Can it happen?

Triathlon Forum
1

I was reading through the Charlie Yu “You’re not an Ironman” post when I decided to try a few searches on Google for anything about him. I stumbled across this little gem:

City of Mission Viejo, CA - City Council Agenda 6/04/07
30. Mission Viejo Triathlon
Recommended Action: Discuss the potential of a Mission Viejo/Lake Forest Triathlon for June 2008, and direct staff to work with the planning group for additional information.

Council Member MacLean
Council Member Ury
Mayor Pro Tempore Ledesma
Mayor Reavis

For those of you who don’t understand the significance of this, Mission Viejo had a very high caliber triathlon many years ago, but some moron in a car got on the course and hit an age grouper who, I think, became permanently disabled. The AG’r sued everyone and their mother and won and Mission Viejo vowed to never hold another triathlon.

I have a video of one of the MV races where a very young Michellie Jones got run down by Karen Smyers and Greg Welch is shown running so incredibly fast to take second. But he ends up winning because Jimmy Ricotello unfastens his helmet before he racks his bike and is penalized. Great stuff.

2

was this the race that the run turn-around was around a “car” that was part of the first place prize?

3

So that is the race I heard about from Jimmy. I try to tell folks to keep there bike on the rack until they buckle
the helmet, and do not unbuckle until the bike is back on the rack. Can not tell you how many times I have seen
racers not do this!!!

Dave

4

Yeah. I think they won Mazda Miatas.

5

Mission Viejo had a very high caliber triathlon many years ago

Steve
What year and was it an oly or sprint? MV would be a good place for a tri. Even better if it was an oly.

6

I’m in!

7

The original race was the Performing Arts Triathlon and it was an Oly. It was a fantastic race that drew a big crowd and plenty of pros.
The person you are talking about getting injured was Jim McLaren, a standout amputee athlete at the time. He was struck by a van that got onto the closed course and was left a paraplegic. The original Challenged Athlete’s Triathlon was a fundraiser to buy him a speciallly equiped van.

The race is back in the process and is being promoted by Bill Leach, the race director for the Pacific Coast Triathlon. He hopes to get approval and get the race back for 2008.

Mark