If all goes well, hundreds of bicyclists are going to descend on the Village of Oxford Saturday, Oct. 10 for a race that will take them through this area’s scenic horse country.
It’s been dubbed the Dirt Road Derby and it’s being organized by Karey Collins, owner of Merge Studio and Gallery located at 33 Pleasant St., and the MPI Main Street Racing Team, a group of approximately 14 local expert and elite cyclists who race road and mountain bikes.
‘This is a new event I created,? she said. ‘My husband (Tim) and I have been racing mountain bikes since 1996. We want to bring the cycling community to Oxford.?
The 35-mile course consists of a big loop that begins and ends in downtown Oxford.
In between, cyclists will travel along the gravel roads of Oxford and Metamora townships, plus a portion of the Polly Ann Trail.
‘Anyone can enter,? Collins said. ‘We have just over 50 signed up (so far) and we have about 150 who say they’re coming. As long as we have good weather, I think we’ll have 200.?
The entry fee is $45 per cyclist with the exception of Oxford residents participating in their first USA Cycling-sanctioned race. They will be charged $30 per cyclist.
‘We want to get new people involved,? Collins explained. ‘USA Cycling is the national governing body for bike races. We are sanctioned and insured through them.?
The Dirt Road Derby will commence with a mass start at 9 a.m. on Burdick St. and end between 11 a.m. and noon in downtown’s northeast parking lot.
‘It’s a good thing for Oxford. We’re going to bring a lot of outside money into the community,? said Collins, who noted it’s not uncommon for serious cyclists to spend any where from $3,000 to $10,000 on a racing bike.
She’s hoping many of the cyclists will stay downtown and take part in the annual Scarecrow Festival, which will be happening from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day.
Collins believes the Dirt Road Derby could become the ‘perfect training race? for the Iceman Cometh Challenge, a 30-mile bike race that happens on the first Saturday of November and goes from Kalkaska to Traverse City. This race draws approximately 4,800 participants annually, plus tons of spectators, she said, which provides a significant economic boost to that area during a ‘slow time? of the year when tourism has dropped off.
‘That’s why they do it (during) the first week of November because the (fall) colors are gone and there’s no skiers,? Collins said. ‘This race fills their hotels when normally the place is a ghost town.?
Collins would like some of that economic success to rub off on Oxford. ‘This year, we’d be happy with 200 people,? she said. ‘I think, in two years, we could have a thousand people come and race in Oxford.?
Collins and her husband are both members of the MPI Main Street Racing Team.
‘We have a lot of longtime cycling friends, so we’re looking to put on a top-notch race, impress them, then grow the event from there,? Collins said. ‘Everyone in town will benefit.?
To enter the 2015 Dirt Road Derby, visit the race’s Facebook page of the same name.