Randy Dreiling

Hi Again

Couple things, sorry this may run long.

I know there have been a lot said, but who ever said promoters should read these post is right, I have read every reply and I am sorry I have not replied to everyone, but there are so many, so I'll try and answer the many questions from my view as a promoter of 10+ years, but am just one promoter.


Oakridge was canceled because of the forest service did not approve having the race in May, IF I could of had the race in May I would have.
YES I have had some of my events not run smooth, some were my fault I admit that and I am sorry, out 30+ events a couple could have been better staffed and more on time, but it is hard to get help in small towns at times. others races were late because racers asked to wait on a fellow racers, I remember when I was asked to wait a 1/2 hour for some racers running late and the racers voted to wait, then people were mad at me. Why? you asked to wait?? I only did what I was asked. I say this tongue in cheek, but it is funny how SOMETIMES when a racers has a good race it is all the racers, but if they have a bad race it gets blamed of the promoter, I have had this happen more then once a racer has a bad race and bitches up a storm about this and that and then couple weeks later admits I am sorry I was having a bad race...well the damage is done, you told people X race was bad and they listened and some will now never attend X race. Please be careful what
you say about an event.

YES number are down at Summer races that is a fact and I am sure all the reasons are part of why (Cross, Short Track,family, travel...), I am sorry I just can not afford to loose money on a race again, which has happened 4 times to me. It cost money to put on races: Oakridge pays fair prize money and we make donations to all our volunteer groups, add in insurance, OBRA, awards and we try and offer free shirts...and you are lucky if you make a couple hundred dollars...it drives me NUTS! when people say wow Randy must have made $7,000 at X race...the most I ever made was $1,500 at the 2nd 12 Hour of Willamette Pass. The most I made at a DH was $600 at one of the first Shotguns, the most made on an XC was way back and that was $1,000. Given all the time effort it comes out to a couple bucks an hour I make
I do NOT take this lightly, this was really hard for me, some of you have become like family over the last 10 years and some of you have what I consider to be good friends, couple of you drive me nuts haha :)

Food: Oakridge is a small town and our local restaurants are supportive of cycling, because after events racers stop and eat at their places. I do not offer food, so that a couple times a year you will support them and leave a positive image for cycling. Small towns need all the business they can get, because the winters are long and hard up here and ski resort people rarely stop in town.

Some people asked if the slide outside Oakridge hit any trails...NO the slide is in a totally remote area with no trails, but it really screwed up the RR bad!

When I first raced in the early and mid 90's...your big Oregon races Mudslinger, Bend, Oakridge, Ashland had 400-600 racers and there was a small race series. Last year the biggest race was Ashland with 309 racers and that included a lot of N. Cali racers, so you just can not compare the 90's to now, not for ANY races, they are ALL way down if you look back that far. When I first oversaw the series in the late 90's(which Mike does now) there were 38 events(XC, DH.) March-Sept...it was cool, but only a few races had really big numbers. I worked reg at those races and in Bend we sold 90 one day's to people that lived in Bend, thus these people only raced in Bend.
Racers told us the series way too long and there were too many events.
Now we have a smaller series during the months the majority of racers race and people are upset. I am not sure what to do????


A number of good races have gone away mostly due to land use issue's and low numbers
RIP
Coast Hill...course logged
Shotgun Creek...course logged and users conflict with moto's and others
Cycletopia..?
Reehers...?
Lakeview...low turn out
Willamette Pass XC...low numbers
Willamette Pass 12/24...low numbers and loose of forest service trails.
Coos Bay race series...low turn out
East Oregon race series...low turn out
Oakridge..maybe returning?
I know there are more


Some places like Oakridge can not make a course any shorter then what we have...there are no other trails near town to loop a course.

Oakridge had the numbers it had last year because it was the series finals, if it were just a random race in the middle of Summer you'd be lucky to get 75 racers

Fees: Like I have said before I have an 1992 Oakridge FTF flyers and fee's are the same now as they were 16 years ago! In fact JR's pay less.

Lakeview: People asked if maybe people don't attend races for X reasons. Lakeview did everything right and they went out of their way to put on a good event, yet they got 32 racers.
For those of you that didn't attend, you missed a good event, but I am sure it was because it was so far away that people didn't attend.

I think the bottom line is the 1990's were a peak in our sport and people don't want to travel like they use to.
If you have an event in Ashland or Bend you'll do OK. If you have a short track in Portland you'll do great, but that is short track not XC, totally different types of racing comparing the two is silly.

Finally, we promoters do listen and we do care, we do this for the sport, because it sure as hell isn't making us any money, but there is also a point you can't loose money either.
There are still some great races out there to enjoy

Take Care

Randy Dreiling

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