Poor surface may close Northbrook's Velodrome

July 24th, 2003 -
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/...-03-70689.html




Poor surface may close Velodrome
BY IRV LEAVITT
STAFF WRITER
Northbrook Park District commissioners refused last week to OK a hefty
estimate for repaving Illinois' only sanctioned bicycle racing track. Their
decision may mean the Ed Rudolph Velodrome closes in fall, 2004.

The original dirt-paved track was built in Meadowhill Park in 1960 at a
minimal cost to taxpayers by Rudolph and employees of a landscaping company.
The track was later upgraded with an asphalt surface that has been
deteriorating for years, despite stop-gap weekly patching.

Phil Yoder, the Northbrook Park District's director of parks and properties,
told park commissioners last week only one contractor has expressed
willingness to resurface the track, and that party would charge $325,000.
The district only has $200,000 budgeted for a bike track project, which was
to include the resurfacing as well as $115,000 to install lights not only
for bicyclists, but also for soccer players who use the track's infield.

Yoder said if the track isn't resurfaced by 2004, it won't be safe to ride.

Panel asked to help

Last week, park commissioners voted to insist that the Northbrook Cycle
Committee, the volunteer group that runs sanctioned races at the track, pay
half the cost of resurfacing the track. They said that most who race on
Thursday nights at the velodrome aren't park district residents, and it
would be unfair to make taxpayers foot the entire bill.

Some commissioners expressed doubt that the committee could raise such a
sum, and last week, three of its nine members agreed.

"That's a lot of money," said Pete Janunas, committee president. "It would
be tough, real tough. We're just volunteers."

The Chicago resident added that the committee hasn't given up, although the
first thing it's likely to discuss when it meets at the track before
tonight's races is how to find a cheaper bid on the work.

Yoder said he's asked "dozens" of paving contractors over the last two years
to bid on the job, and has only found one paving company -- Gallagher
Asphalt of Thornton, Ill. -- willing to commit to working on the banked
track. He said the higher-than-expected cost may be due to the track's
sloped surface.

Some park commissioners July 16 said making a decision that could mean the
end of the track was difficult.

"I've been a supporter of the velodrome for a long time," Commissioner Oscar
Dahl said. "There have been Olympic champions who raced there, and college
tournaments. I've struggled with this. If it were $200,000 (or) $250,000, I
thought it would be worthwhile. But now, without the (contribution) of the
bicycle people, I don't think I will support it."

No IOU

Commissioners said they will expect the committee to foot half the bill,
whatever it is, and aren't willing to take an IOU for that bill.

They noted the club in the past has had difficulty selling advertising for
the sign boards that ring the track, revenue slated to help pay for
maintenance. Cycle committee member Pat McNamara of Northbrook, who took
over sign sales this year, said 27 of about 30 available sign positions
remain available, at a cost of about $800 annually. McNamara is one of three
Northbrook residents on the nine-member committee.

He and fellow Northbrook resident Mark Harris together manage the Friday
night "stock bike" races at the track. McNamara said a growing number of
people of all ages show up to race their non-competition bikes, including
about 40 kids under 12 at each session. He said about a third of those
racers are from Northbrook, but only a fraction of the Thursday racers are.

McNamara said that the bad news about the high cost of paving comes at a
time when the audience for both the 7:30 Thursday professional and Friday
night amateur events is growing.

"I just think you have to keep pursuing more contractors, make a diligent
effort," he said last week. "I don't think we should push the panic button y
et."

It's sad to see. One of the things that make Northbrook cool, along with
the speed skating program. I realize it costs a bunch, but I was kind of
hoping they'd fix it up.

John

"John Halliburton" wrote in message y.com...
It's sad to see. One of the things that make Northbrook cool, along with
the speed skating program. I realize it costs a bunch, but I was kind of
hoping they'd fix it up.

John

Who really cares? Track racing in the US has been dead for over ten
years anyways. Which track is next? Encino, Seattle, San Diego or COS?

Max

This was sent out recently by the NCC.


