Several years ago we posted results from 1983 and 1984 for the USTS Championships in Bass Lake, California. We also posted a picture of Scott Molina and Scott Tinley crossing the finish line in a tie. We assumed that the results and pictures came from the same race since they came from the same archive box.
One of our Bass Lake athletes was kind enough to send results from 1985 and 1986, which we have posted on www.basslaketri.com It turns out the epic tie between Molina and Tinley occurred in 1985. To see the picture, go to Race History. The results are also fun because they contain names of many of the founding fathers of our sport as well as many of the movers and shakers (see, for example, the results of one Dan Empfield) that continue to be involved today.
The Bass Lake Classic Triathlon is on June 1 in Bass Lake, CA. Just 40 miles from Fresno and 10 miles from the South Entrance of Yosemite.
Here’s another trivia question for ST historians.
What newcomer to triathlon destroyed Molina and Tinley on the bike at Palm Springs Feb 1987? Hint #1: he was the first to use aero bars (not clip-ons). Hint #2: Initials BK.
WOW! the number 10, 16, 18 and 24 finishers are all local guys that I know…I really wish the ages were next to the names!
the number 10 finisher was a former D-1 butterflyer & professor in the kinesiology department at Fresno State who was also a 2nd tier pro sponsored by Saucony. He used to wear a speedo under his clothes and would often sneak in a swim between classes. #16 was a cross country runner at Clovis High who did the Hawaii Ironman back when you didn’t have to qualify. He still races his bike but doesn’t swim/run anymore. #18 was a swimmer at Fresno State who still races. #24 hated swimming and raced as a pro duathlete for a few years in the late 80’s/early 90’s.
I’m right here and all i can remember from that race was getting very hypoxic in the swim at altitude, and that Tinley was the only guy wearing a wetsuit as he was the only one that had figured out that they were faster than swimming skins. Probably the one and only time in his career he beat me in the swim. And the course was a little long as i recall on the bike and it was fairly hilly. On legit 40k courses(often 25 miles back then), we would usually break an hour down to around 57’s, all on road bikes of course.
And i remember a lot of those dudes and chicks, good to hear i was still swimming with some pool studs in spite of my issues that day. Looks like Dean Harper was really suffering in the swim too, he was usually in that front pack with us. I guess the boulder trips that Molina and Tinley really helped on this day, the rest of us were left with our sea level red blood cells.
Yep, me too, by the woman that took the bronze at AG world’s in NZ last year! We ran the first lap together, then she dropped me on the 2nd. It got worse for me, though, Dan was the last person to pass me…the shame I carry. lol
TORITO!!! I emailed this to Jefe and this is what he wrote back. His bday was the week before the race so he had just turned 20.
Wow, that was a long time ago. I remember everything around the race but not actually doing it. The two guys ahead of me are/were great friends of mine. Steve Terry was killed by an inattentive driver while riding in the hills above Visalia in 2003. We went to high school together and were roommates in college. He met his future wife at this race. We also drove one of the pro women, Colleen Cannon, to the airport the next day…pretty cool for a couple of 20 year old tri geeks with no game. And I remember hanging out at the old Ducey’s the night of the race and dancing with Colleen and Julie Moss and some other pro tri chicks. Great memories…despite the speedo-sporting, friction-shifting, Bell V1 Pro helmet-wearing style of the day.
