2 Races per month.......? Please Read and Respond!!

[Ammo_Dawg]

I've been keeping up with this topic and would like to add my .02 if I could. I've been wanting to be a TO for some time now. I've even started looking in to getting a track started in Davis County (since I'm active duty Air Force and live on base at Hill). TP mentioned that there's already too many tracks in Utah. After reading here, I'm starting to believe that too. I spent 3 years in South Dakota and we had 2 tracks in Rapid City, 3 in the whole state. Aberdeen was 350 miles away, so that left Black Hills BMX and Box Elder BMX considered as "local" racing. Here's my opinion on some of the issues at hand. Like the saying goes "opinions are like ***holes, everybody has one." LOL


Start time: I have personally been involved with sign-ups, track prep, posting motos, etc. Most of the flyers you see, even the BMXer reads as follows: Sign-ups 6-7pm Racing ASAP

I believe that every track tries their hardest to get racing started as soon as possible after motos post. Sometimes it just takes a little longer, sometimes a little less. I would almost bet that most of the delays come from lack of volunteers (i.e. needing a stager, score keeper, announcer, etc.) so instead of sitting in your chair, car, bleachers or Lazy Boy (YES, I know a parent that would bring his Lazy Boy in the back of his truck and witch his ass off about SMALL things) get up and ask if there's anything that you could do to help speed things along.

Music: I know what you mean when it comes to music and the kids. Box Elder BMX in SD had a really cool sponsor thing worked out with a local radio station so they would set their stereo to that station and the DJ would do the rest. No changing of cd's to worry about and especailly no worries of somebody slipping a "Parental Advisory" cd in the player when you're not looking because we all know it's the TO's fault when that happens...Yes that was sarcasim. I bet the TO was working on the track or listening to some parent witch in his ear when that cd was put on. I don't know, I wasn't there? My point is, maybe try and get a local radio station to promote your track and in return you play their station in return.

Driving distance: Like I wrote earlier, there were 2 tarcks in SD so driving was expected if you wanted to race more. We had a pretty regular group that would make the 150 mile drive to Gillette, Wy on Saturdays and in return they would make the drive to us during the week. We SUPPORTED one another because we knew that's all we had. When I got reassigned to Hill I broke out my BMXer, jumped on expedia.com and got the mileage from Hill's front gate to the track. My mouth started to water at the fact that I have...let me count them 1, 2, 3, 4, I think 5 tracks that are within 60 miles from me. That's an hours drive time (depending on traffic) and I will support EACH and EVERY one one of them as much as I can.

I love the sport of BMX and I probably do go a little overboard when it comes to racing (the wife loves balancing the checkbook after a big weekend...lmao) but It's something I choose to do. I try not to get caught up in ghe bitching and complaining about late start times, the driving distance, the track conditions, etc etc etc. INSTEAD I volunteer as much as possible and help make things happen, not for me (well maybe a little) but for the my kids and all the other kids that enjoy the sport. Some of our greatest memories of racing is when we gather up the family on a Saturday morning and head off to a NEW track for the weekend. That's why you will find my in Idaho (I loved the Preston, Idaho track back in 98), Wyoming and Colorado during the racing season.

I know most of you are saying "Who the hell is this joker?" Well, I'm nobody special. I'm just a BMX Dad that wants to come back to Utah in 9 months and find let me count them 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 tracks within a 60 mile radius so I can continue to play like a kid and enjoy the bext thing since sliced bread.

Good luck to Tooele! I hope it all comes out in the wash. I wish I could be there to help make your, along with all the other Utah tracks 2005 season a success. I'll be pushing the wife to be there in my place. Thanks for listening.


Lee Geddings

"Can't we all just get along?" Rodney King