Good Friday Meet - Herne Hill

i am

hope too,
depending on if i can drag a hangover out of bed in time...

Yeah, I'll be there - but you lot won't be talking to me because I'll be on gears...

:-)

I reckons I be there.

i'm in - hope to get down there early doors so i can pick up any bargains that may be lying around

damnham:i'm in - hope to get down there early doors so i can pick up any bargains that may be lying around

They sell stuff? I thought this was a track racing meet?

You two have my number already... I'll keep a note of everyone else's and let everyone know mine. I'm sure we'll work out how to meet-up during the day.

velocity boy:They sell stuff? I thought this was a track racing meet?

Yeah, think so - i thought they normally have a few stalls out selling stuff

Oh, well, that's cool. Perhaps someone will have some decent cheap grips for my new drops (whenever they arrive).

i'm down

hopefully, but it looks ever more doubtful with work rearing it's ugly (but necesssary) head

I have to build a bike first, then I can ride down if it doesn't need major surgery

There's always a bit of a jumble at GFTM.

I've not been to a track meet before and have a few questions I hope someone can help with.
1/If the first event starts at 11am what time will the Kierin, event 13, likely start?
2/ Is event 18 the last event or will there be finals beyond the listed ones in the program?
3/ As a fan of the the Kierin and pursuit which of the not so clearly named events should I keep an eye out for eg what is a CATFORD CC DEVIL, GOLDEN WHEEL 20K SCRATCH etc
Any help grately appreciated.

CATFORD CC DEVIL, Every lap the last rider over the line is pulled out of the race until there are only 2 riders remaining.

GOLDEN WHEEL 20K SCRATCH, Is basically a race over 20km with the first one over the line winning.

Jos:GOLDEN WHEEL 20K SCRATCH, Is basically a race over 20km with the first one over the line winning.

Yup, the scratch refers to the fact that with a lot of people racing such distance, the more elite of the group traditionally started way behind the field at lines scratched onto the track.

So scratch races are large field races in which the top riders are handicapped behind the pack when the race starts.

and "Devil" is short for "Devil takes the hindmost" - like Jos says the field narrows down to two and they sprint for the win.

Knucklehead:I've not been to a track meet before and have a few questions I hope someone can help with.
1/If the first event starts at 11am what time will the Kierin, event 13, likely start?
2/ Is event 18 the last event or will there be finals beyond the listed ones in the program?

The Golden Wheel Scratch (event 18) is the last event. As Jos says its just a 'first across the line wins' mass start race. All riders start together. It's the most pretigious of all the races at Good Friday and has the richest purse - the winner usually gets about a grand.
Timings are obviously a bit ballpark depending on how earlier events ran, but the meet usually finishes by around 6pm. At a guess I'd say event 13 is likely to be around 4:30pm. This is very approx though.

You can buy a program on the day which lists events, riders, and describes what each event is. You'll enjoy it - teh racing is great to watch and the atmosphere around the place is also great.

mickster

Baby sitter arranged I will be there :), Probably wear my West Kent CTC top

I definitely want to try to make it

Jos will be wearing 64!

And a skin-suit? Is Jos getting a VCL skin-suit? It's all we want to know!

As long as it's not that hideous thing he was wearing at SSSIII I don't care!

:-)

what time are people thinking of arriving?

i could def do with a nice greasy spoon breakfast to set the day up, last time i went to herne hill had a nice bacon sarnie and tea from a place just over the road from brockwell park.

so, what time do gates open (i couldn't find the details on the gf webpage), and does anyone want to join me for breakfast?

This depends on whether I'm conscious. What time are you thinking of having breakfast and where? If there's a chance of me making it, then sure... otherwise I'm staying in bed that bit longer.

timewise i don't know- never been my strong point but i guess half hour before gates...

as for where i don't think it matters (there are at least 3 cafes very nearby) unless people are willing to make a trip to the cat and cucumber near london bridge as i've heard great things about it but never tried it.

Cool, when are the gates? ;)

Organisation and planning, never been one of my strong points :)