Well I thought Pete "The Machine" McDonald was in big trouble, he being the only Caravello rider in the middle of a the Blue Train.  Pete kept the pace high and they started falling one by one.  First to go was Nathan "Rollo" Rollason seen left just going off the back

Here's Rollo with C grade looming up in the background. 

Pete with head down and into it over the pimple really stretches the boys to stay in contact.  The speed these boys went over the pimple was incredible. Wasn't long before chinks started showing in Chris "Spongee" Jenkin's armour as he started to get tailed off the back.  Then it was down to 3.

A well timed move by Nathan Page and he gets a break on Pete "The Machine" and team mate Josh Marden.

Pagey went into time trial mode and got about a 400 metre lead on the two behind.  Pagey had to hold this lead on his own for about 6 laps.  Team mate Josh had not been helping Pete early on however I guess as the race neared the end Josh thought that he might as well do a few turns as no way Pete is ever getting across that break. I think Josh learned a lesson in that you can't afford to let The machine have a breather.  Reminds me of a line from one of the Rocky movies, "Don't let the bastard breath"

About 2 laps to go and Pete The Machine turns on the horsepower, drops Josh and sets out after Pagey.  It's still an impossible gap to get across, isn't it................?

HOW?????????   How do you close down about 200 metres in one lap and go past Pagey by about 3 bike lengths to win?  I guess that's why we call him "The Machine"

Meanwhile back in B grade, Todd Spokes takes the bunch over "The Pimple"

Next lap, Mick "Big Bird" Murdoch saw me taking photos and coincidentally came over the pimple right at that point looking very stylish.

The B grade sprint and Stuart Ratcliff of North Sydney is a little too strong in the sprint.  Andy Matthews, a man after my own heart, who sat at the back of the bunch for the entire race cruises in with a big smile across his face for second place.  A little further back Karl "The Body" Bellamy hangs on for third.  A little less Pecs and biceps work and a bit more legs needed Karl.

Rodney Mendez from Easts was looking very relaxed at the front of C grade.  Good to see Brittany Orr (in red about 6th wheel) back racing at Heffron. Rodney will have to be on the drops next week when he moves up to B grade.

This picture supplied by Rocky "Rockstar" Fortuna shows Matthew McGoon of Dulwich Hill winning the C grade sprint with Rodney Mendez and RBCC's Patrick O'Shea just behind. 

D grade had an average speed of 36.7kph according to time distance calculations.  After the race several D graders showed me their speedometres which indicated speeds in the late 37kph average. 

The speed of D grade ideally should be about 34 to 35kph.  Why was it C grade pace?  Well quite frankly because there are people in there who should be riding C grade.  Coincidentally when I looked at just about every picture I took of D grade there was a little fit looking rider on the front driving it.  Here he is left on the front in all three D grade photos.  He didn't place and the ladies at the registration desk couldn't identify him for me.

Who is this rider??  We think he might be from Dulwich Hill.  The point is that there are several riders in D grade who could easily ride C Grade especially when the speed is the same.  Let's do the right thing people and leave D grade to the real D graders who spend $10 same as everyone else in the hope that they will actually get more than 2 laps of racing before they get spat out the back. Big Bazza has made the move to C.  Good on you Bazza.

Talking about Bazza.  Here he is demonstrating to the E graders the proper way of limbering up before undergoing the rigors of racing.

Here's E grade action as they drive over "The Pimple"

The E graders flying around the tight left hander into the netball courts.  New member, Tracey Ramsey seen third wheel enjoying her first race at Heffron Park.  Hope you had a good time Tracey.