Extreme Makeover

The new site: First of all, many thanks to Mark Newsome who volunteered as our webmaster for the past 4 years. Mark put in oodles of hours for us overhauling and maintaining our original site . As Race Across Oregon, LLC has grown to include three events as well as training and performance camps we realized we needed to streamline our web presence. Ryan Gardner – owner of VisualPeople and photographer extraordinaire – has come on board as our site builder, host and webmaster.

The new date: It was in many ways a tough decision to move the date from the first weekend of June. We’d spent 8 years building an identity and establishing our spot on the calendar. Though other factors came into play as well, the decision was really cemented on Timberline Road in 2005. We love the mountaintop finish and it’s obvious from your reactions last year that you do too. Having to move the finish to Government Camp in ‘04 left an unfinished feel to the race. A snowstorm greeted us at the finishline in ‘05 and we were faced with the decision of whether or not to move the finish to TS 5. The response from the racers was unanimously along the lines of ‘we’re going to the top no matter what you do…’ Fortunately the storm lifted and everyone was able to finish at Timberline. The July date gives us a much better chance of a warmer and drier finish.

The ‘new’ route: I put ‘’ marks around new as the route will not change drastically. We’re merely looking to make a few tweaks to shorten or completely get rid of the two areas that have traffic. The finish will remain at Timberline.

The new roster: What’s not new is that we continue to field many of the best racers in ultra. There are a number of returning racers from ‘05 and prior. A quick look at the racers already signed up shows a field that is going to be the most competitive ever. David Holt and Wade Baker – both over 50 – were neck and neck at last year’s 508 and are aiming for victory at the ‘06 RAO. Ol’ Fogey – the team that has dominated 2 person racing the past 4 years will be facing last year’s solo winner Kenneth Philbrick teamed with his crew chief Ben Larson as well as two returning Grand PAC Masters out to become the first over 70 (!) two person team to finish RAO. The Candy Ass Llamas return as a four person team who, after proving their mettle as the first two person mixed team to complete RAO, transformed into the Kick Ass Llamas. They’ll be in a great race with the returning Team Bag Balm who will not be out to soothe any Llama udder. Expect records to fall in the 4 person open division as RAO Speedwagon is out to prove their ‘05 victory was no fluke. They’re going to have some wicked fast competition as ‘06 marks one of the highest quality 4 person rosters I’ve ever seen including the return of a revamped Shark Attack. And the race is still 6 months away!

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