Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9505010053
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Some people have all the luck.
Come Monday, as most of us Tour DuPont groupies scramble for THE BEST SPOT to see Lance, or Viatcheslav, or the other "champions of the spoke," Kathryn Neighbors will walk out her front door, unfold her lawn chair and calmly wait for the racers to come to her.
Neighbors lives on Twelve O'Clock Knob Road, the gnarly, killer mountain that could make, or break, the cyclists. She lives on the south face of the mountain, where the cyclists will be cruising downgrade at a pretty good clip.
She'll take snapshots, munch on her sandwich and wave to the cyclists, just as she did last year. Some even waved back at her.
For those of us who don't have a ready-made perch, or friends who live along the route - not to worry. There are plenty of other choice spots along the 23-mile route. Here's a list of some of them, in order, from start to finish.
And remember, the route will generally be closed from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., so whatever spot you stake out, you'll probably be stuck there for a couple of hours. Bring sunscreen, your Tour DuPont guide, wife, husband, kids, lawn chairs, food, drinks and maybe a crossword puzzle to pass the time between cyclists. Time trials are not the most enthralling spectator sport.
On Riverside Drive in Salem, between Colorado and Front streets. Grassy area, near the river, but not much parking.
Along Twelve O'Clock Knob, but you better get there early - like 6 a.m. There are only a few pullouts along this narrow, winding road, and they'll go fast. Vehicles must be completely off the road, and the police will check this. Also, watch out for cyclists as you go up there. Many do a practice run early in the morning before the race.
Bent Mountain fire station at Twelve O'Clock and U.S. 221. Warning: Groups of elementary school kids from across the street also will be there watching, or not watching, the race.
Countryway General Store on 221, where owner Randy Conner welcomes anyone with a lawn chair to set it up outside. Last year, he had about 30 folks hanging around. The advantage here is that his store is stocked with snacks and cold drinks.
Going up Mount Chestnut Road, there's a school bus shelter at Ivy Mountain Road that might be sort of cozy.
Cave Spring Baptist Church at the intersection of Roselawn Drive and 221 has an inviting, lush lawn from which to watch the cyclists come flying off Chestnut Mountain, the last major hill in the time trial. It's basically flat from here to the finish.
St. John Lutheran Church on 221 also has a nice green lawn, and folks are welcome to come by.
Brambleton Center on 221 - you can't miss it. There's a big blue Tour DuPont banner hanging out front. The Roanoke County Parks and Recreation Department will have lunches and drinks for sale, a big-screen TV inside, and one outside under a canopy to catch the close-ups. Park behind the building.
Fishburn Park on 221, and Lakewood Park, at Brambleton Avenue and Brandon Road, both are open to the public. Parking might be tricky.
Wasena Bridge was a favorite last year.
B&D Comics on Elm Street also welcomes folks to watch the racers from the parking lot. "The more, the merrier. Bring a lawn chair," says owner Terry Baucom. "It really is a good view of them coming off the bridge."
The Second Street side of City Hall; there's a stone wall folks can sit on and watch the riders screech around the last turn, onto Campbell Avenue, before they head into the final stretch.
Once you're downtown, you're on your own. The big excitement in this event comes at the finish line, at the City Market, and it probably will be swamped.
You'll have to fight for the few city benches, and the ones facing the street will be in high demand.
Last year, some folks discovered the view from the top of the Center in the Square parking garage, where you can see the turn from Second Street onto Campbell Avenue, and the attack on the finish line.
And, for the adventurous, how about an airplane or helicopter ride? Allen Lambert, a pilot for Hillman Aviation, said it's doable. For about $70 an hour, you can hire a plane and pilot to fly over the race.
But, Lambert said, because of the proximity to Roanoke Regional Airport, air-traffic controllers won't want airplanes flying too low, or too slow, or trying to follow one particular rider. What you'd get is an overview at between 1,000 and 2,000 feet - you won't know which rider is which.
Helicopters might have more leeway, but they charge about $450 or $500 an hour, Lambert said.
"So, how much do you want to watch the race?" he said. "I believe I'd sit in the Jefferson Club with a set of binoculars. Over by the bar."
by CNB