Donny Jackson broke free from Norba 17 years ago to give the riders a better deal and formed Southridge Racing Club in Southern California. It allowed him to offer much more affordable racing fees. Don then went out and secured a host of sponsors that would give tons of product for him to raffle off at the races. He then organized a race schedule that allowed for SRC to offer championship recognition in every class and category. SRC gives the fulltime worker and enthusiast mountain biker the real chance of doing and accomplishing something special.
Coveted: The SRC number one cauldron awards with number one plate. The SRC schedule includes the Winter and Summer Series, the National, and the Challenge.
At the end of the year Southridge Racing Club hosts an awards ceremony that recognizes all of the top riders. This year SRC members were also given $35,000 worth of raffle product; from a motorized mini, a complete bike, frames, hardware, nicknacks to casual wear. Everyone in attendance won a prize, an award, or both. Southridge Racing Club is well represented by Odi, Mr. Dirt, Turner, Bike Skills, SDG, THE, Hot Shoppe, Shimano, KHS, Romic, Azonic, Troy Lee, Promotions Sportswear, Truvativ, Hayes, Sun Ringle, Manitou, Rockshock, Sram, Avid, Kenda, Intense Cycles, Intense Tire System and Ice Tools. Many of these company owners as well as employees of these companies are out racing Southridge just like you and me. They are out supporting mountain bike racing at the very grassroots level. Keep that in mind the next time you are at the bike shop looking for new stuff.
Sponsor Row: Azonic‘s Jim Dehaven, KHS’ Quinton Spalding, THE’s and Intense Tire’s Toby Henderson, Mr. Dirt’s and Odi’s Colby Young and Romic Shock’s Roger Hurd.
Top two: Eric Bierman was runner-up to XC Pro number 1 Robert Herber of Racersandchasers.com. Both of these riders have had great success in National Series events.
CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONS
MEN
1. Robert Herber...580 points
2. Eric Bierman...360
3. Steve Kinney...330
4. Garnet Vertican...285
5. Michael Hansen...225
6. Waylon Smith...80
Superstars: Eric Carter, Quinton Spalding and Rich Houseman pick up their DH awards. These three riders alone have made a huge presence and have helped mold Southridge into what it is today.
DOWNHILL CHAMPIONS
MEN
1. Waylon Smith...840 points
2. Eric Carter...625
3. Rich Houseman...570
4. Quinton Spalding...540
5. Aaron Gwin...515
6. David KlaassenVanOorschot...480
7. John Buckell...455
8. Ian Odom...450
9. Ryan Condrashoff...400
10. Logan Bingelli...385
WOMEN
1. Christine Hirst...760 points
2. Michelle Rivera...745
3. Sarah Jensen...370
4. Lauren Peterson...345
5. Stephanie Gaudreau...310
6. Martha Saldana...105
7. Karin Hanzi...65
4-CROSS CHAMPIONS
1. Logan Binggeli...515 points
2. Evelio Suarez...495
3. Eric Carter...475
4. Jon Buckell...400
5. Ryan Condrashoff...350
6. John Hauer...345
7. Rich Houseman...260
8. Jake Kinney...240
9. Carter Holland...165
10. Ian Odom...160
WOMEN
1. Martha Saldana...585 points
2. Christine Hirst...190
3. Karin Hanzi...100
SUPER D CHAMPIONS
MEN
1. Eric Bierman...490 points
2. Waylon Smith...385
3. Garnet Vertican...100
4. David KlaassenVanOorschot...95
WOMEN
1. Michelle Rivera...400
2008 SRC CLASS CHAMPION WALL OF FAMES
CROSS-COUNTRY EXPERT CHAMPIONS
SEMI: Veeze Price---19-26: Yoshio Garcia---27-34: Rod Leveque--- 35-44: Jon Flagg--- 45-54: Eddie Arnet--- 55+: Rob Bernhard---WMN 34-: Allison Mann
CROSS-COUNTRY SPORT CHAMPIONS
18-: Kevin Alvarez--- 19-26: Jeffrey Linden--- 27-34: Ryan Hernandez--- 35-44: Stephen Smith--- 45-54: Lee McEachern---55+: Phillippe Minniti---SNG SPD 35+: Gary Griffith---WMN 34-: Stephanie Gaudreau---WMN 35+: Nancy Harris
Double honored: Kim Finch took home championships in the Beginner Women XC and SD classes. Competing both events means lots of riding time all on the same day.
CROSS-COUNTRY BEGINNER CHAMPIONS
11-12: Sean Gates Jr.---13-15: Jacob Blumenthal---19-26: David Banks---27-34: Terry Watkins---35-44: Clint Campbell---45-54: Mike Rauls---200+: Andrew Hart---WMN 34-: Melissa Palacios--- WMN 35+---Kim Finch
Big prize winners: Team DownFast gravity pro Evelio Suarez and 45-54 Expert David Stowell won the KHS Lucky 7 and SDG mini grand raffle prizes.
DOWNHILL EXPERT CHAMPIONS
SEMI: Christian Schloessman---VET PRO: Chuck Valenzuela---18-: Connor Bloum---19-26: Mario Fernandez---27-34: Brandon DuQuesnel---35-44: Thomas Secor---45-54: Brad Jensen---55+: Roger Gutierrez---WMN 34-: Joy Martin---WMN 35+: Nancy Harris
Gravity girls: Allison Mann, who won the XC Expert jersey, placed behind Joy Martin (right) in the downhill class. The year-long downhill series included a total of 10 events.
DOWNHILL SPORT CHAMPIONS
18-: Connor Rasmussen---19-26: Will Ojeda---27-34: Justin Mann---35-44: William Ojeda--- 45-54: Bill Tucker---55+: Don Johnson---WMN 34-: Mandy Oliekan---WMN 35+---Carla Bray
DOWNHILL BEGINNER CHAMPIONS
11-12: Luca Cornetti--- 13-15: Wil White--- 16-18: Tyler Ennis---19-26: Gilbert Cazessus---27-34: Michael Barccellos---35-44: Dan Snook---45-54: Rick Ledesma---55+: David Buckell---WMN 34-: Carissa Meyer---WMN 35+: Kim Finch
4-CROSS AMATEUR CHAMPIONS
EXP: Troy D'Elia---SPT: Lee Bower---BEG: James Moore---18-: Dakota Lassalette---EXP WMN: Joy Martin
Super D Expert Class top 5 from left to right: Champ Stephan Smith, Eddie Arnet (in the #1 XC jersey), Alex Maslov, and brothers Jason and Joe Simpson.
SUPER D AMATEUR CHAMPIONS
EXP: Stephan Smith---SPT: Ed McGoldrock---BEG: Andrew Hart---BEG WMN: Kim Finch
Stars of Southridge: SRC awards Hot Shoppe Championship Jerseys and awards to the top 5 in each class and category. Raspberry was picked as the color of 2008.