Race Across America 1987 and 1988: Franz Spilauer Austrian Television Video Translation

Transcribed by Chris Kostman. Translated by Wayne Kostman.

This video translation is sometimes paraphrased and always at least condensed. Do not take it to be verbatim, expecially the quotes! Those of you who need to know every last word can study German for ten years, then try to wade through the thick Austrian dialect in this video. I do hope you enjoy the video and thanks for your support of RAAM!

Studio: Basic RAAM background: The first race took place in 1982. The course is 5,107 kilometers long. Riders sleep very little.

San Francisco: San Francisco is on the West Coast of the United States. Many think it is the most beautiful city in the U.S.

House: In this house where Franz's masseure is living in San Francisco, Franz stayed for the week before the race. These two men, Peter Reingruber and Gephardt Patzer, are preparing his body for the race. (With bike), Kurt Schneider is the technical adviosr and repairman. He is a former racer himself and is a racing sport insider. (With food), Kurt Zellhoffer is in charge of food and psychology and was a member of the Austrian National Team.

Austria: The training for the RAAM began many months back in Austria. Here Franz is in the middle of a 24 hour training ride on the roads outside of Vienna.

Stationary bike: Franz's training also encompansses studies of proper nutrition. He is taking tests to study the effects of various nutrtional systems.

Dr. Haber: This doctor is very skeptical about Franz's plans and is expressing concern about cell breakdown and negative effects on the muscles and heart.

Franz: Meanwhile, Franz continues to train day and night, riding between Vienna and a distant suburb three times a day.

Dr. Homan: This doctor is also very skeptical and is expressing concern about the amount of sleep deprivation requisite to racing RAAM. He is conducting tests at 24 and 48 hour intervals on Franz to test his muscles and lungs and the effects on them of sleep derprivation. He is also testing his ability to concentrate and for the occurence of hallucinations. The doctor concludes by telling of tests run on dogs who died after being kept awake for seven days straight.

Dr. Marktl: This doctor is explaining how stressful continuous exercise coupled with sleep deprivation is to the body. He also explains that the use of drugs in this type of athletic event would be worthless and, in fact, totally dangerous. He likens drug use in athletics to suicide.

San Francisco: Grouped on the coast near San Francisco are seven women and 28 men. The Washington Monument on the East Coast is their one and only goal. Many are not there not for the first time. The Austrian is the only European. Bridge: They start by crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and staying as a group for 50 miles. Their route will take them through 13 major cities and 12 states. The highest point is Berthoud Pass at 3,730 meters in the Rocky Mountains. During the first day the racers will mostly stay together. The route is very hilly and most will go out without sleep for the first 40 hours. Franz hopes to break the existing record of 8 days, 9 hours, 47 minutes, but this is a new route and he knows the Rockies are ahead.

Sacramento: Riding down Capitol Avenue in Sacramento, the first to reach California's capitol is Bob Fourney. Fourney managed to slip past the bridge while the others were held up. In a race this long, this is negligible and after a short rest they are chasing again.

Nevada: On the 2nd day they enter open country with very few people. Shelby: Shelby Hayden-Clifton dropped out on the 3rd day with exhaustion. Night: During the 2nd night, Franz is in 3rd, then 2nd, then 1st. He has slept only one or two hours. Trucks: After the cold night, the heat of Nevada. Now the riders are in Utah and some of their travel companions are the trucks. After 1,700 kilometers, they reach the Colorado border.

Jim Penseyres: Jim Penseyres is getting a massage and a pep talk. By now almost all of the riders have blisters on their hands and feet and cramps.

In the lead is Michael Secrest, but he's had an asthma attack and is having a hard time breathing and thus can barely ride. Franz: Franz crossed Berthoud Pass in good shape and is in 3rd position. Franz-"I have a boil on my butt and blisters on my feet..."

Denver: Denver arrived on the 5th day by noon after 2,200 kilometers. Secrest: "Physically, I'm getting better. A doctor treated me for my asthma. ...English... My legs are fine. This is an extremely difficult race. many say it is only so because of the sleep deprivation, but the course is incredibly tough."

Kansas; Missourri: The days and nights roll into one another. After Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, they have 4,300 kilometers behind them. Franz has been varying between 3rd and 4th place. Only 27 racers are left. Franz's toughest competitor is Bob Fourney. In Virginia, Bob is getting closer and closer to Franz. Now Franz can take no more than three hours of sleep a night and therefore he is hallucinating. Franz must then take more breaks.

Secrest: 15 kilometers from the finish, Secrest is having problems. Michael Secrest arrived in D.C. on the 9th night of the race. After 9 days, 11 hours, and 35 minutes, and after 5 attempts, including two 2nd place finishes, the 34 year old from Flint, Michigan has won. For this he earned 250,000 Schillings (app. $20,000) from his sponsors. (This undoubtedly means for expenses, not a profit above and beyond expenses, but who knows?) Secrest- "I feel fine, but I'm tired. I no longer have any muscle cramps. As long as I ride I'm fine, but my knees stiffen when I'm off the bike. It will take me six weeks before I'm back to normal and my resting pulse rate is down to 48 beats per minute."