The following article is in this weeks Northbrook Star newspaper. It details
the current situation with the velodrome. The Northbrook Cycle Committee
believes that both the Northbrook residents and local area riders want to
keep the velodrome treasure operating. The Northbrook Cycle Committee has
responded quickly by creating a fund raising bank account and task forces
exploring a number of different options.



To get things going we will be taking monetary donations every night from
Thursday July 31st, the sprint finals to the final August rain or shine
awards ceremony night August 28th. Please come out and donate whatever you
can in check or cash if you would like to see us continue operation. We
will be recording names and amounts for later recognition. We are a
certified not-for-profit organization which has tax deduction mechanisms for
contributions. We appreciate any support in terms of time, money and ideas
regarding this challenge. If you would like to become more directly involved
please send an email to





Poor surface may close Velodrome

BY IRV LEAVITT
STAFF WRITER

Northbrook Park District commissioners refused last week to OK a hefty
estimate for repaving Illinois' only sanctioned bicycle racing track. Their
decision may mean the Ed Rudolph Velodrome closes in fall, 2004.

The original dirt-paved track was built in Meadowhill Park in 1960 at a
minimal cost to taxpayers by Rudolph and employees of a landscaping company.
The track was later upgraded with an asphalt surface that has been
deteriorating for years, despite stop-gap weekly patching.

Phil Yoder, the Northbrook Park District's director of parks and properties,
told park commissioners last week only one contractor has expressed
willingness to resurface the track, and that party would charge $325,000.
The district only has $200,000 budgeted for a bike track project, which was
to include the resurfacing as well as $115,000 to install lights not only fo
r bicyclists, but also for soccer players who use the track's infield.

Yoder said if the track isn't resurfaced by 2004, it won't be safe to ride.

Panel asked to help

Last week, park commissioners voted to insist that the Northbrook Cycle
Committee, the volunteer group that runs sanctioned races at the track, pay
half the cost of resurfacing the track. They said that most who race on
Thursday nights at the velodrome aren't park district residents, and it
would be unfair to make taxpayers foot the entire bill.

Some commissioners expressed doubt that the committee could raise such a
sum, and last week, three of its nine members agreed.

"That's a lot of money," said Pete Janunas, committee president. "It would
be tough, real tough. We're just volunteers."

The Chicago resident added that the committee hasn't given up, although the
first thing it's likely to discuss when it meets at the track before
tonight's races is how to find a cheaper bid on the work.

Yoder said he's asked "dozens" of paving contractors over the last two years
to bid on the job, and has only found one paving company -- Gallagher
Asphalt of Thornton, Ill. -- willing to commit to working on the banked
track. He said the higher-than-expected cost may be due to the track's
sloped surface.

Some park commissioners July 16 said making a decision that could mean the
end of the track was difficult.

"I've been a supporter of the velodrome for a long time," Commissioner Oscar
Dahl said. "There have been Olympic champions who raced there, and college
tournaments. I've struggled with this. If it were $200,000 (or) $250,000, I
thought it would be worthwhile. But now, without the (contribution) of the
bicycle people, I don't think I will support it."

No IOU

Commissioners said they will expect the committee to foot half the bill,
whatever it is, and aren't willing to take an IOU for that bill.

They noted the club in the past has had difficulty selling advertising for
the sign boards that ring the track, revenue slated to help pay for
maintenance. Cycle committee member Pat McNamara of Northbrook, who took
over sign sales this year, said 27 of about 30 available sign positions
remain available, at a cost of about $800 annually. McNamara is one of three
Northbrook residents on the nine-member committee.

He and fellow Northbrook resident Mark Harris together manage the Friday
night "stock bike" races at the track. McNamara said a growing number of
people of all ages show up to race their non-competition bikes, including
about 40 kids under 12 at each session. He said about a third of those
racers are from Northbrook, but only a fraction of the Thursday racers are.

McNamara said that the bad news about the high cost of paving comes at a
time when the audience for both the 7:30 Thursday professional and Friday
night amateur events is growing.

"I just think you have to keep pursuing more contractors, make a diligent
effort," he said last week. "I don't think we should push the panic button
yet."




