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New York is one very big, very crazy, intense city. The messengers of NYC felt that the Independence Day weekend wasn't exciting enough for them, so they invited anyone with enough guts to brave the streets of the Big Apple in what turned out to be one of the largest Alley Cat races ever.

114 couriers from 7 cities, paid the $5 entry fee (a whole bunch more just tagged along) which bought you a manifest, and a (hopefully) lucky tarot card with your rider number on it. I got one with a naked oriental beauty that said "the world" on it. Cool.

The race started at one end of Central Park, consisted of 5 checkpoints and the finish in Brooklyn. There were stops at Times Square, 101 Park Ave, Washington Square, Wall Street, the middle of the Williamsburg Bridge. Your manifest was stamped at each stop, and if you got to the arches at Washington Square early enough, you'd get a Polaroid picture of yourself coughing your lungs out. If you've never visited New York, take my word: this was a long race which kicked many an ass.

The race finished in an abandoned warehouse where a serious stash of home brewed beer was revealed and the celebrating commenced. Out behind the warehouse was a large open field directly facing the East River which we all migrated into, where a massive cook-out was going on featuring fine, NY style vegetarian cuisine as well as a few choice slabs of meat if you had any energy left to fight for a piece.

The fireworks kicked off just after sunset and were absolutely spectacular--a perfect way to celebrate the race! Not ready to quit yet, the party moved to somebody's warehouse squat where a bunch of bands played, the prizes were awarded and more beer was consumed. The overall results got pretty muddied, and it was decided to award prizes to the top rider from each city. First place overall went to Alex from Toronto via SF, and 2nd was Joe Nunn also from Toronto, with both riders wearing the distinctive red and black colors of team Jet Fuel. Bobic from Boston came in 3rd, Ben Stuart was 4th, claiming top NY rider (although Ben worked in DC for many years, rode for team DC in the Toronto CMWC, so we kinda feel like he is our's), Paul Kazemi placed 12th and was top DC courier, Frank was top Montreal courier, I think Esher was the top guy from Philadelphia, and I can't remember who was top Minneapolis messenger. I would not be surprised if it was Amanda, as she won top female honors, and along with Alex, won plane tickets to CMWC ‘97 in Barcelona. Way cool.

The only notable injury happened after the fireworks on the way to the party. Bobic, who had been taking anti biotics from some legitimate medical purpose, ignored medical advice and decided to have a few beers along with his stir fry. Needless to say, the lad from Boston was more than just inebriated when he went smashed his face into the rear bumper of a parked Cadillac. Ouch. Bobic is OK though. The stitches are out, and he's only slightly disfigured. Take it easy, guy!

Saturday took the messengers still in the city to Coney Island for a day of fun on the Boardwalk with video games, cotton candy, bumper cars and KoKo the Killer Clown (Little John got an autographed whoopee cushion). For those still around late in the afternoon, there was a track stand and a skid contest for all the fixed gear freaks. Santana from Boston won the skid competition, "...if the fence weren't there, he would've skidded right into the ocean...", and NY Squid was second. For the track stand contest, everyone was herded into an outlined area. The idea was: the last man standing wins. After a while riders were instructed to take one hand off, and then both hands off, and the winner was the race organizer and man of the hour, Squid.

Four DC couriers made the drive (a fifth took the train) and the two days and two nights were fast and furious. I got two flats, lost all my keys, got all turned around in the alleycat race, lost my camera, found my camera, and ate exclusively at a dinner in Manhattan named Scotties. What a weekend. I had a great time, but was certainly glad to get back to DC and the familiar comforts of home.