Race for Tara 2 pro podium: Blk Mrkt mounted Nor Cal reppin’ Drew Powers 1st, Jared Rando 2nd & Mike Haderer 3rd… I would love to see photos of this race if anybody has any!!!
Tara speaks to the crowd
Source: Giant Bicycles
RACE FOR TARA 2
On Saturday November 8, 2008, dozens of mountain bike 4-Cross racers turned out to compete at the Sand Hill Ranch Bike Park in Brentwood, CA. The event was Race for Tara 2, the second annual race created to benefit MTB pro Tara Llanes.
The former Dual Slalom National Champion suffered a severe spinal injury in a crash during a mountain bike race in Colorado on Sept. 1, 2007. Since then fellow pros, fans, and friends, have rallied around Tara as she has made remarkable progress in her recovery and rehabilitation.
Several of Tara’s team mates on the Giant Mountain Bike team turned out for Race for Tara 2. US National XC and Super D champ Adam Craig and 4-time Australian National Champion Jared Rando both competed in the Pro 4-Cross event. Jared wound up placing 2nd overall.
Most important, the day’s events raised $8500 for Tara. A year ago, Tara was still in the hospital during the first Race for Tara. She was able to thank the folks at Sand Hill Ranch via telephone. This year, Tara was present at Sand Hill and able to watch the races, sign autographs, and mingle with the crowd. In remarks in person this time, Tara fought back tears as she thanked the crowd for attending. And she vowed that she would keep fighting to regain the ability to once again ride a bicycle.
The Race for Tara series is the result of the collaboration of several folks; among them are father and son Thayne and Brian Bolin. “Shortly after Tara was injured last year, my son said, ‘dad, we’ve got to do something,’” said Thayne Bolin. “We worked to quickly get together the first Race for Tara. To see the support grow this year has just been incredible.”
Also crucial to the event’s success are Phil and Rene Anderson, owners of Sand Hill Ranch. The ranch encompasses a large area for motorcycle and bicycle racing; The Andersons donate the use of the course for the Race for Tara series.
Also in on the planning for the successful series are Giant Bicycle Account Executive Mike Stewart, and Giant for Women Program Manager Tiffany Brown. Giant and Giant for Women are among the sponsors of the event and so are three Giant retailers. Special thanks go to The Bicycle Trip of Santa Cruz, Danville Bicycles, and Alameda Bicycle. Daniel Cress of Alameda Bicycle is also in on the planning of the race, and served as the official starter for the event. Giant retailer Hank and Frank Bicycles also helped out with support.
The bike shops, along with sponsors Giant, Giant for Women, and Fox Clothing donated prizes that were awarded in a raffle. Other supporters and contributors of raffle prizes were: Fox Racing, Michelin, Easton/Bell sports, Troy Lee, RideSFO, Smith Optics, WTC, Syncros, Felt, Raleigh, Leatt Sport Braces, Voler, Defeet, Black Market Bikes, Santa Cruz, and Casa Orozco restaurant in Livermore.
10 November 2008