Summer Wrap-Up

The months of July and August were full of emotion for CA Pools/CFS Racing. Late in the month of July we lost a former club member, Randy Pruett. Any human loss is tragic but when it involves a friend and fellow rider, and it happens when he is out riding his bike — a passion that we all share — it just hits a little too close to home. Nevertheless, the team stepped up and assisted with the coordination of a fun ride, blood drive, and with the assistance and support of all the other local clubs, over 250 riders participated in the La Cresta ride and truly enjoyed the day! Thank you for all your support. You should be aware that the team, with the approval of your board members, paid for Randy’s funeral refreshments and the family was very appreciative — a big thank-you to all of you.

 

In early August we celebrated the team’s nine year anniversary and once again gathered for the infamous Underground Criterium, team picture and catered dinner. This year, the winners took home custom-made perpetual trophies that we hope they bring back in 2013! Congrats to Heidi Roundy, who took top honors in the women’s category, Jim Stark who won the Cat. 1-3s, and Ronnie Toth who won the Cat. 4-5s. However, everyone present was a winner! New team sponsor Manyk Energy Drinks was kind enough to host us for dinner and we had an opportunity to see history in the making by watching Sarah Hammer win two Silver medals at the London Olympics — congrats to the Hammer family!

 

And then later in the month was the sentencing of the driver’s responsible for former team rider Jorge Alvarado’s tragic collision that claimed his life. Needless to say, it is disappointing to experience the light sentencing (probation only) of the teenagers responsible for his death, nevertheless, life goes on and it serves as a wake up call to all of us who enjoy this sport to talk to our elected officials, specially during an election year like this one, and ask them about their stance on crimes committed against cyclists as truly, that is what you have when a negligent driver throws something at you, shoots you with a pellet gun, or even worse intentionally runs you off the road! These are crimes that need to be handled as such, however, if we do not report them or put pressure on our local authorities to investigate these matters thoroughly, well then, we are just as responsible and negligent as those in authority who chose to look the other way.

As the season comes to an end, we will prepare for our end of season party, announcement of new and returning sponsors and we wish the best of luck to those team riders headed to Road Nationals in Oregon during the month of September–JL, Mike Smyth, Jim Stark, Anthony Morrow, Mike Onkels and Robb Kampilla!

Be safe and see you soon.

-Ernie Sanchez, Team President

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