Dirt-bike outreach

expands to region

By EDWIN OUELLETTE
CNNW intern reporter
    McMINNVILLE — North-west Christian dirt-bike enthusiasts “in a rut” now have a club to turn to. Racers Under the Son (RUTS) is an organization for Christian off-road motorcycle racers and riders. RUTS was started in 1984 in Southern California. RUTS membership has since expanded to 235 families, according to the RUTS web site at www.ruts.org.
    Although RUTS started in Southern California, today RUTS clubs operate in Nevada, California’s Central Coast, Northern California, Arizona and Oregon. The McMinnville RUTS chapter was started in February 2005. It has since expanded to 23 members.
    Earlier this year, Cary Stepper of Yamhill and her husband Mike became members of the McMinnville RUTS chapter — the only RUTS organization in Oregon.
   “We became involved because we saw it as an opportunity to share our faith while doing something that we love to do – ride dirt bikes,” she said. “There are plenty of opportunities in everyday-life situations to model Christ’s behavior, and for me, it’s nice to be able to do it in an environment that I like so much.”
    Faith in Jesus Christ comes first to RUTS members, or “RUTSters” as they call themselves, while a love of racing and riding dirt bikes comes second. All RUTSters ride, and about 30 percent race as well, according to the web site.
    Most dirt bike races are on Sunday, which makes it hard for racers to attend church, said Stepper. “One of the great things about RUTS is that we make it possible for those people to have a church service with our evening chapel on Saturday nights at the race events,” she added.
    For the last two seasons, a RUTSter has given the invocation at the cross-country races in all but two races, said Kent Swick, director of the McMinnville RUTS chapter.
   “It is hard to top the joy of knowing I am actively serving the Lord in an outreach ministry… you know, the feeling you get when you successfully complete a directive that at first appears too great a challenge,” said Swick.
    The McMinnville RUTS club sponsors a dirt bike ride the second Saturday of every month for members and non-members alike. The club’s race events take place in various places around Oregon and southwest Washing-ton, including Jacksonville, Bend, Prineville, Heppner, the Tilla-mook State Forest and Goldendale, Wash.
    For more information about RUTS visit www.rutsoregon.org, or www.ruts.org.