Heart of a Community

While it isn't baseball season yet, a recent annual report coming out of Charles County yielded some remarkable news about Regency Stadium, built by the Stadium Authority in 2008 as the home of the Blue Crabs.

While the ball team was an immediate success , we didn't realize just how much a part of the community the eyecatching, garnet-gabled facility has become.

Built as a partnership between the team's owners, Charles County, and the State of Maryland, the stadium was designed to be versitile venue for year-round use.   Nonetheless, we were surprised when we saw just how successful Regency has become in its three years.

In 2008, the year it opened, it hosted fewer than 100 outside events.  By 2009, that number was up to 250.  And in 2010, more than 350 activities took place there.  We don't know if that includes autocross rallies or marathon registrations (April 17, 2011,)  but the parking lots are an important feature of Regency.  They also provide staging for carpools and bus service for Washington on weekdays.

This June, Willie Nelson will be performing in Regency, bringing even more folks to Charles County.

Those of us in the sports facilities biz take heart whenever we hear about a project that so quickly becomes a part of the community fiber and quality of life. 

For those partners who stepped up to the plate to invest in Charles County, Regency Stadium was clearly a home run.

Ready, Set.... Jam!

While the past was grand, the future looks even brighter: formerly the IHRA President’s Cup Nationals, the newly revamped IHRA Maryland Nitro Jam still promises to be a fan favorite, now with a bigger emphasis on the entertainment and format of the event.  And the new face of the Nitro Jam makes its series debut one of the premier racing venues on the east coast- Maryland International Raceway!

Blastoff at Budds Creek

This weekend brings the annual Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship series to Maryland.  If you're checking your calendar because it doesn't seem like a year since that last rain soaked episode, that's because the Budds Creek National has been moved to an earlier date on the circuit.  Traditionally one of the closing rounds during the second half of the 12-race schedule, Budds Creek moves to round four in the middle of June.

The Lucas Oil AMA series brings the top tier of professional riders from all over the world  to compete, and the Budds Creek track offers nearly perfect visibility for spectators at numerous venues along the course. The event usually attracts more than 20,000 fans to see the best racing in the sport.

The MotoTees.com Budds Creek National kicks-off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 19.  Both the 450 and 250 classes  will be broadcast the same day on SPEED, starting with the 250 Class at 8:00 p.m. and the 450 Class at 9:00 p.m.  Live internet stream of the first motos of both classes can be seen at www.allisports.com.

Soccer Shoutout to Southern Maryland

Terry and I attended the Crystal Palace vs. Crystal Palace friendly at the Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf last year.  It was impressive to see how many junior soccer-philes and their families appreciate the game and took advantage of the opportunity to see a member of the Premiere League barnstorming with their farm team in the colonies.

So it isn't surprising that the Blue Crabs are tapping into this enthusiasm again by holding a World Cup FanFest to watch the US take on England this Saturday.

The Fan Fest will include the live television broadcast of theWorld Cup match beginning at 2:30 p.m., special guest appearances by current and former pro soccer players, including A.J. DeLaGarza of the Los Angeles Galaxy, and specialty soccer memorabilia raffle.

(DeLaGarza, who is a Maryland native, played his college soccer at University of Maryland from 2005-2008.)

There will also be mini-clinics and skill challenges for younger players on the field, face painting, and more family activities.

The gates at Regency Furniture Stadium will open for this event at noon, and admission is $5.00. Children under five will be admitted free. All fans are encouraged to show their team spirit by wearing their favorite soccer jersey.

You can read more about the FanFest here

Calvert Takes the Plunge !

Terry will be journeying to Prince Frederick tomorrow to participate in the official opening of a long-awaited, greatly anticipated, $20 million indoor aquatic center.

The multi purpose facility will accommodate the four Calvert County high school swim teams with its regulation 50 meter pool, diving area, spectator seating and scoreboard. 

The 41,000-square-foot structure features a recreational pool designed for children, a therapy pool for exercising, and nine-person hot tub.  The center also includes two conference rooms that will be available for community use and water safety training.

Don't expect Terry to be among the first to plunge.  He isn't packing his Speedo, just his ceremonial scissors for a ribbon he is very eager to see cut.  Maryland needs more natatoriums for the burgeoning interest in competitive swimming, and Calvert's new addition looks like a beaut.

