2009 Parkfield Classic

The dates for this year's Parkfield Classic have surfaced:

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Wheelmen Present the 20th Parkfield Classic on October 3rd and 4th, 2009

Closing in on twenty years, the 2009 Parkfield Classic will be one to remember. Great courses, great people, and fun times await those who make the journey to the “earthquake capital of the world” for this year's addition.

Who/What/When/Where: The Parkfield Classic is presented by the Cal Poly SLO Wheelmen and includes a weekend of XC, DS, ST, and DH racing, along with camping and all around good time. This year's addition takes place on the weekend of October 3rd and 4th, with gates opening on Friday the 2nd at 4pm. The event is held on the V6 Ranch in Parkfield, California, located roughly between Paso Robles and Kettlemen City. For additional information about the race keep your eye on the soon to be updated parkfieldclassic.com. All proceeds benefit the Cal Poly Wheelmen, a non-profit collegiate mountain biking club.

• Cross Country (Saturday Morning): Parkfield has just the right brew for you. We are one of the last few races that won’t send you out for loop after loop of the same course. All courses come with our own flavor: flowy single track, big lung busting fire road climbs and long, screaming fast descents. ALL NORBA/USAC XC Racers get a BBQ ticket included with their race. Distances: Cat 3: 9 miles, Cat 2: 15 miles, Pro/Cat 1: 24 miles.
• Dual Slalom (Saturday Afternoon):A new course this year with separate tracks for each racer makes for intense competition all the way down the hill. Built up rollers and additional berms make this year’s course the best one yet. One qualifying run. The 16 fastest qualifiers in each category will go head to head in single elimination rounds. Fastest qualifier in each race gets lane choice.
• Short Track (Sunday Morning):Fast paced and action packed XC racing that is as fun to watch as it is to race. Laps will be around a modified course from last year. Bring your lungs and your passing gears — we’re putting in more room for longer, harder drag races. NORBA/USAC racers will race with corresponding collegiate category due to time constraints.
• Downhill (Sunday Morning/Afternoon): When we brew downhill, we use nothing but heaps of fresh single-track. We enrich the flavor with flowing turns, high speed G-outs, and exciting drops. For those preferring something stouter, we’ve got some harder and bolder lines, but always allow the option for smoother ones for the first timers. Single Run format. Bypass options are given for most obstacles. Pro/Cat 1 course different than Cat 2/3 course. Riders are encouraged to wear protective gear as necessary. All riders must ride within safe limits!

Read all the details over on Mtbr.com.

Thanks to race co-director Menso de Jong for the heads up.