Pumpkin Hop Cross - The Tenth Hopping of the Big Orange Squash

Registration for all races requiring an entry fee must be completed by the participant or their guardian not less than 1 hour before the start of their race.  Friday night race registration SHOULD be completed by 2 pm, Friday, October 4th. For races not requiring an entry fee, or for adding a race to a paid entry, the deadline is one hour before the scheduled start time of the race desired.  Come to registration for the add request.

Friday night is $4.00.  Race all day Saturday for the low low low anniversary price of $10.00!

Enter as many races for which you are qualified!  That means you can race within your category and higher, but not lower.  Races are gender-inclusive EXCEPT those designated "Women Only."  Those are...wait for it...just for the girls, but I'm not telling you what that means.  Juniors are not limited to the junior races.  Try those AND your category race if you want.  Just like single speed isn't limited to the single speed race.  Put that one-trick pony up against the geared machines in your category race and show 'em that gears don't mean a thang - it's cyclocross!  

Registration is online-only

Do this from any electronic, internet-equipped device you see fit, and that theoretically you own.  Use your preferred means of digital money, and voila!  You're in!  We can move stuff around on race-day or before if you need to make a change (see note on refunds below).  Let us know!  Do not bring money and expect to sign up for your first race with the registrar.  Probably.  We won’t have change, so bring the proper amount or just write us a really fat check, dig?  If you want to add another race once you're here, then come on down!  We'll get you squared away. BUT PLEASE TAKE NOTE........REGISTRATION CLOSES ONE HOUR BEFORE THE START OF EACH RACE.

We will have the course open as early as possible.  Daybreak, ideally.  What's that mean for the first full weekend of October, 7:00 a.m.?  A little earlier?  We shall see.  Whatever the case, you can pick up your race bib starting at 8:00.  You'll likely use the same one all day, no matter the race.

Licenses

NO RACING LICENSE REQUIRED.  This is not a USAC-sanctioned event this year.  We are partnering with Beardstown Park District.  Does anybody really care about points anymore anyway?  SORRY.  You may.  But this is something we're trying this year, and we're hoping to have more community involvement and eliminate that potential barrier to entry, too.

Equipment

Run what you brung.  Ride what you can abide.  Bike what you like.  Wheel what you feel.  The point is, you don't have to have a cyclocross-specific steed.  You'll have a lot more fun if you at least have knobby tires, though.  That's pretty much a must.  As is a helmet.  We want you to have fun, but we need you to be safe, so you have to have a helmet and you have to wear it at all times while on your bike.

Staging & Starting Intervals

Staging is first-come, first-choice.  You know what time your race starts.  Just pay attention and play nice.  Yeah, we know you're strong and like that front row call up, but we also know you're going to be on the front before the hole shot, anyway.  You are a beast, after all.  Many of our races will have combined fields.  Our official(s) will determine the start time intervals and field order on race day.

Waivers

All participants or their parent/guardian (if under 18) must sign our waiver in-person at number pickup.

Podiums & Prizes

A podium presentation will occur as soon as possible following completion of each race.  Results typically are ready pretty quickly, so unless there is a protest - we've never had a protest; our officials are the tops - we'll get you called up for a picture and a prize post-haste.  We're awarding a total cash purse of an amount hopefully worth writing home about.  And it wouldn't be Pumpkin Hop Cross if we didn't give away a few pumpkins!

And pie.

RESULTS WILL BE UPLOADED TO CROSSRESULTS.COM

Refunds

Life happens.  Boy howdy, does it.  If you register, THANK YOU!!!  But then it turns out you can't come. If you want us to keep your money as a donation to the cause, THANK YOU!!!  If you would like to request a refund, THEN PLEASE DO!!!  We will miss you, absolutely, but you won't have to miss your cash for very long.  Sorry we can't refund BikeReg surcharges, though.  No refund requests will be considered after September 30th.

Rules

Our official(s) will be USA Cycling trained and experienced, so plan on abiding by USA Cycling rules. Check out usacycling.org if you need a review. Otherwise, be kind.  It supersedes all other rules, anyway.

Free lunch as is our style, catered once again by El Pueblito!  OH, OH, OH! And the course reverses for the afternoon races. Yeah, buddy.