Furnace Creek 508: Epic Bicycle Race Through Death Valley, Mojave Desert, and Beyond!

2008 Schedule of Events

For other important dates, be sure to review the AdventureCORPS Calendar at this link.
Friday, Oct 3: 12:00 -5:00pm.	RACER CHECK-IN AT THE HILTON IN SANTA CLARITA: Check-in must be done before the Pre-Race Meeting.
Friday, Oct 3: 12:30 - 5:30pm	VEHICLE INSPECTION AT THE HILTON IN SANTA CLARITA. Plan on arriving in Santa Clarita with all your vehicle signage, lights, triangle, and other safety equipment in place and ready to use. All support vehicles must be checked for maximum width, as well as totem signage, caution signs, triangle, and roof lights.
Friday, Oct 3: 12:30 - 5:30pm	BICYCLE INSPECTION AT THE HILTON IN SANTA CLARITA Plan on showing that all bicycles are safe and race-ready and are equipped, or quickly equipable, with excellent front and rear lights and lots and lots of reflective materials. (Done concurrently with the vehicle inspection.)
Friday, Oct 3: 5:00 - 615pm	PRE-RACE PASTA FEED Hosted at The Plaza just prior to the meeting. The cost will be $12, payable directly to The Plaza at the door. This includes penne pasta served with fresh marinara sauce and meatballs, fresh garlic rolls, caesar salad, and pitchers of water. First come, first-served. The meeting room has seating for 400, but no tables. The room in which the pasta is served seats about 75 with tables. Pasta feeders can sit and eat in either room, but all eating in the meeting room must be completed by 615pm in order for the meeting to start, and end, on time. NOTE: Pasta Feed is first come, first served.
Friday, Oct 3: 6:15 - 7:45pm	PRE-RACE MEETING: The meeting, a fun and exciting event for everyone, will be held at The Plaza Banquet and Catering Facility, 23710 Lyons Avenue, Santa Clarita, CA 91321. From the Hilton, take I-5 south two miles to the Lyons Ave exit. Go left (east) just under a mile. The Plaza is on the right (south side) next to a car wash and a bowling alley. Solo entrants must be represented by the racer and at least one crew. Team entrants must be represented by at least two racers or one racer and one crew.
Saturday, Oct 4: 7:00am	SOLO AND TANDEM START TIME: We will begin the race in the Hilton Garden Inn's front main parking lot, under the hotel entrance overhang. All riders must be present at the start no later than thirty minutes prior to their start time for pre-race instructions and photos.
Saturday, Oct 4: 9:00am	RELAY START TIME: We will begin the race in the Hilton Garden Inn's front main parking lot, under the hotel entrance overhang. All riders must be present at the start no later than thirty minutes prior to their start time for pre-race instructions and photos.
Monday, Oct 6: 7:00am	ENDING TIME: Barring any unforeseen serious circumstances, the event is officially over for all divisions at 7:00AM, Monday, October 8.
Monday, Oct 6: 8:00am	POST RACE BREAKFAST: As usual, we'll take over the Carousel Cafe just east of the hotel at 72317 29Palms Hwy. This will be an informal get-together, so don't expect anything too plush! It's your bill, of course.
SUNRISE/SUNSET/TWILIGHT: Using Valencia as a reference on Oct 7, Civil Twilight begins at 6:29AM and Sunrise is at 6:54AM, while Sunset is at 6:28PM and Civil Twilight ends at 6:54PM.
OFFICIAL RACE TIME: Click here to set your watch to official race time.

APPLICATION FORM: Applications to compete in the 2008 race will be made available for just two weeks from April 8 to April 22, 2008. The event is invitational and the final 2008 roster will be posted online on May 8, 2008. For more info, visit our Calendar page. For info on applying to compete, click here.

RACE ROSTER: Stay tuned for the announcement on May 8.

508 GEAR: Click here to see the 2008 gear designs!

WEBCAST: Will be hosted during the race (starting about noon on Saturday) for time splits, images, and more. Click here for the 2007 edition.

RACE MAGAZINE: Click here to download the 44 page 2007 Furnace Creek 508 Race Magazine. It's a 3-meg Pdf file, so expect a slow transfer rate, especially on a dial-up. For 2008, expect the download around September 1.

RULES: Read them, learn them, live them: Click here.

SPONSORS: Special thanks to Hammer Nutrition, Sparrow Hawk Photography, Hilton Garden Inn of Santa Clarita, Furnace Creek Ranch, and the Best Western Gardens Inn of Twenty Nine Palms.

DISTANCE: 508.5 miles, unless rerouting is required due to road closures or other circumstances.

