Vroom, Vroom

Hydroplaning is what you don't want your tires doing on a rainy night. But it's pretty exciting in a specially designed craft on the open water. That's what Ashley and I plan to watch tomorrow at the Cambridge Classic Powerboat Regatta . Ashley is the Tweeter on Team Terry, so stay tuned Saturday for thrills and chills on the Choptank.

The Powerboat Regatta features flat-bottom boats as well as hydroplanes. Here's the difference:

A hydroplane literally flies on a split bow comprised of two sponsons. At a certain speed, it lifts right off the surface. A single fin helps turn the boat because when it is operating at that velocity, only a tiny bit of the propeller is in the water.

A flat-bottom is a runabout with a(you guessed it)flat bottom. They skim across the surface at breakneck speed too, but unlike the aerodynamic hydros, skiffs bounce wildly from side to side. Race rules now require roll bars to protect the daredevils on these buckaroos.

And speaking of wild rides, I can see soccer partisans already milling around the Camden Yards complex in anticipation of the match tonight. They're lurking near Babe, mostly dressed in blue. I'm guessing they're Chelsea fans in search of Pickles, one of the official hangouts for the Chelsea contingent. (Milan has nailed down Little Italy. They will probably run into a number of the aforementioned firemen who staked their claim to LI last night.)

The energy is palpable. Baltimore is going to have its own wild ride tonight. Be sure to tune in to ESPN at 8:00

Reading in the Rain, July 23, 2009

I’ll read anything. Compulsive habit. If my eyes are open, they need to read. I pick up a lot that way, whether I want to or not.

Today I learned some pretty interesting stuff while awaiting steamed shrimp in my favorite haunt. The first was in the latest issue of “Spokes,” a monthly tab devoted to all things cycling in the Mid-Atlantic region. It has great information on trails in Maryland, strength and conditioning for bicycle events, and a comprehensive calendar of events for bicycle adventure in the region. Be sure to check it out, whether you are a competitive, recreational or commuting cyclist. Lots of good information about trails, training, safety, and events.

This month’s cover story was about cycling demonstration in Washington called Naked Bike Ride. It wasn’t really as risque as it sounds (nothing like the hikers on summer solstice,) but fifty scantily attired advocates pedaled from 14th and K to the White House in their fourth annual “wear what you dare” ride to gain respect for bicycling commuters. Fascinating.

The other interesting thing I read was on the back of a firefighter. They’re having a convention here in town and a few drifted in our direction. Couldn’t help but admire (and read) his t-shirt, which celebrated an annual Rocktoberfest. The giant striper under the title suggested this might be a fishing tournament instead of a Bavarian heritage festival. I couldn’t read the fine print without violating personal space, so I politely inquired and learned that, indeed, the Rocktoberfest is held every fall in Ocean City. It’s one of the biggest tourneys of the year, with about 300 boats and sports fishermen of all ages. Contestants can fish in the bay, off the pier, or in the ocean. Prizes are awarded for the largest rockfish, but trout and skate have categories too. Rocktoberfest runs concurrently with hurricane season, so weather conditions offer an additional element of suspense. The fireman said the rocking and rolling was a gas last year.

See what you can learn while waiting for shrimp?

Our Field of Fescue

Jeff Provenzano, MSA’s Director of Football Operations, sent this pic this morning after the last strip of sod was prodded into place at M&T. I had to go see this amazing transformation for myself. While I’ve been to events where potted palms, flowering shrubs and even dance floors were rentals, I’ve never seen a tempo job like this before. Row after row of tightly woven Bermuda grass with an inch and a half of thatched soil and roots, covering the entire football field. Right now, it looks a bit dry in some places, and feels soggy in others (couldn’t resist taking off my shoes for the full effect.) Jeff says that after a few days in place, the seams will be barely discernable. By Wednesday it will be ready for lining; on Thursday, the teams practice for the Friday match

This preparation isn’t nearly as messy as bulldozing a couple tons of dirt for the Dew Tour BMX course, but it’s still a monumental task. The sod hails from a farm outside of Richmond, so it’s had a bit of a commute. What is neat, though, is that after the game Friday, the turf will be rolled up again and trucked back to the farm where it will be unfurled in the field, awaiting its next gig.

How cool is that? Just one more example of our commitment to sustainability and responsible recycling.

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.

Finding Futsal

The only way I knew futsal is a sport and not kitchen gadget is that it appears ahead of golf in the “add a venue” section of this website. After entering 200+ golf courses into the data base, I became fully aware that whatever futsal might be, it happened in Maryland.

So imagine my surprise when I learned that July 9-12, the 24th U.S. Futsal National Championship was held at the Baltimore Convention Center for the second year in a row. About 8,000 participants and spectators attended the four days of action, with competitions among all age groups (boys and girls) and a men’s and women’s category. Although the medal rounds were dominated by East Coast teams, a total of 11 states were among the winners.

Since the 25th U. S. Futsal National Championship will return to Baltimore in 2010, I need to know more about it. One thing I did learn – there are a number of teams in Maryland and they seem to have a very active network.

I finally (thanks, Wiki) figured out that futsal is a specialized brand of indoor soccer, played on a hard court surface with a smaller ball and five players on a side. It’s faster and more improvisional than conventional soccer, but a part of their universe. And it seems to be growing exponentially in popularity. Some of the Maryland teams have relationships with the professional soccer teams in the area.

So add a thriving, energetic futsal community as one more reason Maryland is a soccer-centric state. Maybe we’ll see a few of them at M&T next Friday.

Sold Out Soccer

It’s official – the Chelsea FC-AC Milan soccer match taking place at M&T Bank Stadium July 24th has sold out, ten days before the event. This “friendly” is more than an exhibition . For the first time, the European soccer teams who cross the pond post season will be participating in a round robin tournament known as the World Football Challenge. Each team plays three times in the six matches, accumulating points to determine the winner of the inaugural Challenge. The event in Baltimore will be broadcast live on ESPN.

Baltimore, with its avid soccer community, is a natural to host a contest between two teams recognized as the best of the best. The fact that this came about is a tribute to the synergy created by the Office of Sports Marketing and the Baltimore Ravens, who took quick advantage of an opening in the schedule to land this premiere event (au revior, Montreal) on very short notice.

The showcase event gives us yet another opportunity to demonstrate why Maryland is such an excellent choice. We’ll be commenting as more preparations take place prior to Friday’s face off.