This was sent out recently by the NCC.
The following article is in this weeks Northbrook Star newspaper. It details the current situation
with the velodrome. The Northbrook Cycle Committee believes that both the Northbrook residents and
local area riders want to keep the velodrome treasure operating. The Northbrook Cycle Committee has
responded quickly by creating a fund raising bank account and task forces exploring a number of
different options.
To get things going we will be taking monetary donations every night from Thursday July 31st, the
sprint finals to the final August rain or shine awards ceremony night August 28th. Please come out
and donate whatever you can in check or cash if you would like to see us continue operation. We will
be recording names and amounts for later recognition. We are a certified not-for-profit organization
which has tax deduction mechanisms for contributions. We appreciate any support in terms of time,
money and ideas regarding this challenge. If you would like to become more directly involved please
send an email to [email hidden]
Poor surface may close Velodrome
BY IRV LEAVITT STAFF WRITER
Northbrook Park District commissioners refused last week to OK a hefty estimate for repaving
Illinois' only sanctioned bicycle racing track. Their decision may mean the Ed Rudolph Velodrome
closes in fall, 2004.
The original dirt-paved track was built in Meadowhill Park in 1960 at a minimal cost to taxpayers by
Rudolph and employees of a landscaping company. The track was later upgraded with an asphalt surface
that has been deteriorating for years, despite stop-gap weekly patching.
Phil Yoder, the Northbrook Park District's director of parks and properties, told park commissioners
last week only one contractor has expressed willingness to resurface the track, and that party would
charge $325,000. The district only has $200,000 budgeted for a bike track project, which was to
include the resurfacing as well as $115,000 to install lights not only fo r bicyclists, but also for
soccer players who use the track's infield.
Yoder said if the track isn't resurfaced by 2004, it won't be safe to ride.
Panel asked to help
Last week, park commissioners voted to insist that the Northbrook Cycle Committee, the volunteer
group that runs sanctioned races at the track, pay half the cost of resurfacing the track. They said
that most who race on Thursday nights at the velodrome aren't park district residents, and it would
be unfair to make taxpayers foot the entire bill.
Some commissioners expressed doubt that the committee could raise such a sum, and last week, three
of its nine members agreed.
"That's a lot of money," said Pete Janunas, committee president. "It would be tough, real tough.
We're just volunteers."
The Chicago resident added that the committee hasn't given up, although the first thing it's
likely to discuss when it meets at the track before tonight's races is how to find a cheaper bid
on the work.
Yoder said he's asked "dozens" of paving contractors over the last two years to bid on the job,
and has only found one paving company -- Gallagher Asphalt of Thornton, Ill. -- willing to commit
to working on the banked track. He said the higher-than-expected cost may be due to the track's
sloped surface.
Some park commissioners July 16 said making a decision that could mean the end of the track was
difficult.
"I've been a supporter of the velodrome for a long time," Commissioner Oscar Dahl said. "There have
been Olympic champions who raced there, and college tournaments. I've struggled with this. If it
were $200,000 (or) $250,000, I thought it would be worthwhile. But now, without the (contribution)
of the bicycle people, I don't think I will support it."
No IOU
Commissioners said they will expect the committee to foot half the bill, whatever it is, and aren't
willing to take an IOU for that bill.
They noted the club in the past has had difficulty selling advertising for the sign boards that ring
the track, revenue slated to help pay for maintenance. Cycle committee member Pat McNamara of
Northbrook, who took over sign sales this year, said 27 of about 30 available sign positions remain
available, at a cost of about $800 annually. McNamara is one of three Northbrook residents on the
nine-member committee.
He and fellow Northbrook resident Mark Harris together manage the Friday night "stock bike" races at
the track. McNamara said a growing number of people of all ages show up to race their
non-competition bikes, including about 40 kids under 12 at each session. He said about a third of
those racers are from Northbrook, but only a fraction of the Thursday racers are.
McNamara said that the bad news about the high cost of paving comes at a time when the audience for
both the 7:30 Thursday professional and Friday night amateur events is growing.