Spinning Statewide

Historical fact:   the first bicycle arrived in Leonardtown on a steamship in 1879.  The folks in Patuxent Velo have been celebrating this historic occasion for 13 years with a professional level race through the streets of historic downtown Leonardtown. 

This year's edition of the Leonardtown Criterium will take place on Sunday, May 16th. There will be nine different races held throughout the day, including one kids race. Spectators are invited to come out and cheer from the sidelines along the Leonardtown Square as the cyclists race by.

One week later is the annual Bike Jam in Patterson Park, a favorite of pedal pushers everywhere.  Like the Leonardtown Crit, it involves professional cyclists competing for cash prizes, as well as a community festival and celebration of bicycling as a fitness regimen, recreational endeavor, and transportation alternative.  Patterson Park, in east Baltimore, is a midtown oasis just above Canton. 

Patterson Park and Canton are also competition grounds for the hilarious counter culture bicycle competition known as the Kinetic Sculpture Race, which takes place this Saturday.

Beginning at the Visionary Art Museum, the wacky array of contestants parade down Boston Street before testing their amphibious capabilities at the boat launch in Canton.  If they don't sink (lifeguards in kayaks on duty) they progress to Patterson Park for an endurance test through the mud.  The vehicle deemed most mediocre wins the competition.

(While the merits of this triathlon as a legitimate sports challenge may be questionable, it is a favorite in both the artistic and cycling communities.  Until you've seen a bicycle-powered vehicle drive off a ramp into Baltimore harbor, you haven't experienced Charm City culture.)

Of course in June, the ultra-endurance Race Across America finishes in Annapolis.   245 cycling enthusiasts will begin pedaling in a six- to nine-day bicycle race that starts in California. Over the course of their journey, they will ride 3,000 miles through 14 states.  There are even some locals competing, which you can read about in our media section.

As long as we're talking bicycles, I have to give a shout out again to Spokes, the Frederick based magazine that covers all things bicycle in the mid Atlantic region.  Spokes is behind the nascent Tour de Frederick, which will take place August 13-15. 

Spokes is a great source of calendar events about local competitions of all stripes, as it the website BikeRide.

So you can see how much enthusiasm there is in Maryland for cyclists and their contests.  So it is a good time to harness all these sources and regions to put together a mega media event that would involve the entire state (and its diverse geography) in a week-long challenge.  That's why Team Terry is holding a meeting on June 3 at 10 am at the Sheraton Annapolis on Jennifer Road for Medalist Sports to make a preliminary presentation to cycling enthusiasts, county leaders, and tourism officials about staging a Tour de Maryland.

Give Terry a buzz at (410) 767-3373 if you'd like to come.  Medalist Sports has staged premiere events all over the world.  They're the best in the business and we'd love to have them do something here.  So put June 3rd on your calendar and pedal on over.

St. Charles Half Marathon Presented by Lennar

Even the drop in temperatures couldn’t stop the 500 or so runners from participating in the inaugural Saint Charles Half Marathon Sunday.

Runners braved the whipping winds to traverse the 13.2 mile course beginning at the gorgeous Regency Furniture Stadium, winding and twisting down Laplata Road, around Laurel Springs Regional Park, across Rosewick Road, through White Plains Regional Park, down Billingsley, through the stadium parking lot, past the Legends Club, under the picnic pavilion, around the back of the outfield, down the first baseline and sprinting through the timing plates at home plate.

After catching their breathes’ and grabbing a well deserved cup of water and hand full of food, the runners raved about the beautiful course and how happy and surprised they were when the courses’ terrain became gravel in part of one of the parks! Runners said their feet were delighted to have a switch to a slightly giving surface, if only for a small portion of the course.

To view the results head to the events webpage

Three Cheers for Charles!

Let's hear it for Charles County, who have parlayed two new sports facilities --Regency Furniture Stadium and the Indian Head Rail Trail -- into a splendid new event.

