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On May 3rd, 2013, Tour De France stage winner Tyler Farrar prepared for the Tour of California by racing at the Marymoor Velodrome. We asked 17-year old Thorsten Askervold to share what it was like to have a chance to race with one of the best sprinters in the world.

Two weeks ago I had an amazing opportunity to race with one of the world’s most amazing sprinters. I never knew I would get this great of an opportunity unless I raced in the big leagues; however on May 3^rd Tyler Farrar on Garmin Sharp swung by and challenged the locals. When I heard that he was stopping by, my heart rate probably reached 200, and I could not get it off my mind, no matter what I was doing. I mean who gets the opportunity to race a Tour de France stage winner? 

That day there were tons of spectators and riders there to see Tyler Farrar racing, so that was definitely a key motivator for me, as well as having a chance to try and beat Tyler himself on a sprint!

Like every other night at the Velodrome there were three races. The first race being the scratch race, second being a point’s race, and last being another scratch race.

It was on the second race where I was the most competitive with Tyler, which was the point’s race. We were coming around for the second set of points and I was on Tyler’s wheel. He started the sprint in corner 3 and it was between he and I for the points. I came around him in corner 4 and we were neck to neck coming down the home stretch, and at the end we both threw our bikes to the finish. That sprint was so close that they decided to give the points to Tyler, however the feeling that I was that close to beating him, or might have beaten him if the camera was there, was so amazing. I could not stop talking about it because I was so honored to race with Tyler Farrar!

-Thorsten Askervold

(photos and report courtesy of Thorsten Askervold)

The MVA is lucky to be graced with a community who as a whole are willing to step up and volunteer their time for the greater good of the Marymoor Velodrome.

Volunteer opportunities come in many shapes and forms. We would like to highlight MVA volunteers who step above and beyond to help in whatever way they can to improve our track, racing nights, and atmosphere as a venue!

Our Volunteer of the Month for May is Tamara Stephas, the artist responsible for the fantastic new apron art showing off one of our great sponsors: Mr. Crampy’s Multisport.

Tamara, one of our racers, is also a talented artist who volunteered her time to step away from her traditional canvas to a completely new medium and style of painting: a mural on cement.

We think Tamara did a great job, and that’s why she’s our May Volunteer of the Month! Thanks Tamara!

For information on volunteer opportunities:

http://velodrome.org/mva/content/volunteer-opportunities

Tamara is in the running for City Arts Magazine’s “best of Artwalk picks for spring of 2013”. Check out her piece at the Spring Art Walk Awards on Wednesday, May 22^nd.

http://cityartsonline.com/issues/seattle/2013/05/spring-art-walk-awards-finalists  

Photos courtesy of Dennis Crane and Tamara Stephas

As the season kicks off we’ll be taking time to introduce our community to the announcers that bring life to our race nights. Who are they? How do they know so much about track racing? How can they tell who won that race?

Part one introduces you to Phil “Bilko” Stephens, one of the voices of Friday night racing.

Let’s start with the well-known “Oh my mercy!” Are these catch phrases that excite the crowd spur of the moment, or are they thought out before hand? Does any preparation go into announcing a Friday night at the track?

Some of these I have just made up over the years…. And they morph to fit the situation.  Whatever works when I need it.