ROUTE: The Official Route for the Furnace Creek 508 is included in the Race Magazine and on this website. The 508 mile course covers 35,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain while passing through Santa Clarita, Mojave, Randsburg, Trona, Panamint Valley, Death Valley, Stove Pipe Wells, Furnace Creek, Badwater, Shoshone, Baker, Amboy, and Twenty Nine Palms.

DIVISIONS OFFERED. Click here for the info.

COURSE RECORDS: Visit the Results Page for all course records.

STARTING LOCATION: Hilton Garden Inn 27710 The Old Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355, 661-254-8800 . Driving instructions from the San Fernando Valley: Proceed north on Interstate 5 for about 20 miles, exit at Magic Mountain Parkway in the Valencia part of Santa Clarita, and the Inn is on the west side of the interstate, next door to Marie Callendars. The hotel has only 75 rooms available at the special 508 rate of $129.00, so be sure to mention the special code, "FC 508," when you make your reservation. All entrants who plan on obtaining a room the night before the race are encouraged to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn. If they are sold out, consider the Holiday Inn Express Hotel, which is located just across the freeway from the Hilton. They are holding 50 rooms with a special rate of $134 for phone reservations only (no internet). Mention "508" when making your reservation: 661-284-2101.

ENDING LOCATION: At the finish line host hotel, as detailed below. Chris Kostman can be reached there after the lead rider arrives - (760) 367-9141. Plan on hanging out at the finish line to greet other finishing riders, which will help everyone get to know one another better and make the weekend more fun.

FINISH LINE HOTEL: Best Western Gardens Motel, 71487 Twenty Nine Palms Highway, Twenty Nine Palms, CA 92277, 760-367-9141. A very nice hotel located literally at the finish line of the race on the main drag (Hwy 62). The managers have also extended the following special rates to race entrants and staff (and reservations MUST be made before August 1): Queen Room (up to 2 people), $85; King Room (up to 2 people), $90; 2 Double Beds (up to 4 people), $85; Mini-Suite with 2 Queen Beds (up to 4 people), $100; Mini-Suite with 2 Queen Beds and Sofa Bed (up to 4 people), $110. Larger suites are also available: call for details. Note: Each additional person is an extra $10 per night. Roll-away beds are not guaranteed and cost $10 per night. Make your reservations ASAP. Identify yourself with the 508. (If this hotel is full, try calling the Harmony Motel at 760-367-3351. There is also a nearby Motel 6.)

RACE HEADQUARTERS: Race Headquarters is located during the race at the 508 Office’s cell phone and at the finish line hotel, once riders start to finish. If a rider drops out of competition, call Race Headquarters AT ONCE! State why and where you or your rider dropped out. After racers begin to finish, please try to reach Chris Kostman in care of the Best Western Gardens Motel. For emergencies, call 911.

TOTEMS, NOT RACE NUMBERS: As always, we will continue with animal totems rather than numbers. Each racer may request, or will receive, an animal name that must be posted on all four sides of each vehicle. Animals are the theme — antelope, bear, cheetah, duck, etc. Be sure to memorize your totem; this is how you and your crew will identify yourselves to time stations and race officials. Returning racers will have the same totems as before. New riders may request a specific animal totem when they submit their entry form, however only Chris Kostman can officially assign animal totems, following a special ritual ablution and spiritual practice. Totems, whether nickname, mascot, alter ego, second identity, or spirit guide, are permanent and non-transferable. To download an Excel file (.xls) of every Every Totem Assigned through 2006, click here. To see an online list of Every Totem Assigned through 2006 (large file), click here!

OFFICIAL FINISHER'S DISTINCTION: To finish the Furnace Creek 508 is a noted accomplishment in the world of ultra endurance sports. The time limit is 48 hours for solo entrants and 46 hours for teams.

AWARDS: All solo and team OFFICIAL FINISHERS will receive a finisher’s medal at the finish line. They will also receive an OFFICIAL FINISHER'S jersey, produced by Hincapie Sports, at the finish line. To see the 508 T-shirt designs from 1990 through 2000, plus RAAM T-shirts from 1982 through 1998, click here. Click here to see the 2008 gear designs!

NANCY DANKENBRING AWARD: This Award is intended to encourage and increase the participation of female athletes in Ultra Cycling race events in general and the Furnace Creek 508 in specific. In particular, this Award is to encourage increased participation of female athletes who have never previously competed in any ultra race events.

Therefore, the Nancy Dankenbring Award is to be presented in recognition of the best female rookie solo rider entered, regardless of age, who enters and successfully finishes the Furnace Creek 508 in the lowest official time recorded.

The Nancy Dankenbring Award is a perpetual award intended expressly to be concurrent with the Furnace Creek 508 for as long as this race event is properly and officially sanctioned, organized and run.