The first annual Saint Charles Half Marathon, part of the United States Running Association Half Marathon Running Series, was created in partnership with the Charles County Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

It will take place April 17 and 18, 2010, starting with a fun run for kids on the Indian Head Rail Trail at 9 a.m. Saturday.  The 13 mile Indian Head Rail Trail, extending from Indian Head to Rt. 301 in White Plains, was completed last fall.  It quickly become a favorite of fitness buffs, nature lovers, and artists who delight in the magnificent scenery it offers.

On Saturday, the packet pickup and runners' expo will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Regency Furniture Stadium, home of the Blue Crabs and  popular year round community facility since its opening in 2008.

The main event,  a 13.1 mile run, will start at 8 a.m Sunday. The 5K run will begin at 8:15 a.m.

The 2010 USRA series includes 18 cities in middle size to small markets, with the first stop in Columbia, S.C.  The attraction of Charles County, in addition to its new facilities and fast growth market, is its proximity to Washington DC and its enthusiastic running community which is supporting the challenge.

The Hughesville Running Club is providing volunteers and race directors.  They look forward to welcoming regional runners for a trip through rural agricultural Maryland.  The locals are eager to show off their beautiful countryside, and entertain visitors at a post race party and festival at the finish line.

Kudos for Charles County's Department of Economic Development and Tourism for partnering with this national tour, giving Maryland the opportunity to show more people what we have to offer.

Indian Head Rail Trail opens!

Donna Dudley reminded me about the recent completion of the Indian Head Rail Trail in Charles County. The linear park, now stretching 13 miles from Indian Head to White Plains, is build around an abandoned rail bed and has quickly become a Southern Maryland favorite.

Two portions of the trail -- a two-mile segment in White Plains and a 2.7-mile segment in Indian Head -- opened in December.

The Rail Trail is much more than a hiker biker fitness course. It is a neighborhood connector and favorite of artists who enjoy capturing the beauty of the area on canvas or sketchpad.

The news about the trail opening is welcome indeed. Maryland has many deserted train and trolley beds that course through communities and neighborhoods. With the popularity of the North Central (now Torrey Brown) trail in Baltimore County, local governments are seeking state and federal grants to acquire easements and transform these abandoned rightaways into alternative transportation options and fitness facilities with trails.

Rail trails are not just local amenities, they are visitor attractions. Among the most popular are in the mountains of Western Maryland. USA Today featured the Great Allegheny Passage in an article last week. Although most of the story focused on the Pennsylvania segment, the Allegheny Highlands portion is one of the most popular stretches. It connects the terminus of the C&O Canal in Cumberland to the Mason-Dixon line, passing through mountain tunnels with some of the most spectacular scenery you can imagine. When this segment was completed just three years ago, it made cycling possible from Georgetown to just outside Pittsburgh. Its popularity has grown significantly since then.

A few weeks ago, another segment secured funding necessary to convert not just a rail bed, but tunnel and bridge, to connect it to the C&O Canal. This part comes through the efforts of Senator Byrd and the stimulous package. It is a small stretch of Western Maryland track from Carbondale, West Virginia, to Cumberland -- through Knobley Mountain and over the Potomac River.

(Note -- Terry said cyclists love tunnels and bridges. It adds a little je ne sais que to the trip. The Great Allegheny Passage has tunnels and bridges galore.)

In any case, passage through an old railroad tunnel and over the Potomac has to be an amazing feeling. It will be a tremendous asset to the whole Allegheny Highland-Western Maryland Rail Trail experience.

(Hope it doesn't have any hibernating bats. We know how that goes.)

Anyway, with Donna's good news about Indian Head Rail Trail, I'm reminded I need to check some of the other projects pending. Acquiring easements and funding takes years, but the results are a recreational (and tourist attracting) amenity that contribute greatly to our Maryland quality of life.

Thanks for the reminder, Donna, and we'll still get that kayaking adventure in this season.

Hooray!! Another Rail Trail for Maryland

Whenever I get discouraged about how long the South Shore Trail has taken to reach even the engineering stage, I talk with someone like Beth Strommen, who reminds me that Baltimore's Gwynns Falls Trail was fourteen years in the making.    But this heartening story tops even that example of tenacity.

In Chesapeake Beach, just over the Anne Arundel County line, citizen activist, city council member and now Mayor Bruce Wahl has been working since 1989 -- that's right, twenty years -- to build an all purpose recreational trail on the abandoned rightaway of the railroad that connected the resort community with Washington DC many years ago.  He's had to deal with budget cuts, easements, environmental issues and myriad governments (including the feds, and we know how that can go) to bring this dream to fruition. 

