The Official 2012 Video Trailer!
Last year we gave you some headcam footage of the Forest Drive – this year we bring you the big budget Hollywood trailer treatment!
An Event Films Production; Directed by John Estcourt; Staring the members of Ayr Roads Cycling Club.
Shot over Glenalla and Nic O Balloch.
Lets go!
À bientôt to the Strada Grigio
The organisers of the South Carrick David Bell Memorial cycle race have announced an exciting alteration: the 47th edition of the classic event will be held entirely on road. The race was expected to feature two passages of the Carrick Forest Drive, an unsealed forest road by Loch Doon, as it had in 2011. However, due to ongoing maintenance on the approaching roads the organising team has made the decision to unveil ‘Route B’.
Race organiser Christopher Johnson added, “Last year, our plan to use the Carrick Forest Drive seemed hugely ambitious, but resulted in a superb day’s racing warmly received by riders and fans alike. We are of course super keen to get back to using the Forest Drive, but recognise that the ongoing upgrades to the approaching roads will benefit our event in the long run and ensure our return to the ‘Strada Grigio’ in future years”.
There is no doubt the star of 2011 was the Carrick Forest Drive. Our winner James McCallum was simply the hero
The event promoters, Ayr Roads Cycling Club, are keen to stress that the new route is no reserve, and has been under review for over six months and designed to ensure great aggressive racing, with ample opportunities for spectators. The event will now feature four of the ascents in the area commonly referred to as the Ayrshire Alps, including Nic O Balloch, Glenalla, the Screws and Byne. The climbers will be contesting the William Grant & Sons King of the Mountains over these.
Riders will have little chance to enjoy the splendid views as the hurtle past the Bell Memorial at Rowantree Toll
At 100 miles long, and with nearly 7,000ft of climbing the South Carrick David Bell race is no picnic, but organisers have ensured there is ample opportunities for the pack to reel in the breakaways with long flats between the climbs. Many of the best teams from the UK, including Rapha Condor Sharp and Vanilla Bikes, are due to line up in Girvan on June 10th to take on the challenge and add their name to the David Bell winners list.
While the main race has been rerouted, the supporting Audax, the Highwayman Challenge, will still cross the ‘Strada Grigio’. “We’ve had great support from the Forestry Commission in ensuring the surface is in excellent condition for the event, and we are delighted to offer the chance to ride the Carrick Forest Drive to audax riders” said Chris Johnson. Without the huge race convoy or high speeds of the elite racers, the approach roads over to Dalmellington and alongside Loch Doon are easily navigable by bike.
Despite being the first edition of the Highwayman Challenge, the event is already proving extremely popular with more than half the spaces gone already! Participants are being asked to use the challenge to raise funds for the MS Society Scotland and local Ayrshire Branch. At just £8 an entry, organisers hope to attract lots of local cyclists to get behind a great cause.
Race schedule:
|
Distance (Miles) |
Distance (KM) |
Average 40kph |
|
|
0 |
Girvan Depart |
0km |
11:00 |
|
2.7 |
End Neutral Zone |
4.4km |
11:06 |
|
7.9 |
Dailly (Woodside Road) |
12.7km |
11:19 |
|
16.3 |
Straiton (B741/B7045) |
26.2km |
11:39 |
|
21.7 |
Crosshill |
34.9km |
11:52 |
|
27.6 |
Glenalla Summit – 1105ft |
44.4km |
12:06 |
|
30.4 |
North Balloch |
48.9km |
12:13 |
|
32.7 |
Nic O Balloch Summit – 1284 ft |
52km |
12:18 |
|
34.2 |
Rowntree Toll Bell Memorial |
55km |
12:22 |
|
43.6 |
Bargrennan |
70km |
12:45 |
|
52.2 |
Barrhill |
84km |
13:06 |
|
56.5 |
Pinwherry |
90.9km |
13:16 |
|
64.2 |
Barr Village |
103.3km |
13:36 |
|
66.3 |
Screws Summit (682ft) |
106.7km |
13:40 |
|
69.6 |
Old Dailly |
112km |
13:48 |
|
72.1 |
Girvan |
116km |
13:54 |
|
75.7 |
Byne Summit – 485ft |
121.8km |
14:03 |
|
76.8 |
Pinmore |
123.6km |
14:06 |
|
83.2 |
Old Dailly |
133.9km |
14:21 |
|
85.9 |
Girvan |
138.2km |
14:27 |
|
89.5 |
Byne Summit – 485ft |
144km |
14:36 |
|
90.1 |
Pinmore |
145km |
14:37 |
|
96.7 |
Old Dailly |
155.6km |
14:54 |
|
100.2 |
Finish – Victory Park |
161.2km |
15:01 |
No news is good news
We’ve been a wee bit quiet here at Davie Bell towers recently, but fear not – all systems are GO!
