Updated: Keweenaw Chain Drive early registration deadline is May 31

 

Chain Drive participants head across the Portage Lift Bridge. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

HANCOCK -- The early registration deadline for the Portage Health Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival is TOMORROW, Thursday, May 31. After midnight on May 31 (Thursday), festival shirts are not included and fees go up. Please register soon so you can enjoy the awesome bamboo shirt. You can register online at www.chaindrive.org or print a registration. 

Printed registrations can be dropped off at the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce in Houghton.

The 2012 event is on Saturday, June 16! The Portage Health Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival mountain bike race includes 16- and 32-mile point-to-point cross-country distance races through the Maasto Hiihto and Churning Rapids trail systems in Hancock. Racers will finish at the Portage Health campus with food, beverages, tunes, and awards.  Distance events will begin with a 10 a.m. roll-out at the Magnuson Hotel - Franklin Square Inn, at the east end of Shelden Avenue in downtown Houghton.

Junior Chain Drive: Kids line up for the start at Portage Health. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

The Junior Chain Drive youth races begin at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 16. The Junior Chain Drive starts and ends at Portage Health, using a single-track trail in a wooded area east of the hospital. The event includes timed races for youth ages 8-13 and non-timed races for those ages 7 and under. Registration is day-of-event only.

Volunteers still needed

Dan Dalquist reports that he still needs traffic control volunteers for the Chain Drive. If you respond no later than May 31, your volunteer shirt will be available before the race.

Locations needed:
 Shelden and Rhythm -- need 2 people
 Shelden and Ambassador -- 2 people
 Navy St and Tezcuco -- need 2 more
 In Hancock -- Jasberg and Wolverine -- need 1
 M-203 and Atlantic St. -- need 1
 Crossing at Snowmobile trail and snowfence trail - Need 3 - 10:30 to 12, 12 to 1:30, 1:30 to sweep
 Doug's Bypass exit onto Campus drive -- 1
 Campus Drive and Portage St. -- need 2-3 from 12:15 to last racer
 First Aid Tent -- need medical professional for the Chain Drive (10:30 to 2) and for Kids race (2:30 - 4)

Please click here to respond through the Chain Drive volunteer site and include your shirt size or respond directly to ddalquist@gmail.com.

Deadline for early Chain Drive registration is May 31; volunteers still needed

Participants in the 2010 Portage Health Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival head for the trails after crossing the Portage Lift Bridge from Houghton to Hancock. The Chain Drive Festival is held annually in conjunction with Bridge Fest. (Keweenaw Now file photo © 2010 and courtesy Kate Flynn)

HANCOCK -- The Portage Health Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival is once again ready to roll out on Father's Day Weekend, June 18. The race features 16- and 32-mile point-to-point events starting in downtown Houghton, traversing Maasto Hiihto, Churning Rapids and a few private trails on its way to the finish at Portage Health in Hancock.

Be sure to register by Tuesday, May 31, in order to receive a discount and an event t-shirt. After May 31 the fees go up and t-shirts are not available.

Single track, elevation and rocks -- what more could you ask for? There's also a Junior Chain Drive for those 13 and under.

Please visit www.chaindrive.org to register or to receive additional information. All proceeds go to support trail efforts in the Keweenaw!

Please note: Junior Chain Drive registration is day-of-race only.

Volunteers still needed for race

Dan Dalquist, Chain Drive volunteer organizer, reports the good news that all the first aid teams, all the sweeps, all registration volunteer spots are full. Still, more volunteers are needed.

"We need people for traffic control,' Dalquist says. "This is a short-time commitment and involves you and a partner at many locations, stopping cars at a particular location as the racers fly past. Once the trace Sweep passes, you are done! We have spots in Houghton and in Hancock and near the finish line at Portage Health."

Volunteers are scheduled for Navy St. and Tezcuco on site at 0900 to stop parking along Navy St. in Hancock.

"This is a great way to see the racers," Dalquist adds, "a lot of fun for spouses, partners and those cyclists who are not racing! Cheering and applauding and ringing cow bells are encouraged!"

If you can volunteer, call Dan Dalquist at 906-337-0356 or at 906-370-2206 or email him at ddalquist@gmail.com.