The 2000 Furnace Creek 508: Field Update

2000 Webcast Home

Race Updates

Flash: Team Armadillo finishes first at 12:40 Sunday
Blowfish blows in first at 14:03 Sunday
Bandicoot, first solo woman, crosses the line at 22:08

Basic Info:

Race Roster with age, totem, home town and country

Race Route, including an elevation map, course description, and Time Station locations

7:00 Start

With the sun rising on a chilly 55 degree morning, the 81 riders successfully embarked upon their 508 mile journey across the Southern California desert.

11:00am Update

Mike Wilson called from 65 miles out to give us some news. He said the weather was cool, there was no wind, and the course was fast.

Mackska, Sea Lion, and the Men's Tandem team were in the lead, all within a minute of each other. Following them were: Blowfish, Bunny,

Dragonfly, Penguin, Warthog, Woolly Monkey, and Seal.

Disregard previous posting about *Ed "Fearles Fly" Fleming.

11:55am Update

Women at mile 58...

Bandicoot at 10:41 a.m.

Hornet at 11:10 a.m.

Toucan at 11:14

Raptor at 11:24

Dolphin arriving

13:00 Update

The Teams lined up as the wind and heat strarted piking up and set their sights on the long road ahead.

13:25 Update

At Mile 115, riders were fighting some unexpected headwinds. Rick Anderson gave us the following positions:

Red Bobbin Tandem

Sea Lion

Macska

Blowfish

Tanzilla Tandem

Bunnny

20:00 Update

Heading up Townes Pass, 6.5 Miles from the top, were Red Robbin followed very closely by Sea Lion. A short gap behind them were Mackska, Blowfish, and Tanzilla. Seal wass seeen moving up the ranks quickly. The air was cool and all was quiet going up the pass. The overall times were a little slow, which may be due in part to the headwinds many riders were facing. Raptor has not been seen for long time. We are estimating that the first riders will come through Furnace Creek around 22:00.

22:00 Update

Sea Lion and Blowfish were neck and neck through Time Station #3

00:40 Update

By the race director, Chris Kostman, who stopped in at the new HQ and Webcast locale in Furnace Creek around midnight: Folks, it's been a long, exciting day today! The weather today was near perfect, except for some headwinds. It never got too hot and it's been absolutely beautiful! We saw moonrised at Trona and it's nearly full. (I believe yesterday was not only Friday the 13th, but also a full moon!) Speaking of yesterday, every single one of the 49 solo racers came to our pre-race meeting/banquet for the first time. Plus, every team was represented by at least one racer and most of them had all four. It was a great meeting, the highlight of which was the words of wisdom from Steve Beaver Born, the 1999 runner up, 1994 champ, three time RAAM finisher, and now very happily working for Hammer Nutrition and E-CAPS Endurance Supplements in Montana. It was thanks to Steve that these two fine companies are lending their support to the race.

But the night was over far too quickly and before sunrise the racers and crews were milling about the parking lot, itching to hit the road and pound the pedals. We took lots of shots and shot video, posed with banners and all that. Shaun Hughes, the president and founder of Sun Precautions, our title sponsor, came to the start and ended up tagging along for several hours. He was absolutely enthralled by the event and impressed by the determination of all the racers and their crews.

Our largest race staff ever was also on hand, making sure that everything would happen smoothly throughout the weekend. They are, according to Time Station (TS) and/or job description:

TS #1: Terry Hutt, Team Camel 97
TS #2: Reed Flamingo Finfrock and Chuck Holmberg
TS #3: Dave Reese and Ronn Grable
TS #4: Dennis, Kevin, and Kerrie Brown; first officiate mid-field, then after TS #4 is done, bring up the rear to the finish
TS #5: Reed Flamingo Finfrock and Chuck Holmberg
TS #6: Glen Tebo, April 90 finisher
TS #7: Dan Horse Dibb and Greg Polecat Page
Lead Solo Men: Rick Amoeba Anderson and Mike Whale Wilson
Lead Solo Women: Pat Eaglet Enright, Seana Hoopoe Hogan, and Alex
Rove entire solo field: Steve Beaver Born
Photograph entire field: Dave and Margaret Nelson
Digital Videotape: Dan Dominy
Go out with solo start, then come back to officiate teams: Chris Kostman and Dana Prieto; Ed Levinson, and Len Bertain; Jeff Brown Bear Bell and Michael Styllas; Brian Ignatin
Meeting, help with sales: Wayne and Shelby Kostman
Webcast: Keith Gargantua Kostman (Team Sasquatch, 96) and Mike Angelos