This month, the Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail received its final approval and is going out to bid.  Construction will begin later this fall on the segment that connects several residential neighborhoods with downtown.

The rail trails of Maryland are among the most appealing in the country.  This winding path around the bayfront town will be a community enhancement, visitor attraction and one more recreation asset for our state. 

Congratulations to Mayor Wahl for seeing this part through.  Here's hoping his vision will extend to Anne Arundel County some day.

Weather or not

I thought this was going to be a tough one. I was supposed to go kayaking with Donna Dudley in Indian Head yesterday, but the storms scrubbed that one. Heading to Thomas Point for the start of the Governor's Cup, I saw what looked suspiciously like funnel clouds over Arnold. Nix that.

So now I have to scramble like Flacco for some new plans. Bingo! Perfect metaphor. I'm off to Carroll County in search of adventure. No, I don't think the Ravens have camp today, but there are other intriguing possibilities in the Maryland piedmont. I understand there are other beefy athletes in training up there, and I might be able to catch their practices before tonight's scrimmage. Yeehah.

Governor's Cup

A lot of activity here at the Warehouse. Storm clouds clustering overhead and Sox fans assembling underneath. We're definitely under siege.

I'm hoping the clouds are more contained than the Sox fans. Tonight is the start of Governor's Cup, and while you can postpone a baseball game for inclimate weather, I don't know if it's ever happened to this annual sailboat classic.

Governor's Cup is the annual race between Maryland's two Capital Cities -- Annapolis, current hub of government (sorry, Baltimore) and St. Mary's City, the original colonial capital. The Governor's Cup is unusual in that the 70 mile race takes place overnight. That can be particularly dicey in the Chesapeake where depths are tricky and you never know where crab pots have been abandoned. Throw in a summer squall, and Dark and Stormy becomes more than the beverage of choice.

Hopefully, the clouds will stay where they are and spare the fleet gathering at Thomas Point Light in a few hours. I'd like to go to St. Mary's tomorrow to experience the race finish. I've been told it's a real gas, but skewered towards the younger race crowd. St. Mary's College is one of the top rated schools for racing, so they are always well represented at this event, as is the Naval Academy, who have their own reputation on the seas.

There are sure to be old salts there as well, but I'm trying to convince Ashley to go since this is more her demographic than mine. There is one veteran who is sure to be in attendance -- Jim Muldoon of Annapolis. His "Donneybrook" is always a top contender, and the sailing center at SMC is named for him.

Competitive, as well as recreational, sailing is huge in Maryland. No matter how you trim your sails, the Governor's Cup has appeal for its celebration of the sport and its heritage. If you happen to be in Southern Maryland tomorrow, but sure to go by. You can read more about the race here:

http://www.smcm.edu/govcup/

Autocross Appeal

It’s the Google effect -- every time I learn something about one sport or facility here in Maryland, it leads to something I knew nothing about. Thus, my visit to Regency Stadium opened my eyes to yet another popular Maryland pastime.

This revelation came after I stopped in to see Phil Hutson, project manager at Regency, to tell him how impressed I was with the finished product. We chatted for a moment about the versatility of the stadium and the multitude of uses it provides the community.

“They race down there, too,” he mentioned casually.

With what, bumper boats? I revved up my favorite search engine for answers. That’s when I learned about the popularity of autocross in Maryland.

So what’s autocross? Simply stated (Wiki version,) it is a precision driving race against the clock. It tests the driver’s skill and reflexes as he/she maneuvers the vehicle on cone marked, asphalt slalom course.

Substitute pot holes, rail tracks, disoriented pedestrians and stalled vehicles, and autocross sounds a lot like my evening commute up Howard Street. There must be more to it. Turns out, there is.

Autocross meets, (sometimes called rallies) are organized by clubs. In Maryland, there are quite a few autocross clubs, and each has a home course. Regency is the tarmac of choice for the Autocrossers. However, it isn’t the only minor league stadium with a motor sports constituency. The Bowie Baysox share their asphalt with Capital Driving Club and for at least two seasons, Ripken did too. Even FedEx stadium hosts regional autocross meets.

