Racin'

[xenith]

"Do you know why you shouldn't walk in front of a penny farthing?" I guess most kids will go their whole lives without being asked that, but sometimes you need to ask it.


The main event of the programme is the National Penny Farthing Championships, which attracts entries from all over the world. There are other events, the regular races like the sprint, Ladies, Juniors and Veterans Championships, novice and consolation, and novelty races such as the slow race (the last one over the line wins --
it was won one year by a rider who managed to keep his bike on one spot until the others had finished, much to the amusement of the crowd, now there's a rule that there must be forward motion) and the slalom (weaving around witches hats). No photos of the novelty events this years, but I'll note the sprint, which is held down the straight, is a good opportunity for photos of the bikes neatly spaced against the background of Russell Street (the main street).


There were a number of heats, each with six competitors, with the winners going into the final.




The final.




The championship also has heats. The race is a number of laps, starting under the banner in Russell St, then making a quick left to come down here


and around the corner into Rodgers Lane, then around the end of the Memorial Park and back onto Russell St, to finish under the banner.


Now if we run really fast...


we can see them taking the corner. Just in case you had any lingering thoughts that penny farthing racing was a quiet, genteel form of recreation.






The final of the Ladies' Championship. The ride the same route, but with less laps. It's interesting how relaxed the two lead riders look, sitting up rather than leaning forward.




The last lap -- and now they're leaning forward.


This, and the next photo, are the closest I have to finishing the race shots.


Just a few bike lengths from the finish line, and then it's all over.

Comments

[punktortoise.livejournal.com]

It's weird to see the riders in modern kit, with the helmets and lycra. (Understandable, but weird.) A case could be made for expecting to see them in bowler hats and tweed suits ...

And those cornering shots - they look as though they're doing a serious clip at that point.

[monissaw.livejournal.com]

(I'm trying to remember what they used to wear when the event was young, it's changed over the 21 years it's been running. I suspect it was more "traditional" though. )

I'm fairly sure it says on the entry form they're not supposed to wear lycra and other obviously modern gear. The helmets are required by law.

The bike riders in the grand parade are more traditionally dressed (I'll put those photos up later)