We’ll be announcing further details of what is shaping up to be a fantastic weekend of cycling activity very soon.
And welcome aboard to Team Chain Reaction Cycles / Vitus coming over from Northern Ireland, and the Bicycleworks Development Team, just two of our most recent teams to confirm participation.
Behind the Scenes: The Photo-Finish Operator’s Tale
We continue our ‘behind the scenes’ series of interviews to highlight all the wonderful people involved in making a race happen.
There was a time before photo-finish at our race, and its a time we’d like to forget… If it were not for the photo-finish operators we’d still be enjoying the wrath of the Braveheart forum community!
When it comes to organising a race in Scotland, number one recommendation in the toolkit should be “Book photo finish!” We are very fortunate in Scotland to have two of the hardest working guys in the sport in Bill Dunscombe and Sandy Glover. Thanks to Bill for taking time out to tell us what he does.
Bill, you are a photo-finish operator. Can you tell us what exactly it is you do?
Along with my club mate and colleague Sandy Glover we provide the Scottish Cycling photo finish service to most of the major road races plus some Track events. We aim to provide a printed result showing exact finishing positions and times within a short time after the last rider finishes.
Bill and Sandy being awarded volunteer of the year 2010 by Jackie Davidson, former CEO of Scottish Cycling.
How many races do you provide support to each year?
Last year we did the photo finish service for 29 races including all the Scottish Championships and series races such as Super Six and Vets & Women’s series.We also did the British Men’s and Women’s Road Race Championships and the Tour of Britain.
So far this year we have 28 bookings.
As a volunteer, why do you choose to do this job?
I had been chief judge at all the local races in Fife, including the Tour of the Kingdom for a number of years so when SC advertised in 2002 for volunteers to learn how to use the new digital system it seemed a natural thing to get involved with.
What training did you undertake to become a photo-finish operator?
I attended a 1 day course run by Susan and John Walker held in the car park at Meadowbank Velodrome.
Have there been any unusual incidents that have happened to you while supporting Scottish races?
The most unusual incident was a couple of years ago at the Lake APR’s in Balfon when the Men’s race finished before all the riders in the Women’s race had finished which caused a few problems. We could not find one of the women on the film but found a rider with a pony tail whose number was obscured so assumed it must be the missing lady. However, it turned out that the lady was a DNF and the pony tail belonged to a guy.
What are the main challenges in carrying out photo-finish?
That all important image! Velo Ecosse rider Matt Macdonald caught with his hands aloft by the photo finish team
The main challenges are coping with sudden changes in the weather which play havoc with the camera settings, and also persuading riders to pin their numbers in the right places.
What have been the highlights in carrying out this role?
The highlights have to be the British RR Championships and the Tour of Britain last year and also providing a “back-up” service at the World Duathlon Championships held in Edinburgh a couple of years ago.
You are a veteran of several Davie Bell road races now – do you have any special recollections of our event?
Yes, the good weather for the last couple of years and at last year’s event, Vic Possee with his shovel and wheelbarrow full of rubble filling in a big pothole in the middle of the finishing straight in Straiton.
What equipment will you be using on June 10th?
I use a digital camera which sits on the finish line plus a small video camera which sits a few metres before the line which films the rear of the riders to help identify riders whose numbers are not visible from the side. Both cameras are synchronised and connect to a Laptop where their pictures can be displayed on a split screen.
What advice or encouragement do you have for anyone who would like to become a photo finish operator?
Get in touch with me by email and be prepared to give up some of your cycling time to trailing round the country and working in all weathers. And by the way get paid (expenses) for it.
Thanks Bill and Sandy – we couldn’t do it without you! 28 bookings… twenty-eight… that’s four solid weeks of events? remarkable!
2012 Artwork
A reminder to all school children in the South Carrick area – you have just two weeks to submit your design for our School Poster Competition! Your design will be used on all our artwork, including giant banner installations on the Stumpy Tower in Girvan.
