Kris Schamp

Hello, everyone!

We are just two days away from the start of the 2016 Portland Short Track Series, so I like to pass along some final updates:

1) Still a couple hours left to purchase your 2016 Series Pass, get a free Short Track pint glass, and enjoy a weekly call-up!
While online registration for Monday's race has closed, you still have until end-of-day today (Saturday) to purchase your 2016 Series Pass online at http://www.portlandracing.com/series-pass-2016.html and race all eight Short Track races for just $150 ($60 for juniors).
Series pass holders will enjoy a weekly priority call-up at the start of their category, receive a free Short Track pint glass, and get their names entered in our free weekly raffle. Once you have registered for the series, all you have to do is pick up your race plate at your first night of racing and you will be all set for the rest of the series (no need to check-in with registration every week).

Preliminary call-up list with all racers who - as of this morning - have already signed up for the series:
http://www.portlandracing.com/call-up-list-2016-06-06.html

Note: if you miss tonight's deadline, you can still register for your race (or the series) on Monday at the races from 4:30pm on. Just make sure to bring cash or checks, since we do NOT accept credit cards (though there is an ATM located at the PIR main entrance).

2) Race plates:
All racers will receive a unique, laminated series race plate, which you will re-use throughout the series. So make sure to bring your plate back each week! If you change categories, you will have get a new plate for that category. Series pass holders and riders who pre-registered online for the first race can pick up their plate at the info desk in front of the motocross tower.
Also, a friendly reminder to correctly attach your race plate to your handlebars, using 3 pipe-cleaners (which you will receive with your plate) and your plate in front of any brake/shifter cables (so our lap counters can easily read your number). Thanks!

3) FREE weekly Short Track Clinics:
Like previous years, we will host every week FREE short track clinics, where novice and intermediate racers (including junior racers) will be able to hone their short track skills and familiarize themselves with the course. We'll have separate clinics for Men and Women, lead by Wenzel Coaching instructors (and elite short track racers) Elaine Bothe and Andrew Coe.
The 1-hour clinics will be held from 5 to 6pm on the short track race course and will include a guided bike-through of the course, various fun skill drills, and a ton of race tips from folks who not only know how to race hard but also how to race smart!
Meet-up for the clinics is at 5:00pm at the Info Desk (next to registration), but you are welcome to "drop in" any time while the clinics are ongoing. You don't have to register in advance for the clinics, but all participants need to fill out a series waiver.

4) FREE "Kids Short Track" Races:
For the little/younger ones, we will organize every week three FREE kids races. At 5:30pm, the "Cat 1 Kids" will do one full lap on the regular short track course. This race is restricted to expert kids who have the ability to race a more technical course, including the more moderate bumps on the motocross course. At 5.35pm, the "Cat 3 Kids" kiddie racers will do a short, 2-minute flat loop. This race is for the very young ones (only 6 and under). Trikes, training wheels and push-bikes are all allowed in this race, as well as helping parents, as long as they don't obstruct the racing kids. Right after the little ones have come in, the "Cat 2 Kids" racers will complete a longer, 5 minute race on a flat, grassy loop under the trees.
To encourage kids to come out and race throughout the series, we will raffle off - at the final night of racing - an Islabike kids bike and various Lumberyard day-passes among all kiddie racers who raced the series. The more races your kids enter, the greater the chance of winning!

5) Hopworks ��� Short Track (and, off course, the other way around)!
We are thrilled to enjoy the continued support of Hopworks Urban Brewery, Portland's all-organic, bike-centric eco-brewpub. In good tradition, they will throw in some much-coveted beer prizes (at least, for racers who are 21 and over) and throughout the series the Hopworks BikeBar (located at 3947 N Williams Ave, just a couple minutes from PIR) will offer a $2.50 "first beer special" to Short Track racers who drop by after the race and flash them their 2016 race plate. The BikeBar features a spacious outdoor patio in the back, plenty of indoor seating, and Happy Hour from 9 to 11pm.

6) Still in need of two more volunteers!
We are still looking for one extra volunteer to help with course set-up (from 3 to 5pm) and another volunteer to help with course marshaling and tear down (from 7 to 9:30pm). If you are available and like to volunteer in exchange for a free race entry (or free series pass if you sign up for the whole series), just shoot me an email at kris@portlandracing.com.

7) Some IMPORTANT safety tips!
On Monday nights between 6pm and 8pm there are ongoing road bike races on the PIR race track. If you are in a rush to get to the short track course, please use the wooden bridge to get to the infield. If you prefer to cross through the main gate (where the road racers enter), we ask you to always follow the directions of the crossing marshals and use caution when crossing the track in either direction. As a general rule, never cross the track when oncoming road racers are in sight. Also, if you come early to pre-ride and there are still cars or motorcycles using the track, you MUST use the bridge to cross the track. Finally, if you drive over to PIR, make sure to not leave any valuables visibly in your car (or unlocked bikes on top of your car).

That's it. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to shoot me an e-mail. Looking forward to seeing you on Monday at PIR to kick off the 2016 Portland Short Track season in style!

Cheers,
~Kris

Portland Racing

PS: A heads-up that next Saturday (June 11), Petr Kakes and Erik Tonkin are bringing back the Skibowl XC MTB Classic. This is an epic MTB race that will be run over some newly developed trails at Mt Hood Skibowl. For more details and online registration, check the OBRA calendar. This race should make for some great training for the 6 Hours of Mt Hood, which will take place just 3 weeks later (on Sunday July 3) at the same venue (though mostly on different trails).