OBRA: OBRA Chat: Elkhorn Updates...

Elkhorn Classic Stage Race

2011-06-07

A few quick updates for everyone regarding the 10th anniversary of the Elkhorn Classic.

First, congratulations to everyone who participated in this year's amazing Mt Hood Cycling Classic. Well done!!!

Meanwhile, we have had several questions from folks and teams returning from MHCC trying to coordinate plans for Elkhorn so we have decided to hold off on the registration increase for now, but like this weekend's OBRA TT championships, the clock is running so book your lodging, carpool, and weekend plans!!!

Register online through the OBRA website at: www.OBRA.org/events/18400/register

Commemorative cycling cap and/or t-shirt

Email us for Team Discounts

A celebration of 10 years of Elkhorn - thank you to all the racers, volunteers, and of course our officials without who Northwest racing and its success would not even be possible.

Safe Travels,

Elkhorn Classic Stage Race

2011-05-27

Good luck to everyone making their final plans for the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic. Once again it sounds like Chad and Company have planned and prepared yet another outstanding adventure all lined up - for you!!! The quality of OBRA has been well reflected this year in the planning, caring, and details that our promoters put forth to make sure events are successful. It is a pleasure to be a part of this organization. Good luck out there!

As we head into June - a couple of Elkhorn updates:

Our 10th anniversary - a decade of racing is shaping up. 10th anniversary cycling caps and t-shirts are available when registering on line. A limited number will be available on race weekend, so order early and make it easy.

We have had a lot of interest in our team discounts, so keep that in mind. Team captains wanting to wait until after MHCC to make final plans or roster changes, please let us know ASAP and we'll see what we can do to work with you.

Don't forget to carpool and use the buddy system. Who doesn't want to spend time bundled up in a vehicle with friends and family driving across the Oregon Countryside? Hmm...

Special thanks to Rolf Prima Wheel Systems and team for offering to run the Saturday wheel pit during the criterium as well as provide some extra neutral wheels to reduce the number needed by the wheel lottery. Thank you!

We have a rider from Boise attending who will be video blogging his racing and reporting back to The Facebook, The Twitter, and likely be using "The Google" as my father says - to keep friends and family updated. Interested in covering your field? Let us know if you are interested in covering your field as well.

The masters registration is solid, and if there is interest and support we will consider splitting the masters into a 1/2/3 and 4/5 field. We need a few volunteer drivers so if you want to save some entry, bring a friend or family member to drive Friday and/or Sunday and we'll reduce your entry and see about having you drive for that field to follow the breathtaking action.

We were asked to add and score a women Masters field again and we have made plans for that, however, the womens signup overall is pretty slow so unless we see a larger signup - we may not be able to fulfill that request.

Don't forget that for several Baker City lodging options the website may show full or closed rooms, but that is because you need to call them direct and inquire about booking in order to get your race discount. Many do not have a late check out, but are making arrangements to store bags, and have access to showers in their rec centers.

Also, Kudos again to Scott Willson and the online OBRA registration process. It continues to improve and is so easy to work with. In addition to the great feedback from everyone as they register, I can say this is a great addition to our OBRA family!

Good Riding - Safe Travels

ernie@elkhornclassic.com

2009-06-15

Two quick announcements along with this reminder: The 2009 registration doors close at 5pm this evening for those fields not already full. Who will win the coveted Elkhorn GC trophies? Who will be immortalized as the 2009 winners? Stay tuned. The air is so electrically charged even Baker City can't believe it.

Item #1:
We have arranged for child care through the YMCA for those wishing to help, volunteer or watch the races but are concerned about what to do with the kids. This is an experimental program and will be first come-first served, but if you are not sure what to do with the family while mom and/or dad are racing, we have a viable alternative. Interested, let us know ASAP.

