Steve Lohr, Tim Harman, Chris and Karyn Neenan camped the Friday night so they could get a good camp site before the 24 hours of racing started, as it turned out they got one of the best spots, right near the transition
Chris studing the mapThis year the Kona 24 hour race was in a new location and was ran slightly different to other events. The idea was as a team (or solo for the crazy people) to complete as many laps as possible. Only one rider from each team is out on the track at a time. They then come through transition where they tag the next rider before the next rider heads out for their lap. At 6pm riders switched to a night course and then switched to another day course at 6am, before finishing up at midday. Each course was different adding some great variety.
This year the team was competing as a mixed team of six. The team was made up of Tim Harman, Phil Watts, Bill Woolmore, Chris Neenan and Josh Fleming and Jacqui Low from Bendigo Cycles.
This year the team was competing as a mixed team of six. The team was made up of Tim Harman, Phil Watts, Bill Woolmore, Chris Neenan and Josh Fleming and Jacqui Low from Bendigo Cycles.
Chris Neenan got the short straw for the start. At midday on Saturday the 1st of December Chris Lined up with another 167 race starters. There was a dash for cash with the course for the dash for cash around the campsite. Chris got a bad start, getting stuck behind a crash.
Phil Watts was up next. Not knowing how long the laps take everyone was nervous, especially Phil as he warmed up. After an hour and twenty-five minutes Chris came through transition. He had made up plenty of places but the team was way behind the leaders
Steve Lohr helped Phil get ready. Steve played a big role over the weekend making sure everyone was fed and bikes were prepared for another lap. Steve was the timekeeper over the weekend, making sure everyone was on time and ready for another lap.
Phil went out and did an impressive ride of 1 hour and 12 minutes. The competition within the team was starting to hot up and once again the race would turn out to be a competition between the Kodak boys. Who would have the fastest lap…
Tim tagged Phil before heading out for his lap. Tim returned after one hour and fifteen minutes so for now Phil had the fastest lap. 
And then Josh went out and did a flying lap of 58 minutes. Once again team members were putting the pressure on themselves to turn out quick lap times, trying to better each other.
Bill warmed up as he was out next. It was obvious that Bill was not going to beat Josh’s lap times but that is the beauty of a 24 hour team race. It doesn’t really matter. The main point is to go and have fun. I think the main competition comes from within. The friendly competition within the team just helps everyone to push themselves harder. I think after Josh’s first lap he was out of the competition for the quickest lap times, it was decided to be between “just” the Kodak boys, Josh was too quick.
Whilst Bill was out on his lap the team made the most of the fading light. Chris decided to do some bike maintenance, whilst Phil chilled out and Josh ate.
Jacqui had good reason to look calm before her lap, the team was starting to claw their way up the placings.
The pressure within the team was fierce often pushing the riders beyond their limits. Bill wasn’t the only one to have crashed and he wasn’t the last…
Jacqui was having so much fun she decided to do two laps in a row. Josh helped feed Jacqui before she went out for another lap. Chris made the most of the time to check his lights as the next lap for Chris would at least end in the dark.
Chris headed out for his lap as the rest of the team checked out Jacqui’s battle scares. Jacqui had a big crash and did a far bit of damage to herself but not before doing two laps of under one hour. As it turned out non of the Kodak boys could beat that time
Throughout the night the temperature dropped to a chilly 7 degrees as the riders kept pushing out the laps. If you weren’t riding you were sleeping. Only Steve stayed awake for a lot of the night to help the team out.
As the sun rose to warm us all in our respective tents it was time to get up. Josh was the first of the team out on new Sunday track whilst the rest of the team ate breakfast. Based on Josh’s lap times verses the rest of the teams it was going to be a close call as to whether Tim was going to have to head out for another lap. As the sun got higher it was becoming clear that it was going to be a very nice day. Tim’s mention of an early shower and beer inspired the Kodak boys to ride hard. Tim did a desperate run to check out the timing sheets to see if he could get away without doing the last lap. The team was in good position but in theory it was possible for the team a place down to come past them so very reluctantly Tim stayed dirty and didn’t drink the very very cold icy beer
And as it turned out it was 33 degrees at roughly 11.30am when Tim tagged Phil before heading out to do the last lap for the team.
After 24 hours racing the team placed a very impressive 3rd in the mixed six catorgory, two laps in front of 4th so as it turns out Tim didn’t need to do that last lap. The Kodak team is very grateful to have had Josh and Jacqui (from Bendigo Cycles) on the team for the weekend.
The pressure within the team was fierce often pushing the riders beyond their limits. Bill wasn’t the only one to have crashed and he wasn’t the last…
Jacqui was having so much fun she decided to do two laps in a row. Josh helped feed Jacqui before she went out for another lap. Chris made the most of the time to check his lights as the next lap for Chris would at least end in the dark.
Chris headed out for his lap as the rest of the team checked out Jacqui’s battle scares. Jacqui had a big crash and did a far bit of damage to herself but not before doing two laps of under one hour. As it turned out non of the Kodak boys could beat that time
Throughout the night the temperature dropped to a chilly 7 degrees as the riders kept pushing out the laps. If you weren’t riding you were sleeping. Only Steve stayed awake for a lot of the night to help the team out.
As the sun rose to warm us all in our respective tents it was time to get up. Josh was the first of the team out on new Sunday track whilst the rest of the team ate breakfast. Based on Josh’s lap times verses the rest of the teams it was going to be a close call as to whether Tim was going to have to head out for another lap. As the sun got higher it was becoming clear that it was going to be a very nice day. Tim’s mention of an early shower and beer inspired the Kodak boys to ride hard. Tim did a desperate run to check out the timing sheets to see if he could get away without doing the last lap. The team was in good position but in theory it was possible for the team a place down to come past them so very reluctantly Tim stayed dirty and didn’t drink the very very cold icy beer
And as it turned out it was 33 degrees at roughly 11.30am when Tim tagged Phil before heading out to do the last lap for the team.
After 24 hours racing the team placed a very impressive 3rd in the mixed six catorgory, two laps in front of 4th so as it turns out Tim didn’t need to do that last lap. The Kodak team is very grateful to have had Josh and Jacqui (from Bendigo Cycles) on the team for the weekend.
All photos taken by Steve Lohr and Tim Harman