Autocross meets don’t seem to be spectator oriented, although the competitors usually bring friends along to watch. It is an activity with a strong element of camaraderie bound with appreciation for driver skill and vehicle performance. Also a lot of socializing and general bonhomie.

One of the oldest auto clubs in the region is National Road Autosports. They sponsor an annual series of events at the Cumberland Airport. I planned a mountain journey for the Summer Sizzler next week when I made an embarrassing discovery.

It seems Cumberland Airport is actually in West Virginia. Oops. When the region broke from the Commonwealth of Virginia during the Civil War, Maryland could have annexed Mineral County in the confusion . Unfortunately, they didn’t, and the little bend in the river called Wiley Ford has both a nice airport and a West Virginia address. Fortunately, the club also has an August event on our side of the Potomac called the Polish Mountain Hill Climb. That rally takes place on a public road which SHA (bless them) closes for the race. It’s just outside of Flintstone, so maybe I can make a Rocky Gap weekend out of it. Stay tuned.

Two Crystal Palaces (and one stunning stadium) in Waldorf, July 13

I hadn’t been to Regency Furniture Stadium, home of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, since it was under construction two years ago. The match between Crystal Palace FC (England) and Crystal Palace Baltimore (their American affiliate) was an opportunity to experience a professional soccer match, and see how the stadium has meshed into the fiber of Southern Maryland since its completion.

We arrived at the stadium more than an hour before the match and were surprised at the number of cars already there, indicative of something I was to hear later from a County Commissioner. Not merely a ballfield, Regency Stadium is a community center, concert venue, and commuter hub. That night, a corporate client was having a regional meeting in one of the conference rooms. After only a year and a half of operation, Regency hosts several hundred events a year, some occurring simultaneously.

What I wanted to see most was the award-winning bumper boat pond, which flowed under the left field promenade like a moat. A young man in soccer attire asked quizzically what the strange looking pool was. Seems he was from England, on holiday in the former colonies while he followed his favorite team on their summer tour. (And I thought the Red Sox had groupies.) The water-squirting bumper boats, rock wall, and moon bounce, all part of our ballpark family fun, are a foreign concept in the real world of futbal. I suspect the country music blaring over the loudspeaker might be, too. Nonetheless, he was pleased to be in the rural setting and was surprised to learn it wasn't part of Baltimore.

The opening was most impressive, with both national anthems. (Enjoyed a robust rendition of "God Save the Queen" with two embassy diplomats in the suite.) Once the match began, it took a while to catch on that the clock was counting up instead of down. Terry explained the logic, but I still don’t get it. It would be hopeless to describe the action on the field that night, except it was well received by the crowd. What I can describe is the absolute joy of the many youngsters in league soccer gear who frolicked on the field prior to the game and cheered with their families in the stands. Their energy was infectious. The regulars remarked on the transformation of a baseball diamond to a turf field sans pitcher’s mound. No lumps. Amazing.

We didn’t stay for the fireworks, but the evening provided enough color and excitement even without them. I’m reminded how long Charles County waited for their stadium – more than ten years – and how fraught with controversy it was while officials and citizens debated where it should go and who should pay for it.

Today, the Blue Crabs are a beloved , successful franchise. (You should see the kids fawning over Pinch the Crab. He works the crowd like Chuck E. Cheese.) The stadium will anchor a growth corridor where a new Southern Maryland College campus and high school athletic center will emerge in the next few years. Regency Furniture stadium, reminiscent of an old Charles County tobacco barn with its russet color and sloping roof, will make a comfortable transition from a rural setting to a vibrant suburb as it provides the citizens of Southern Maryland with a first rate multipurpose venue.

Hot "PINKS"

The weather held for the "PINKS All Out" drag race series held at Maryland International Raceway over the weekend. According to reports, thousands of fans turned out for the all day SPEED channel event.

480 drivers participated, including 20 local drivers from Southern Maryland. Larry Boswell from Mechanicsville (pictured above in his 1967 Chevy Camaro) made it to the final eight.

The competition at MIR will be featured in the September 17th episode of "PINKS All Out" at 8:00 PM on the SPEED channel.