From: warren@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (warren, rob)
Subject: RAAM Update 07/30
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Reply-To: warren@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 02:47:02 GMT

A new leader has emerged in the Men's Division this morning.  Bob Fourney
passed through Shreveport, La. in first place at 7:05 A.M., EDT.  Rob Kish 
was reported to be only 4 miles behind Fourney, with Gerry Tatrai only three
miles behind Kish.  Paul Solon has dropped out, reportedly due to pnuemonia.
Tatrai appears to have made up a lot of ground in the last 24 hours.  It's
hard to tell if he had to skip a sleep break to do this, or if he is just
motoring.  Later reports in the day should give a better picture.  At just
past the 2/3 point of the race (2013 miles), Fourney is averaging 14.7 MPH
and 352 miles per day.  Following is a list of the remaining Men's Division
riders, and their approximate distance behind the leader.

#    Rider          Miles Behind
================================
1.   Fourney
2.   Kish              4
3.   Tatrai            7
4.   Kees             99
5.   Kent            154
6.   Ward            239
7.   Vetterli        285
8.   Stoneman        316
9.   Schwarz         337
10.  Black           352      Top Rookie
11.  Bowles          352
12.  Kross           361
13.  Gfeller         442
14.  Davies          465
15.  Courtney        486
16.  Bond            500
17.  Thomas          687


In the Women's Division, Seana Hogan continues to maintain a sizeable 
lead.  Although she has not increased her lead the last couple of days,
the rest of the field has not been able to cut into it significantly
either.  Seana passed through Gainesville, Texas at 6:18 A.M., EDT, 
and is averaging 259 miles per day.  The distances of the remaining 
women follows.

#    Rider          Miles Behind
=================================
1.   Hogan
2.   Turner           183
3.   Allison          251


Although not exactly burning up the highway, the mixed tandem division
remains extremely competitive.  Rietman/Wilson passed through Pumpkin Center,
Texas this morning, with Team Aison 46 miles behind.  Rietman/Wilson are
averaging 11.4 MPH, and 272 miles per day.  

The only remaining Men's Tandem Division team of Breedlove/Haldeman have
moved into 8th place overall.  They passed through Sherman, Texas at 5:20
A.M. EDT, averaging 15.2 MPH and 364 miles per day.

This year's RAAM course is shorter, flatter, and slightly more Southerly
than in previous years.  RAAM officials had hoped that by doing this,
Paul Solon's RAAM record of 8 days, 8 hours, 45 seconds would be broken.
For Fourney/Kish/Tatrai/other to accomplish this, they will have to arrive
in Savannah by Saturday at 10:08 P.M., EDT.  At their current pace, it 
would appear that they are slightly behind this pace, figuring to be across 
the finish around 3:00 A.M., Sunday morning.  This is based on RAAMs published
"Estimated Times of Arrival" in the 1992 Ultra Cycling Magazine. The 
guide estimated the mens leader to have gone through Shreveport at 
approximately 3:00 A.M. this morning.  At that pace, the winner would arrive
in Savannah at about 10:00 P.M. Saturday night, just beating Solon's 1989 
record.