Item #2:
We are working on doing something interesting and relaxing at the Friday Night Spaghetti feed this year in the Baker High school cafeteria:
Anyone who has interesting cycling footage is welcomed to submit a video for playback throughout the evening. We'll continue to loop play whatever we have so your montage may see encore showing throughout the evening. Please email me for details. Our hope to to run a wall projector from a laptop for video playback that already include last year's Elkhorn montage by local Baker resident Whit Deschner along with the OBRA banquet video produced by our own OBRA and Team Oregon member Pat Gerke. Other submissions welcomed. There was a vote for karaoke night, but as many are aware and remember from "The Karaoke Incident at Barley Brown's" a few years back - singing is best left for Saturday night.

Meanwhile thank you again for all your support and help. In addition to what appears to be on track for a near record field we definitely have a record women's field with over 80 racers in all three categories!!!!

Rock on, ride safe,

Ernie Conway | Race Director | Elkhorn Classic Stage Race | Baker City, OR | June 19 - 21, 2009 | www.ElkhornClassic.com

Elkhorn Classic Stage Race

2009-06-15

Two quick announcements along with this reminder: The 2009 registration doors close at 5pm this evening for those fields not already full. Who will win the coveted Elkhorn GC trophies? Who will be immortalized as the 2009 winners? Stay tuned. The air is so electrically charged even Baker City can't believe it.

Item #1:
We have arranged for child care through the YMCA for those wishing to help, volunteer or watch the races but are concerned about what to do with the kids. This is an experimental program and will be first come-first served, but if you are not sure what to do with the family while mom and/or dad are racing, we have a viable alternative. Interested, let us know ASAP.

Item #2:
We are working on doing something interesting and relaxing at the Friday Night Spaghetti feed this year in the Baker High school cafeteria:
Anyone who has interesting cycling footage is welcomed to submit a video for playback throughout the evening. We'll continue to loop play whatever we have so your montage may see encore showing throughout the evening. Please email me for details. Our hope to to run a wall projector from a laptop for video playback that already include last year's Elkhorn montage by local Baker resident Whit Deschner along with the OBRA banquet video produced by our own OBRA and Team Oregon member Pat Gerke. Other submissions welcomed. There was a vote for karaoke night, but as many are aware and remember from "The Karaoke Incident at Barley Brown's" a few years back - singing is best left for Saturday night.

Meanwhile thank you again for all your support and help. In addition to what appears to be on track for a near record field we definitely have a record women's field with over 80 racers in all three categories!!!!

Rock on, ride safe,

Ernie Conway | Race Director | Elkhorn Classic Stage Race | Baker City, OR | June 19 - 21, 2009 | www.ElkhornClassic.com

Elkhorn Classic

2008-06-09

Hello again everyone! Some more details, updates, clarifications, statements, commentary, announcements, and more!

Please pass this along to other teams, clubs, and members that might be interested.

Well it was another grand day in Baker City and while some of it is the vibration of the Hells Canyon motorcycle rally, it is also the call of folks from town who dream of the peace and quiet of the kind, polite, well mannered bicycle racers that will soon be rolling up and down the city and county. Thank you for being the greatest ambassadors of our state and sport!

A reminder that Elkhorn registration of all types - online, post, temporal, wormhole, psychic, and otherwise, closes Friday evening. There is still time, but it draws neigh and some fields may close before then...

That said, we are on track to reach a couple of field limits and have now matched rider turnout for last year, so make sure things don't fill up before you get online: http://www.athleteslounge.com/events/event.php?eventid=2283

The latest big news. Because of the wonderful and positive turn out of the women's Cat 3/4 field showing up in bigger numbers than the women's Pro/1/2's by over a 2-1 margin, we will be scoring the Cat 3/4' apart now as well. Thus, there will still be one women's peleton, but we will score the Women Pro/1/2, Women Cat3, and Women Cat4's all separately. So come on out and show your support for women's racing! There is still Host Housing compliments of Baker City women business owners, so if you couldn't decide whether to race or not, the reasons are pretty limited - so let's have a race!

