Monster Track 2008 Main Race Canceled
The main race of Monster Track 2008 has been canceled. “Our reasons are many but the overall factor was that the race has become unmanageable due to the large participation and our concern for the participant’s safety.” Though disappointing, we’re confident the organizers have the best intentions with this difficult decision. Full press release from Squid:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The organizers of Monster Track 2008 have decided, after careful consideration, to cancel this year’s main race.
This decision did not come easy and was debated at length. Our reasons are many but the overall factor was that the race has become unmanageable due to the large participation and our concern for the participant’s safety.
As many of you know, Monster Track started as a race held for a small, close group of NYC bike messengers. It has now become an overwhelmingly all-inclusive event. This, on its face, may seem like a positive direction for a race but in the context of a solely track bike alleycat it brings many problems. First and foremost, the safety of the racers is compromised. We believe that this is not a tenable position for race organizers.
Although the main race is canceled, please join us for Gold Sprints on Friday evening, Fixed Gear Competition (track stands, skids, footdown, freestyle, sprints, etc.) on Saturday and the Velo City Tour, at Kissena Velodrome on Sunday.
Schedule of Events:
Friday March 7, 8PM
Goldsprints at Third Ward
195 Morgan Ave. BrooklynSaturday March 8, 1PM
Fixed Gear Comp and injured messenger fundraiser at Rocky’s
South 5th St. at Kent Ave. BrooklynSunday March 9, 12PM
Velo City Track Competition at Kissena Velodrome
Booth Memorial Ave near Kissena Blvd. Queens
What a bummer. I was going to come down from Boston for this, but now my ride isn’t going.
By Nick on March 3rd, 2008 at 9:11 pmThat’s a bummer. I wonder if the NY Times article on Mike D was a sign that the jig was up. ON the upside, I came in 14th last year and it is extremely unlikely I could ever do better than that so at least I went out on top, or close.
By chrisco on March 4th, 2008 at 5:54 pmThough it probably didn’t factor too much in the decision to cancel, the Times article is still a sign, at a minimum, that the race isn’t so underground anymore. For those who haven’t seen it: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/nyregion/thecity/02alle.html
I thought Bikesnob’s comment was funny: “If you’re unfamiliar with the Times, it’s sort of an obituary for subcultures, in that once yours appears there then it’s already dead. And apparently, nobody alerted the reporter to the fact that Monster Track had already been cancelled before the article ran.”
By Will on March 4th, 2008 at 6:29 pmI don’t think that the times article had anything to do with this decision. It boils down to the logistics of safety. When Johnny Snake & Vlad first organized this race the participants were primarily professional bike couriers who were well aware of the dangers that are prevalent in street racing. Nobody had to worry about their safety because we all understood that everybody was capable of taking care of themselves. In addition, we all knew each other well enough to know that nobody would leave anybody else who’d been in an accident without making sure that their homeboy was o.k.
Now, you can’t be sure of how competent the new riders are, most of whom have never been messengers, nor can you be sure that they would do the right thing if faced with an emergency.
Live to race another day, kiddies. If you are as fast as you think you are, you don’t need Moster Track to prove it.
By alchemicepidemic on March 5th, 2008 at 11:37 am“If you are as fast as you think you are, you don’t need Moster Track to prove it.”
Quoted for truth.
By Will on March 5th, 2008 at 12:18 pm