Meanwhile, we are pleased to show off our current design:
New sponsors, and a new design from last year:
We know there are some budding artists in the South Carrick area – we look forward to seeing your event poster 
FWS 1997: Richard Moore
What do you mean you haven't read it? Click the picture and buy it NOW!
Richard, first up, we are on the offensive. In your rather splendid book ‘In Search Of Robert Millar’ you somehow failed to include mention of 18yr old Robert’s stunning 1977 win in our event – favouring instead mention of a 5th place in the Girvan, and an Ayrshire APR. Your excuses please!
No excuses, only apologies. I can only think that, in my mind, the Girvan was a more significant race [fair comment, historically! - ed]. But to win such a tough race as the David Bell at 18 is exceptional (though Robert Millar managed quite a few exceptional performances), and it should probably have been mentioned… in my defence, I didn’t want to list every race he’d won/performed well in. I had to be quite selective.
I remember less of this race than I should. It’s very strange how you remember some races really vividly, even minor ones – and I certainly have far clearer memories of races that I really suffered in. I could talk you through every metre of those races… I do remember that 97 was my best year, and so this was one of several memorable results, if not performances.
I didn’t know the race that well, though I knew the roads from the Girvan. I think I finished 7th in the Girvan that year: the first time I was really climbing with the leaders on the Nic O’Balloch and Tairlaw – proper mountains as far as I was concerned. I’d done two things the previous winter: started following a training programme faxed to my dad’s office every week by Roddy Riddle; and lost a lot of weight. I really felt like a different rider. Winning the David Bell (or “The Davie Bell” as everyone knew it) came in the midst of that breakthrough season for me, which is probably why I recall so few details of the actual race. Weirdly, I think I remember that it was in late July, maybe the 29th? (I used to memorise the calendar in the SCU handbook)… I have a hazy memory of approaching the finish in a break of 4 riders, and having a club-mate, Graham Moore, there. I think it was Graham! He was no relation but we both rode for Sandy Wallace that year… and he was really strong but couldn’t sprint, so he helped me a bit at the finish, riding on the front and leading it out a bit (though we were hardly HTC-Highroad).I remember winning the sprint quite comfortably but can’t remember who I beat. I think Neil Cameron might have been in the break as well…? “Myra” would have been the big threat. And maybe Gary Paterson? If Gary was there, I would have felt quite confident. Gary was no sprinter. I remember when he won the Sam Robinson Memorial the following year, from a break of me, Brian Smith and Drew Wilson – all team-mates. Brian had to push him across the line and Drew had to put his brakes on not to beat him.
Richard, 3rd from left, in the Scottish team for the 1998 PruTour
At the time, Graeme Herd was newly appointed as Scotland manager and tasked with picking the 98 Commonwealth Games team. Was winning the Bell as stepping stone in securing the spot on the team?
Actually, no, though of course it was great for the confidence. But in terms of the Commonwealth Games, it was the dawn of a new era, when results in Scottish races were considered meaningless. You had to get results in Premier Calendar races. My big goal was to go to the Commonwealth Games, but the selection criteria were quite clear, which I appreciated. You knew what you had to do. I think you had to win a Premier Calendar or finish top six in four events, or something like that. It was the first Commonwealth Games where the team was picked that way.
When I started I thought the previous era had been classic, but maybe you always think like that. There were some other good riders as well – Andy Young, Andy Matheson, Willie Gibb, Neil Brown… I’m still friends with most – the Riddles and Gary especially – and really enjoy seeing some of them at the Braveheart dinner. I also see Andy Young a bit – he lives near London, where I live. And how could we forget Julian Coia! He’s a tube driver in London and I caught up with him recently. We were juniors together and he was really talented – maybe too talented. I think it came too easy to him when he was a junior and he struggled when he turned senior and started getting the odd kicking – something that was normal to most of us.
Jason McIntyre had his best years after I stopped in 99. But I remember meeting him for the first time while on holiday in Ardnamurchan. There was an advert in the Fort William swimming pool for the local chaingang – this must have been about 1992 or 93 or something. I went out on this chaingang and there was Jason, and he was strong, but it was another couple of years before I started seeing him at races.
Up against Willie Gibb and Drew Wilson in the 1997 crit champs (Drew would win)
If I’d known I was going to write a book about him I’d have tried to get some more information out of him. He was quiet. Very nice and encouraging, though he realised that we weren’t going to do much in the race and so didn’t expect too much out of us (linking to the earlier comment about vividly remembering races in which I suffered: I can remember every second of that PruTour…). He tended to contribute occasionally to the conversation at the dinner table, but only with some really dry, frequently dark, observation or quip.