"I just think you have to keep pursuing more contractors, make a diligent effort," he said last
week. "I don't think we should push the panic button yet."
"tracker140" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:uoSTa.135448$ye4.95511@sccrnsc01...
Quoted message said:July 24th, 2003 -
pioneerlocal.com07 24 03 70689.htmlOpen ↗
Quoted message said:Poor surface may close Velodrome BY IRV LEAVITT STAFF WRITER Northbrook Park District
commissioners refused last week to OK a hefty estimate for repaving Illinois' only sanctioned
bicycle racing track.
Their
Quoted message said:decision may mean the Ed Rudolph Velodrome closes in fall, 2004.
The original dirt-paved track was built in Meadowhill Park in 1960 at a minimal cost to taxpayers
by Rudolph and employees of a landscaping
company.
Quoted message said:The track was later upgraded with an asphalt surface that has been deteriorating for years,
despite stop-gap weekly patching.
Phil Yoder, the Northbrook Park District's director of parks and
properties,
Quoted message said:told park commissioners last week only one contractor has expressed willingness to resurface the
track, and that party would charge $325,000. The district only has $200,000 budgeted for a bike
track project, which
was
Quoted message said:to include the resurfacing as well as $115,000 to install lights not only for bicyclists, but also
for soccer players who use the track's infield.
Yoder said if the track isn't resurfaced by 2004, it won't be safe to
ride.
Quoted message said:
Panel asked to help
Last week, park commissioners voted to insist that the Northbrook Cycle Committee, the volunteer
group that runs sanctioned races at the track,
pay
Quoted message said:half the cost of resurfacing the track. They said that most who race on Thursday nights at the
velodrome aren't park district residents, and it would be unfair to make taxpayers foot the
entire bill.
Some commissioners expressed doubt that the committee could raise such a sum, and last week, three
of its nine members agreed.
"That's a lot of money," said Pete Janunas, committee president. "It would be tough, real tough.
We're just volunteers."
The Chicago resident added that the committee hasn't given up, although
the
Quoted message said:first thing it's likely to discuss when it meets at the track before tonight's races is how to
find a cheaper bid on the work.
Yoder said he's asked "dozens" of paving contractors over the last two
years
Quoted message said:to bid on the job, and has only found one paving company -- Gallagher Asphalt of Thornton, Ill. --
willing to commit to working on the banked track. He said the higher-than-expected cost may be due
to the track's sloped surface.
Some park commissioners July 16 said making a decision that could mean the end of the track was
difficult.
"I've been a supporter of the velodrome for a long time," Commissioner
Oscar
Quoted message said:Dahl said. "There have been Olympic champions who raced there, and college tournaments. I've
struggled with this. If it were $200,000 (or) $250,000,
I
Quoted message said:thought it would be worthwhile. But now, without the (contribution) of the bicycle people, I don't
think I will support it."
No IOU
Commissioners said they will expect the committee to foot half the bill, whatever it is, and
aren't willing to take an IOU for that bill.
They noted the club in the past has had difficulty selling advertising for the sign boards that
ring the track, revenue slated to help pay for maintenance. Cycle committee member Pat McNamara of
Northbrook, who took over sign sales this year, said 27 of about 30 available sign positions
remain available, at a cost of about $800 annually. McNamara is one of
three
Quoted message said:Northbrook residents on the nine-member committee.
He and fellow Northbrook resident Mark Harris together manage the Friday night "stock bike" races
at the track. McNamara said a growing number of people of all ages show up to race their
non-competition bikes, including about 40 kids under 12 at each session. He said about a third of
those racers are from Northbrook, but only a fraction of the Thursday racers
are.
Quoted message said:
McNamara said that the bad news about the high cost of paving comes at a time when the audience
for both the 7:30 Thursday professional and Friday night amateur events is growing.
"I just think you have to keep pursuing more contractors, make a diligent effort," he said last
week. "I don't think we should push the panic button
y
Quoted message said:et."