The physical award itself may be monetary, services, merchandise or product; complementary/free entry in the next year's Furnace Creek 508 and/or other UMCA event(s); trophy, plaque or other device; or any combination or proportion as determined by event officials. For more information, click here.

OFFICIAL CHARITY: The official charity of Furnace Creek 508 is the Challenged Athletes Foundation. One of the goals of the race is to raise funds for, and awareness of, this organization. Athletes, crew, fans, and friends of AdventureCORPS are encouraged to support this fine organization. Additionally, all entrants in Furnace Creek 508 (as well as all other AdventureCORPS events) may become fund-raisers on behalf of CAF and thus dedicate their athletic efforts towards this wonderful cause. Fund-raising with this "Race For a Reason" program is made simple with a fully automated and personalized webpage where your friends, family, and co-workers may log onto your website and donate to your efforts in a totally safe and easy manner.

The Challenged Athletes Foundation was created on the belief that people of all abilities should have the opportunity to pursue a life full of physical activity and of sports. Be they recreational or in pursuit of a gold medal at the Paralympic Games, people with a physical disability are limited only by their access to funding.

As one of the very few charities that provides grants directly to athletes with a physical disability, the Challenged Athletes Foundation has raised over six million dollars and directly assisted over 1400 challenged athletes world-wide. A small endowment fund has also been created to ensure challenged athletes will always have a place to go for funding. To read more about CAF and Furnace Creek, click here.

Furnace Creek 508 and AdventureCORPS are also proud to support the Major Taylor Association. The MTA was formed by residents of Worcester, Mass., who became intrigued with the story of the 1899 world champion bicycle racer from Worcester who overcame racial prejudice to become the first internationally acclaimed African-American sports star. The organization's mission is to memorialize Major Taylor with a statue on public land in Worcester, in recognition of his athletic achievements and strength of character -- his sportsmanship, concern for those less fortunate, devotion to God, and personal struggle for equality. Further, MTA aims to create a living memorial to Taylor by conducting good works in his name and educating people about his life and legacy. We are proud to support the Major Taylor Association and we encourage you to do the same. For more info about our charitable work with the MTA, click here.

DEATH VALLEY CUP: The Death Valley Cup is awarded to the fastest male and female athletes to complete both the Badwater Ultramarathon 135 Mile Running Race and the Furnace Creek 508 Mile Bicycle Race in the same calendar year. This is a form of recognition for those athletes who complete both races in the same year, and also an actual plaque that is awarded each time an athlete breaks the current overall record for either the men's or women's divisions. Thus, there are, at any given moment, two Death Valley Cup Record Holders, as well as an ongoing, slowly increasing list of Death Valley Cup Finishers. To earn this recognition is a very significant achievement in endurance sports and especially for those athletes who have come to know and love Death Valley and its environs. More info.

AdventureCORPS Presents Death Valley Century and Double Century: Come Ride Death Valley by Moonlight: Join us in March and October every year for incredible, one-of-a-kind 100 mile and 200 mile cycling events in Mother Nature's greatest sports arena, Death Valley! The field limit is 300 riders total and it always sells out within days. The Spring and Fall editions feature greatly varying routes, giving the adventurous cyclist two awesome opportunities to explore and enjoy one of American's greatest National Parks. With full rider support, roving SAG vehicles, stylish cycling jerseys, and impossible-to-get-lost routes with very little traffic, there's no better place to ride a century or double century cycling event! There's also no better way to get a preview of the middle section of the 508 route! More info.

AdventureCORPS Presents CORPScamp™ Death Valley, our annual cycling lifestyle camp hosted in Furnace Creek and featuring up to 400 miles of epic, one-of-a-kind cycling in and around “Mother Nature’s Greatest Sports Arena,” Death Valley National Park, including riding the routes for the Spring Death Valley Century, the Fall Death Valley Century, and three other awesome rides. Come join the folks at AdventureCORPS along with fellow athlete-adventurers from around the globe for five fabulous days of cycling and camaraderie in beautiful, one-of-a-kind Death Valley! 100 rider limit More info.

	Furnace Creek 508 Welcome Letter
	Press Release for the October 4-6, 2008 Race
	Meet the 508 Race Staff
	For further information on sponsorship of the 508
	For the current weather in Death Valley, courtesy of WeatherBug
	For the weather forecast in Death Valley, courtesy of Intellicast
	For the current weather near Death Valley, courtesy of Weather.com
	For Death Valley's unique weather, courtesy of the USGS
	For the phases of the moon and to find out what the moon will be doing during the race
	For the time of moon or sun rise, anywhere, any day, courtesy of the US Naval Observatory