The Scotland team in the 98 PruTour was managed by our 1977 winner, Robert Millar.
Well I live in London now so have lost touch a bit with Scottish racing. But I look at some of the results, or the start sheets, and cannot believe the sizes of the fields. There seems to be an explosion of interest, which is great. And there are a lot of people not racing, but still cycling pretty seriously in sportives and so on. I hope there are ‘pathways’ from those events into road racing, because I always felt that road racing was pretty intimidating, especially for someone who comes to cycling a bit later. I was glad I started racing when I was 13, because I didn’t really think about it. But I can see why people would be nervous about entering their first road race.It’s funny that we talk about the 90s or 80s as classic eras, because fields back then were often very small. I don’t know much about the standard of races these days. I do think that the sport has suffered in lots of ways from the ‘death’ of the club run. It was on club runs that you made friends and learned how to ride in a bunch and ‘wheel about’, which simulated racing. I could be wrong but I think for a lot of people cycling’s become a more solitary activity, whereas for me it was a group activity – and so much more enjoyable (and educational) for that.
Haven’t a clue! But I do note that, like in 97, the Nic O’Balloch comes pretty early on. As they say, it’s not where the race is won, but it can be lost there.
Oh god! It was a Reynolds 853 frame made by Paul Donohue, a framebuilder in England. Sandy Wallace gave me it. I only raced with it for a few months because it arrived mid-season, and then I joined Brian Smith’s new team, and rode a Raleigh 853 in 98. I never really knew much about bikes, to be honest. But I think my favourite, ever, was a cheap Shogun alloy frame that I raced on in 96, then kept riding around town until it was eventually stolen in about 2003. I’ve got a carbon Cervelo now with Dura-Ace bits and all mod-cons. Best bike I’ve ever had, slowest I’ve ever ridden.
Thanks again to Richard for taking time out to share his memories of road racing in Scotland and for access to his photos. Who knows, perhaps Richard may well be writing the biography of this years winner somewhere down the line! Keep up to date with Richard’s current work at his personal website: http://richardmoore.co/
Behind the Scenes: The Fundraiser’s Tale
We launch our ‘Behind the Scenes’ series of interviews to celebrate the fantastic people who help put on the South Carrick David Bell Memorial. Road races don’t just happen, they require a lot of committed volunteers willing to put in a lot of preparation. Over the next few months we aim to bring you their tales, including everyone from the chief commissaire to the hall cleaner!
Tour de France fan Cat, ready to bake!
To coincide with the announcement of our mission to raise £5,000 for charity, we start with Catriona Johnson, a fundraiser for MS Society Scotland.
My brother, Christopher Johnson, is the race organiser. Cycling has always been important in our family – growing up, our house was always full of bikes and as a child our family holidays included being taken to see stages of the Tour de France on more than one occasion!
I was diagnosed with MS at 21. In the 4 years since my diagnosis it has changed my life dramatically and has affected not only me but those people close to me. More than 100,000 people in the UK are affected by MS and currently there is no cure, but research is progressing fast. Every penny raised for the MS Society Scotland goes towards funding either this crucial research or towards providing invaluable support to people, like myself, who have MS.
For the most part, I live what is termed a ‘normal life’! I am currently a student, studying full-time towards a degree, I love spending time with family and friends and I do pretty much everything your average 20-something does – I enjoy life! However, it’s the smaller things which are more difficult, due to associated problems with my balance, sensation and mobility simple things like going for a walk, climbing stairs and, probably the most apt, riding a bike become a huge and sometimes impossible challenge.
Scotland has one of the highest incidences of MS in the world and the MS Society Scotland make it their mission to beat it. They raise awareness of MS, make it a priority at political level and provide support and information to people affected by MS around the country.
Cyclists can get involved in the fundraising action by asking people to sponsor them to complete the Highwayman Challenge – the 100km Audax running the day before the South Carrick David Bell Memorial. The Highwayman Challenge has its very own JustGiving page! – It’s a fantastic way to raise money for a very deserving cause!Highwayman Challenge riders will visit the Bell Memorial - seen here just after its completion in 1966
First and foremost, I will be there cheering on everybody who takes part! I will also be dishing out some very tasty snacks (I’d better get practising my baking!) and generally just soaking up the atmosphere of what is set to be a fantastic weekend of cycling!
