In article <jbOLf.1057$kp3.930@fed1read03>, Mark Fennell
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Mark just go hang in the VIP tent. They had free beer and about 20 plasma tvs.
Yes RVD, that was the right call. Good food, free beer, live-coverage TV on one side of me and an unobstructed view of the finishing straight inside 100m-to-go on the other.
The crowd size and energy at the finish was incredible and I'm hoping it will persuade Santa Barbara to support the race next year. The rumor is that SB has been the most difficult city ToC has worked with. Because of the race's success this year, ToC will be taking bids from cities for stages next year. SB better pay up.
BTW, it needs to be said that occasional-rbr-poster Dave Towle is damn good at his job!
Mark (ToC fan)
According to a friend, at the first meeting to discuss the stage 2 route several of the cities involved were asking how to get the race routed around their city. A lot of the cities didn't want anything to do with the race. The CHP officer in charge of the planning stood up and told everyone "The governor wants this to happen so it is going to happen". Hopefully the cities who were against the race this year have been won over for next year.
In article <jbOLf.1057$kp3.930@fed1read03>, Mark Fennell
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Mark just go hang in the VIP tent. They had free beer and about 20 plasma tvs.
Yes RVD, that was the right call. Good food, free beer, live-coverage TV on one side of me and an unobstructed view of the finishing straight inside 100m-to-go on the other.
The crowd size and energy at the finish was incredible and I'm hoping it will persuade Santa Barbara to support the race next year. The rumor is that SB has been the most difficult city ToC has worked with. Because of the race's success this year, ToC will be taking bids from cities for stages next year. SB better pay up.
BTW, it needs to be said that occasional-rbr-poster Dave Towle is damn good at his job!
Mark (ToC fan)
According to a friend, at the first meeting to discuss the stage 2 route several of the cities involved were asking how to get the race routed around their city. A lot of the cities didn't want anything to do with the race. The CHP officer in charge of the planning stood up and told everyone "The governor wants this to happen so it is going to happen". Hopefully the cities who were against the race this year have been won over for next year.
According to a friend, at the first meeting to discuss the stage 2 route several of the cities involved were asking how to get the race routed around their city. A lot of the cities didn't want anything to do with the race. The CHP officer in charge of the planning stood up and told everyone "The governor wants this to happen so it is going to happen". Hopefully the cities who were against the race this year have been won over for next year.
I have to say I was impressed with the TOC. I was extremely skeptical when it was announced, but the effort was impressive. Glad you went and caught it. Funny I wasn't even planning on going either, but changed my mind at the last minute, and I am glad I did. Every single retired pro I know said one the same thing. I wish they had an event like this when I was racing. It was really good for a first year event.
I have to say I was impressed with the TOC. I was extremely skeptical when it was announced, but the effort was impressive. Glad you went and caught it. Funny I wasn't even planning on going either, but changed my mind at the last minute, and I am glad I did. Every single retired pro I know said one the same thing. I wish they had an event like this when I was racing. It was really good for a first year event.
I don't live in Cali anymore so I didn't see any of it for real. But from the coverage it sounded like a huge deal with lots of spectators. Like probably a lot of people in RBR I was kind of doubtful it would actually happen. Especially given the usual forest of permissions and clearances you need to get anything like a bike race done on a California road. I certainly didn't expect them to have done such a job of promoting it that local TV stations would be streaming helicopter footage on the internet. So I am very impressed. Whatever juice the race organizers had - an in with the Governator, clout with the media, I don't know - it was the right stuff.
I have to say I was impressed with the TOC. I was extremely skeptical when it was announced, but the effort was impressive. Glad you went and caught it. Funny I wasn't even planning on going either, but changed my mind at the last minute, and I am glad I did. Every single retired pro I know said one the same thing. I wish they had an event like this when I was racing. It was really good for a first year event.
I don't live in Cali anymore so I didn't see any of it for real. But from the coverage it sounded like a huge deal with lots of spectators. Like probably a lot of people in RBR I was kind of doubtful it would actually happen. Especially given the usual forest of permissions and clearances you need to get anything like a bike race done on a California road. I certainly didn't expect them to have done such a job of promoting it that local TV stations would be streaming helicopter footage on the internet. So I am very impressed. Whatever juice the race organizers had - an in with the Governator, clout with the media, I don't know - it was the right stuff.
The race was far above local and state expectations. The Mayor and city of Santa Barbara were blown away by the size of the crowds and spectacle of the event. Crowds from San Luis O to Santa Barbara ( Iwas in a Mavic car) were large in any area that was good for spectating.
