Morton will be busy Aug. 20
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Morton will be hotbed of activity on Saturday, Aug. 20.
Morton is the new site of the annual bicycle race formerly known as the Proctor Cycling Classic and cyclists in 11 classes race the downtown streets on Saturday, Aug. 20.
The inaugural Morton Community Bank Cycling Classic will begin at 8 a.m. and up to 300 cyclists are expected to compete, said the Peoria Bicycle club, which has sponsored the race for 24 years.
Also that day disc golfers from across Illinois will compete for almost $9,000 in cash and prizes in the inaugural Professional Disc Golf Association's 2011 Ledgestone Insurance Open at Northwood Park.
The one-day, all-day tournament tees off at 9:45 a.m. Each participant will play two rounds of 21 holes of disc golf.
Bike races
The Morton Community Bank Cycling Classic includes 11 different age and gender categories and will pay $4,000 in prize money. There will be a race just for kids and one featuring local celebrities. Mayor Norm Durflinger will be the honorary starter in the celebrity race.
Races are from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Children ages 4 to 6 and 7 to 9 will compete at 12:10 p.m. The premiere event is at 4 p.m. "I expect some of the fastest cyclists in the Midwest to be at that race," said Kevin Lantz, event promoter and president of the Peoria Bicycle Club.
The race course is three-fourths of a mile and runs along Main and Jefferson streets, First Avenue and Wick Street. The shortest race is 30 minutes; the longest is 75 minutes.
Besides the road races, there will be an art show and arts and craft show. Several Morton restaurants will sell food near the course. "This is a family-friendly event," said Lantz. "Everyone is welcome. It should be a good time!"
For more information about the classic or to register, go to peoriabicycleclub.com. Online registration closes next Wednesday, Aug. 17. Race-day registration will be available 90 minutes before the first event and will close 30 minutes prior to the beginning of each race. Costs range from free to $35, depending on the race category.
The annual event had been held in Downtown Peoria for 23 years and was called the Proctor Cycling Classic until Proctor Hospital ended its sponsorship after the 2009 race. There was no sponsor last year and the race was simply called the Peoria Cycling Classic.
Formed in 1881, the Peoria Bicycle Club is one of the oldest cycling groups in the United States. It went dormant for several decades before being reactivated in 1987. With about 100 members, the club is set up for the cyclist in the Peoria area to meet other competitive cyclists and be part of a local team recognized by USA Cycling Association, the club said in a news release.
Disc golf tournament
The field is already full for the Ledgestone Insurance Open, which will be three holes longer than the typical game of golf. "We added and designed a few extra holes for the tournament," said Nate Heinold, the tournament's director and vice president of Ledgestone Insurance.
A total of 105 players have registered, the maximum allowed. Players are separated into seven divisions, ranging in skill level from professional to beginners.
"It's definitely a good sign," said Heinold of the turnout. "The fact that I have already filled it is because of the amount of money and sponsors I have."
With a purse close to $8,800 and 30 sponsors offering discs, merchandise and cash, the tournament is the largest to be offered in the Peoria Area. The winner will receive $600 and a plaque.
The public is welcome to come out and see some of the state's top professionals of the sport compete. Admission to the tournament is free.
The Professional Disc Golf Association, with a membership topping more than 40,000 people, is the governing body for the sport and sanctions competitive events for men and women of every skill level from novice to professional. The sport was formalized in the 1970s.