RAD CANYON'S HISTORY

[Guest]

I have just read the post from Dopebmx, and feel like there may be some confusion about how Rad Canyon Bmx came into being.
While it is true that Bob Lunak was at the very least an icon of BMX in Utah, and was well respected for all of his many accomplishments, Rad Canyon was not one of them. It wasn't his accomplishment, it was his dream. Bob's accomplishments at Twin Peaks Super Cross were his crowning achievement along with his endless hours of work and dedication to the sport itself. Bob was the one responsible for the first national at TPSX, and for putting TPSX on the national radar. Who knows how much longer he would have been a track director had it not been for his responsibilities to his family and being an owner operator of a very busy transport business. As I recall, that is why he reluctantly gave up his track directorship at TPSX at the end of 1994. His successor was in full control for the 1995 season and was the last track director at TPSX, and the first track director and founder of Rad. I was at TPSX the day Bob made his announcement and turned over the reins to someone I had never heard of, and I, and alot of other old schoolers thought that Bob had lost his mind. But in the end, Bob proved to be the one who knew what was best, and Bmx grew even bigger and faster than I think even Bob had imagined. The county shut down TPSX the next year and out of that rubble Rad Canyon was born. But it was two years after Bob had left the scene. Bob Lunak, and all of the track directors before and after him, have all left indellible marks on the BMX landscape here in Utah, and will never be forgotten for all that they have done.
If I might relate an incident that I was lucky enough to be a part of with Bob, and was actually the last time I saw him and is the way I choose to remember him. During the Worlds at Rad Canyon in 2002, my boys and I decided to go over and see the new track, and to again feel the excitement of the ABA Worlds. I was walking around the outside of the fence, when I saw a man standing alone just looking at the track and then turning to look at the overall size of this one of a kind BMX amphitheator. I watched as he walked in my direction and realized that it wa none other than Bob Lunak. He had a smile on his face a mile wide, and his eyes were twinkling and I could tell he was really happy about what he was seeing. We met and shook hands just outside the fence near the finish line, and he told me that he was almost afraid to walk inside the gate and onto the track and the green grass that was all over the place.
It was early evening, and we walked and talked about old times as we made our way inside the fence and onto the track. I could tell he was moved by what he was seeing.
We talked for about 20 minutes while we walked around, and just as I was saying goodbye, something happened that I had not expected that showed me a side of Bob Lunak that I had never before seen. With tears in his eyes, he said to me " even though I wasn't here to make it happen, this is my dream come true and I'm so proud of what has been done here".
I write this in memory of my good friend, he was special, and so was his dream, which he in no small way played a huge role in laying the solid foundation that helped accomplish it. I have seen many posts saying "rest in peace" but knowing Bob as I do, he isnt resting. I strongly suspect that there's a new track being built up there, perhaps "Pearly Gates BMX- Bob Lunak, Track Director.

Ride Hard Bob!
Thanks for the Memories.

[bnd]

Thanks for sharing.




b.

[Punk-Biker940]

Thats awesome, I never knew any of that... I always thought that someone wanted to build a track to race on cause they had a passion for bmx and everyone started to race there.

[dopebmx]

ok this is the deal. i did not think it was pertinent to go into who did what. all we wanted to do was thank someone who had an impact on our lives. i did not find it important to say EXACTLY who created rad or is running or ran for that matter the facility. From the hilcrest track to riverview to twin peaks to the indoor bob spent hours doing what he loved to do and that was provide a facility where people could come and race. i find it interesting that very few people that ran the track after bob even showed up at the viewing or funeral. Most of the people that did show were all deciples of the lunak influence. You know people that actually work or relie on bicycling for an income. These people would not be what they are today if it was not for his gudiance and help. I did not know that when you die that it important to review other peoples acomplishments to satisfy the need for other people to be recognized.

mike" i will put my name not a guest" antes

[TP]

Mike,
I couldn't agree more! I didn't think it was cool when I read it but I wasn't around when the whole Rad deal etc. went down. Bob touched many lives and that is what we need to focus on. I will try and stay on the positive side as Bob would want all of us to do.

PS. Call me man.