Hello Racers and Fans,

The largest celebration of mountain biking on the Central Coast, the 9th Annual Santa Ynez Valley Classic presented by Platinum Performance starts on May 15th, and we need your continued help and support. All the action takes place at the newly formed Stump Grinder Dirt Club, or the SGDC, off Zaca Station Rd., just north of Los Olivos in Santa Barbara County.

If you’d like to volunteer, please do so, because we need you!

We have plenty of opportunities for you to help, starting this weekend with the continued work on our ever expanding trail network (even Friday if anyone can make it). We need to complete the addition of over a dozen new “features” to the new DH run (yes DH’ers we’ve added a ton of features to the course to hopefully make it “National worthy”), rake cut weeds and grass from the 11.47 mile SGDC XC course, and tackle the final sprucing up of Charlotte’s Meadow.  Remember after we work in the morning you’re free to ride in the afternoon. Please consider joining us, and if you do decide to show up please bring your own tools, as while the SGDC has some tools if we get a great turnout we’ll run out. Also bring your bike and lunch.  Hours both Saturday and Sunday are 8 AM to 12 PM to work (please be prompt) and from Noon to 4 PM to ride. This is a great way for all of you racers that have been asking me to let you pre-ride to do it.

Then the week of the race our staff will be there Monday through Wednesday setting up the courses, we’ll need help with that as well.

But the big question mark every year is how many event volunteers will make it come race weekend? We need a lot of people to run this event smoothly. This year we’ll have a special volunteer raffle that will dole out some awesome schwag like a Nite Rider Light, Kenda tires and dinner for two at the Vineyard House in Santa Ynez, in addition to the norms of shirts and food to every race weekend volunteer. Free camping for volunteers and their families too.

So while I know that most of you receiving this email pay the SGDC staff and myself props “for all you do” and I appreciate that, I can’t do this by myself. So if you or someone you know can spare some time in the next three weeks (we need people to help with clean up too) please forward this email or use the Volunteer Button on the home page and let us know that you want to help us be of service to this awesome sport. You can also contact our Volunteer Director Kim Lyons at volcorsyc@gmail.com.

Again we will have the things our event has come to be known for, great racing, fun courses, music, food, and just great times!

To tie this up, I just want you all to know that it is truly my pleasure to provide this great event to all of you, and I hope that you continue to attend and have a great time!

Enjoy the ride,

Mike Hecker – Owner
SG Productions – www.ridesb.com
Santa Ynez Valley Classic presented by Platinum Performance – May 15th - 18th, 2008
220 Arden Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 896-0673
hecktone1@cox.net

P.S. NO HALF LAPS THIS YEAR!  Also, Pro Women XC racer Krista Park of Team Kenda will be hosting a Women’s XC Clinic at no charge on Saturday the 10th @ the SGDC!