Bikes are optional in the kids and canines costume race. © Joe Lawwill
Hanging out in SoCal, wondering what to do this Saturday? Why not test out your Halloween costume, grab your kids, and head over to the 3rd annual Spooky Cross Night in Irvine. Read below for details.
Grab your favorite Halloween costume with your family and friends and be prepared to have a spooky good time at SoCal’s only Spooky Cross! Music, food, contests and costumes will be part of the racing and revelry. The Southern California Prestige Series of Cyclocross presented by H2O Overdrive brings you the 3rd annual Spooky Cross Night Race hosted by Rock N Road Cyclery on Saturday October 23rd at Hidden Valley – Camp James in Irvine, CA.
Never tried ’cross before? Don’t be scared. Bring your mountain or hybrid bike at 1:00pm for a free Intro to Cyclocross Clinic. Racing begins at 2:00pm with free Junior and Youth heats. The noobs will get a chance to get wicked in the First-timers race at 2:45pm. It’s going to be psycho as haunted sounds fill the air and the Specialized Kids and Canines Costume Cross Race sets off at 3:45pm. All participants can carve or bring jack o’ lanterns that become glowing barriers along the race course and podium.
Festivities and premiere cyclocross racing continue through the afternoon and into the night with a live DJ, gourmet taco trucks and beer. The SoCal Cross schedule is open to all levels of racers with separate prize categories for youth, juniors, men, women and age groups and $2,500 awarded across the event.
“Spooky Cross is more than just a race,” explains event promoter and elite cyclocross racer Dorothy Wong. “It’s about coming out and having a great time on bikes with your family and friends. Because of how the course is configured, and the events that are planned, there is always plenty to see and do whether or not you are racing. And the Halloween costumes make this race really unique. People really get into it.”
As darkness falls, adult ’cross racers come out in costumed force, like zombies to a Thriller shoot, stepping to the caterwaul of cowbells. The Big Kids Costume Race benefits SoCal Cross’ partnership with Team Duke to Cross Out Cancer and is all about showing your scariest fashion while navigating the Spooky racecourse. The costume race starts at 7:30pm and includes a best costume contest for individuals, couples, and groups.
You’ve never seen bike racing like this before. Last year pro racer and Long Beach cycling ambassador Tony Cruz (Rock N Road) raced in full vampire style along with pro mountain bike champion Sid Taberlay (Sho-Air) and other elite notables Chance Noble (Cal Giant Strawberry), Kendall Ryan (The TEAM/SoCalCross), Brandon and Kyle Gritters (Rock N Road), Lana Atchley (Sho-Air) and John Bailey (Bailey Bikes) to name a few. Spooky Cross brought out record numbers of participants last year and is expecting to be even more frighteningly-fabulous this year.
Register online at www.sportsbaseonline.com and be automatically entered into a drawing to win a Cyclocross bike. Registration the day of the event will open at 1p.m.
For complete Spooky Cross Schedule and event information : http://socalcross.org/events/scps-race-5/
For directions Google: 8800 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, CA
About H20 Overdrive, sponsor of the 2010 SoCal Cross Prestige Series : www.h2ooverdrive.com
About the SoCal Cross Prestige Series : www.SoCalCross.org
Who: Souther California Prestige Series of Cyclocross
What: Spooky Cross Night Race and Bike Fest – cyclocross racing for all levels, free for kids and juniors. Costume and pumpkin carving contests. Live DJ, food, drink, and good time racing excitement.
Where: Hidden Valley – Camp James | 8800 Irvine Center Drive | Irvine, CA
When: 2:00 p.m. To 9:30 p.m.
Why: To race cyclocross and benefit Team Duke in its effort to Cross Out Cancer while having great time with family and friends.