FWS 1994: Graham McGarrity
This week we introduce another two-time winner of the South Carrick David Bell Memorial. Anyone who has hung around the Scottish racing circuit long enough will have been made to suffer by Mr McGarrity at some point. For your correspondent this was the 2002 David Campbell Memorial in Fife. Charging back along the flats from Cupar the bunch was strung out in a big looooooong line. There were no more gears on anyone’s bikes, and gaps opening towards the back – “to think someones actually at the front pushing this on!”. A few hours later there’s Graham sprinting down the hill into Kennoway, arms aloft…
2004 Davie Campbell RR - in second place is current DB champ James McCallum
First up; how are you Graham, and how is the leg after that awful smash in 2010?
Almost fully recovered from the accident. I’ve not had that many crashes on the bike but that one certainly made up for that. Strange thing was the only damage to my bike was that the rear mech hanger was slightly bent and I only had a small tear in my shorts, but my femur was broken in five places. I remember the first doctor who saw me kept saying ‘This is a motorcycle injury; you shouldn’t be this bad coming off a bike.’
Although it was obviously a painful experience one positive of my accident was the number of messages of support I received and the number of people who popped in to see me – mostly from members of the Scottish cycling community, many of whom were people I hadn’t seen or heard from in a long time. That was touching and made me realise that Scottish cycling is a good thing to be part of and it also made me want to return to riding and racing as quickly as possible.
I was back in hospital in October for an operation to get the plate and screws removed from my leg. That went well but meant I was back on the crutches for a month. Jason Roberts from the Glasgow Wheelers did the operation and he’s been great in giving me advice on just how far I can push the training. My leg feels a lot better than it did when I had the metal in so I’m hoping that will be reflected in getting some decent results this year. Last year was frustrating as I felt I just didn’t have the necessary power in my left leg. The training’s been going well this winter so we’ll see how the season pans out. Davie Bell is already marked on the calendar.
You won the Davie Bell twice – let’s talk about 1994 first. Already twice national champion, this granted you a hat-trick. Can you remember much about the race?
I remember going into the race hoping for a top 6 finish. I’d picked up a knee injury earlier in the year and had missed a lot of racing so by the time of the championship I’d only done a handful of races. I’m fairly hazy about the first part of the race. What I do remember is that after the Nic and Tairlaw a break of 6 had been established but we were starting to muck about and it looked like we might get caught. I decided to attack, not thinking I’d stay away, but more to try and galvanise the break into action. I ended up staying away for about 10mls, but it had the desired effect and the chasing group didn’t get across. There were a few attacks in the last few miles, with Neil Cameron particularly strong, but nothing was sticking and it came down to a sprint finish which suited me perfectly. The finish was on the road beside the old racecourse in Ayr and was a finish I knew well from previous editions.
Davie Miller made the break that day but he punctured and didn’t get back on; who knows the result might have been different had he not punctured as Davie was the master of getting the jump on you in the last mile when everyone was setting up for a sprint finish.
Riding for Scotland with Roddy Riddle at the Ruban-Grantier (Won by 'Evgyeni Berzin)
You were up against Andy Matheson (1990 winner) and Neil Cameron. What did you do right that they didn’t?
Both Andy and Neil had medalled in numerous previous RR champs but both of them had never won. I reckoned that they would be feeling nervous, whereas I’d already won twice so I was a bit more relaxed. I was also confident in my sprint; I didn’t often get beaten in the gallop (although when Andy won in 1990 he beat me by ½ a wheel in the sprint) so really all the pressure was on Andy and Neil. Coming into the finish things slowed down with the usual cat and mouse tactics, everyone watching each other and nobody wanting to make a move. I think Andy panicked, because he jumped first from quite a way out, I got on his wheel and once I’d done that I knew I’d win and I had time to get both hands up which felt good. What I do remember is seeing Neil Cameron, totally frustrated, throwing his helmet away; something I thought was more funny than he did. Neil did eventually win the RR champs a few years later.
Records show you completed the 96 mile hill fest in just 4hrs, 7mins, 7 secs. An average speed of 23.5mph… there can’t have been much hanging around?
As I said I don’t remember much about the early stages of the race, but yes, there was a lot of attacking and no piano and at any point. I do remember I decided to wear a skinsuit (marginal gains and all that) so I must have been expecting a fast race. A few of the guys were ribbing me about the skinsuit, but it just always made me feel fast when I wore one in a RR. Plus it puts the pressure on you as you look pretty daft going out the back with a skinsuit on.