Regarding the Masters field. A reminder we are running one Masters field but scoring the Masters 1/2/3's and the 4/5's separately so come out and ride with your peers. This field is open but nearing the 75 masters limit.

Regarding the Men Cat 4/5. With the scoring changes to the Masters field several folks moved from the men's 4/5 to the masters 4/5 plus there were some blistering upgrades (watch it Cat 3's). As such, we have a limited number of spaces opened for this field. If you are interested - send me an email and we will address trying to fit you in first-come-first-serve, one by one.

A reminder that if you are unable to attend the 2008 festival of fun, you are welcome to gift your entry to a teammate because you love your team, send a teammate to Elkhorn so you can have a quiet team ride, sell your entry (prolly via email rather than online auction :) ), or if you cannot unload it somehow, contact us about a Golden Ticket to the 8th annual 2009 Elkhorn Classic.

Because of the changes to the fields, the race bible and prize list will be adjusted accordingly. Details are being worked out. Once registration closes, the complete field roster will be posted to the Elkhorn website.

Yes Virginia, there is some white powder on the ground but it was 70+ degrees in Baker City today so the main point is, it will be fun once you get there, but allow some extra travel time through the passes and so relax and, have some fun.

Safe riding, thank you so much for the support, and as always, Thanks for racing!

Ernie.

Elkhorn Classic

2008-05-29

A couple of updates regarding Elkhorn 08.

First - All Full: as expected, we are pleased to announce that the Men's
4/5 field has filled and is closed! I've had several emails asking if
there will be a chance to still get in - and the answer is, we have
started a waiting list and we will see (see below).

Second - Getting Full: a reminder that the Men's Pro/1/2 and Men's Cat 3
fields are limited to 100 riders, that they too have traditionally
filled, and as such registration has picked up for them since the 4/5
field filled. So if you were undecided, sign up now and grab your
training gear!

Third - Women racers: As many will remember last year the women's race
was in danger of being completely cancelled due to lack of turnout.
Thanks to last minute responses, that was avoided and we had an awesome
time. To help our '08 ladies, local Baker City business owners led by
Bella's coordinated to offer free host housing, additional GC payout
help, and special criterium primes and payouts. Thanks to that effort
and women's signups already, there will certainly be a 2008 women's
field. An interesting note though is that the women's field is almost
entirely made up of Women Cat 3/4 racers. The women's turn out for OBRA
racing has been very strong for 2008 and we'd like to see that continued
commitment at Elkhorn, so as noted above, if you were undecided, sign
up, and come on out!
NOTE: I am hoping to meet with team representatives during and after
Elkhorn on the pros and cons of various aspects of women's racing as it
relates to Elkhorn in 2009, but hopefully beyond just that.

Fourth - Masters: We had considered the possibility that the Men's 4/5
would fill quickly and already have looked into what we can do to help
out our fellow racers. Based on emails, conversations, and reviewing
some details we are pleased to announce that for 2008 we will be running
ONE Men's Masters 40+ peleton, but scoring TWO groups as Masters 1/2/3's
and Masters 4/5's. Because of this change, the Mens Masters 40+ field is
limited to a combined total of 75 riders in the interest of scoring and
safety. The current Masters and Cat 4/5 men have already been notified
and we are updating the registration (please be patient). Should
openings in the Cat 4/5's occur, we will contact riders on the waiting
list and adjust things accordingly. Registration is currently open for
either of the Masters choices.

Side bar to answer a common question: A reminder that you can transfer
your entry to a teammate or OBRA member in the event of a last minute
change. Same category changes are fine, cross category changes will
require verification that the new field is still open or requirements
met.

Fifth - Volunteers: If you are racing and wondering about family and
friends, bring them along. Baker County has a ton to offer not just
racers, but the whole family as well. While the local Baker City
community helps make Elkhorn possible, we can always use some extra
hands on the Friday and Sunday stages which leaves all day Saturday open
for tours, travel, the Leo Adler Day's parade, sleeping, eating,
beverages, and of course making some noise at the downtown Gold Rush
Criterium.

