Team Relay event caps successful Short Track race series (Photos)

Teams assemble for the Relay competition at the final night of Short Track racing on Monday.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Another year of Portland Racing’s Mountain Bike Short Track Race Series came to a close this week. This is the seventh edition of the series and its creator Kris Schamp has struck a nerve with Portland’s bike lovers.

The series takes place in the infield of Portland International Raceway (PIR), just a few miles north of downtown and an easy bike ride for many of the participants. The races are relatively short and the courses (which change every week) combine winding tracks through trees with the whoops and drops of a motocross course. With races for kids, men, and women of all skill levels, Short Track has quickly found a permanent home in the annual racing calendar.

Much of the racing takes place on a motocross track and bleachers line the course.

Schamp says this year broke an attendance record with a total of 2765 race entries and there were an average of 350 racers each week.

Thanks to the accessibility of Short Track, I re-caught the racing bug in a big way this year and jumped into the last four races. Thanks to Cyclepath Bike Shop (2436 NE MLK Blvd), I tackled the Category 2 Men’s 35-44 field on a super-fast, carbon fiber Scott Scale Pro 29’er.

(Photo: Shane Young/OregonVelo)

The bike did exactly what I told it to do and it helped my old legs turn to a respectable finish each week. By the last two races, I was somehow able to compete in the top ten! Thanks again to Bill Larson and all the great folks at Cyclepath for the bike, and for the mechanical — and moral — support.

At Monday’s races, there were a season record 431 entrants. Not bad for a Monday night. The final event of the series was a Team Relay contest. Teams of 10 lined up and each rider completed one lap. Transfers were done with a high-five. The rider exchange area was a crazy scene, full of twisted bikes, dust, smiles, and grunts. In the end, the relay raised $700 for the Northwest Trail Alliance.

Team Showers Pass

Ruckus Components Test Team

The transition area got a bit messy at times.

Perfect high-five form.

It was great to see riders of all ages mixing together on relay teams.

Team Camas Bike Shop was a force to be reckoned with in almost every category.

A Team Super Relax rider waits in anticipation for their teammate.

Members of the Yakima Bike Vigilantes team enjoying adult refreshments after their laps.

Big thanks to Portland Racing, all the event sponsors, volunteers, and to the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association. We have such a vibrant and fun race scene here in Portland and it’s because of the amazing people that work hard behind the scenes so the rest of us can race our bikes and just have fun!