The Windsor Star from Windsor, Ontario, Canada • 31

THE WINDSOR STAR, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1992 C9 No sponsors, no race, cycling club warns The race was first held in 1958 and travelled the same 1.7-km layout which played host to Sundays event. Beginning on Erie Street, the circuit travels east to Parent Avenue, then south to Giles Boulevard, west to Howard Avenue and north to Erie. The storied history of the event has seen many of cyclists participate, including Canadian Olympians Gord Singleton, Jocelyn Lovell, Sylvia Burka and local riders Kelly Anne Way and Sean Way. Top American riders who have competed include Eric Heiden, Alex Stieda and Sheila Young. To lose this race would be tragic, said Jon Shell of Burbank, Ohio, who won Sundays mens prosenior I-II event.

YOUVE GOT a real good area for a race here. There are real race fans out here. They get behind the riders and really cheer them on. You see them in their yards, watching the races, having little parties and just really supporting the riders. Its a great feeling.

I certainly hope it continues, said Marshall, Still, of the race's estimated $15,000 budget, less than one-third was covered by sponsorship money. People say its the economy and maybe it is, Chiodo said. Maybe its just a lack of interest. THE ERIE STREET Business Association has always backed the race, although Chiodo is dismayed by the fact that some Erie Street merchants draw benefits from the event and choose not to support it. We try to survive by getting five dollars here, 10 dollars there, but if you don't have the money, you cant do anything," Chiodo said.

He has seen financial setbacks from the race cut into his own clubs participation in events in other cities. Last year, our club lost about $4,000. 1 had to tell the guys we couldnt go to some races. Participation certainly isnt a problem. Some 400 riders entered the races on Sunday, competing in six separate divisions.

"The turnout was excellent, Chiodo said. In Senior III-IV, we just about filled our limit of 130. That's up about 40 or 50 from last year. By Bob DuffStar Sports Reporter The status of the 1993 Windsor Classic bicycle race is listed as day to day. Its 50-50," race organizer Dino Chiodo said about the future of the 25-year-old event, held annually on Labor Day weekend through the streets of Windsor.

Its like heads or tails." The key dilemma facing race organizers is the lack of a major corporate sponsor. If one does not come forward in the next year, the burden of putting on next years race may be too much to handle. Chiodo is president of the Caboto Velo Club, which took over promotion and organization of the Windsor Classic late last year. The club managed to keep the race alive, but lacking significant financial backing, absorbed a loss in the process. THIS YEAR, the Olive Garden restaurant came on board as a sponsor.

The Olive Garden has done a great job, Chiodo says. "Theyve helped out a lot and Ev-erfresh supplied all of the beverages for the riders, which also helps Mich, native Laura Charameda, who won her second straight womens event on Sunday. "Theres such a warm community feeling when you race here. And they really put a lot of effort into the womens event, which you dont always see at other races. "THEY HAVE put a lot of effort and support into all of the events, Shell said.

At a lot of races, they are cutting back on the junior and cadet events, which is where you build your future. There's nothing like this race in the U.S., said Wiley Mullins, a Detroit native who rides for Windsors Maple Leaf Cycling Club. His clubmate Ceri Faas was competing in her first Windsor Classic and feared for the future of the sport locally if the race were to end. I think youd still see the regulars out, said Faas, whose husband Tim competed in the senior III-IV race. But you may see less new people coming out to try cycling, especially kids, because this is where they get exposed to the sport.

Sue Palmer, a Collingwood native attending teachers college at the University of Windsor, competed in her first Windsor Classic on Sunday, finishing second to Charameda. She was counting on the race being there for her again next year. Its always been one of the top road races in Ontario, Palmer said. Ive always wanted to race in it, but this is the first year Ive been able to make it. It wouldnt be good for the sport if it got cancelled." I hate to think of this race not being on my calendar," Charameda said.

She can pencil it in for the time being and should know by the early spring whether to mark it in ink, or simply erase it THIS YEAR, I wrote to several companies requesting sponsorship, Chiodo said. Several of them didnt even respond. Im going to try that route again, but this time, theres going to be a deadline. Well need a commitment by February or March. If we dont have enough support for the race by the end of March, we'U cancel it." California cyclist celebrates homecoming at Windsor event By Bob Duff Star Sports Reporter The more she comes back to the Windsor Classic bicycle races, the more Laura Charameda feels at home.

This is my race, the Marshall, Mich, native said after winning the 25.5-km womens race through the streets of Windsor on Sunday. It was Charamedas second consecutive Windsor triumph. She finished second in the race in 1990. This is one of the few chances I get to come back and see my family," Charameda said. She now makes her home in Mountain View, Calif.

It isnt often that they get to see me race. Sue Palmer, a Collingwood native attending the University of Windsor, was second and Julie Farele of Kitchener was third. With several of her friends, family and loved ones lining the streets, Charameda, who earned $262 for her win, ensured the party afterwards would be well-stocked, winning eight of the 15 one-lap sprint prizes up for grabs in the 15-lap race, including several bottles of wine. I knew there would be a celebration and I wanted to make sure we had something to celebrate with, she said. My mom likes wine.