The racers enjoyed three whole miles of leisurely "yellow flag" conditions riding (clock is running, but speed is casual), then took off racing up the little hill to the entrance to San Fran Canyon. Crews were already ahead at mile 12, waiting to begin leapfrog support for the day. Racers quickly strung out, with some working hard for the lead, but most wise enough to just settle into their own pace and find their groove. It's a long race. Literally two and a half double centuries in a row, but much more than that. It amazes me every year to see so many racrers (usually rookies) blast the first 200 miles in ten or eleven hours, only to fade later and often DNF.

This year's immediate frontrunners were four men on three bikes: Kaname Sea Lion Sakurai, Istvan Mackska Makk ("Mackska" is Hungarian for cat), and the Red Robbin tandem of Bob Smith and Roehl Caragao from Bakersfield. Makk is a rookie who has been burning up the double century scene all year and is aiming to make the big jump into 500 mile racing. The other three frontrunners are 508 veterans with resumés a mile long. It's no surprise to see them all doing so well, but it's also not surprising to see Andrew Blowfish Bohannon, a 508 and RAAM veteran, moving up towards the front and joining that "breakaway." But still, we're only halfway through it, but it's darn exciting to see a neck-and-neck race like that!

One bummer note: Kathleen Raptor Rogers had a freak crash at mile 75 en route to California City and had to head to the hospital. After being checked out by the MD's, they gave her the OK to head home. So, crew chief Jim Pteradactyl Petri packed her safely in the van and headed home for Arizona.

Another note: Paul American Eagle Bonds received a 15 minute time penalty for a stop sign infraction which will be served at TS #7.

I did something unique this year, which was to head back to the start of the team race. Since 1993 when we started the team race, I have never had the pleasure of seeing the team race start. It's always been entrusted to Pat Enright, but this year he and his new, pregnant wife Seana Hogan wanted to work the solo race. So, I got the opportunity. It was great to get back there to Valencia and be part of the excitement for a second time in one day! Eight teams are entered, mostly veterans with some rookies, too. After a five year hiatus, the Team Formerly Known as PacifiCare (Armadillo) made the trek out from Texas. This year, they were all sporting the brilliant yellow and white bicycle jerseys by Sun Precautions. And, as the ceremonial start ended after three miles, they were quickly working to take the lead. (In 93, 94, and 95, they were 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd, so they really want to win this year.) But giving them a run for their money, no surprise, was the Bakersfield team of Westchester Screamin' Eagles.

Across the board, all the teams seemed to be having a great time and were enjoyed the teamwork, camaraderie, and strategy of pitting four riders against the roads and the wind.

I've spent the entire afternoon, evening, and now up til midnight covering the team race and then working my way up through the solo field. We've photographed and videotaped nearly every entrant. I saw over a dozen racers on Townes Pass, the blinking lights making a ribbon on the highway. I love the night on Townes Pass and then in Death Valley, Mother Nature's Greatest Outdoor Arena!

I might mention that I got to see Chuck Honey Bee Hanson, the 70 year old entrant who last raced and completed this race ten years ago at age 60. (That was the first 508 that I directed and produced. I can't believe it's been ten years now that I have been doing this! But hey, I'm only 33!) He was working hard on the climb into Randsburg. By the way, because of his very impressive age group, Chuck will be allowed 52 hours to complete the course officially.

OK, it's time for me to hit the road and make my way up the course. I'll be at the finish line for every single entrant.

Everybody, please note that this webcast relocates during the race! At 2pm yesterday, Keith and Mike had to pack up in Valencia and drive 250 miles to Furnace Creek. At 6am they will relocate to 29 Palms. Please be patient during these interims! This is the only way we can get images and video to them. They are doing a heck of a job!

Sunday Update 1200

Team Armadillo is the new race leader and last seen appraoaching the seventh and final time station.

At Furnace Creek, "Blowfish" Bohannon and "Sea Lion" left together. A strong move by the "Blowfish" left him in first place as the new solo race leader with the Sea Lion in second place after the sixth time station.