This year the Brentwood Grand Prix is a full day of racing on an all new course on San Vicente Blvd. Sunday, August 9th, 2009 Last year our event had thousands of spectators and over 600 racers competing in eight great races, including a photo finish in the Men�s Pro Race. You can find out more about LaGrange at http://www.lagrange.org and more about the race at http://www.brentwoodgrandprix.com.
Here is a personal story of Johan Tessler recalling how this event affected his kids & family. Learn more and sign up your champions for ’09 here. http://www.brentwoodgrandprix.com/kidsraces.htm
Two weeks before the 2008 Brentwood Grand Prix kids� race I had to make a stop at the Santa Monica location of the bike store Helen�s. I was there to quickly pick up a few items and then take my kids to the beach.
As we got to the store my kids were begging to go in to look at the cool �Daddy� bikes. After quite a bit of negotiating they won me over and in they came. Once I had picked out and paid for the few items I needed, one of the always friendly and helpful employees (let�s call her Jen) came up to my two girls (ages 5 & 6 �) and asked them if they were going to race the Brentwood Grand Prix.
They both, like on cue, answered with a NO. �Bike races are for big people, but my Daddy is racing. � Jen quickly replied, with her huge smile, �You are in luck girls; they are having a kids race just for you.� Both of my girls grinned, the best they could since they were missing so many teeth at the time, and just stood there silently. We are still not sure if they were excited or just confused, but no matter; their little minds were racing. Jen had one last comment to the girls; that they could not race with training wheels.
So that was the catch. Both of my girls were still on training wheels and had shown no interest in having them removed. In fact, the only response I ever got when I mentioned taking them off was tears and whining. Being the softy I was I always gave in and never took them off. So I just figured that the Brentwood Kids� Grand Prix would pass us up in 2008.
But was I ever wrong. As soon as we got in the car both girls asked, �Daddy when we get home can you take off our training wheels so we can practice for our race?� Inside I was jumping with proud Papa joy.
We got home, removed the training wheels, and in about 1 hour of assistance from Daddy both girls were training wheel free and feeling that joy of rolling freedom.
Fast forward 2 weeks; both girls rolled up to the starting line, pink helmets buckled on tight, and ready to zoom into their first official bike race. Both finished with smiles big enough to make any parent melt.
I will never forget both girls standing next to their bikes (training-wheel free) wearing their race t-shirts and cool medals, asking if they can do it again next year.
You know they will Sunday, August 9th, 2009.
