Worlds Report by Laurie Penney - July 2007 Victoria, Canada
Well where do you start. I would have to start with many thanks to committee and club for allowing a small group to use track lights and the gates, Elaine and committee for applying for a grant to smooth the financial ride.. To coach Paul Luttrell for all his help and motivation that helped all of us push and achieve beyond what we thought we were capable of .To Michelle Jackways for organising the trip for Brad and I.
Highlights for me. One word Brad Brad Brad Brad Ops that was four, His mother did try to warn me, He cant sit still for more than 5 minutes, Pity bout the 12 hour flight.
We got stuck in traffic for 3 an half hours because of a rock slide, he tore the car to pieces and now knows the workings of the vehicle better than Dodge do. Ask him about the photo with Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney. Did I say photo, way worse than a Japanese tourist. Truly cool guy and a great travelling companion. Thanks GPS Brad.
Vancouver Canada must be one of the nicest places in the world, As Brad and I both said it has got so much stunning scenery if only they would cut some trees down so you can see it.
Off to Victoria where the worlds were. We had two days of practice bout an hour a piece, at least 12 laps if not more, I found the first straight hard mainly the second double and easy 10 metres long, to deep and to far and to manual. Second straight was fast and fun a 6 metre double, a 6 metre table top peak then a table top triple very deep, Third straight fast and smaller. Last straight was hard and technical a bit of a cross between Hamilton’s and North Harbours rhythm sections but deeper and harder, ask Paul Luttrell how hard.
As for my racing there was 44 riders in my age group, I had 3 heats 1/8th 1/4s semis then finals and now I really know how hard it is for our 8 9 10 year boys, all in about 3 and a half hours. Racing was intense, hardest part was keeping together and not crashing. A lot of luck involved with lane draws and riders crashing around you, In the final I started in lane 7 bugger.. Had a really good start but I couldn’t get across so it ended up as a wait and see and pick the bones out of what was left .I managed to get a to 3rd from last place going into 1st corner. Not bad Pickens I thought.
As for other Hamiltonians. Shannon did herself proud with her best riding ever unfortunately crashing, yay for body armour. Scott did very well considering all those broken arms and time of his bike. Brad rode like a champion and is up there, a bit more luck and there could have been a different result. Paul Luttrell the hard man, A huge crash on last straight right in front of us I will never forget it nor will he, the crowd made the huge awl noise and there was silence, Then a few seconds later this one woman ( His wife) let out this one word that I can not say, And about one thousand people turn around to check out where that one word came from, It was so loud. As usual for Paul more broken ribs and wrist badly swollen (broken and pined back in NZ) races two days later on cruisers when most men would have given up. Oh and crashed again.
The whole trip was another amazing trip with BMX being the catalyst to get me there, My Bmx family has grown yet again a huge thanks to Ron Annette Shannon and Scott For letting me hang out with them.. Roll on Adelaide 2009 , Start saving everybody a brilliant experience I guarantee.
Laurie World 3
