The Sea Otter Classic and Festival begins Thursday in Monterey, California at the Laguna Seca Raceway.

First of all the free entry, but there’s a condition: You must work for it. Volunteers are needed to help with the valet bike parking. You also need to be willing to talk about the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition and promote the benefits of cycling. Get the details and sign up here. This could be worth some community service hours for a California student.

The Sea Otter discounts. A number of businesses and venues in Monterey are offering discounts to Sea Otter visitors on Thursday. Show your bicycle or bike rental receipt and mention “HER Helmet Thursday” for discounts on lodging, educational attractions, entertainment, and dining. View this page for details, and this page for a complete list of participating businesses.