RECREATION

Buccaneers on bikes

For Dirt Derby, mountain-biking enthusiasts hit the motocross track

By Ian Dille
SPECIAL TO THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Thursday, August 27, 2009

In summer 2006, then-University of Texas graduate student Andrew Stackhouse organized a pirate (or, unsanctioned) mountain bike race around the perimeter of what he coyly calls 'an undisclosed Central Austin municipal golf course.'

'It was a ton of fun, but we had to watch out for pedestrians, and if you overshot one of the turns, you ended up riding into oncoming traffic,' Stackhouse says.

Though short-lived, the success of that bandit race motivated Stackhouse to give up the outlaw format, create a legitimate race promotion company, named Pirate Race Productions, and seek out a new, legal, urban mountain biking venue.

After a few Google searches, Stackhouse stumbled across the Austin-Dell Valle Motocross Park. Located just east of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the track was within easy driving — even riding — distance from town. And best of all, it had lights.

Thus, the Dirt Derby was born.

This Tuesday, the Dirt Derby, which is now nationally known, kicks off its fourth season. 'It is still the only place in the U.S. where you can race a bike off-road at night,' says Stackhouse.

On average, the Dirt Derby attracts a hundred riders of all skill levels and age ranges. The races start at 5:30 p.m. and vary from a beginner, women, and kids event (only $5), to the open category, which draws the most experienced, and fastest, racers.

The weekly event also offers races for various types of off-road styles. While the short-track mountain biking, where racers do quick loops around the track's sloped berms and big bumps, remains the staple event, the cyclocross race gains popularity every year. Similar to a bicycle steeplechase, cyclocross racers compete on beefed-up road bikes with knobby tires and dismount frequently to run up sharp inclines or jump barriers.

'The vibe is very low-key and laid-back, like a big party,' says Joey Machado, an avid cyclocross and mountain bike racer who competes in the 40-and-up age category.

'But it absolutely gets competitive, too,' Machado says. 'As fun as it is, it's never easy. I would never be able to get as good of workout riding by myself.'

This year, an all-volunteer group called Central Texas Grassroots Racing will take over operation of the Dirt Derby from Stackhouse, who recently moved to North Carolina. Ryan Albert, a former top-level racer and current father of four, is heading up the nonprofit organization.

'The goal of Central Texas Grassroots Racing is to promote competition at the lowest level, with a focus on drawing more women and kids into the sport,' says Albert.

'The Dirt Derby is a safe escape for people to come out after work and have a fun,' Albert says. 'A lot of people come just to hang out. I take that as a good sign.'

Austin/Del Valle Motocross Park, 15400 Pearce Lane, Del Valle. $5-$15. Every Tuesday. Sept. 1 through Dec. 16. First race 5:30 p.m. www.dirtderby.com.