Tony Ferrari
26-04-2010, 07:43 PM
One of the other hats I wear is as Assistant Race Director of the East Midlands International CiCle Classic (http://www.cicleclassic.co.uk/). This is Britain's largest one day cycle road race that runs over a 108 mile course between Oakham in Rutland and Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire and the 2010 event was held yesterday 25th April.
The race is a bit different to most in that although it stays on the road, some of the roads are shall we say, a little on the rough side. Here's a picture from the race that will give you a flavour of it:
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/MadCowPhotos/East%20Midlands%20International/4551975447_1d37694132.jpg
So what has this got to do with 4x4 Response?
Well the race is one of the few in the UK that operates under a proper rolling road closure due to the excellent support we get from the Leicestershire Police. But this means we rely heavily on volunteer marshals to help us stop and hold traffic at junctions.
So when Leicestershire and Rutland 4x4 Response formed at the end of last year, I had a great idea that would both assist the race organisation and help raise the profile of 4x4 Response.
I duly got in touch with Chairman Simon Dale and we met up at the other event the CiCle Classic team organise, the Classic Cross (http://www.cicleclassic.co.uk/page_961834.html)cyclo cross race at Rutland Water in January. After being introduced to the Race Organiser and following a recent meeting, the Response Group agreed to provide mobile marshals who not only had the ability to move from one location to another as required but could also employ a dirty great 4x4 to reinforce the road closures :D
Well yesterday came and Leicestershire & Rutland 4x4 Response did us proud. A big thank you from all of us on the organisation, you did a fantastic job and I'm sure this is going to be the start of an ongoing relationship.
And I'm not sure who it was from the group who followed me in my "event vehicle" a much stickered up Ford Ranger, down the finish straight through the huge cheering crowd about three minutes before the race winner came in but I hope you enjoyed it!
Leicestershire & Rutland 4x4 Response before dispersing to their positions on the course:
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/MadCowPhotos/East%20Midlands%20International/LR4x4Response1.jpg
The race is a bit different to most in that although it stays on the road, some of the roads are shall we say, a little on the rough side. Here's a picture from the race that will give you a flavour of it:
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/MadCowPhotos/East%20Midlands%20International/4551975447_1d37694132.jpg
So what has this got to do with 4x4 Response?
Well the race is one of the few in the UK that operates under a proper rolling road closure due to the excellent support we get from the Leicestershire Police. But this means we rely heavily on volunteer marshals to help us stop and hold traffic at junctions.
So when Leicestershire and Rutland 4x4 Response formed at the end of last year, I had a great idea that would both assist the race organisation and help raise the profile of 4x4 Response.
I duly got in touch with Chairman Simon Dale and we met up at the other event the CiCle Classic team organise, the Classic Cross (http://www.cicleclassic.co.uk/page_961834.html)cyclo cross race at Rutland Water in January. After being introduced to the Race Organiser and following a recent meeting, the Response Group agreed to provide mobile marshals who not only had the ability to move from one location to another as required but could also employ a dirty great 4x4 to reinforce the road closures :D
Well yesterday came and Leicestershire & Rutland 4x4 Response did us proud. A big thank you from all of us on the organisation, you did a fantastic job and I'm sure this is going to be the start of an ongoing relationship.
And I'm not sure who it was from the group who followed me in my "event vehicle" a much stickered up Ford Ranger, down the finish straight through the huge cheering crowd about three minutes before the race winner came in but I hope you enjoyed it!
Leicestershire & Rutland 4x4 Response before dispersing to their positions on the course:
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/MadCowPhotos/East%20Midlands%20International/LR4x4Response1.jpg