Franz: Mike Trail was 2nd, just 2 hours after Secrest, then 9 hours later Franz arrived. He had managed to fend off Fourney's attacks near the end. Franz- "This is a big event in a big city. This is a real high point for me." Interviewer- "What was the most difficult moment in the last ten days?" Franz- "Being alone during the long nights and maintaining my concentration." Zellhoffer- "Because of his lack of sleep, Franz questioned his crew's instructions and lost his sense of judgement." Franz: "What kept me going was my overall fascination with what I was doing and how it affected me, the testing of my body and seeing how far I could push myself."

Narrator: Franz's sleeping time was a total of just under 20 hours. He is the first European in history to place in this race.

Studio scene: Ignore this. Fast forward to the '88 race or take a popcorn break at this point.

End of '87 RAAM video.

Race Across America 1988- Franz Spilauer Austrian Television Video Translation

Studio: Franz Spilauer placed 3rd last year and this year he won in an unbelievable nine day race.

Franz: For 33 year old Spilauer, his training begins months in advance and partially in the univeristy clinic. Franz- "Part of my fascination is the difficulty in preparing for a race like this. I'm trying to avoid my problems of last year."

Doctor: More discussion of the dangers of drug use much like as in last year's video.

Hotel: Last year, Franz stayed in a small home before the race and this year he and his team will stay in an air-conditioned hotel. His team costs, including cars and a motor home, will add up to 800,000 Schillings ($60,000). Altogether, 11 people will accompany Franz on the race.

Start, Crissy Field: The day of the race comes sooner than expected. With 39 riders competing, Franz is as well-equipped as any of them and because of his performance last year he has earned the respect of his fellow racers. This race is 5,070 kilometers long, the equivalent of a European race between Lisbon, Portugal and Istanbul, Turkey. At the beginning, the group remains together for several hours in a relatively easy ride. Sacramento: Templin is the first to arrive in California's capitol, Sacramento, as none of the others want to keep up his pace. Knowing what lies ahead, the Austrian is content to set his own pace. Interviewer- "Franz, how were the last 10 hours?" Franz- "It's extremely hot and the tempo is very fast. I'm going to set my own pace."

As the sun sets on the 1st night, Franz is 2 hours behind. Templin: Virtually all of the racers have covered 30 hours without a break, especially Templin. Last year Rob was 6th and this year he is determined to win. The loud speakers on his car help him set his pace. Reno: The next morning brings a temperature which many of the racers have never before experienced. It pushed many of the riders to the edge and meanwhile there support vehicles also overheated. Temperatures reached 104 degress F. on the Loneliest Highway in America. Jim Penseyres: (this scene is from '87!)

Bob Fourney: The American Bob Fourney is within catching distance throughout the 1st three days. Bob- "Franz and I are good friends and we help each other. It's going to be him or me. We trade places every half hour, which doesn't really matter." Franz and Bob are right on each other's tails. On the 4th evening, Franz passed Bob for the last time. Fourney would be the 11th dropout of this year's race. The leaders are now in Colorado and the next hurdle is the Rockies, more than 3,000 meters above sea level. Templin has covered more than 2,500 kilometers with just five hours of sleep.

Mountains: 5 hours later, Franz reached the race's highest point. Three riders are ahead, but they've all slept less than Franz. At the summit, Franz's doctor takes a blood sample to study. In spite of so little sleep, Franz has had no hallucinations and he is in better shape than last year. Interviewer- "Does the presence of all these cheering fans help?" Franz- "Yes, it really does!"

Hospital: The blood is put into a centrifuge for testing. All of this work is having its effect on the crew as well. Franz is taking some medication for allergies and so these tests are in part to verify that his medication is legal. Franz is burning 15,000 calories a day, the equivalent of 33 wienerschnitzels (veal cutlets)!

Cindi Staiger: Crews must help their rider psychologically. Different crews co different things to help their rider reach their goal. Cindi Staiger of Long Beach, California is one of six women in the race. Here in Missourri she can't take it any longer and her crew is convincing her to continue. She will eventually place first.

Karen Anderson: Karen is racing her first RAAM after having qualified in a 1,000 mile qualifier (wrong!). Karen- "There's no reason why women can't compete with men in a race like this. I'm absolutely convinced that I'll make it to Washington." Karen would eventually place 2nd, 20 hours behind Cindi Staiger.

Franz: At the beginning of the 6th night, Franz is 8 hours behind Templin and Fedrigon and he must rest. Two hours later, he's on his way again. Feeling energized, Franz made up three hours on the leaders the next day.

900 kilometers from the finish, Franz must take his last opportunity to win. Everybody is suffering from the heat. Night: Interviewer- "How does the remaining time in the race look?" Franz- "The heat during the next two days will definitely affect the outcome." Franz and Templin: During the night Spilauer overtakes Templin for the last time. Franz will sleep for the last time in the final two days as Washington becomes even bigger.

Finish: Spilauer wins the RAAM with a time of 9 days, 7 hours, 9 minutes. Franz- "When I passed Templin, I thought he looked beaten and I didn't think he could win." Doctor- "The blood tests indicate everything is normal. He is physically and psychologically in good shape. There were no medical problems. No feet problems as last year. Franz- "I'll never do this again. I now know my mental and physical limits. Many of the roads were bad and the heat was terrible." Franz Spilauer, the first European to win this race and the people of Washington celebrate with him.

Studio: Ignore this. There are several minutes of this including a couple minutes of the 1988 Tour de France during which the tape ends.

End of '88 RAAM video.

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