Friday Night Fights-Recap

The first of what we hope many Friday night fights went off last night without issue. We had a decent turnout for the first one, with positive feedback from racers and spectators alike. The ease of getting to the course along with a good fast safe course made for some happy racers. The racing was intense even with the small numbers.
The Cat 4-5 race was won in a solo break away by Jesse Miller from Clemson, SC. Jesse got away and continued to build what proved to be an insurmountable lead over the pack winning with a lot of day light between himself and the other racers.
The Masters 35+ field (One of the highest contested fields in the Southeast) was won by none other than the reigning SC Criterium Champion, Darin Marhanka. Along with Steve Sperry-Globalbike, and Eric Christopherson-Metro, these three men made a show of the course, gaining time each lap on the field and in the end lapping the field on the back stretch. It all came down to the third and fourth corner, and you do not get to be champion by sitting back. Darren made an early move to turn three which set him up to come barreling out of turn four. Daylight between himself and the other two. Eric held on for second with Steve Sperry taking third.
Fouth place went to Jae Bowen-POA Cycling.
Next on the roster was the Pro 1-2-3 field. I put out a call to some fire power from my homies up in North Carolina. Chris Harkey brought three more of the Fisher Road team, Hincapie development had a squad, with other individuals spread out. First lap was raced on the false flat drag up the front stretch at over 30mph. Justin Lowe made a strong mans move and got off the front by himself for some solo lap time. It was not to be for young Justin, with The Fisher Road team in the pack chimping at the bits to get up the road. Next thing I know, the bomb goes off and Harkey is rolling off the front in Harkey style. Gaining time on the field, he is joined by none other than registration extraordinaire Corey Fisher. The two worked together but in the end, Harkey pulled out the "W"!
Corey Fisher was second, with Justin Lowe and Adam Britton taking third and fourth respectively.

I would like to thank all of the sponsors that made this first race a success in my eyes.

The City Of Gaffney
Nestle
Nicks Muffler Shop
Rob's Jewelry
Broad River Electric Cooperative
TwoUpSports
Capri on Main
Fox Hollow Farms

Also thanks to Joey and Nancy Price for driving their pace car and Jae Bowen for helping with setting up the course.

The City came thru on these events allowing TwoUpSports to shut down what we feel is one of the best crit courses in the area. We had numerous kudos from everyone on how they enjoyed the course. Next up is Friday Night Fights-August 27th Same time, racing starts at 6:00PM, and could go into the twilight time, since the streets have lights!

Come join in, tell a friend, bring a friend, heck bring a truck load of friends.

HUMP

Put the Gloves on!

Friday Night Frights is upon us! Come on out and get in!

Am I right for feeling this nervous?

I suppose everyone who has ever put on a race feels the way I do now. I am more nervous than if I were racing, and that is no joke. I want these races to kick off and go, I want the upstate and surrounding areas to see that this is a great event, and support it. I want the turn out to increase each and every time to the point where everyone is talking about it.

I have my fingers crossed, and just focusing on the details.

HUMP

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS COUNTDOWN

Counting down to the first race of Friday Night Fights.

THANKS NEAL BOYD

Two Up Sports has to give a big shout out to Neal Boyd for listing us in the Upcoming Cycling Events for our region. We are hoping this will turn into something big that everyone can enjoy.

Thanks NEAL!

Getting Closer

Only 11 days until the first FNF race night. I am anxiously looking forward to what this will do for more racing in Gaffney. We have numerous routes all over Cherokee County with varied terrain, so my hope is to grow over time to include road racing and time trials.
I am also working on another area, that many people all over the state have visited, but not for racing. Stay tuned for that one.

HUMP

TWO UP SPORTS IN THE NEWS

By TIM GULLA
Ledger Staff Writer

tim@gaffneyledger.com

Beginning later this month, several downtown Gaffney streets will be roped off for a night of racing.

For a region rich in motor sports history, organizers are hoping the “NASCAR of Cycling” will be a perfect fit here.

Billed as the Friday Night Fights, Two Up Sports has partnered with the City of Gaffney to conduct a series of bicycle races in the downtown area. The first of the Friday Night Fights will be held the evening of July 30 before races come back again to downtown Gaffney on Aug. 27.

“We’re hoping these two races draw enough interest to conduct more races next year,” said Gaffney’s tourism projects manager Will DeBorde.

Bruce Humphries, president and owner of Two Up Sports, hopes the races will become regular events next year — ones that both competitors and spectators will be able to count on for action and entertainment.

While some details still need to be sorted out before July 30, Humphries expects the rectangular course will be one mile long with North Limestone and Petty streets serving as the straightaways. The finish line will be in the area of Gaffney City Hall.

“You want to create a course that’s safe, that’s fast, that’s spectator-friendly and can be repeated over and over again,” Humphries said.

Humphries is trying to enlist sponsorships from downtown businesses for things such as lap prizes. He’s also hoping that businesses will be willing to stay open later on race nights and that the races themselves will bring more and more people into the downtown area.

Racers will be divided into classes during the Friday Night Fights with the race for the beginners class starting at 6 p.m., the masters class race starting at 6:45 p.m. and professional class race starting at 7:30 p.m.

The masters and professional classes will each race for 45 minutes followed by three final laps.

Because it’s a timed event and short course, racing will be tight and fast and Humphries expects professional class riders to average up to 30 mph, or possibly faster.

“With it being right there in front of you, you get to see it unfold,” Humphries said. And perhaps best of all, it’s completely free to watch. “It’s the most accessible sport out there,” Humphries said of bicycle racing.

Humphries started Two Up Sports as a promotion company to organize events like this in towns and cities across the region. Gaffney’s central location and easy access off Interstate 85 make it a great city for these types of races, he said. “I’m hoping the guys who frequent races in Greenville and Charlotte will realize it’s an easy place to get to and they can do it numerous times,” he said. And if it brings more people into downtown Gaffney, he said, “It’s a win-win for everybody.”

“This is definitely something we want to have here,” deBorde said. “We think it can really draw (visitors from) outside of Gaffney and potentially bring in some good tourism once it gets bigger.”

For cyclists and potential sponsors, more information can be found at the registration web site , http://www.pre-reg.com/, which has a link to the Friday Night Fights and contact information.

Asked if he would consider trying to compete, deBorde joked, “I get my mountain bike out every once in a while. My legs can’t handle this stuff.”

Post meeting run down

The meeting with the City went well last night, a representative from the Police department was there and enlightened us on some changes we needed for road closure. I had to change the route a tad just to accomodate some of the changes to roads, but it is still a four corner crit.

I have also been in contact with more sponsors, and it looks to be going well on that end.

Stay tuned for more updates.

HUMP

Friday Night Fights Permit Processed

The fights are on!! The permit has been processed!

HUMP

Friday Night Fights

Here is the flyer for the first two events that TWOUPSPORTS is putting on. The events are criteriums in downtown Gaffney, on a safe four corner course. We hope to increase the number of the events next season to five, all being on the last Friday of the month following the POA Cycling Thursday night races.

TWO UP SPORTS

What is up? I wanted to just let everyone know what TWOUPSPORTS is. I started this company to promote sporting events in my area, mainly cycling events, but I may branch out later.