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14th Veterans Cup 2008 in Weiterstadt - 25th anniversary of BMX at TSV Braunshardt and BMX European Championship Final 2008

This year is a special year: an anniversary in Weiterstadt. 25 years of BMX sport at TSV Braunshardt. In addition, a major event in Hesse: The BMX European Championship final in Weiterstadt again after 1986! So plenty of reasons to celebrate. That's why we organised the Veterans' Cup this year exactly one week before the European Championship final in Weiterstadt. The weather was fine and, as every year, many old-schoolers came to look at old bikes and show off their polished bikes and old-school outfits.

Let me start from the back in this year's race report: Stephan P.r.a.n.t.l from Cologne with a beautiful Race Inc. RM 6 won the best-bike contest of the oldschool bikes, ahead of Jan H.e.i.d.e.m.a.n from Hanover with a Skyway Street Beat and Markus G.r.u.e.n.e.w.a.l.d from Lohmar with a Redline RL 20 II. Fourth place went to Elmar H.e.n.r.i.c.h with a Hutch Hollywood, fifth to Frank B.u.n.k from Munich, also with a Hutch Hollywood, ahead of Markus G.r.u.e.n.e.w.a.l.d again with a Skyway T/A, seventh to Frank K.o.l.b.e from Neustadt with a Redline RL 20 B, and eighth place went to Oliver M.i.t.t.e from Leverkusen, of course with a Murray, ninth place went to Robert H.o.c.h from Munich with a Skyway T/A and tenth place went to Joerg A.r.n.o.l.d, of course with a Hutch XL 24. Enclosed are a few nice pictures of oldschool bikes that were on display in Weiterstadt.

The Oldschool Cup was once again hotly contested this year. There was a big surprise in the final: Stephan P.r.a.n.t.l, a die-hard freestyler, came out on top and won ahead of Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h and Heiko P.e.t.r.i. The other places were taken by the following old-schoolers: 4th Jörg A.r.n.o.l.d, 5th Uwe B.u.r.d.a.c.k, 6th Robert M.o.e.l.l.e.r, 7th Rini W.e.n.d.t, 8th Thomas N.e.u.d.e.c.k. The photos show the final, in which Stephan impressively saw off Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h and Heiko P.e.t.r.i.

As so often, Agi R.a.m.a.l.h.o came out on top in the Veterans' Cup final. You can't beat Agi, he is simply in a class of his own. Only Marco M.u.e.l.l.e.r can keep up with him, all the other veterans are more in the 2nd division. Agi hasn't lost any of his speed, I'd love to see him racing with the licence riders. Where would he end up? The results of the Veterans' Cup were as follows: 1st Agi R.a.m.a.l.h.o, 2nd Marco M.u.e.l.l.e.r, 3rd David M.o.l.i.n.a, 4th Jean S.c.h.a.e.f.e.r, 5th Stefan S.a.e.n.g.e.r, 6th Swen L.a.u.e.r, 7th Ralf M.a.u.r.i.t.z, 8th Kai G.r.e.i.s.i.n.g.e.r

In addition to the races, there were also a few other highlights. For example, Thomas G.r.e.i.s, a trained master confectioner, recreated the Weiterstadt track as a cake. The sweet treat not only looked great, but also tasted fantastic. Although it contained an estimated 10,000 calories, there was nothing left at the end of the race day. Great idea Thomas! That gets a special round of applause! You're welcome to do it again ... :-)

A few race impressions and other snapshots from the track

Other old-schoolers who took part in the Veterans' Cup (from left to right): Kai H.o.e.h.m.a.n.n (photo 1), Pia H.e.t.k.a.m.p (formerly H.o.e.h.m.a.n.n; photo 2), Oliver M.i.t.t.e (with an old Murray advert, photo 3), Rainer S.c.h.a.d.o.w.s.k.i and Stephan P.r.a.n.t.l browsing through old BMX journals (photo 4), Oli K.i.e.n.z.l.e (photo 5),

There was a great atmosphere at the award ceremony in the marquee. Photo 1: The tent was full and people were in a good mood. Photo 2: At the start, the two organisers of the Veterans' Cup, Olaf K.l.e.i.n (2nd from left) and Ralf M.a.u.r.i.t.z (centre) thanked the loyal sponsors of the Veterans' Cup: Dieter S.c.h.a.d.o.w.s.k.i from Rainers Bike Shop (left), Oliver K.i.e.n.z.l.e from Oldschool BMX (2nd from right) and Wolfgang F.r.i.t.s.c.h.e.r from Rabbit BMX (far right). The finalists in the veteran class were honoured first, followed by those in the oldie class. Photo 3: Agi R.a.m.a.l.h.o (#1) won the veteran class ahead of Marco M.u.e.l.l.e.r (#2) and David M.o.l.i.n.a (#3). Photos 4 and 5: Stephan P.r.a.n.t.l (#1, this time with Kuwahara) won the oldies category ahead of Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h (#2, also Kuwahara) and Heiko P.e.t.r.i (#3). Congratulations to all finalists.

Finally, the King of Olschools and the Best of Bike Contest were honoured. Dieter and Rainer S.c.h.a.d.o.w.s.k.i presented each of the honourees with a certificate and a crown. An invitational run with all the old-schoolers on 80s bikes in 80s gear rounded off the KoO competition.

2008 was a great year. TSV Braunshardt celebrated its 25th BMX anniversary. It was one of the first BMX tracks in Germany to set standards 25 years ago. I can remember countless major championships such as the Hessen and German championships, as well as national league races and European races. And above all the European Championships in 1986, which topped everything that had ever been organised in Germany before. An impressive and great history. What's more, the Weiterstadt track has always been one of the best in Germany (if not the best, at least for me). And in addition to the quarter-century anniversary, the European Championship final was held in Weiterstadt again this year. History is repeating itself here after 22 years!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my club TSV Braunshardt, the Weiterstadt BMX riders and above all Christiane H.o.e.p.p.i.n.g for allowing us to organise the Veterans' Cup on this excellent track so close to the European Championships this year. The track was completely rebuilt and reorganised especially for the European Championships and it was a delight to be able to ride on it. And above all, I would like to thank the old-schoolers who make the pilgrimage to the Veterans' Cup every year. Only these old-schoolers make the Veterans' Cup what it is: a great event where you can meet old friends again, talk shop, exhibit bikes and try out whether you've forgotten how to race or not. It's just fun to revive the spirit of the old days with you old-schoolers.
Thank you very much for coming and I look forward to seeing most of you again in 2009.
See you then, your Ralf