I won some here last year and we really liked it. WITH 36 WINS to her credit, Charameda describes 1992 as her most successful season. Ive won this many races in a year before, but the races Im winning now are much bigger than in the past. Ive been winning a lot of the major national races. She added to the hometown flavor last year by winning while wearing the jersey of Windsors Caboto Velo Club.

This year, she wore the orange and yellow of Team Kahlua, which is sponsored by Windsor's Hiram Walker Distilleries. I didn't even realize they were located here in Windsor until I met some of their people," Charameda said. Ive been riding part-time for them this year, but Im hoping it will become full-time. Keeping with the family atmosphere, Roberto Gaggioli, Charamedas boyfriend, won the mens race in 1990. The 1992 version of the mens race went to a rider from Team Columbus for the second straight year.

Jon Shell of Burbank, Ohio led an Ohio sweep of the top three placings in the 85km event, earning $2,000 for his efforts. Shell, 24, finished third behind teammate Tim Swift last year. Star photoRob Gurdebeke LISA HALVERSON, of Detroit, is given first aid as ambulance attendants prepare to take her to hospital after a collision during the Windsor Classic bicycle races. Halverson shattered several teeth and suffered cuts and bruises. Canadian dances to victory 0 Star News Services GOLF ROUNDUP i se a pick-up read da viewing grid quick reference movie guide jRa more readable print style His trademark headphones long gone, the man still known as "Disco Dick strutted to victory on the course where he earned the nickname a decade ago.

Richard Zokol of Whistler, B.C., finished at 19-under-par 269 to win the Greater Milwaukee Open on Sunday for his first PGA Tour victory. "This tournament is very special to me, said Zokol, who earned $180,000 and now has earned more than $1.1 million in 11 years on the PGA Tour. "This is where Disco Dick debuted the first time I got into contention on the PGA Tour. It gets me into the Masters, it gets me into the Tournament of Champions, the World Series of Golf. It keeps me out of qualifying school.

After three-putting for bogey on the par-3 17th, a two-putt par on 18 gave Zokol, 34, a round of 5-under-par 67 at the Tuckaway Country Club course. Zokol remembered a different Milwaukee Open on the same course, when he led the tournament after three rounds in 1982, his first year on tour. I WAS VERY intense as a rookie out here, dealing with pressure," said Zokol, who listened to music while he played. I needed to check out for a while. "Sam Snead used to say you have to smell the flowers between the shots.

The Walkman helped me stay focused between the shots." Zokol said he lost his edge at the Milwaukee Open when he stopped listening to music and tuned in to radio coverage of the tournament Calvin Peete won and Zokol finished in a tie for fifth. Zokol entered the final round Sunday one stroke behind third-round leader and defending champion Mark Brooks. A triple-bogey by Brooks on the final hole cinched Zokols victory. I had a lot of lucky breaks coming In and basically had it handed to me on a silver platter. And Ill take it, thank you very much, Zokol said.

Dick Mast finished second at 17-under 271, whle Brooks, Dudley Hart and Tom Lehman came in at third with 15-under-par 273. Dan Halldorson of Brandon, also had an important payday when his 4-under 68 gave him a 10-under 278 total and earned him $13,533, which pushed his seasons winnings to just over $90,000 and moved him into the top 130 on the overall money list, the cut-off point for retaining his tour card. LPGA: Nancy Lopez earned her first LPGA victory of the year and the 45th of her career Monday when she tapped in a par putt on the first playoff hole to beat Laura Davies and win the $450,000 Rail Charity Classic. Davies, the leader entering the final round, bogeyed the playoff hole, missing an eight-foot par putt. Lopez who shot an 8-under par 64 in the final round, and Davies, who had a 67, were tied at 17-under-par 199 after 54 holes.

Florence Descampe of Belgium shot a 66 to finish another stroke back. The victory was Lopezs first since the Sara Lee Classic in May 1991. She has earned $3,575,736.83 on the LPGA Tour since joining in 1977. The top Canadian was Barb Bunkowsky of Burlington who shot 208. Seniors: Not even a double-bogey on the final hole could keep Gibby Gilbert from winning the Senior, PGA Tours First of America Classic event Sunday in -Grand Rapids, Mich.

Gilbert three-putted from about 15 feet for a six on i 1 the 398-yard 18th hole to finish with a 3-under-par 68 on the Elks Highlands course. But Dick Hendrickson and Harold Henning bogeyed the hole to give Gilbert the $60,000 winners share of the $400,000 purse. Gary Cowan of Kitchener finished at 4-over 217 after a 71. Bob Panasik of Tecumseh shot 70 for a 220 total. European Masters: James Spence of England fired a 12-under-par 60 the lowest score on a par-72 course in the history of the PGA European Tour and then beat Anders Forsbrand of Sweden in a playoff to win the European Masters on Sunday In Switzerland.

Spence, who began the round 10 strokes behind third-round leader Colin Montgomerie of Scotland, beat Forsbrand with a birdie on the second hole of the sudden-death playoff. The pair finished regulation with 17-under 271 totals on the Crans-sur-Sierre course. Forsbrand closed with a 65. and all that youll need to stay on top of T.V.! Watch for it on Saturday, September 12th The Windsor Star The newspaper at the of your community..