Kris Schamp
Greetings fellow OBRA racers!
The third edition of the Portland MTB Short Track Series has come to an end. Last Monday, during our last night of racing, we broke the mark of 300 racers. In the Sport Men field alone we counted 101 racers!
Across the six races of this year's edition, we saw a total of 433 unique racers, 262 of whom raced the series for the very first time! It was great to see so many new faces each week and it was even greater to see so many families with kids enjoying the weekly event. I like to thank everyone who came out to race and watch and helped us make it such a fun and successful event.
The preliminary results of last Monday's race are posted at:
http://www.portlandracing.com/results-07-30-2007-prelim.html
The final series standings (with all 42 podium finishers) are posted at:
http://www.portlandracing.com/series-standings.html
Also check out the final video report shot by Scott Barker and featuring some very cool "reverse helmet cam" footage:
http://www.portlandracing.com/video-07-30-2007.html
I further would like to thank our great sponsors, many of them local companies:
- Our Series title sponsor Clif Bar, who contributed generously with products, prizes and a royal cash purse for our pro/semi-pro podium finishers.
- the fine folks at Chris King, who provided free mechanical support and lemonade to our racers, topping it all off with some much coveted primes and prizes.
- Our special women sponsor Bike N Hike.
- Our special kiddie race sponsor, the Bike Gallery.
- Giant, Yakima, Trek, Wend Magazine and Dirt Rag Magazine, who all contributed to our series raffle with some awesome prizes.
- St Honore Bakery and New Seasons Market, who provided the delicious, free food you got to enjoy each week after your race
- Pyramid Brewing and Tazo, who supplied us with our weekly beverage prizes.
Feel free to send them a word of thanks, or even better, support their business with your wallet.
Finally, a huge THANK YOU to the more than 40 volunteers who helped out this year. From the people at the registration desk, to the lap counters and course marshals, to the medics, Luciano "the voice of short track", and our kiddie race volunteers, to the folks who helped set up and tear down the course each week, and so many others, you all did an awesome job! Without the help of this amazing group of people, we wouldn't be able to pull it off.
We will back next year with more short track racing. Now, it's time for you to relax, enjoy the rest of your summer and get all ready for cross season!
Thanks again and hope to see you around at the races!
~Kris
www.portlandracing.com
PS: talking about the upcoming cyclocross season, Portland Racing has two more races up its sleeve for this fall, both taking place at Kruger's Farm on Sauvie Island. The first race - coming up in about 6 weeks - is the inaugural Kruger's Kermesse Farm Crit (on Saturday September 15). More details on this new "concept race" will be forthcoming. The second race is the much-anticipated 2nd edition of the Kruger's Crossing Cyclocross Classic, which will take place on Sunday November 25th. Anyway, make sure to mark your calendars and get ready for more bike race fun!