they should keep the corner closed. You should be in contact with the follow car, who will be giving you as much information as possible about what is going on behind you. Your life will easier if you can get someone else to come along in the car to work the radio, so that you can concentrate on driving.

The only other thing I can think of is be careful to get ahead by a pretty good distance before you start a descent. Racers can really pick up good speed going downhill and its likely that they can corner faster than you can. You don't want the pack catching up to you on a descent, so make sure to give yourself a bit more space before starting down a hill.

[velogirl]

don't drink too much coffee before the race (you won't be able to stop and pee).

[crazycanuck]

Thanks!

I won't drink anything whilst in the vehicle..

[Andrea]

No, but I've chased plenty of them

My advice, from a racer's perspective-

If there are any sharp turns on the course, pull away from the field a little bit ahead of time. Bikes can navigate turns faster than cars, and you don't want to get run down by a charging field.

Also, watch closely for breaks/attacks. There's nothing like making a move that surprises the field only to find yourself with your front wheel near the bumper of the pace car.

Although it's definitely not necessary because everyone should be following the centerline rule, it's nice when the person in the pace car can wave at oncoming traffic to slow down or even move over a bit- especially on blind hills & turns. I think that there's something about having a person in a car saying "these people on bikes belong out here" to other people in cars garners a tiny bit more respect for the people on bikes.


And most importantly- Thanks for being a volunteer! I appreciate your support of racing, even though I'm not actually there

[Eden]

don't drink too much coffee before the race (you won't be able to stop and pee).

This is good advice! I had to stay hydrated because I was racing right after I drove follow car -OMG did I ever have to pee by the time I was done...

[Trekhawk]

Hey CC

I hear the weather man is talking rain for the weekend.
I hope it holds off for all the rides.
Are you helping out both days?

[crazycanuck]

I'm supposed to only help on Sunday. If it's going to pour on Sunday there's no freakin way i'm driving around those bends in kalamunda/roleystone/mundaring I'll just tell the guy i'll do rego on sunday. I can back out on the driving but feel obligated to help in some other way..

I can come and visit you after & dry out....