Jackson Park presented by XXX Racing

Jason Knauff opened up the CX season in true Burnham style by winning the 30+ race with a late lap‘super surge’ after a battle royale with Pony Shop owner Lou and 3,543 of Lou’s teammates.  Later in the day Jeff Wat and Andy Daley lined up with over 60 fellow cat 3’s.  Jeff won the hole shot and the race quickly boiled down to a lead group: Jeff, Andy, Ryan Cooper (Flatandia), Ryan Gingerich and Mike Sequin (xxxracing).  By the end of completing the 256 turns per lap, both Ryans had surged ahead, with Cooper taking the V and Gingerich coming in 2nd.  Andy and Jeff rolled in 4th and 5th, which assured they got a frontline starting spot for the next race in the ChiCrossCup. 

Dekalb / Hopkins Park presented by North Central Cyclery / Half Acre Cycling

In contrast to the twisty turny of Jackson Park, the Dekalb course had ample straight-aways and pavement.  This was an exciting development as far as Andy was concerned, as he spends tons of unneccesary energy in corners trying to keep up with Wat.   Jeff won the hole shot, again, and this time around the lead group was suprisingly big at 10 souls plus.  With about 4 laps to go Andy attacked the group on a paved straightaway, built up a small gap and was able to hold it to the end for the Victory, which as a prize included a Specialized Frame/Fork!  Wat finished in 8th, solidifying his spot in the top 10 while Andy moved into 1st place in the overall. 

Dan Ryan Woods/ Bar-B Cross presented by Beverly Bike Vee-Pak

Hills!  Run Ups!  Fast Course!  Straight aways!  The Dan Ryan Woods course was a welcome surprise.  Early in the day Knauff finally succumbed to the Pony Shop Army and had to settle for 3rd.  In the 3’s race, Jeff Wat won the hole shot yet again, which was a good thing to have done as early in the lap was a singletrack bit up a steep climb that  required dismounting and running up unless you were first there.  Within a lap the front group looked quite similar to the group at Jackson Park:  the Ryans, Jeff, Andy and Brian Parker (XXX Racing).  Cooper and Andy got a gap on the rest of the riders, but Cooper had the misfortune  to fall off the pace being set,literally so, when he gave his right shifter some sod time on the tricky downhill. 

With Andy up the course in 1st, Jeff played the dutiful teammate, didn’t help Ryan in the chase and waited till the last lap to gallop off in pursuit of Andy to round out a 1st, 2nd finish for the Burnham Boys. 

Post Script

Burnham Racing hosts Tuesday and Thursday CX Practice in Humboldt Park (you’l l find us behind the Field House near the wind mill) starting around 5:30ish.  Tuesdays are practice race day and Thursdays are skills days.  Come on out and/or shoot Andy an email at his gmail account: darkhorse.daley to keep posted on all the practice nitty gritty.