"tracker140" wrote in message
news:uoSTa.135448$ye4.95511@sccrnsc01...
July 24th, 2003 -

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/...-03-70689.html




Poor surface may close Velodrome
BY IRV LEAVITT
STAFF WRITER
Northbrook Park District commissioners refused last week to OK a hefty
estimate for repaving Illinois' only sanctioned bicycle racing track.
Their
decision may mean the Ed Rudolph Velodrome closes in fall, 2004.

The original dirt-paved track was built in Meadowhill Park in 1960 at a
minimal cost to taxpayers by Rudolph and employees of a landscaping
company.
The track was later upgraded with an asphalt surface that has been
deteriorating for years, despite stop-gap weekly patching.

Phil Yoder, the Northbrook Park District's director of parks and
properties,
told park commissioners last week only one contractor has expressed
willingness to resurface the track, and that party would charge $325,000.
The district only has $200,000 budgeted for a bike track project, which
was
to include the resurfacing as well as $115,000 to install lights not only
for bicyclists, but also for soccer players who use the track's infield.

Yoder said if the track isn't resurfaced by 2004, it won't be safe to
ride.

Panel asked to help

Last week, park commissioners voted to insist that the Northbrook Cycle
Committee, the volunteer group that runs sanctioned races at the track,
pay
half the cost of resurfacing the track. They said that most who race on
Thursday nights at the velodrome aren't park district residents, and it
would be unfair to make taxpayers foot the entire bill.

Some commissioners expressed doubt that the committee could raise such a
sum, and last week, three of its nine members agreed.

"That's a lot of money," said Pete Janunas, committee president. "It would
be tough, real tough. We're just volunteers."

The Chicago resident added that the committee hasn't given up, although
the
first thing it's likely to discuss when it meets at the track before
tonight's races is how to find a cheaper bid on the work.

Yoder said he's asked "dozens" of paving contractors over the last two
years
to bid on the job, and has only found one paving company -- Gallagher
Asphalt of Thornton, Ill. -- willing to commit to working on the banked
track. He said the higher-than-expected cost may be due to the track's
sloped surface.

Some park commissioners July 16 said making a decision that could mean the
end of the track was difficult.

"I've been a supporter of the velodrome for a long time," Commissioner
Oscar
Dahl said. "There have been Olympic champions who raced there, and college
tournaments. I've struggled with this. If it were $200,000 (or) $250,000,
I
thought it would be worthwhile. But now, without the (contribution) of the
bicycle people, I don't think I will support it."

No IOU

Commissioners said they will expect the committee to foot half the bill,
whatever it is, and aren't willing to take an IOU for that bill.

They noted the club in the past has had difficulty selling advertising for
the sign boards that ring the track, revenue slated to help pay for
maintenance. Cycle committee member Pat McNamara of Northbrook, who took
over sign sales this year, said 27 of about 30 available sign positions
remain available, at a cost of about $800 annually. McNamara is one of
three
Northbrook residents on the nine-member committee.

He and fellow Northbrook resident Mark Harris together manage the Friday
night "stock bike" races at the track. McNamara said a growing number of
people of all ages show up to race their non-competition bikes, including
about 40 kids under 12 at each session. He said about a third of those
racers are from Northbrook, but only a fraction of the Thursday racers
are.

McNamara said that the bad news about the high cost of paving comes at a
time when the audience for both the 7:30 Thursday professional and Friday
night amateur events is growing.

"I just think you have to keep pursuing more contractors, make a diligent
effort," he said last week. "I don't think we should push the panic button
y
et."

"Maxwell Laycock" wrote in message
om...
"John Halliburton" wrote in message
y.com...
It's sad to see. One of the things that make Northbrook cool, along
with
the speed skating program. I realize it costs a bunch, but I was kind
of
hoping they'd fix it up.

John

Who really cares? Track racing in the US has been dead for over ten
years anyways. Which track is next? Encino, Seattle, San Diego or COS?




Maxwell -

You owe me $20 on the TdF helmet bet. Paypal.