Graham recorded fastest time for the 2008 Radar Ride Sportive, as covered by cyclosport.org
Five years on and you were back with the Scotoil Aberdeen Multisport team to win for a second time. What are your memories of this event?
Like 1994 I hadn’t done much early season racing. I’d packed in racing the year before as I’d just lost interest, wasn’t getting the results and I was getting guilt trips about leaving the family at weekends. I could justify it (to some extent) if I was getting results but I wasn’t, so about May I stopped and didn’t miss it at all. I didn’t stop riding the bike, though and was still going out with the mid week bundy bunch. The 1999 season started and I still had no intention of racing but come about May I was starting to twitch. I was training with guys who were getting results so I thought I’d do the occasional crit. So obviously that meant I entered the Davie Bell!
1982 junior road champions
Again, like 1994, I can’t remember much about the early stages – I think the Nic must numb my brain – but I’m sure the break went early, just after the Heads of Ayr. On the run in there may have been about 10 of us away. On the climb out of Maybole Gary Paterson put in a savage attack which dumped a few guys. I managed to hang on and when I’d done that I saw that I was as strong as anyone else, I knew then I could win; then the thought process changed from concentrating on not getting dropped to ‘I’m winning this’. There were the usual attacks on the run in past Butlins but they all lacked conviction so it was always going to come down to a sprint. Robbie Hassan’s dad, Liam, had been going well that year and had gained a bit of a reputation as a sprinter. Gary Paterson was riding for Active Office, the local race for the team, and he was looking for the win, so I think everyone was expecting one of those two to win. It was a fast finish. I can’t remember who went first but they went early, I got on their wheel and then launched my sprint and I remember thinking I’m going really fast here, there’s no way anyone’s going to get round me and I ended up winning by quite a few lengths. Neil Cameron was in the break that day too, finishing 4th ; he managed to keep his helmet on that that day!
That was a good day. Nobody expected me to win, I didn’t expect to win, my wife and children were there to see the finish and after the race we spent the rest of the day at the beach. Aye, good day.
Who was on your team, and who were you marking?
Ali Watt and Phil Duncan would have been riding. I wasn’t marking anyone in particular. I knew who was going well and knew where the damage would get done in the race.
What did it mean to win the Davie Bell?
A lot. Both times. I’d been training with guys like Davie Miller and Jim Ferrier since I was 16 and they always spoke in reverent terms about the Davie Bell. They’d talk about The Nic, Glenalla, the Screws and these climbs just sounded surreal almost mythical so the Davie Bell has always had an aura and has always had a reputation as being a race only good guys win and a race you want to say you’ve won. The winners of this race are a who’s who of Scottish racing; it feels good being on that list. I first rode the race in 1983 and I’ve ridden it maybe 20 times since then winning twice, getting 2nd once and a few 3rds, 4ths and 5ths.
In recent years the Davie Bell has fought with the David Campbell Memorial for the ‘toughest’ title. As a winner of both (2002 for DC), can you settle the argument for us?
I’ve won the David Campbell twice, 2002 and in 2004 when I took James McCallum in the gallop. But I have to say I reckon the Davie Bell is the more challenging of the two. The DC has got a lot more difficult now with the extra finishing circuits, but I reckon the Nic is the hardest climb in Scottish RRing. Add in the heavy roads, some daredevil descents and an absence of any real flat and the DB has the upper hand in terms of difficulty. VC Astar’s Anderside classic (I won that in 1993) was on a par with the DB but since it moved from Strathaven it’s not now as difficult and the DB is now the hardest race on the Scottish calendar.
Have you had a chance to see the route for the 2012 Davie Bell, and if so what are your first impressions?
I’ve only seen photos of the off road sections and heard from people who rode last year. I was over the Nic and Glenalla with Stuart MacGregor, Paul Rennie and Jim Murdoch a few weeks ago. The roads haven’t got any smoother and the Nic’s still as horrible. The off road sections certainly look ‘interesting’.
No stranger to Girvan, here's Graham being awarded 1st 2nd cat in the Easter stage race
Where do you think the race will be won?
Going by what I heard about last year it’s going to be the off road sections that will decide who won’t win, but it’s Scottish racing so the race could be won anywhere.
Who in Scotland do you think has a chance of lifting the title?
