Veterans Cup Report 2003

Wow, the Veterans' Cup was great again this year. There were 21 veterans at the start, another 15 - 20 alumni as spectators and the sun spoilt us too. The best conditions for a great BMX race.

Who was there? Andreas Tittmann and Pete Schmidt made the journey from Cologne, as did Stephan Prantl, not a veteran but a dinosaur among the German BMX'ers. I also saw Juergen Wagner as well as Jens L.i.n.d.e.r, Jan M.e.r.x, Thorsten S.c.h.r.o.t.h, Markus S.t.o.e.c.k.e.l, Dirk "Sportraucher" H.a.y.n.b.e.r.g and Ivi V.i.d.a.k.o.v.i.c.. The race included giants such as Andreas D.i.e.n.e.r, Swen L.a.u.e.r, Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h, Dirk W.a.e.h.l.e.r, Agi R.a.m.a.l.h.o, Oliver R.a.p.p and not forgetting the Freiburg brothers Ivar and Karl H.e.r.r.l.i.n.g. The three heats were as follows:

1st moto (from right to left): Agi R.a.m.a.l.h.o (#1), Olaf K.l.e.i.n (#27), Andreas D.i.e.n.e.r (#23), Manfred W.a.l.d (#17), Maik S.c.h.o.e.l.z.l (#19), Uwe B.u.r.d.e.c.k (#11), Uli G.a.s.p.e.r (#33)

2nd moto (from right to left): Ivar H.e.r.r.l.i.n.g (#2), Marko V.a.e.t.h (#24), Robert N.i.e.s.l (#20), Bernd M.u.e.l.l.e.r (#13), Andreas Z.o.r.n.o.w (#18), Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h (#9), Ralf M.a.u.r.i.t.z (#3)

3rd moto (from right to left): Niko K.o.c.h (#25), Oliver R.a.p.p (#6), Dirk W.a.e.h.l.e.r (#16), Swen L.a.u.e.r (#22), Alex V.e.n.u.s (#14), Karl H.e.r.r.l.i.n.g (#4), Oliver A.r.r.o.y.o (#40)

The finale was spectacular. As usual, Hans "The Gateman" F.i.s.c.h.e.r let us go from the gate with the command: "Riders ready? Watch the lights...!" The lights went from red, to amber, to green and the gate dropped. I was in 8th place on the grid and saw Ivar next to me in 7th place doing a killer holeshot. We went down the 1st straight, over the two obstacles step jump and speed-step combination. I was on the outside of the first bend and looked to the inside first: No crash, everyone still there, but no room to get through. At that moment I thought: Oh, it's great to ride BMX! After the bend came the big double. Karl H.e.r.r.l.i.n.g had lost a bit of pace in the first bend and was now eighth, I was seventh. Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h was ahead of me, but at the double his 6th place was history: he went hard into the irons and carefully rolled over; so 6th place went to me.

In front of me now Olaf K.l.e.i.n (5th) and Swen L.a.u.e.r (4th). Both had too much to do with themselves in the 2nd bend and lost ground. Bad luck for the boys, good for me, as I was able to pass them on the next straight and was already fourth in the third corner

Fourth straight, Marko V.a.e.t.h in front of me. He rides very cleanly and fast, only having problems at the small double at the end of the straight and skidding after landing; chance for me, I pass him. Shortly before my lungs collapse, riding the last straight in a sitting position, I finish third behind Agi R.a.m.a.l.h.o (1st) and Ivar H.e.r.r.l.i.n.g (2nd). Marko V.a.e.t.h finished fourth, Swen L.a.u.e.r fifth, Olaf K.l.e.i.n sixth, Karl H.e.r.r.l.i.n.g seventh and Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h eighth.

Uwe and Robert with Dieter S.c.h.a.d.o.w.s.k.i

The following veterans took the first three places in this year's King of Oldschool contest: 3rd place went to Uwe B.u.r.d.a.c.k with a green Skyway with Tuff Wheels, 2nd place went to Robert N.i.e.s.l with a white Skyway and original Skyway outfit and 1st place went to Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h with a red GHP cruiser and ultra-cool GHP outfits.

The award ceremony with all the finalists in this year's red Veterans' Cup shirts.

All in all, the 9th Veterans' Cup 2003 was great again. Nobody crashed, everyone had fun, spectators and riders alike. Special thanks go to Wolfgang and Kerstin F.r.i.t.s.c.h.e.r from Rabbit BMX Bremen and Dieter S.c.h.a.d.o.w.s.k.i from Rainers Bike Shop for their support, without which we would hardly have been able to organise the event. I'm already looking forward to next year and the 10th anniversary Veterans' Cup! A must for anyone who has ever ridden BMX! Come and take part in the next Veterans' Cup in Weiterstadt! Ralf

Results

9. Veteranencup (2003, Weiterstadt)

Veteranenklasse 1. Agui R.a.m.a.l.h.o 2. Ivar H.e.r.r.l.i.n.g 3. Ralf M.a.u.r.i.t.z 4. Marko V.a.e.t.h 5. Swen L.a.u.e.r 6. Olaf K.l.e.i.n 7. Karl H.e.r.r.l.i.n.g 8. Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h
King-of-Old-School 1. Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h 2. Robert N.i.e.s.l 3. Uwe B.u.r.d.e.c.k