'Ben Hurt': Portland bike warriors smash and crash

By Nigel Duara, Terrence Petty

The Associated Press

Wed, 02/22/2012 - 3:43pm

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Chariot riders battle in a “Ben Hur”-like chariot race at Chariot Wars during a three-day Mini Bike Winter Olympics Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, in Portland, Ore. Armed, variously, with all manner of foam-padded apparatus, at least five teams did battle on Saturday under gray skies for the pleasure of hoisting a three-foot-tall, homemade skull-bearing piece of welded junk, called the “Ben Hurt” trophy. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Chariot riders battle in a “Ben Hur”-like chariot race at Chariot Wars during a three-day Mini Bike Winter Olympics Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, in Portland, Ore. Armed, variously, with all manner of foam-padded apparatus, at least five teams did battle on Saturday under gray skies for the pleasure of hoisting a three-foot-tall, homemade skull-bearing piece of welded junk, called the “Ben Hurt” trophy. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Chariot riders battle in a “Ben Hur”-like chariot race at Chariot Wars during a three-day Mini Bike Winter Olympics Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, in Portland, Ore. Armed, variously, with all manner of foam-padded apparatus, at least five teams did battle on Saturday under gray skies for the pleasure of hoisting a three-foot-tall, homemade skull-bearing piece of welded junk, called the “Ben Hurt” trophy. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Chariot riders battle in a “Ben Hur”-like chariot race at Chariot Wars during a three-day Mini Bike Winter Olympics Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, in Portland, Ore. Armed, variously, with all manner of foam-padded apparatus, at least five teams did battle on Saturday under gray skies for the pleasure of hoisting a three-foot-tall, homemade skull-bearing piece of welded junk, called the “Ben Hurt” trophy. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Chariot rider Jon Penfold drinks from the “Ben Hurt” trophy following the “Ben Hur”-like chariot race at Chariot Wars during a three-day Mini Bike Winter Olympics Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, in Portland, Ore. Armed, variously, with all manner of foam-padded apparatus, at least five teams did battle on Saturday under gray skies for the pleasure of hoisting a three-foot-tall, homemade skull-bearing piece of welded junk, called the “Ben Hurt” trophy. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Chariot riders battle in a “Ben Hur”-like chariot race at Chariot Wars during a three-day Mini Bike Winter Olympics Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, in Portland, Ore. Armed, variously, with all manner of foam-padded apparatus, at least five teams did battle on Saturday under gray skies for the pleasure of hoisting a three-foot-tall, homemade skull-bearing piece of welded junk, called the “Ben Hurt” trophy. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Chariot riders battle in a “Ben Hur”-like chariot race at Chariot Wars during a three-day Mini Bike Winter Olympics Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, in Portland, Ore. Armed, variously, with all manner of foam-padded apparatus, at least five teams did battle on Saturday under gray skies for the pleasure of hoisting a three-foot-tall, homemade skull-bearing piece of welded junk, called the “Ben Hurt” trophy. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Chariot riders battle in a “Ben Hur”-like chariot race at Chariot Wars during a three-day Mini Bike Winter Olympics Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, in Portland, Ore. Armed, variously, with all manner of foam-padded apparatus, at least five teams did battle on Saturday under gray skies for the pleasure of hoisting a three-foot-tall, homemade skull-bearing piece of welded junk, called the “Ben Hurt” trophy. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Chariot riders battle in a “Ben Hur”-like chariot race at Chariot Wars during a three-day Mini Bike Winter Olympics Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, in Portland, Ore. Armed, variously, with all manner of foam-padded apparatus, at least five teams did battle on Saturday under gray skies for the pleasure of hoisting a three-foot-tall, homemade skull-bearing piece of welded junk, called the “Ben Hurt” trophy. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Chariot rider Jon Penfold drinks from the “Ben Hurt” trophy following the “Ben Hur”-like chariot race at Chariot Wars during a three-day Mini Bike Winter Olympics Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, in Portland, Ore. Armed, variously, with all manner of foam-padded apparatus, at least five teams did battle on Saturday under gray skies for the pleasure of hoisting a three-foot-tall, homemade skull-bearing piece of welded junk, called the “Ben Hurt” trophy. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Looking like punk gladiators, teams of young adults on junk bikes pulling chariots made of junk parts frenetically chased each other around a makeshift arena, slamming each other and swinging away with foam clubs.

Spectators tossed beer cans, flour and smoke grenades. Firecrackers popped and obscenities flew during the battle, called the "Ben Hurt Chariot Wars."

And then, toward sundown, the grown-ups arrived.

Full story:

http://www.xploreutah.net/story/ben-hurt-portland-bike-warriors-smash-an...

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