Diversity on and along the race track

The A Race in the Park & Cycle Vision Event in Meppen

Diversity on and along the race track

by Dieter Hannemann, Uli Bentlage and Jan Kranczoch in Infobul, the periodical of the

HPV Club, Germany, translation J. Kranczoch, photos Anke Wiechmann

www.hpv.org - www.futurebike.ch humanpoweredvehicles.org future bike ch tandemclub ch

•A race in the park •Termine/wer macht was?

Meppen

From June 29th to 30th 2019, the integrative race days called “A race in the park” took place for the second time. „ anks to the dedication of the promoters, namely the Bentlage brothers, their families and an allied team of recumbent enthusiasts from the Emsland region, this marvelous venue could be booked anew after the premiere in 2017.

However, this year it still conveyed a new spirit, as for the ‡ rst time the event was conducted in combination with the Cycle Vision HPV convention.  e privately owned track, basically designed and used as a race circuit for cars, provides excellent road surface conditions on a winding and challenging course yet featuring some “full-throttle” sections and always enough options to overtake in a safe manner. Its long-drawn bends, a straight top speed lane, a downward sloping chicane, narrow curves to be mastered with staggering tilt angles (regrettably only on single track vehicles…) and a short but grueling climb constitute a perfect race ambience. Pedaling your rounds, you can hardly avoid gazing at the impressive cooling tower silhouette of the abandoned gas-‡ red power plant, casting its shadow on the terrain.

Compared to 2017, the number of participants remarkably increased to 160.  is was predominantly caused by a rising rate of starters from the Netherlands and Belgium, pointing to the fact that the Meppen race track is located right at the heart of the HPV-philic Western Europe lowlands.  e race agenda in total o– ered twelve heats for various types of HP-vehicles such as recumbents, velomobiles, uprights, race scooters, handbikes and handicap cycles. Hence, riders of all kinds, di– erent ambitions and performance abilities were invited to line up for a contest or joint ride of their choice.  ose who wanted to race for merits,

Line-up for the race ‘10 rounds counterclockwise.’

could collect assessment points for the multinational BeND competition series.

To outline the integrative character of this meeting by examples, me (Jan) and my son (aged 9, with Down‘s syndrome) enjoyed the applause during our ride with a special tandem bicycle on Sunday afternoon, whilst my wife was entertained to form

a team with an 80-year-old lady by use of two coupled Hase Kettwiesel trikes – and all proudly ‡ nished the full distance despite strenuously high temperatures. Some hours earlier, dad (as individual rider) had a tough 1-hour-race with his unfaired carbon recumbent.

A race in the park

Besides all activities on the track, the Meppen race days are a great gathering of the HPV community. To support this valuable side-e–ect, they are intentionally scheduled as a two-day meeting creating a vacation atmosphere among a big family. Since the traditional HPV race days in or around the little German village Rütenbrock), made popular by the legendary hospitality of the Bentlage family, this feeling existed and now is carried on to an even more versatile adjacent location. e Meutstege holiday farm, recommended as accommodation in 2019 and sited some miles distant from the sports facility, provided a large camping area, some holiday homes and rooms, a spacious barn for collective meals, a barbeque service, good local beers and whatever else required for a pleasant stay. Unsurprisingly, most participants and entourage decided to arrive on Friday, spending some extra hours together, preparing their vehicles and celebrating until early morning.

Between the races, riders and visitors could relax at several snack booths, explore the small exhibitions of muscle-powered fun carts, used vehicles, vintage parts and a scooter manufacturer or attend one of the presentations given on recent HPV activities, record attempts and health topics. Additionally, a velomobile repair workshop and guided cycle tours across the surroundings were o–ered.

In summary, it is highly desirable that this special format and growing event will be continued in a biennial mode. ere is a ‡rst sketch to perhaps

Assembling for ”everybody´s race.”

realize a revival in 2021, but we all know how much work and fortune is necessary to make it happen. Grateful for the past experiences and with best wishes to the organizers, we are looking out at https://a-race-in-the-park.de for according news and hopefully will meet again... <