Hotrod legend Bill Burke dies at 97; was masters pioneer in 1970s

Bill in his race-car days.

Bill in his race-car days.

I never knew William R. ā€œBillā€ Burke, once known as ā€œMr. Hotrod.ā€ But after he died Nov. 25 from a massive stroke, I began to learn his story. His obituary told of him being a speed racer of automobiles in the 1930s before joining the masters track circuit in the late 1970s. He’s often noted in mastershistory.org records, including early issues of National Masters News. His obit says: ā€œAn unquestioned pioneer of the early California hot rod car culture that gave rise to racing on the California dry lakes and the streets of Los Angeles in the 1930s, Burke was best known for creating the first belly tank race car, which led to a class of racers known as ā€œlakesters.ā€ He is also credited with building the 3rd covered-wheel streamliner, the first to employ a fiberglass body powered by a motorcycle engine. Road racing meccas like Torrey Pines and Laguna Seca saw Bill race his hand-built fiberglass-bodied sportscars, giving the 1.9-liter Ferraris something to worry about.ā€

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December 14, 2015  No Comments

Athletics New Zealand reports Bruce Clarke death in shot accident

The news we were hoping not to report has come to pass: ā€œA Hamilton man has died after a shot put struck him on the head during an athletics meeting at Mt Smart Stadium,ā€ local media reported Monday. Bruce Clarke, 77, was competing at the North Island masters track and field championships late last month when the accident occurred during the warm-up for the 75-79 years shot put. He died 10 days later. Clarke won gold at the New Zealand Masters Games in Wanganui in February in the 75-79 discus, hammer and javelin throws, and silver in the shot put. Athletics NZ chief executive Linda Hamersley said the thoughts of the governing body, and the entire athletics community, were with Clarke’s family and friends. New Zealand Masters Athletics and Athletics Auckland are investigating the accident.ā€

Bruce, second from left, is shown in 2012 with members of the Lodge Frankton Athletic and Harrier Club.  Photo by Shane Morton

Bruce (second from left) is shown in 2012 with members of the Lodge Frankton Athletic and Harrier Club. Photo by Shane Morton

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December 13, 2015  One Comment

How Dr. Tissenbaum healed thyself, returned to top of sprint world

Allan wins M50 100 at 2010 Sacramento nationals.

When M55 Allan Tissenbaum won the 100 in Lyon (and later golds in both relays), it was the climax of an incredible comeback from injury at 2013 Olathe nationals, where he tore a hammie about 40 meters into the 100 final. Ironically, he has written advice columns about such injuries. That’s because he’s an orthopedic surgeon based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Recently, I queried him about his return from the hobbled. He graciously replied with detail and honesty. He began by saying he basically had not competed since Olathe, where he also separated a shoulder. ā€œThe shoulder injury necessitated surgery in December 2013. I was back to training, but had a lot of lower back pain. InĀ February 2015, I was bending over to do a crouch start and felt my back explode.ā€

Superstar sprinters and friends Charles Allie and Bill Collins saw a grimacing Allan Tissenbaum off the track at Olathe nationals in 2013.

Superstar sprinters and friends Charles Allie and Bill Collins accompanied a grimacing Allan Tissenbaum off the track at Olathe nationals in 2013.

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December 12, 2015  13 Comments

Go, Vera, go! But your W80 beer mile WR could fall anytime soon

Beer milers are getting older. The record may be held by Elvira ā€œVeraā€ Montes of Texas. The headline on her feat caught my eye: ā€œTexas grandmother, 81, smashes beer mile, says she could have ā€˜run a lot faster’ drinking scotch.ā€ One local report says Elvira of El Paso beat her 47-year-old daughter Renee Reynolds’ time in the 2015 FloTrack Beer Mile World Championships in Austin on Dec. 1. Montes finished at 20 minutes and 24.62 seconds, a newspaper reported. Reynolds came in just behind at 21 minutes and 15.67 seconds. Montes’ son-in-law didn’t finish. ā€œI’m not a big beer drinker,ā€ Montes told the El Paso Times. ā€œI like beer when the weather is real hot and there’s nothing else to drink. I’m really a scotch drinker, Chivas if it’s available. If it was scotch we were drinking instead of beer, I would have run a lot faster. … I don’t have any secrets, I just wanted to prove to my daughter that I could run and drink beer.ā€ I gotta think we have lots of lady milers who can crank out a sub-20 after four suds.

81-Year-Old Elvira Montez completes beer mile

81-Year-Old Elvira Montez completes beer mile #FloBeerMile –> http://bit.ly/21ylTpM

Posted by FloTrack Beer Mile World Championships on Thursday, December 3, 2015

December 11, 2015  No Comments

American W35 relay team awarded Lyon bronze after Brits are DQ’d

Letter to Kim from WMA secretary.

Letter to Kim from WMA secretary.

