Spindle City Circuit Race May 24,1992 Masters 45+
The small field for the race contained some of the best masters racers in the east. Henry "The Hammer" Wilmer, "Speed'n" Steve Jean and Barry "The Bullet" Boyce took on Earl Page, Jack Nash, and Bill Hartwell to name only a few. The pace early was marked by a series of NEMRT attacks. Barry, Henry and Steve taking turns attacking to feeling out the mood of the field. Everyone seemed contented to sit on the fastest wheels, no one getting anywhere near a breakaway. Henry and Jack Nash were the only pace setters through the whole race, Earl sitting second on every attack. On the only preme of the race Henry and Steve pushed the pace down the fastest section of the course and along the backstretch. This gave "The Bullet" a chance to choose the wheel he wanted. It was Bill Hartwell who jumped from the final corner, approx. 400 meters and into a substantial head wind. "The Bullet" fired over the last 50 meters and overtook Bill for the preme. After the preme Henry went to the front continued to push the pace. The fast pace did have the effect of reducing the field down to ten. As the laps counted down NEMRT waited for another preme to launch the pre-race plan, an all out attack for Henry and Steve to roll through the tired sprinters. The last preme never came and the attacks by Henry and Steve late in the race were met by fresh legs. On the last lap (2 miles to go) NEMRT was solidly positioned at the front and halfway through the lap Jack Nash shot off the front but couldn't breakaway from the pack. Through the last corner Barry and Steve were set-up in great position for the mad dash to the line. Earl started with great burst to go by Jack, Barry weaving through tried to get his wheel but was boxed by Dick Martin, EastBay. Earl was gone but second was in sight. Barry came around Dick toward the line but came up just short to take third. Steve's final corner problems continued as he was bumped off the course by the eventual 4th place finisher. Fortunately Steve is an excellent bike handler and avoided serious trouble in the sand and finished 10th. Henry, another NEMRT rider not known for his sprint, did a nice job getting Barry to the front and into position for the sprint. Henry, 8th, did make it interesting by have a three way sprint with Jack, 6th and Dave Voye, 7th.