Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 34,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 13 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Thanks again to our speedy and awesome officials for getting results ready so quickly!

As with most unscripted MC-ing jobs, I’m not sure everyone who needed to be mentioned at the awards ceremony was properly credited. So I’m going to write it all down for you to read.

First, NEOCX would like to once again thank Raleigh Bicycles and our regional sales rep, Sean Burkey, for their financial support and for advancing the sport of cyclocross. My words yesterday may not have done justice to the amazing offering and diversity of bicycles available from Raleigh in 2012. Entry level to expert – aluminum, sweet steel and carbon – Raleigh has road, mountain, commuter, family and (most importantly!) cyclocross bikes in their catalog to fit every budget. Check them out online and visit one of the fine local Northeast Ohio dealers to test ride a Raleigh and discover for yourself why all the critics are raving about the new Raleigh product line.

Thanks to our other cash sponsor – WAS Labs – for their continued support of NEOCX. Not only did they field a very competitive new team in 2011, they have continued their support of cycling in many ways. We look forward to WAS Labs’ participation in 2012 with the addition of another race!

Fast Track Cycling also needs to be thanked for arranging for the use of the Sokol Center, their promotion of the two Chagrin River CX races, the track bike raffle (in conjunction with Spin bike shop) and their great effort at bringing velodrome racing to Northeast Ohio. As a former trackie, I’m looking forward to the arrival of our own ‘drome!

A last minute surprise in the awards was the addition of cash money from Team Lake Effect for the “oh so close” awards given to the most consistent racers who raced all (or almost all) the NEOCX Series races but finished just outside the money. I know the six racers who received these awards were appreciative of this extremely sporting award!

Not to be forgotten are the teams, clubs and shops who offered the races that made up the 2011 NEOCX series. In addition to the already mentioned Fast Track Cycling and Team Lake Effect who both promoted two races, SnakeBite Racing and Team Spin also offered two races.

These promoters along with Stark Velo, Orrville Cycling / SoupCan Racing, Blue Sky Bicycles and Chagrin River Cycling (CRC) deserve our thanks for bringing out a committed group of volunteers and team members to arrange venues, permit, set up, tear down and run the races that make up the series.

I’d also like to give special thanks to our officials during the 2011 season. Without them our events wouldn’t be “legitimate” in the eyes of USAC. So thanks Lynn, Ron, Matt and Linda for keeping us honest…

A personal and communal note of appreciation goes to my predecessors in organizing a Northeast Ohio CX Series – Rudy Sroka and Julie Lewis-Sroka nurtured the spirit of cyclocross in our area for over a decade before I came along in 2010 to pick up where they left off. They continue to be valued colleagues in keeping things on track and inspiring new ideas.

Finally, NEOCX is ultimately possible because so many of you love cyclocross racing! Without the 413 unique racers with a total of 1,387 event registrations (almost 3.4 per rider) who participated in the 2011 NEOCX Series, none of what happened over the last 12 weeks would have been possible.

[Just a note of comparison, in 2010 we had 365 unique racers for 1,203 event registrations, which is 3.3 events per rider. This represents a 12% increase in unique racers and a 15% increase in registrations.]

So a special thanks to the racers and their family and friends that make riding or watching NEOCX races such a great atmosphere and the most competitive region of Ohio in which to race cyclocross!

See you all in 2012!
Gregg Brekke

Thanks to Team Lake Effect, a special prize category has been added for the most consistent racers who end up out of the money… To qualify you must 1) Be near the money, but not in the money of your category 2) Have raced most NEOCX Series races 3) Race at Kirtland CX and 4) Come to the awards ceremony at the Sokol Center at Bohemian National Center.

Gormet food truck(s) will be be at Kirtland for gnoshing and we’re sure to have some great weather and a hot course.

Over $4500 in cash prizes along with top-3 trophies in every category will be presented at the Sokol center so don’t miss out on this epic event of the 2011 NEOCX Series calendar!

There are a lot of close races, and even more people who are just one race away from series qualification.

Come out this weekend to Kirtland Park and race your guts out! It is always a challenging course with lots of variety. Remember to head down to the Sokol center for series awards following the race.

Here are the Series payouts  – Trophies to the top three in each category:
SEVEN deep for the A Men ($1625!)
FIVE deep for the A Women ($700)
THREE deep for B categories – including Singlespeed ($325/cat)
THREE deep for C categories – including Juniors ($225/cat)
(No cash payout for C Women, just trophies…)

Team Lake Effect is also planning special prizes for the most consistent racers who are out of the money. SixView Studios will make awards to the top three Junior racers from the proceeds of series image sales.

Special thanks to Raleigh USA as the NEOCX 2011 Series Title Sponsor, WAS Labs and Fast Track Cycling for our cash and awards.

And a huge thanks for the cooperation and enthusiasm of NEOCX teams, clubs and shops who put on the series races. Each race is held independently by these groups with an eye to the overall Series. This year had some really excellent courses and a few epic days.

NEOCX racers are the best CX racers in Ohio!

Come on out this Sunday, November 20, and race the final event of the NEOCX 2011 calendar.

Awards and festivities to follow the Elite Men’s A race. Details in a future message!

Immediately following the last race at Kirtland Park, an awards ceremony and social will kick off at around 4pm.

The awards ceremony and social will be held at Sokol Greater Cleveland at Bohemian National Hall located at Broadway Avenue and I-77 in Cleveland, Ohio.

The building is on the National Registry of Historic Buildings and is located directly adjacent to the site where Fast Track Cycling, Inc. plans to locate its outdoor 166 meter velodrome track in June 2012.  It is about 4 miles from Kirtland Park and has plenty of secured parking.  The address is 4939 Broadway Avenue, Cleveland OH 44127.

Fast Track Cycling, Inc. is picking up the cost for the room which features a bar and accommodates up to 150 people.   Sokol Greater Cleveland is picking up the cost for the beer and light snacks (chips, pretzels and such).  Please feel free to bring your family, kids, friends, etc.

Fast Track also will be pulling the winning ticket for the 2012 Specialized Langster complements of Spin Bike Shop!  See you Sunday.

Thanks Mike!

Just two more races left in the Series on amazing courses – Willoughby’s Todd Park and Kirtland Park. Both races are annual favorites and are great tests of the best cyclocross racers in Northeast Ohio!

Please note – due to results reporting in the B1 Masters (35/45+) races that did not include racing age, these two categories have not been updated. Results in these categories ARE INCORRECT, but age information will be added Monday, Nov. 7, and an update will be issued.