Veterans Cup Report 2004

This year was the 10th time that veterans met in Weiterstadt for a happening. This event has been running since 1995, and since then 141 different drivers with a total of 249 starts have been at the gate. That's an average of around 25 veterans per event (see Veteranencup statistics 1995 - 2004).

And they haven't forgotten anything: old-school power at the gate

And as always, not only the weather was perfect this time, but also the atmosphere! It had rained cats and dogs on Saturday, but that made the track nice and grippy and fast for Sunday. There were 28 starters in this year's Veterans' Cup and around 200 in the entire National BMX Trophy race: Andreas T.i.t.t.m.a.n.n, Thomas F.a.l.t.e.r, Jan M.e.r.x, Dirk S.i.e.b.e.r.t, Holger G.o.d.a.u, Jonny F.l.a.t.a.u and many more. Kent P.r.e.l.l.e had his super nice oldschool bikes on display next to Dieter S.c.h.a.d.o.w.s.k.i. Unfortunately, Oliver K.i.e.n.z.l.e couldn't make it. Too bad, Mr Oldschool himself would have completed the BMX museum with his pimped-up old bikes.

The absolute coolest oldschooler in 2004 was Stephan P.r.a.n.t.l on GHP. Not only did he have a perfect bike and outfit, he also had a real lumberjack beard like Greg H.i.l.l used to have. Also in the GHP team was Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h. Both had a red VW Kübelwagen with the GHP team logo on it for absolute perfection. They won the top two places in the King of Oldschool contest more confidently than anyone else before them. Respect guys and keep up the good work! Your performance was pure time travel. Unfortunately, Stephan was eliminated in the heats, so this year's King of Oldschool contest went to the following three: 1st Stephan P.r.a.n.t.l; GHP Bike and Clothing 2nd Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h; GHP Bike and Clothing 3rd Frank B.u.n.k; GT Bike Dyno Clothing

King of Oldschool 2004 Stephan P.r.a.n.t.l (centre) with Co-King of Oldschool 2004 Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h (right) and Oliver R.a.p.p (left)

So now to the race: There were four well-staffed preliminary groups. So we got to see two semi-finals with eight starters each. The results of the semi-finals were: Semi-final 1: 1. Ivar H.e.r.r.l.i.n.g 2. Sven S.c.h.r.e.i.b.e.r 3. Agi R.a.m.a.l.h.o 4. Angelo F.a.r.a.c.e 5. Kai-Uwe S.e.i.b.e.r.t 6. Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h 7. Andreas Z.o.r.n.o.w 8. Björn W.i.m.m.e.r Semi-final 2: 1. Marco V.a.e.t.h 2. Michael G.r.e.l.a.k 3. Giovanni V.e.c.c.h.i.o 4. Marco M.u.e.l.l.e.r 5. Marcus S.t.o.e.c.k.e.l 6. David M.o.l.i.n.a 7. Sascha S.c.h.m.i.d.t 8. Marco M.a.n.t.h.e.y Marco M.a.n.t.h.e.y rode strongly, but unfortunately crashed on the start straight. He had to be treated by the Red Cross, but after a brief visit to the medics in the tent, he was back as a spectator at the finale.

Cool crash at the double: Sven S.c.h.r.e.i.b.e.r (#25) and Oliver R.a.p.p (#33) don't notice how Angelo F.a.r.a.c.e (#44) roughens up, but Stephan P.r.a.n.t.l (#50) and Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h (#9) get box seats

The final was once again exciting, although the first and second places seem to be firmly reserved for Ivar and Agi, as in previous years. The finish was: 1st Ivar H.e.r.r.l.i.n.g 2nd Agi R.a.m.a.l.h.o 3rd Marco V.a.e.t.h 4th Giovanni V.e.c.c.h.i.o 5. Michael G.r.e.l.a.k 6. Marco M.u.e.l.l.e.r 7. Sven S.c.h.r.e.i.b.e.r 8. Angelo F.a.r.a.c.e

The first eight of 2004

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. The two BMX shops with the veterans Wolfgang and Dieter have supported us for ten years. Special thanks for providing the pictures to Thomas R.o.h.n.k.e. The house and court photographer of the Veterans' Cup has been a veteran himself since he was infected with the BMX virus over 20 years ago and has been an integral part of the BMX scene in Frankfurt/Weiterstadt ever since.

Snapshot of Thomas: Marcus Stoeckel in front of Giovanni Vecchio, Sascha Schmidt and Marco Vaeth

And another BMX dinosaur was there: Friedrich von T.r.o.t.h.a. In the mid-eighties, he was the number one BMX commentator and had also commented on the 1986 European BMX Championships in Weiterstadt. This year he came back here to commentate the semi-finals and the final of the Veterans' Cup. And what can we say: he can still do it. Thank you Friedrich and come back soon!

Veteran action on the double

Wow, the anniversary Veterans' Cup was great again. There were 28 veterans at the start, another 15 - 20 alumni as spectators and the sun had also spoilt us. It was a shame that Ralf M.a.u.r.i.t.z wasn't there for the anniversary race. But he had a good and pleasing reason for not coming: Ralf has been looking after the BMX offspring and became a father for the second time in May 2004. But he will definitely be back next year!

He'll be fit again next year

So see you next year at the 11th Veterans' Cup in Weiterstadt, Ralf

Results

10. Veteranencup (2004, Weiterstadt)

Veteranenklasse 1. Ivar H.e.r.r.l.i.n.g 2. Agui R.a.m.a.l.h.o 3. Marko V.a.e.t.h 4. Giovanni V.e.c.c.h.i.o 5. Michael G.r.e.l.a.k 6. Marco M.u.e.l.l.e.r 7. Sven S.c.h.r.e.i.b.e.r 8. Angelo F.a.r.a.c.e
King-of-Old-School 1. Stephan P.r.a.n.t.l 2. Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h 3. Frank B.u.n.k