NORTH MANCHESTER - The fifth annual Northern Indiana Human-Powered Race America race weekend will be in North Manchester Saturday and Sunday.
Races on both days will be held on the .35-mile two-lane paved drive around Manchester High School.In addition to the traditional HPRA vehicle classes - stock, superstock, superstreet, streamliner, junior (15 and younger), women and multirider - there will be an official trike class this year, with some races of shorter length but including more cornering, which makes it more fun for both racers and spectators. Entrants will include very fast racers, not-so-fast recreational riders and folks in between. All are welcome.
There will be three separate events on Saturday: a one-lap individual time trial, a 30-minute non-drafting time trial and a road race (20 miles for superstock, superstreet, and streamliner classes, 15 miles for stock, junior, women, and multirider classes, and approximately 5 miles for trike riders).
Sunday's event will be a another road race, with the same distances as Saturday. Racing will be done by noon on Sunday, with awards at 12:30 p.m. Racers will earn points based on finishing order at each event. Prize money will be given for first-, second- and third-place winners for the weekend within each class (depending on registration).
Most riders will be on recumbent bikes, but bikes (human-powered) of any design are welcome.
At least three velomobiles will be brought to the event. A velomobile is a three-wheeled recumbent trike with a body shell or fairing for weather protection and additional speed. Most velomobiles are imported from Europe and cost $4,000 or more. For more info on velomobiles, see www.velomobiles.net
Bikes in the event must have two or more separate brakes, riders must wear approved helmets, and riders must have one or more mirrors demonstrating rear vision to both sides. All bikes must undergo technical inspection before being allowed to race. Complete HPRA rules are available at www.recumbents.com/home.asp?URL=wisil/main.asp
Entry fee is $10 per day, or $15 for both days.
For more information see www.recumbents.com/home.asp?URL=wisil/main.asp or contact Race Director Jeff Hunn at jeff.hunn@verizon.net or call 260-982-8031 evenings.
