The ACA vs USAC - the smackdown that does not really exist?

So after alot of discussions, meetings and asking for everyones opinion, the ACA decieded to not rejoin "the evil empire" down the road.  The funny thing about this, when you look at the numbers and we all know that "the numbers never lie", it was split 50/50 on what we should do.  Flip a coin, it might land on its side too.

I will be upfront about this now...I have become fairly good friends with Chris McGee, who is the ACA Executive Director.  With running the nuetral support program over the years, we have had plenty of time to speak about the state of cycling around town, in the bubble and where the best price is for new pair of Jimmy Choo's are while we watch the women race around at conversation pace.

Before the meeting with "the evil empire", Chris told me that if we dont rejoin, they could make life very "difficult" for the ACA.  It now appears that might be happening.

If you go over to 303Cycling, Kris is doing an amazing job of breaking stories and starting discussions about how this might affect you, the poor slob working 40 hours a week, taking care of your kids, spending way to much money on entry fees for races and then getting the "high hard one" given to you at the end of the day.  But what has everybody up in arms this week is the idea that USAC would put on a race on the same day that ACA already has one scheduled.

This should not come as a suprise to anyone.  USAC is in the business to put ACA out of business.  But there is an underlying story that has not been talked about.

When we hop into the Way Back Machine, there was a fall promotors meeting in early October.  The first person to respond about the meeting was Andy Bohlmann.  I have never met Andy, just talked with him on the phone about doing support for the AFA road race last August.  Seems like a nice enough guy and he did a great job with the race.

He responded back to all the promotors with the following quote about ACA and why he would not be promoting any races next year.

     "While I do have several event sponsorship options, I do not have a good venue.  Also, as ACA riders simple will not travel down here to Colorado Springs for anything less than a State Championship or sometimes a major race, race promotion here is too much of a risk financially."

Now this is a very fair quote.  We have all seen the numbers because "the numbers never lie".  If your cross race or any race for that matter, does not have a BAR/BAT - Cross Cup designation, you are screwed BIG TIME!  When the Buena Vista CX race only gets 89 and Frisco Day 2 only gets 146 after getting 439 on Day 1, you can understand why Andy is not interested in promoting. 

But wait...now there is a cross race on Nov 6th, down in Colorado Springs and guess who is promoting it?  DING DING DING...you win a cupie doll.  That's right, Andy has made a deal with USAC to promote, what appears to be, the only USAC race in the state for cross and your only opportunity to score some coveted USAC starter points for call ups if you deciede to go to the frozen tundra of Madison WI in January. 

Now you have to ask yourself, why the hell would he do this?  He has already stated that nobody within the ACA travels to races unless they are states or a major race.  I dont see his race as being major.  Dude's race is 35 bucks to enter, 10 bucks for a one day license since most dont have a USAC piece of paper.  But if you need a one day license, you can only race Cat4.  USAC has decieded that the reciprocity agreement that we have worked under, is no longer in their interest either.  This is how they are making life difficult for the ACA.

Now we all know that you can elect to stay at home, go race the Primalpalloza or drive your happy ass down to COS for somebody that does not regard the ACA with much love.  This is the time to put up or shut up about USAC.  Look, they dont give a rats ass about you why would you drive to support them at this point?  Personally, I am saving my money that weekend regardless of where the race is.