On Friday, July 27th, 2007 Kenosha welcomed bicycle racers and spectators from around the world to downtown Library Park.  "Food, Folks & Spokes" is the name of Kenosha's leg of this bike racing series.  The day started with gloomy wet weather as the vendors readied their tents, and the Cat 4/5 racers warmed-up for the first race of the day.  This day marks one of the Drivers Club highlighted events of the year.  The event is always enjoyable to behold, and this would mark the second year that the Drivers Club would offer a sizable amount of quality volunteer hours to the YMCA.
     Special this year, was the fact that two of our clubs own would join in the first race of the day as competitors.  Yes, Chris Hannes & Brian Rummelhart agreed to register for a single day of racing, their race was 50 laps on the closed 0.6 mi course (making a race total of 30mi).  With limited road racing experience, both men were a mixture of nerves and excited anticipation as their start time drew near.  Chris chatted with team trainer Dan Allemand as he pinned his race number to his custom Drivers Club jersey.  "I hope to make 8-10 laps before they drop me from the field, they'll probably average 24-25mph in this Cat 4/5 race.", Chris said - obviously searching for reassurance from his trusted coach and mentor.  "I have the utmost confidence in both you boys!", Allemand stated.  "Besides, keep focused on your objective...Get the team name mentioned over the loud speaker!"  Brian, hearing this, joined the conversation, "That's right, there's no such thing as bad press... whatever it takes to get noticed - make a breakaway attempt, refuse to leave after being lapped, a nasty crash that wipes out 1/2 the peleton - Whatever It Takes!"  With their Specialized road bikes glistening in the emerging morning sun, the two clipped in and took a practice lap around the rectangular course, noting both the course nuances and it's surface condition. 
     Dan told both of his warriors to keep in mind that the next two weekends held big Kenosha Drivers Club dates;  with the Relay for Life - security duty, the MS - Best Dam Bike Tour, followed by the Ore-2-Shore MTB race on Aug. 11th.  Have fun, for sure, but stay safe and healthy above all else.  Dan watched while he worked.  As he provided safe passage to spectators into and out of the infield the race got underway.  At first, the DC riders were nestled in the back 1/3 trying to get comfortable.  The pace of the peleton was sporadic at best during the first 10-15 laps, but both Brian & Chris made the adjustments needed to remain with the group.  It was at this point that TT Allemand realized that Hannes conservative prediction had come and gone.  They were into the middle third of the race and looking as if they had bigger plans on the horizon.  At the halfway point, the pace slowed (if you can call it that) to a mere 22mph, it was at this juncture that Chris decided to put his stamp on this early morning race.  Up the outside of the peleton he rapidly moved, taking up the lead position.  Stretching off the front a meter or two, he pushed the pace.  As Rumme flowed by with the remainder of the pack he called out to Allemand, "there he goes, He's Crazy!!".  "Crazy like a fox!", said Allemand as he desperately peered across the park to try and catch a glimpse of the brightly colored Drivers Club jersey as it crossed the start/finish line.
     As the group exited turn 2 and made their way up the back straight toward Dan, he could already tell that Chris' lead and that pace were too much to handle.  Chris had given his all for the teams sake, and now he would pay the price.  For the next three laps he would press on with a labored look on his face, as he searched for the resolve to continue, to keep pace with the pack.  Brian, meanwhile, kept his modest place in the pack, matching every burst and relishing each moment that they offered a more relaxed speed of travel.  Chris had survived his lead lap, and now looked as if he too would finish what he had started.  To grasp the golden ring, the Drivers Club riders would need to cross the finish line with their counterparts, thus claiming personal victories for themselves.  And, there was the title of "Best Local Finisher" still up for grabs.
     The bell sounded, marking the final lap of this grueling race and both Drivers Club entrants were feeling the effects of the previous 49 laps.  With only a half lap remaining, Dan saw that Chris was holding at the back of the surging peleton.  But it was Rumme who had fallen off the pace.  As he rode close enough for Dan to see the pained expression on his face, Rumme uttered, "I'm sorry, I can't sprint with them...I'm crampin' up!".  With every downward stroke, his twitching muscles threatened with another debilitating knot, so Brian was forced to gingerly navigate the final two turns in route to his FF&S third place 'local finisher' debut.  Chris had made his way through the finish area while securing second place out of all 'local finishers', and had this to say, "I did it, I mean WE did it!" as he noticed his teammate cruising past the announcers stage.
     This Friday marked the day that 2 Drivers Club members added, 'road bike racers' to their impressive growing resume.  They looked at each other and smiled as they exited the course knowing that they had undertaken a gargantuan task and had successfully represented, not only themselves, but had carried the entirety of their Club membership on their backs that morning.

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