Today is a nice cross race close to downtown Tulsa. It is called Hurtland Cross and it is promoted in combination with Tulsa Tough, arguable the best criterium weekend of the road season. The race is at Owen Park, the oldest park in the city of Tulsa.
I drove here yesterday and got here in just enough time to do a couple laps on the course before it got dark. The course is super. Two long concrete stair run ups, plus a couple tricky, off-camber ditch sections. There isn’t too much open riding, but the course is all on a slant, so it is pretty hard. It is probably the best cross course I’ve done in Oklahoma.
I’m going to race the Master’s race at 11 am, then the Pro/Elite race again at 3. It is $400 to win the Master’s race and $2000 to win the Elite race. Both men and women. $15000 total prize list. If only every weekend were like this. I’m going to have to start at the very back of the Elite race, plus there are some guys that are just faster than me right now, so I’ll be happy having a good start and riding up through the field as far up as I can.
It is cold out this morning. Below 40. And breezy. Pretty great cross weather, but hard weather to warm up in. I haven’t been sleeping enough, so I got to bed fairly early last night, but didn’t sleep that great. I never sleep super good before races. I wonder why that is? I think my mind is always going over small things that might be subconsciously bugging me. Whatever the reasons, it is a fact.
Alright, enough of this post. Have to get ready to race. Time is always short on a cross weekend.
The vacuum for the brakes on the diesel van blew in Bartlesville. I can change it, but don’t have the tools. Catherine is bringing me some to fix it here.
Gas prices in Oklahoma are always super low. I don’t remember gas this cheap in a long time.
The houses around Owen’s Park are super. Notice the temperate vegetation.
How about this place. Kind of in a small cluster of like houses on top of a hill in a if-ish neighborhood.
There are two of these nearly back to back on the course. Might be crippled after this.
Steve- F.Y.I. Vac pump pulley is press fit so you will need a puller/installer for the vacuum pump pulley. Very common minor mechanical issue with a 7.3L but not much else goes wrong with them as I am sure you know. Good idea to replace pump on a routine basis because if they lock up [as they often do] the serpentine belt will break & you are dead in the water. Good luck today.
I started riding in 2010 after watching the Tulsa Tough crit. Awesome event. And im 35# lighter now. Would have loved to watch the mini velodrome last night at Cain’s Ballroom, and raced today.
Your van is always breaking down. Why not dip into your giant bank account and just buy something newer. It’s not like you have kids or anything and need to save your money for the future.
Euro – My “giant bank account”? You realize I’ve pretty much only raced bikes since I was in junior high, right? Think that guy has a giant bank account? Think about it. I’ve never bought a new car in my life. Half the reason I can pretty much do what I feel like doing is that I’ve never had a car or house payment, and have only paid rent a couple years of my life. Plus, I can repair just about anything I own. My van isn’t broken down, just yet. The brakes just don’t really work. Big difference.
Most likely vacuum pump failure if it is not spinning – can fix it with a 10mm wrench, 15mm socket and pliers
Most Autozones will rent you tools. I’ve done many a parking lot repair there1
Ted-You still need to pull the pulley to put it on the new pump. Might try to limp home and just do it there.
Second house looks like Frank Lloyd Wright.
Have a great race!
Nice to see a ad for popeye’s on the run up…
Heck, they were doing Popeyes chicken strips hand ups!
Steve, good to see you out racing CX again.
Ain’t that the park where Johnny knifed that “soc” in The Outsiders?
I don’t think it looks a thing like a Wright house.