From my vantage point (admittedly a spectator) the difference between the B race and the C race is that when those three guys got off the front they worked a paceline together beautifully and effectively. That's not what happened in the C race. Someone (myself included) would bridge up to the break and then just sit on until the guy in front gave up.
I'm looking forward to the ACE races so I can trying a bunch of different tactics. For Saturday, I think I'll try one of two things: (1) sit in near the back until the last 6 or 7 laps and then go balls out for 5 minutes or (2) wait until the initial flurry of power subsides and then try to make a break with a couple of guys who want to work together for 10 minutes or so and try to lap the field.
I don't care about upgrade points so there's really nothing to lose.
--Steve