Kris Shamp
Greetings OBRA Racers,
This coming Sunday, we are kicking off the Oregon XC MTB Race Series with the 2nd edition of the Horning's Hustle MTB Season Opener. We hope to see you out in North Plains, either as a racer or a spectator.
All info about the race is posted on our web site (http://www.portlandracing.com/mtb/), but here are a couple of last-minute updates that I want to pass along to everyone:
1) Registration and check-in:
If you haven't pre-registered yet, you can register on-site on Sunday between 8:00am and 10:00am. We have only a limited number of registration volunteers, so please come early to avoid getting caught up in a last-minute frenzy of 100+ racers who all like to register at 9:45am. To further speed up the registration flow, please bring a completed waiver (http://www.portlandracing.com/docs/hornings-hustle-waiver-2008.pdf) and a check for the correct amount (check our web site for race fees). If you have pre-registered, you will still need to check in at the registration tent on Sunday to pick up your pull-tab, which you will need to attach to your jersey.
2) Race Course & Photos: Earlier this week Tom Hoffman and I went out to Horning's for another course check and we found the course to be in great shape. Despite the rain of the previous weeks, most of the course is dry (or slightly tacky) and with the nice weather this week, we are sure that 80% of the course will be dry terrain. Still, there are a couple sections with mud (though nothing like last year), so mud tires are strongly recommended. Also, we added a whole new 1.5 mile loop around the NW side of the pond, including a rideable creek crossing, which I'm sure will be fun for racers and spectators alike. Check out some of the photos I posted on flickr:
http://tinyurl.com/ytz3sg
3) Parking:
Like in the past, Horning's Hideout will be charging a $5 parking fee per car. Please make sure to bring $5 cash (exact change please!), so they can keep the flow going. Of course, we strongly encourage you to carpool with friends or - if you feel for a good warm-up and cool-down ride - come by bike.
4) Pre-rding Saturday:
If you want, you can pre-ride the course on Saturday from 10am to 2pm. We will still be finishing up the final course set-up, but the basic course will be all marked. Please note that there is a $3 parking fee at Horning's Hideout, directly payable to Bob Horning.
5) Food, Beer and Other Goodies:
As always, we'll make sure to take good care of our racers and spectators and make it more than just a race. With the friendly support of the folks of MTB Oregon, we'll be able to serve hot food (soup & chili). Racers will also be treated on a free beer (post-race that is), courtesy of our new local beer sponsor Roots Organic Brewing. To top it off we'll have a live performance of local rock band Paradox.
6) Awards and FREE Raffle:
In good tradition, we will end the event with awards for all categories and a free raffle for all racers and volunteers. We have some great prizes, including:
- a complete Chris King MTB wheelset (!!!), a bunch headsets and other cool bike bling, courtesy of perennial local bike race sponsor Chris King.
- $300 worth of gift certificates, donated by the great folks at Cycle Path.
- an assortment of schwag and goodies provided by Clif Bar.
Thank you sponsors!
7) Race Plates: Don't forget to bring your 2007 OBRA MTB race plates! If you haven't renewed your OBRA license yet, you will have to do so on Sunday. Just make sure to schedule enough time before the start of the race.
7) Volunteers: we can still use a couple hands to help out during the race and with clean-up. If you like to volunteer or know someone who likes to help out, contact Tom Hoffman (thoffman@equitygroup.com or 503-475-3417).
That's it. If you have any questions, check our web site or just shoot me an e-mail. This is the very first MTB race of the season and it's going to be a fun one! Bring your friends. Bring your family. Let's kick off the season in style!
~Kris
Kris Schamp
www.portlandracing.com