In a Facebook post Wednesday, American sprinter Kim Touya shared a letter from WMA Secretary Winston Thomas informing her (and her W35 teammates) that his compatriot women were disqualified from their Lyon bronze. ā€œThe British 4Ɨ100 relay team … was DQd because they ran someone who was not on their roster as one of the four legs OR as an alternate,ā€ Kim writes. ā€œIt went unnoticed during the competition because the athlete that ran wore the bibs of the athlete that was supposed to run. This impersonation was later discovered, but not until after the meet ended. The information and other evidence was handed over to the authorities, and after about a month, the team was officially disqualified in September. We waited a long time to find out that we did in fact earn a medal and that the results would be officially changed. We are thankful that those that represent USA Masters Track took the matter seriously and worked to see that we got what we earned…. Wearing my medal proudly today!ā€ My sources indicate the ā€œimpersonatorā€ was Nina Anderson, who when asked for her medal back told the British vets association that she had given it away. Yeah, right.

Pre-DQ results of relay show the Brits just ahead of the Americans.

Pre-DQ results of relay show the Brits just ahead of the Americans. Congrats to LaTisha, Rachel and Danelle as well. I know how you feel.

December 10, 2015  3 Comments

Masters events set for IAAF indoor worlds: 800s in M60+ and W55+

WMA has announced details of the masters exhibition events at the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon. (See the application form.) This is great news for the older age groups: ā€œThe events are the 800m for men 60 and over, and the 800m for women 55 and over. Invitations will be extended to the top six athletes who have met the qualifying standard. The standard for men is 2:20.00 and women 2:46.00. The qualifying performance must have occurred between 01/01/2015 and 15/01/2016 and can be either indoors or outdoors. Your age is as of 19/03/2016. WMA will assist in the cost of accommodations and provide a small per diem.ā€ But for foreign athletes, this may be a major wrinkle: ā€œAthletes should be prepared to meet their own travel costs. The arrangements for accommodations, travel, accreditation and associated matters will be made available as they become finalized. The deadline for the submission of your application is 23 January 2016.ā€ Mastersrankings.com lists the top M60s here. (None of the top M65s are under the standard outdoors.) Here are the top W55s. A handful of W60s have met the standard. I’m hoping USATF can help Americans with travel expenses, especially the likes of Nolan Shaheed, Horace Grant and Lesley Chaplin.

December 10, 2015  3 Comments

Bragging rights to whoever is first to identify this handsome gent

Dave Albo shot the USATF Mid-America Masters regionals in late August, and one of his best images showed a shot-putter at moment of chalky release, wearing a T-shirt that read ā€œI Throw — Therefore I am.ā€ It’s a beaut, and it graces the cover of the current issue of National Masters News. Unfortunately, the publishers couldn’t track down the name of the thrower. Anyone know this handsome fellow? The meet was in Fort Collins, Colorado. He looks to be in his 50s. (But could be older.)

First person to identify this thrower gets an all-expenses-paid trip to Perth worlds 2016. (But not from me.)

Winner who names thrower gets an all-expenses-paid trip to Perth worlds 2016.

December 9, 2015  11 Comments

Small pot of money will subsidize USATF masters entered in Perth

Great news out of the Houston annual meeting: ā€œA relatively small amount of money has been set aside to support potential [masters] medal winners who would not otherwise be able to afford to go to Perth,ā€ writes throws coordinator Jerry Bookin-Weiner. ā€œThere will be an application and selection process with final decisions made by the MTF chair, the team manager and [possibly] affirmed by the MTF officers. The money is to be equally split between males and females with a total of $5,000 available.ā€ That’s been a goal for decades — moving us closer to the respect our elites deserve. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out at 2016 worlds. But it’s a start. Stay tuned as details are shared on how to apply. USATF national masters Treasurer Carroll DeWeese also provided a budget document, which shows Marketing going from $8,000 to $10,000 and Media from $12,000 to $15,000. It will be interesting to watch these as well — and make sure we’re getting the best bang for the buck.

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December 8, 2015  5 Comments

Drug-testing coming to regional meets, masters record-setters

Masters will see more of these, even after meets.

Drug-testing for masters track will expand in 2016 to USATF regional meets indoors and out, and ā€œtesting may be conducted at any USATF-sanctioned meet,ā€ says Stephen Cohen, the Illinois lawyer and Midwest Region coordinator who heads the masters T&F anti-doping efforts. That’s the word out of the Houston annual meeting. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) will decide who gets tested, but I don’t expect more than a handful of tests to be conducted at any meet. But a debate is ongoing over whether to reveal which meets will be tested. On one side are those who want to catch cheaters in the act — and not disclose beforehand that testing will be done. The other side tells of testing plans, partly to help educate athletes on the need for TUEs (therapeutic use exemptions).

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December 7, 2015  62 Comments

Age-division awards in masters track, LDR revealed at Houston

I’m still waiting on the names of the USATF Masters Hall of Fame Class of 2015. (I know of one so far, since he emailed me.) But the slate of age-division Athletes of the Year was announced Saturday at the Houston annual meeting. They include three of my Striders teammates: Rita Hanscom, Linda Cohn and Brenda Matthews. (Kathy Bergen already is a MTF AOY). USATF’s complete list from the awards breakfast is here.

Jesse Owens Awards bash is a highlight of any USATF annual meeting.

Jesse Owens Awards bash is a highlight of any USATF annual meeting.

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December 6, 2015  One Comment