CLEVELAND, APRIL 26, 2012 – Fast Track Cycling, a Cleveland-based, non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, is pleased to announce that it has signed a purchase contract with V-Worldwide, Inc. to bring a 166-meter steel and wood velodrome track to the Broadway Slavic Village neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the site at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1. The first shipments of steel are scheduled to arrive the week of May 7th and assembly will occur over a several week period. The velodrome track’s grand opening will occur on Saturday, June 16, 2012 (time TBD – we will announce this with a media advisory).

Fast Track announced plans in January 2010 to build a velodrome track at the site of the former St. Michael’s Hospital in Broadway Slavic Village. Fast Track Cycling recently signed a ground lease agreement with the City of Cleveland for the 8.4 acre site for $1 per year. Today’s announcement is the realization of the Phase I goal – constructing the track itself.

The track will be constructed from galvanized steel and a marine-grade plywood riding surface. A $50,000 grant from The Cleveland Foundation helped Fast Track complete the Phase I capital requirement of $300,000, which includes the cost of track bicycles and other related equipment. Lead donors to Phase I include Matt Litzler, Panther Expedited Services, Inc., the Clarke Family, and Mike Sherwin. Gold Medal donors include University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Drummond Road Capital (Morris H. Wheeler), the Gori Family and Kohrman Jackson & Krantz P.L.L.

Fast Track is seeking volunteers during May and early June to help with landscaping, painting, track assembly and track programming.
Fast Track Cycling President Brett Davis signed the purchase contract with Dale Hughes, president of Rochester Hills, Mich.-based V-Worldwide, Inc., an international designer and builder of Olympic-style velodromes. V-Worldwide built and operates the International Velodrome at Bloomer Park in Rochester Hills, Mich. More recently, V-Worldwide built the track for the Chicago Velo Campus, a track identical to the one that will be built in Cleveland.

“After many years of hard work we are thrilled to bring a velodrome track to Cleveland,” said Brett Davis, Board President, Fast Track Cycling. “Phase I – the outdoor track – allows Fast Track to implement youth and adult programming and will serve as a tool to raise additional funds to enclose the track for year-round use. While we are very pleased to reach the Phase I target, fund-raising will continue towards the ultimate goal of an enclosed, year-round track and sports center.”

“This velodrome is a welcome addition for cycling enthusiasts in the City of Cleveland,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “It will allow for people of all ages in the City to be exposed to the culture of the international sport of fast-track cycling and give them an additional form of physical activity to engage in.”

“This is a terrific opportunity for Broadway Slavic Village,” said Marie Kittredge, Executive Director of Slavic Village Development. “The velodrome is a perfect fit for us, because of our central location, and our community’s commitment to active lifestyles and physical fitness. The velodrome will complement the gymnastics programming at the adjacent Sokol Czech Cultural Center, the community’s two new athletic fields, the First Tee Golf Course, and the Morgana Bike Trail. The Velodrome is two blocks from the Downtown Trail that will connect Downtown Cleveland to the Towpath, which is in the planning stage.”

Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport that is featured in the Olympic Games and held on specially built banked velodromes. As part of its mission to promote the sport of cycling, Fast Track will implement youth and adult programming. Fast Track will provide free coaching, free track time and free equipment rental for youth aged 18 and under, and affordable membership-based adult programming for recreational and competitive cyclists. Phase I of the project as well as future phases will promote urban redevelopment of the Broadway Slavic Village neighborhood and will create economic impact through annual visitors, hotel room nights and jobs. Detailed capital budgets and operational projections have been developed for each of the three phases of the project. Within its first year, Fast Track estimates over 3,000 annual visitors. In order to fund future phases, Fast Track will continue seeking naming rights sponsors, corporate sponsors, foundation grants, federal/state/local grants and charitable donations from the cycling community.

Fast Track is collaborating with Slavic Village Development Corporation and has received all of the necessary approvals from the Mayor’s Office, Cleveland City Council and the Cleveland Planning Commission. Fast Track plans to work closely with various neighborhood groups including Sokol Greater Cleveland, University Settlement and Boys & Girls Club.

The Slavic Village site is located southeast of the intersection of Pershing and Broadway and offers proximity to all of greater Cleveland, with excellent freeway access to I-77, I-90, I-71, I-490 and I-480.

