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https://rbentonline.org/YaBB.pl?num=1245762941

Message started by FlyingLaZBoy on Jun 23^rd, 2009, 8:15am

Title: Other RAAM notes
Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Jun 23^rd, 2009, 8:15am

Things of interest from the other RAAM race blogs...

A fire that destroyed Team Type 1's rider transport van threatened to burn up the team's lead Sunday morning in the Arizona desert at the Race Across America (RAAM).

But quick action by the crew kept the eight-rider team going and Team Type 1 led by more than an hour by early Sunday afternoon at Time Station No. 7 in Cottonwood, Ariz.

The fire started beneath the mini-van that hauls the riders and pulls the trailer carrying their Orbea bicycles. It happened when the van's hot catalytic converter was in contact with tall grass on the side of the road when the vehicle was pulled off to make an exchange.

No one was hurt and the fire was put out before it spread. But the van was permanently damaged and a large area of the pavement was scorched.

Team Type 1 General Manager Tom Schuler, who is serving as a crew member for the team during RAAM, said it was amazing how fast the riders and staff responded to the situation.

"They had to put out the fire, disconnect the trailer hitch, reconnect the trailer to another vehicle, move the bikes around and get a new vehicle," Schuler said. "We were really fortunate that we were able to disconnect that trailer from the frame of the burned-out vehicle and move it onto a different van."

As a temporary stop-gap, Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 RAAM manager Dave Eldridge put his utility van into action as the rider vehicle until he was able to secure a new rental.

Title: Re: Other RAAM notes
Post by evblazer on Jun 23^rd, 2009, 9:51am

Were there any pics? It is great that everyone and everything was unharmed, minus the van, but I'm wondering how all those plastic bikes just didn't melt [smiley=whistling.gif]