THIS SATURDAY: The SoCo Shootout! HOLY FUCK! This race is gonna be awesome.

I know I should have posted this one sooner but I'm happy to report that I've been seeing posters for this thing EVERYWHERE, so the word's definitely been getting out. This Friday is the race to end all races, the event to end all events: THE SOCO SHOOTOUT!

Robert Lopez put this thing together and he's been able to scare up a whole slew of awesome prize and afterparty support Here's what he has to say about the style and substance behind the event, as well as some good words on the afterparty (flyer follows):

my name is robert lopez. the soco shootout bike race is my brain child with a portion of all $5 entry fees going to benefit the low-cost, local animal clinic - Emancipet. Following the race is a sweet afterparty with music by the Universe, Entropy, and Freakstarr. Art is provided by local renaissance man Shawn Pike. The music/art afterparty is called the Nopopo Show, thus the flyer title on the second attachment. Prizes for race winners is close to being finalized, im waiting on two sponsors to see what goodies they're throwing up for the faster monkeys. When i know what they're providing, ill release those details. Registration for the race is the day of event from 1:00pm to 2:45pm, the race starts promptly at 3. A trick competition in the works is to go down at the capitol once all racers show up. A social ride follows race from capitol to spider house cafe.

While no helmet will not bar anyone from racing, those pesky dome protectors are advised. Im unofficially billing this race as the first in a series of races built around the acronym S.S.B.R. (smart social bike racing). In short: smart - dont look down all the time, be aware of surroundings, watch out for yourself / social - you can talk, but you dont have to, its alright to smile but if your race face is a constipated grimace i won't check you / bike - obvious / racing - exactly what it says, this is a race, first is faster & SMARTER than the rest. Im hoping with this race to start a small, or large, collective of fast individuals who understand that while the first person to the finish line is the winner, everyone is a loser if someone doesnt finish as a result (direct or indirect) of other racers actions. The Soco Shootout is a no police escorts, no police barricades, no flat or malfunction support style race. Waivers will be signed by all racers to avoid any legal trouble that may arise my from overt stupidity or gross negligence.

Fucking excellent. Saturday's gonna be rad, eh? And so as to not leave you in suspense over the Nopopo party, here's the flyer:

Thanks for all the goodness Robert! I can't freaking wait.