==
Bike-Walk Alliance of NH ==
Summary:
"Follow the Leader" on Wednesday, May 25, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, NH
Review by Dave Topham. Please scroll down to view event photos.
From 5:30 to 7:30
PM on May 25 was the "Follow the Leader" ride around the Loudon NASCAR
racetrack. This event was coordinated by Jim Esdon of the Injury Prevention
Center at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital in conjunction with the Safe Kids
program and the Brain Injury Foundation of NH. Some time ago I agreed to attend
as a representative for the GSBA and lined up S&W Sports of Concord (Tim
Farmer) to provide mechanical services. Obviously, the proper use of helmets,
bike safety checks, and riding skills were to be emphasized. Various handouts
and "Share the Road" bumper stickers from NH DOT and NH HSA were available
at the GSBA-GSW table.
I must admit I had serious reservations about the success of this event because
of the constant rainy and cool weather these days. I could not see parents riding
with their children around the racetrack in rain, wind, and temperature in the
upper 40's. However, no rain date was possible since the schedule at the racetrack
is so tight. Rain or shine, the event was to take place. As much as I wanted
to attend and help, as I loaded my bike and display items into my truck at 3
PM I was convinced this was going to be a wash-out. Heading north on Route 93
from Salem I thought I was driving a boat -- wind and water everyplace. However,
upon turning off Route 393 onto 106 toward Loudon, the pavement was actually
dry! The racetrack was in great shape without so much as a puddle to be found.
Tim Farmer, Jim Esdon, and I all arrived about the same time and set up our
work and display areas. The local Explorer Scouts and some police officers directed
all participants to the infield area by going through a tunnel under the track.
Garages in the infield, plenty of parking space, rest rooms, free pizza and
snack bars, and a great group of volunteers made everything work very smoothly.
Tim was kept very busy tweaking bikes before they were used on the track, likewise
the Brain Injury Foundation did a brisk business fitting helmets and providing
new ones for a donation of $10.00.
Everyone interested rode around the 1.0 mile track in a counter-clockwise direction.
The children seemed to really enjoy themselves, not only riding around the track
but going up and down the banked curves, thus crossing the normal lines of travel.
This proved to be unpredictable for those of us who just wanted to cruise around
the track, but it was not a race and the track was not crowded so we just gave
the kids a lot of space to play. I did not see any accidents on the track but
there was an ambulance on-hand just in case. A few children fell off their bikes
in the garage area (those trash cans jumped right in front of them!) but there
were no injuries noticed -- and everyone was wearing a helmet.
About 7:15 PM the crowd started thinning out just as the rain started. It was
time to pack up and head home but not before Jim announced plans to return in
May 2006 to do it again -- and hopefully without the threat of rain that undoubtedly
kept many people away. Jim reported that about 260 people registered. There
were many inquiries about the GSBA and GSW, and with the GSBA being of prime
interest to those I spoke with. I also met some GSW members and their children
so it was almost "old home week."
Bottom line, Lady Luck was in our favor concerning the weather and everyone
seemed to have a good time. This was the first time I've ever been inside the
racetrack in spite of living in NH for years and cycling past the track many
times. Given the positive feedback heard and seen, upon leaving I asked Jim
to sign me up for next year -- I plan to go back to "wave the GSBA flag"
and help where I can.
With thanks again to Jim Esdon and all his co-workers plus Tim Farmer from S&W
Sports, I'll sign off and let you view some photos of this event. (Some day
I will post photos in a better format and with captions, but for now this is
what we have.)
Happy and safe cycling to all!
Dave Topham
GSBA Education & Safety Director
NH
SAFE KIDS Coalition presents:
"Follow the Leader" on Wednesday, May 25, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, NH
Help us celebrate SAFE KIDS Week 2005, "Follow the Leader, Safety Starts With You."
The New Hampshire
SAFE KIDS Coalition, Children's Hospital at Dartmouth, and the New Hampshire
International Speedway invite you to a one-of-a-kind bike ride around the track
in Loudon. Imagine…you will get to pedal your bike on the same track that
NASCAR drivers race around! All children must be accompanied by an adult caregiver
and all participants (kids and adults) must wear a bike helmet. Bike safety
checks and educational materials will be made available by the Granite State
Bicycling Alliance. Healthy snacks available.
There is no cost for this event although donations to CHaD will be gratefully accepted. For more information and to let us know you are coming contact NH SAFE KIDS at 1-877-783-0432 or e-mail at IPC@dartmouth.edu.
To view and optionally print a flyer for this event, please click here to access a PDF file which provides all the details.
