Monster Track 2008 Main Race CANCELLED!
 

Saturday March 1st, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The organizers of Monster Track 2008 have decided, after careful consideration, to cancel this year’s main race.

This decision did not come easy and was debated at length. Our reasons are many but the overall factor was that the race has become unmanageable due to the large participation and our concern for the participant’s safety.

As many of you know, Monster Track started as a race held for a small, close group of NYC bike messengers. It has now become an overwhelmingly all-inclusive event. This, on its face, may seem like a positive direction for a race but in the context of a solely track bike alleycat it brings many problems. First and foremost, the safety of the racers is compromised. We believe that this is not a tenable position for race organizers.

Although the main race is canceled, please join us for Gold Sprints on Friday evening, Fixed Gear Competition (track stands, skids, footdown, freestyle, sprints, etc.) on Saturday and the Velo City Tour, at Kissena Velodrome on Sunday.


Schedule of Events:

Friday March 7, 8PM
Goldsprints at Third Ward
195 Morgan Ave. Brooklyn

Saturday March 8, 1PM
Fixed Gear Comp and injured messenger fundraiser at Rocky’s
South 5th St. at Kent Ave. Brooklyn

Sunday March 9, 12PM
Velo City Track Competition at Kissena Velodrome
Booth Memorial Ave near Kissena Blvd. Queens

Not Kidding!!

wow...

Does this mean the "main race" will no longer be, or will there be a possibility of next year returning?

i must say, this race was probably the most talked about alley cat in the us. after the unfortunate incident in chicago, it's probably something that should at least be considered.

Sucks. But I can see why.
Though I think a small more safe qualifier (thus limiting the field to riders who prove themselves), then making them sign a waiver is what is gonna have to be done with larger races of this sort.

i bet if you're "in the know" there will still be a race....

prolly better this way.

The Monster Track people are doing the right thing IMO

But don't let it overshadow the aspects of the event that remain and such, go anyway because it'll be the best party in town+bikes!

Qualifying rounds is a great idea. It's sad that the race's popularity is what was it's downfall. I was really looking forward to Monster Track this year, especially with the weather looking to be way better than last year.

prolly is not probably

and no there wont be one

It's not about a waiver. I don't think that race organizers were concerned with liability, they were concerned with incompetent riders get themselves in trouble with their lack of experience and ability.

As Squid said, the field is simply too large to manage. I've seen racer organizers freak out at mass-start races of 50 riders, so just imagine 200-300.

i know, i'm usually better about that sort of thing, but i got lazy.

Wasn't there a qualifier for NACCC this year?

They should just do that.

what I find interesting though, is that alleycats have been going on for quite a while, and that one in chicago wasn't even that big if i remember right. For as high risk as it is, and as many occur, deaths and even injury seems to be actually quite low.

i'm not sure what this last stupor bowl topped out at, but it was pretty big as it always tends to be, and I'd assume the weather conditions of our races in minnesota in the winter are probably much more hazardous than most other races can come to be.

Interesting stuff to think about. It's hard for me to fathom that someone wouldn't understand that blindly running intersections and the other supposed risks that alleycats "encourage" could cause serious bodily harm.

I think it's an honorable thing to do. Big ups Squid.

NOW COME TO THE GOLDSPRINTS, SIDE EVENTS AND VELO CITY!

awww man I was looking forward to coming up for my 3rd one.

oh well, I can see with recent events why this happened....

I've never got to enter the skid comp in the past 2 years though so this year I might finally do it!

I thought that things like this might start to happen.

I support the actions of the Monster Track organizers. That race was getting big, which, for an illegal street race, isn't really a good thing.
If they feel that it needed to be curbed, good for them. It would be nice to see it back at some point though.

As for the comment about "being in the know", maybe this is how the more radical races should be organized. Thats how it all started. It keeps things smaller, and ensures that the riders know that most of the people there really can ride. The scene has changed radically in the last few years, but the way we organize really hasn't changed that much.

Though, I am worried that this will start a movement within the scene where open street alleycats will be seen as irresponsible and stigmatize those that organize them.

Honestly, good move IMO.
My respect for you guys in NY seems to constantly grow.

wow, definitely didn't see that coming.

bitter-sweet.

a lot of good for everybody as a whole, and i'd assume a tiny bummer from everyone who wanted to race.

it's just a bad string of events leading up to this, and hence, a bad time to host such an event.

if there's no race, who's up for a huge group ride?

That's a smart move. The organizers of these giant, highly publicized races are putting themselves at some legal and ethical risk. Not to mention the risk to the inexperienced kids who show up in greater numbers every year, plus peds, drivers and other potential collateral damage.

I think the future of Monster Track will have a preliminary race first, to decide who gets to race in the big times. I mean, it really doesn't make sense to not have one. The people who can't kick it like the real dedicated riders shouldn't be racing in this kind of race.

good decision.

I would just like to add, on the record, that if I ever die while riding in an alleycat, it was my own damn fault.

Smaller public alley cats seem to be the way to go.