[NCNCA] SCNCA: How to kill junior racing in the USA

[Casey Kerrigan]

On Jan 8, 2007, at 8:03 PM, cblackride at aol.com wrote:

>  I don't know if it will kill junior racing. I think that the  
> McKinley's were wacking the pros when they were juniors. I also  
> think that they had restricted gears.
>
>  That being said, what a pain for the officials. Junior roll out  
> after every race. Having to keep track of all juniors in every race  
> to make sure they report for rollout. What about the poor neutral  
> support guy who provides a wheel, then the rider is DQed for not  
> passing rollout?
>
>  I can tell you from experience, it is no fun telling some kid that  
> he has been disqualified because his gear is too big.
>     Chris Black
>  Morgan Stanley Racing Team
>  San Luis Obispo, CA

By the time the McKinleys were racing juniors could use unrestricted  
gears in senior races.  Back in the late 70's juniors had to use  
restricted gears all the time, even in senior races. A young junior,  
who was already kicking the stuffing out of seniors even on senior  
gears, named Greg Lemond complained about having to use restricted  
gears against seniors and lobbied to get the rule changed. About 1980  
or 81 the rule was changed to allow juniors to use unrestricted gears  
in Senior events. Lemond was also responsible for getting the rule  
changed that limited juniors to only races of 75 miles or less in  
length. Again the change was allowed to let Lemond ride, and win,  
more senior races.

Casey