CyclingNW

The combination of rain and sunshine, capped off with a double rainbow, created an ethereal setting Tuesday evening when the local racing community remembered David Oliphant. Photo by Pat Malach.

Article Courtesy of Oregon Cycling Action.

PORTLAND — Fellow racers, friends and family of David Oliphant remembered the longtime OBRA member who died June 8 with a silent lap in his honor Tuesday night at PIR. Oliphant’s brother Duncan rode at the front of the procession, which started the circuit in pouring rain and finished under sunshine and a magnificent double rainbow.

As people began to arrive under drizzling skies for the lap that was scheduled for 6:30 p.m., OBRA Director Kenji Sugahara presented Duncan with an OBRA Championhsip jersey with David’s number pinned to it. About that same time, the rain really started to pour.

“Everyone laughed saying that Dave would have been texting everyone about racing on a day like yesterday,” Sugahara said. “It rained when we rolled out and when we came off the back straightaway the sun shone through — and when we came onto the finishing straight we were greeted by the double rainbow. It was probably the most vibrant rainbow I’ve ever seen. Thanks Dave. We’ll all miss you.”

Oliphant’s family will have an open service for David on Thursday, June 17, beginning at 1 p.m. at Southlake Foursquare Church in West Linn, 1555 SW Borland Road. Call 503-638-1555 for details.