Hopefully it will be somebody wearing a Dooleys’ jersey. I know Paul Rennie would love to win, and we’ve got some new blood in the team and the race will be a target for us. James and Evan will obviously be favourites with Robbie Hassan in with a shout. I reckon young Scott McCrossan will be in the mix too. I’ve done a few rides with him over the winter and he’s going well. He’s a bundy man too so he’s got to carry on from Davie Miller and me.
Finally, we are running an Audax based on the Davie Bell route the day before with a prize for best retro bike. Can you tell us about the bike you rode to win in 1994?
Dig that Colnago out for the Highwayman Challenge Graham - it could win our Retro bike prize
It was a Colnago built with Columbus SL steel tubes and had lots of chrome. Equipment was Campag and I’d just started using Ergo levers. I think I’d given up on tubs by then and would probably have been using Veloflex tyres as the team had sponsorship from them. Would have been 53×39 with an 8 block probably 13 -21.
And a wee video of Graham’s famous sprint skills – the 2008 Billy Warnock
Thanks again to Graham for taking time out to share his experiences and photos, and good luck to him and his Dooley’s team who have confirmed their intention to line up for another lap of Scotland’s Toughest Road Race!
The Highwayman Challenge
The organisers of the South Carrick David Bell Memorial Race announced a brand-new mass participation event this week. The ‘Highwayman Challenge’ will give local cyclists the opportunity to sample the route just 24 hours before the best cyclists in Britain line up for the classic road race.
A 100km Audax, the Highwayman Challenge starts and finishes in Girvan on Saturday 9th June. The route will feature all the elements that the South Carrick David Bell is best known for including Tairlaw Summit, Nic O Balloch and the Carrick Forest Drive. To add to the challenge, riders must get round a series of checkpoints at an average speed of between 15 and 30km/h.
The Highwayman Challenge will cross the Carrick Forest Drive
Ayr Roads Cycling Club, the promoting organisation, hope that the excitement of the seeing the pros tackle the route next day, and also the bargain entry fee, will attract cyclists from across Ayrshire and beyond to Girvan. Coming just a month before the Graeme Obree Sportive, it will also be a great opportunity for sport cyclists to test their legs!
The Highwayman was David E.T. Bell’s penname when he wrote his extremely popular column in the Ayrshire Post for over forty years. Challenge participants will get the opportunity to pay homage to Bell as they pass the memorial in his name at Rowantree Toll. To enter into the spirit of the event, organisers are also offering a prize for the best turned out ‘retro-bike’ – typically any steel machine more than 15years old.
Participants will be encouraged to use the event for fundraising to support two excellent causes – the MS Society and South Carrick Community Leisure.
Follow the link for more information, and to enter The Highwayman Challenge
FWS 2007 – Evan Oliphant
Our next Former Winner Series Interviewee is a two times David Bell champion. Despite being 5x Scottish Road Champion, when asked for his palmares he simply answers ‘Grass Track Champion’! Yup, a big thank you to Evan Oliphant for taking time out from the Team Raleigh Training Camp in Majorca to share his experiences of winning the David Bell.
Evan, you have won the Davie Bell on two occassions. the first, in 2007, made you Scottish champion. What are your memories of the day?
I came back from racing in Belgium with DFL to ride it. From 2004 myself and Jason Macintyre had taken it year about at winning the scottish champs and he had won in 06 so it was my turn again in 07. Unfortunately Jason was not with us when the 07 champs came along and it made it even more special for me to win it that year being the Davie Bell and the Scottish champs and it brought back good memories of the times we spent racing and training together. I remember puncturing at the top of Tairlaw and having to chase back on down the slippery decent as it was a horrible cold wet day and I was pretty glad when we got to the finish there were some tough moments during it but I was delighted to win and it was also my 2nd scottish road title. I think towards the end there was only 4 of us left and 2 of them were from Velo Ecosse and since I was previously with the team myself and had lots of help from Gregor over the years I was more than happy to help them to get the other medals that day.
I did have to drive back to the top of Tairlaw though after the finish to find my wheel as neutral service had forgotten to pick it up when they changed it over. [sorry Evan!]
With DFL-Litespeed in Belgium 2007 - pic from Evan's collection
At the time you were riding an international programme with DFL Cycling News Litespeed – bringing a wee bit of glamour to straiton! – how did you find returning to race in Scotland?
