23rd annual MICHIGAN HUMAN POWERED VEHICLE RALLY
June 10-11, 2006

By Bill Frey

The 2006 Michigan HPV Rally will be the 20th rally held at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track near Pontiac. The 1.4-mile track also is ideal for racing human powered vehicles. It offers a straightaway, curves in both directions and a hill about 30 feet in height. Using all or specific parts of the track, we continue experimenting with different events each year, just as HPV enthusiasts experiment with different vehicles, fairings and drivetrains.

The Waterford track is ideally suited for a road race. So this year, in response to suggestions from several regular participants, we are holding a longer road race than in past years, the Michigan Fast 50 - consisting of 36 laps around the track, approximately 51 miles. This will be the one event on the second day, Sunday, June 11. The entry fee will be $25 for one day or $35 for both days, which includes MHPVA annual dues (otherwise $10).

On Saturday will be the more traditional rally events -- flying-start sprints, short road races (about 12 miles), hill climb,/coast down, the 1-kilometer time trial, and the urban transportation competition. Vehicles will be given a technical safety inspection and assigned an appropriate number and class as defined by the rules of Human Powered Race - America . For details, see the Web site, www.recumbents.com/hpra/rulesand.htm

To allow participants to save some energy for the Michigan Fast 50 on Sunday, we are substituting short Saturday road races for our usual 1-hour time trial. To add some interest, the Saturday road races will have a LeMans start, where riders must run to their vehicles and get aboard as part of the race. In the sprints, vehicles will be timed over a 200-foot section of the straightaway, after descending the hill to get an initial burst of speed.

In the hill climb, vehicles will be timed from a standing start as they climb to the top of the hill. At the top, riders stop pedaling and then coast as far as possible down the hill to the straightaway and beyond. This coast down event will be followed by a 1-kilometer standing-start time trial on a mostly flat section of the track. The results of these rally events, including the LeMans-start road races, will be combined into a composite score. A total of $350 in merchandise and possibly merchandise prizes will be awarded, with prizes awarded in each class.

Registration Saturday will start at 8 a.m. The sprints will start at 9 a.m. and run until all riders have had the chance to complete at least one attempt. The road races will be held next, with some classes in the first race and some in the second race. Following the road races, we will break for one hour for lunch, and then resume with the hill-climb/coast-down and 1-km time trial. The urban transportation competition will be held concurrent with the other afternoon events.

MICHIGAN FAST 50

By Mike Eliasohn

The idea of a "big race" with prize money comes from HPV builder and racer Thom Ollinger. Hopefully it will attract some racers -- on upright bikes or recumbents -- who might not otherwise come to our rally, as well as attract some attention to HPV racing. The MHPVA board decided to offer at least $500 in prize money. Letters seeking donations were sent to a total of 29 manufacturers of recumbents or components, distributors and dealers. As of this writing (April 27) we have received donations of $150 from Bent Up Cycles and $100 from Mueller Human-Power, both in California. Bent Up (www.bentupcycles.com) sells Velokraft and several other makes of recumbents and accessories. Mueller H-P (www.windwrap.com) makes Windwrap Fairings.

Hopefully we will get more sponsorship money. If we don't, the rest of the $500 will come from entry fees and, if need be, the MHPVA treasury. If we end up with more than $500, the "excess" will be spread over all the classes.

As mentioned in the above article, the race will be 36 laps or about 51 miles. The full course will be used -- that means 1.4 miles per lap and the "big hill." The race will end when the first competitor crosses the finish line.

Here's how the prize money will be distributed: First place overall, $100; second, $65; third, $35. There also will be four classes: Men, age 39 and under; 40-55, and 56 and older; and women. Prizes in each class will be: First, $30; second, $25; and third, $20. (We haven't yet decided how to handle tandem entries, especially male/female entries.)

Registration, inspection and practice starts at 8 a.m. Competitors must be on the track at 9 in order to have time to attach and check transponders. The race will start at 9:30 and should take about two hours.

Because of the number of transponders available, the number of participants in the Michigan Fast 50 may be limited. Priority will be given to those who notify Mike Mowett in advance of their intention to compete. (mowett@aol.com or 586-863-3902). Competitors must be able to average at least 15 mph.

If anyone wants some Michigan HPV Rally / Michigan Fast 50 fliers to distribute, let me know and how many you want. E-mail meliasohn@myvine.com or call 269-982-4058.