Project Benefits
• Health & wellness – all abilities, all access, all community

• Youth programming

• Urban redevelopment

• Year-round community, recreational, elite and regional use

• Nationally unique venue to attract and retain young, active adults to Northeast Ohio

• Appeal to a growing market – Cleveland area cyclists

• Ability to host regional, national and international events throughout the year

• Potential training center for Olympic and professional cyclists (road and track)

For More Information

Brett Davis – Board President: info@clevelandvelodrome.org or (216) 256-4285

Matt Litzler – Vice President: mlitzler@calitzler.com or (216) 409-0264

John Bodell – Fundraising Co-Chair: john.bodell@rrd.com or (216) 706-7829

Follow our progress on Facebook.com/clevelandvelodrome

We have some very exciting news to share about the Cleveland Velodrome – stop by and join the celebration!  There will be free draft as well as bottled beer available along with non-alcoholic options and light snacks.

Thursday March, 8th from 4 – 7pm at:
Sokol Greater Cleveland
(next door to the site of the Velodrome)
4939 Broadway Avenue, Cleveland
(parking is located behind the Sokol Center off of Pershing Ave.)

If you’re on Facebook, please use this link to RSVP and to invite other cycling supporters:

https://www.facebook.com/events/260498117360300/

Velodrome site plans for the track to be built this spring will be on display along with vintage photos of the Cleveland track scene in 1930′s and 40′s.  Fast Track’s board members will be on hand to individually answer any questions you may have about the project (including how you can help).

Our last event was attended by over 50 members and supporters of the Cleveland cycling community.  We will have bigger and better door prizes and will be drawing tickets throughout the evening, so it pays to get there early!

Phase I of the Cleveland Velodrome project in Slavic Village is scheduled to open in June of 2012 – but we need your help.  We continue to make steady progress on fundraising for Phase I of the project.  To date, we have raised over $200,000 towards our $300,000 Phase I goal – leaving a $100,000 gap.  To close the gap we are seeking 45 new Founders Club Members at $1,000 each ($45,000), have a grant request pending with Cleveland Foundation ($50,000) and a funding request pending with Cleveland Clinic ($10,000 to $25,000).  We are also preparing grant requests for Brentwood Foundation and Bruening Foundation.  Now is the time – we need to close the gap by March 1 so that we can achieve our targeted June 2012 grand opening.

The $200,000 we have raised is comprised as follows:

· $50,000 from JAM Foundation (Matt Litzler, one of our Board members)
· $50,000 donation from track builder
· $25,000 from Panther Expedited Trucking/Clarke Family Foundation (http://www.pantherexpedite.com/)
· $75,000 in Founders Club Pledges (75 members at $1,000 each). Goal is 120 members – we need 45 more!
· $5,000 in Gold Medal Club Pledges (1 pledge at $5,000, Morris Wheeler)

I would like for you to consider making a $1,000 pledge and become a member of our Founders Club.  In return for your pledge you receive a three (3) year free membership, a brick paver with your name in the infield and recognition on our website.  Here is the link to the pledge form for your convenience.  You can also go to our new website and make your $1,000 payment online.

The civic and community benefits of the project are best summarized as follows:

· Youth programming for the community – free coaching, track time and equipment rental for youth aged 18 and under;
· Affordable and structured adult programming for recreational and competitive cyclists – promote the sport of cycling for its numerous health and wellness benefits.
· Urban redevelopment of Slavic Village/Broadway neighborhood – our multi phase project will create economic impact through annual visitors, hotel room nights and jobs.

Feel free to call Fast Track Board President Brett Davis at 216-256-4285 with any questions.

Also, here is a link to an intro to track racing for roadies.  It’s a good read.  Here is a brief synopsis… less travel, more spectators, great way to get in shape and the best way to get faster in both sprinting and time trials.

Fast Track Cycling, the non-profit organization that is behind the Cleveland Velodrome project is hosting a Happy Hour at Sokol Greater Cleveland at 4939 Broadway Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio from 4pm to 7pm tomorrow evening (Friday 1/27/12). Sokol is located next door to the site where the outdoor velodrome track will be starting June of 2012.  The beer will be cold and free thanks to Sokol Greater Cleveland.

Stop by and learn about our June 2012 grand opening, our youth and adult programming, how we plan to revitalize the once proud Slavic Village neighborhood and how you can get faster by riding on the track.  Members of our Board of Trustees will be there to talk about the project and answer questions.  We will also be selling raffle tickets for a new 2011 Specialized Langster track bike.  Please stop by on your way home or on your way out for the evening.

Thanks,

Brett Davis
Board President

Fast Track Cycling, Inc. a 501c3 non-profit and its volunteer Board of Trustees have been working to bring a velodrome cycling track to Cleveland since 2007.  We are pleased announce that Phase I of the plan is close to becoming a reality.

Phase I is a 166 meter outdoor track.  We are in the final stages of fundraising with the goal of opening the track June of 2012.

The outdoor track allows us to establish the demand for track cycling in this region and to start building our youth programming a track racing culture in the Cleveland area.