I had returned to Scotland for a couple of races when I had no commitments with DFL and it was still always tough as its a completely different type of racing to what I was doing with DFL. The racing with DFL was much faster but you spend most of the time sitting in sheltering from the wind which means you gain lots of speed but you sometimes lose some strength, but returning to Straiton takes a different kind of power as I had to spend a lot of the time on the front and it really wears you down especially when you are not used to it but I like coming back to race in Scotland.
2007 was also an event marred by mishaps – with the lead car even going off course at one point [read the Velo Veritas Report here]. What was the feeling among the riders on the day?
I remember the race was stopped but I cant remember the feeling among the riders that day but im sure if it happened now I would be quite happy for the stop and a nice little rest. I do have some pictures somewhere standing at the side of the road when the race is stopped and I was having a chat with Gregor from Velo Ecosse about it and I have both my hands in the air not sure what I was doing maybe practicing for the finish.
But you came back again two years later and came second to teammate Ross Creber. This was just after the late move from Ploughman Craven to Endura. Can you tell us the story behind that?
I had started the ’09 season with Plowman Craven but after a couple of months they had no money left and Endura were looking to strengthen their tour series team so myself and Ross joined them for the remainder of the season. I think there was 6 or so of us in the break that day towards the end and Ben Greenwood was going very well on the climbs but I managed to get everyone to stay together and we brought him back after the last climb and then I was quite happy to help Ross or Callum win as they were both team mates of mine and as it worked out Ross was 1st and I was 2nd so was good day.
A not too shabby second place supporting team mate Ross Creber
You won the Davie Bell for the second time in 2010, solo off the front. How did this win compare to the first?
I think I had more confidence going into it in 2010 and I knew my form was good and I spent most of the race off the front on my own. Its always nice to come into the finish on your own knowing the win is in the bag.
The 2010 win came just a couple weeks after the Scottish Championships, at which there seemed to be some problems with team unity… What were the feelings within the team by the time of the Davie Bell?
I think the problem was that we had lot of good guys in the team that year in Scotland and we had placed 1,2,3 and 4 at the Scottish champs and we had all wanted to win it, I know that if it had not just been us racing against each other at the end we would have ridden well together to make sure one of us had won for the team. As far as I was concerned I had no problems and I just wanted a good hard ride on the day of the race in 2010 and that’s why I went away early on my own that way there could definitely be no problems towards the end.
It was all smiles in the Endura Camp as Hand and Creber complete a 1-2-3 in 2010
Due to calendar clash with the Ryedale Premier Calendar you were unable to make the 46th edition, but what did you think of the route change?
Yeh I saw the pictures on the internet and had looked at the maps online and I think including the off road sections made it a bit different and brought a new excitement to the race but no nic of balloch? Whats going on there? Glad to see its back for 2012.
You raced alongside Jason MacIntyre for several years – have you any ambitions to try and match his record equalling four victories in the Davie Bell?
I raced in the the same team as Jason for a few years and even when we were on different teams we were still close friends and raced together. I would go stay with him and his family to go training. I didnt know he had won it 4 times but I can see easily how he did as its always been a tough race to win and you have to be strong to win it and we all know he was. I would love to match his record of 4 wins if only I had tried a little harder in 09 to beat Ross I could be going for it in my next Davie Bell but that just means I will have to ride more of them now to try.
It would be good in Evan could go for a record 4 wins - last time he was too fast we missed it!
This year you have made the switch from Endura to Raleigh – how are you enjoying the new team?
Im actually on the first team camp with Raleigh while I write this and were only a couple of days in but we have a great group of guys and everyone is getting on real well together already so im really looking forward to racing for Raleigh this year and its also a big year for them being their 125thanniversary.
Having had the chance to see the proposed 2012 route, where do you think the race will be won, and who would you consider the favourites?
I have had a look at the route and I think the selections will still be made on the nic o Balloch climbs but the rough sectors could also play a vital role in forming the breakaways. Im not sure who all is riding but hopefully if I am then myself or one of my Raleigh team will be the favourites. I also think Ben Greenwood will be a hot favourite he also goes very well on the roads round there and is used to Scottish racing.
Lastly, as current Scottish Champion, are you optimistic about the future of cycle sport in the country?
Yeh I think cycling has gotten more popular over the past few years and you can see that at the races as the fields are much bigger again and there is more teams you would struggle to get an entry on the line these days. I also think once the Velodrome in Glasgow is built that will make a big difference to Scottish Cyclists I know I will be getting on it in the winter.
Grass track hero! From Evan's collection
A big thank you to Evan! Follow his progress throughout the season at the Team Raleigh site
