My fellow cyclists, racers, promoters, and officials;
Thank
you so much for helping to make the 2009 Elkhorn Classic such an
amazing success. Aside from year one (which always wins), I believe this was
without a doubt the most challenging year of
Elkhorn with a new TT course and our friend the weather, but the
comments and feedback have been most kind and generous and I would like
to thank you for your support and patience as we worked through them.

I
understand that for the most part people realize what a year round job
it can be to promote OBRA events.  I thank you all for understanding
and recognizing all the issues, plans, volunteers and officials it
takes to make that happen.  As a race director, my thoughts are:

#1) I am most humbled and honored
simply to be a member of OBRA and take part in something so grand and
wonderful and to have met so many incredible people. 

#2) I am impressed and
awed by the dedication our OBRA officials put in. It's easy to forget
that riders can just show up and ride a bike then head home. Our
officials, results & finish scorers, and webmasters reflect nothing
but the highest professionalism. They could say "this is not worth it"
yet they take their roles, the rules, safety, and all aspects of their
job so incredibly to heart we should not forget that - ever.
By a
quick count of the 2009 OBRA schedule in January there are some 266
days of racing offering 368 races plus other clinics training, group,
and team rides. There are likely less than 50-odd promoters and yet all
of these are officiated by the same very small handful of officials we
see over and over again every weeknight, every weekend. We should thank them, often and always.

#3) My
hats off to the Elkhorn officials Don Russell, Vicki Russell, Splinter
Wren, George Knight, Rick Kneuven, Melanie Rathe, Lynn Goss, Candi
& Mike Murray, special shouts to Roger "The Wheel Guy", special assistant Andy Newman and a very special
hors categorie thank you to Chief Official Terri Camp and Results Coordinator Tony
McCray who put in an amazing amount of time not just on Sunday, but the
whole weekend making certain to finish up the Elkhorn results as quickly and accurately as possible.
Once the Elkhorn results were done, they next had to turn around and
complete the OBRA Stage Race results which in essence is doing two
races since not every Elkhorn rider qualified for the OBRA
championships. They did not pack up from the high school until all the
results were done, at which point Tony and Andy stayed even longer to
help finish the equipment storage and as well as clean up the school
grounds and facility. The above and beyond of people who finish their
part and still continue to help is what makes such events so unique.  

#4)
A special note of thanks to all the members of SouthTown Velo based in
Portland and sponsored by EBS for providing the OBRA experienced
volunteers that helped setup, teardown, and cleanup while at the same
time running SAG support by following the last rider of every road
stage to make sure all got back home safely.

#5) There would not even be
an Elkhorn without Nathan and Claire Hobson if they had not come before
us with a vision creating, and establishing so many wonderful venues. 

#6)
I'd like to apologize to Pat Malach for the miscommunication in how
electronic results were to be distributed regarding stage and GC
standings to websites as well as members of the media covering Elkhorn.
 

#7) I returned home late last night
from Baker City after spending most of the day meeting with city
officials and business leaders, Baker City police, the Oregon State
Police, Baker City Fire Department, interested parties, bill
collectors, and our sponsors about a return in 2010. The city's support
of Elkhorn, their volunteers, and their spirit are the epitome of all a
promoter can hope for from a community and their support is an amazing
reminder of what a team can do.

And as such we agreed to go ahead with Elkhorn #9. So please include Elkhorn in your 2010 plans as we'll try to bring the sunshine, and hope to see you then!

Safe riding, and Good Luck to everyone heading to visit Chad Sperry and his amazing team at the Cascade Cycling Classic!!!