Every October, a modest rodeo arena in Folsom, California, hosts the region’s spooookiest cycling tradition. Part race, part costume parade, and part community celebration, the Folsom Rodeocross Halloween Race event draws riders and spectators dressed as everything from pop-culture icons to mythical creatures. What began as a quirky passion project has evolved into a beloved seasonal spectacle that marks the unofficial start of the holidays for many locals. Erik Mathy believes it could mean much more. Enjoy the black-and-white infrared photographs below…
“’Twas a long time ago, longer now than it seems.
In a place that perhaps you’ve seen in your dreams.”
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Every year in Folsom, CA, at a tiny rodeo arena of all places, a guy named Frank dons his ringmaster’s hat and jacket. The Folsom Rodeocross cyclocross race series is his kingdom, and the Halloween ‘Cross event is his baby. Monsters of all kinds walk or ride their bikes through the Folsom Rodeo Arena gates, get race numbers, and prepare themselves for their upcoming trials. Spectators of equal decorative status make their way onto the grounds to a place that’s affectionately named “Heckle Hallow” to await the festivities. Because for many, what is about to happen is really the start of their holiday season: the Folsom Rodeocross Halloween Race, affectionately known as Halloween ‘Cross.
Frank and his crew set out posts, caution tape, lights, generators, skeletons, smoke machines, a table and speakers for a DJ, and a couple of 10×10 EZUp tents for semi-official duties. Some beers get cracked open, sipped. After a short wait, his customers arrive. Frankenstein’s monster. Every single color of Sour Patch Kid, travelling in a group. Multiple variations of Elliot and ET. A two-headed unicorn. Several Luigis. Two or three variations of the monsters from Stranger Things. Traffic cones. Mustard. Ketchup. Some grapes. Skeletons. Vincent and Jules of Pulp Fiction fame, complete with suits and water pistols, amble by.
“It’s not really a race. It’s more like a highly spirited cyclocross costume parade with drinks. And heckling,” Frank Shoemaker, aka The Ringmaster, tells me as he sips a beer. It’s probably not his first, probably won’t be his last, but he doesn’t overdo it. The Halloween race/party is the final event of the Folsom Rodeocross cyclocross race series, which he and his wife Asa own and run. The two of them are highly experienced cycling event promoters and directors with untold amounts of experience between them. The Halloween ‘Cross event is his baby, his personal favorite.
At the yearly Halloween event, Frank is much like Jack the Pumpkin King from The Nightmare Before Christmas. He’s the good-natured, outgoing MC to Asa’s quieter, behind-the-scenes execution of details. Acting as part season-ending party, part community outreach to the non-cycling locals who come to watch, and part gateway to racing for the sizable number of kids who take part, Halloween ‘Cross is the kind of thing that should happen everywhere. At least in my opinion, anyway.
Cycling in the United States is struggling to keep people involved at any level. Be it riding as sport or for transportation, cycling is in decline. It seems to me that events like the Folsom Halloween Cross are at least partly the solution. There were more kids at this year’s event, riding solo or with their parents, than ever. It gives me some sense of hope, but I just wish the rest of the cycling world would take notice. If – or hopefully when – they do, Frank the Halloween ‘Cross King will be waiting, hat in hand, to help show them the way.
About the photos
These photos were taken with a full-spectrum Nikon D810 DSLR using a 720nm infrared filter to make black-and-white infrared photographs. Black-and-white infrared images are typically very high-contrast and surreal, with white vegetation and grey to alabaster white skin tones. I thought it would be the perfect color treatment for a Halloween event. This is my first time photographing an event with digital black-and-white infrared after having spent a great deal of time shooting black-and-white infrared film in the past. It was a fun but challenging experience! I hope everyone enjoys the results.