Sixth - Renaming the Finish Festival: While the term "memorial" can mean
'a way to pay respect for the huge amount of work by a person or family
or because he is a swell guy' it appears there were enough queries about
the health and status of the Elkhorn Classic race founder Nathan Hobson
(he and the family are and always were - healthy and awesome), that we'd
like to note the Dooley Mountain Finish Festival will provide some
snacks and water during the awards presentation and is meant to honor
Nathan and the entire Hobson family for creating an amazing and
wonderful event. Apologies for the confusion...

Seventh - Yes, that is the number of years for Elkhorn.

Finally - As always, ride safe, and thanks for racing!
Ernie.

Elkhorn Classic

2008-05-21

Why Not Come Celebrate - Elkhorn Is Heaven as It Turns Seven!

First of all, congratulations to a successful Mt Hood Cycling Classic
and all those who played a part in making it such a great event!
Between that and all the wonderful racing this year, what a great time
to be a part of OBRA.

On that note, thank you so much for all your help and support so here
are a couple of updates about the 7th riding of the Elkhorn Classic as
we move within a month of our "Trip to Baker City." Registration, which
closes on Friday June 13th, is on pace with last year, where you may
remember that the Men's Pro/1/2, Men's Cat 3, and Men's 4/5 fields all
reached capacity. All fields are limited to 100 riders except for the
Men's 4/5 which is restricted to 75 in the interest of safety. If you
were considering signing up, now is the time to make it happen. Entries
once again are from all over the Western US and Canada, making for
another exciting event to meet new friends and racers!

We are pleased to announce that we are returning to the traditional
Friday "Oregon Trail Road Race" route through North Powder, Union, and
Medicine Springs. Many will recall that last year we had to use the
"unique" (as one rider described it) alternate "Richland OutBack Road
Race" course while ODOT did a little pave' replacement to our preferred
route. Now all put back together better than Humpty Dumpty, it awaits
an exciting day of challenging but strategic racing. New this year is a
second neutral feed zone to help our riders out. With a 20 mile flat
rollout from Baker City to North Powder there is no better way to start
a stage race before the fun begins.

A reminder for all the women racers that while we have a Women's Pro/1/2
category, we also have a Women's 3/4 category. Although run together,
the two women's categories will be scored separately. Thanks to Baker
City business owners, we are also pleased to remind all women racers of
free host housing on a first-come first-served basis for those
interested. Those same local Elkhorn supporters have offered to
supplement the Women's Pro/1/2 GC payouts to match the Men's payouts.
Finally, expect to find special prizes and payouts for the women during
the Saturday evening Gold Rush Criterium. With all these great
incentives, we certainly hope to see the support and interest for
women's racing that matches the passion of the Baker City community!

For those still considering their lodging plans, there are the
traditional hotel and motel options but make your arrangements quickly,
as several have already filled up. For the Travel Trailer and Camper
types, there is an RV park within walking distance of race Headquarters
at the Baker High School. The school is also offering parking in their
grass field as well as the standard gym floor stay which includes use of
the locker facilities. Finally, new this year, a local organization is
offering residential boarding options for a nominal fee; please contact
us if you're interested in this option.

Plan to join us at the summit for the Hobson Memorial Finish Festival in
honor of Elkhorn race founder Nathan Hobson and his family. Awards,
payout, and some snacks and water await what we hope will be the
culmination of a wonderful 7th annual Elkhorn Classic Stage Race.

Questions, comments, thoughts, interests, or concerns? Let use know at
Info@ElkhornClassicStageRace.com or visit us at
www.ElkhornClassicStageRace.com where you will find the latest updates
and news. Registration lists and a preliminary Race Bible will be posted
soon!

Thanks for racing!
Ernie