The ''History of RAD Canyon''?

[Guest]

Does anyone know the history of RAD Canyon BMX? how it came into being? I'm just wondering how this ''best kept secret" came to be? Does anyone know its history?

[sspencer]

Would you like the condensed story or the full-blown details??? It is almost a soap opera with all the lies, deception, betrayal, love lost and politics involved
But of course has a happy ending!

Steve

[Guest]

My word Steve, I would have never, EVER, expected that response from you I would have thought such a wonderful place would have a wonderful story, I'm sorry I ask
All of the bits and pieces that I had heard were of hard work and great determination,teamwork, and dedication. About that I wanted to know more, not about what you are implying. My heart goes out to those that you feel so poorly about, and I hope you find a way to overcome your sadness, and ill feelings. I always thought that you were above such things, and hope that you did not mean what you have just said because it is not the Steve that I know that would say such things.
I prefer not to see you in that way so please say no more about this subject if you have such feelings. I prefer to think of the positive results and the great reputation that RAD Canyon has attained, to me that is the most important result of whoever has gone before.

[J Gallo]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I'm pretty sure Steve was posting "tongue-in-cheek" so to speak. I took his his post more in a fun satirical sense than the "hate-bashing" context you seem to have felt it was.

As you said yourself...

My word Steve, I would have never, EVER, expected that response from you

If you would have never expected it, then possibly you might be wrong about it's intent.

[Guest]

Jason, you are incredible, no wonder everyone loves you
Add my family to that list of everygrowing families and BMXers who are so appreciative of all that you do, and your steady, logical voice of reason.
You have no idea how much we appreciate all of your hard work on the website, and your ability to maintain order amongst us

[justinsbmxmom]

AMEN to that!

[JasonStout]

So way back in 1974 The ABA and I were born. The Harper track was born somewhere in the late 70's.

So there I was, 1979, I was almost 5 years old. My Stake (Church group) decided to have a Stake BMX race. My brother entered the race. It was held behind Riverview Jr. High School on 700 West and about 5?00 South. My Father and brother started racing shortly after that. ( My first race was in Provo in 1980. 3rd place, total points, crashed in the bonzai jump, jumped back up, and finished the race crying the whole way!- I remember the whole thing! Steve Oblad Sr. , Brian's dad and my Dad through together a bike that very day.)

Back to Murray Utah. The track was called Harper BMX. I believe it was named after the donor of the dirt. (Harper). The track was very primitive compared to what we race on today.

After some TO changes, and the popularity of the sport, Harper became Riverview Raceway-Peaking in popularity in 1983. The ABA hosted a national there I believe in 1982, and then at the Hillcrest track in 1883. Bruce has a great pic from those nationals. He could also tell you more about the track history as he was not 6years old.

So, I spent my happy childhood riding my bike at the old Riverview raceway. I know Brian Oblad spent most of his time there as well as he lived within biking distance of the track.

So then the drama begins.... Ok- I know I'm wrong about this stuff so correct me. The story I heard was the Mayors daughter bought a house behind the track then called Twin Peaks BMX. , and complained about the noise. That forced the track to move to where it is today. RAD CANYON is the place today. .....take over those of you that were there....Steve, Bruce, Jason Melton, anyone......

This is where the story gets amazing. There was the Harmons, and some other guy everyone talks about, and a whole bunch of people who did a lot of stuff to build an amazing track.... I wasn't there for any of this....but I'm grateful for all ya'll!

So now we have a world class facility at Rad Canyon with a deep history of Utah BMX riders and a huge cast that keep the tradition running. Best of luck to the new TO's and volunteers to keep it alive and thriving- not just surviving.

So here it is, one peice of the puzzle from the memory of a 8 yr. old expert.

Take over....anyone....

JS

[JasonStout]

[bnd]

"Guest"...lighten up. Steve was partly correct & as was Stout. There are only a few that are left from the 95' to 96' transition from Twin Peaks BMX to Rad Canyon.

The Riverview/Twin Peaks site was in the heart of Murray behind the Riverview Jr. High school. It was there starting in 1979. They had a bunch of nationals & Gold Cups there as I attended one in 82' & raced the GSL National in 93'. During the early 90's the area that once was nothing but fields quickly became houses. There was a row of houses to the south about 100 yards away. They knew what they were dealing with when they bought those houses, a bmx track that held 1 race a week & 4 softball fields that were used alot more than the track. Bob Lunak was the TO & made sure that the race nights were over by 10pm & the lights got turned off.
In 95' the rumors started that the nieghbors were getting a petition together to get the track shut down, mind you these were about 8 households. Well somebody must of had some sort of clout because there was a meeting with the county commish Brent Overson at the track one night. A dozen homeowners showed up & about 200 BMX people showed up, no problem, right? WRONG. Overson rolled over like the French army & sided with the homeowners, with the promise of finding a new site for the BMX crowd. The guy who came to the rescue for the BMX'rs was Pat Simmons, Coles dad. He has some friends in high places & secured the Welby Pit area. When the 96' season started and we went to the track for the first summer, trust me I thought we all got screwed. The RC camp looked like NOTHING like it does today. It was basically a dirt field with a track plopped in the middle of it. Pat Simmons & Brad Harmon were able to get alot done with the track & money put into it over the next few years. The county stepped up & was putting a ton of money into it. RC had a national in (97'?) 98' & has had one ever since. Harmon left after the 01' season & Simmons handed over the reins to Halliday a few years ago.

Funny thing, the softball fields are still there & there is a softball diamond where the old BMX track was at.

They don't call me the Information Minister for nothing.

b.

[J Gallo]

LMAO @

Overson rolled over like the French army

Thanks for the information Bruce!

I wonder about one thing though. The original poster of this thread called RAD the

''best kept secret"

.

If RAD has the highest moto count, holds yearly ABA Natl's, not too mention countless SCQ, SCF's etc, how could it still be a secret? Especially with such a cool website if I do say so myself! LOL

[Guest]

JASON, THE COMMENT ABOUT RAD CANYON BEING THE BEST KEPT SECRET WAS MEANT TO REFLECT WHAT MANY PEOPLE SAY WHEN THEY COME THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME....IE.....''OMG, I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS EVEN HERE'', OR ''HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN HERE, I DIDNT EVEN KNOW THERE WAS BMX RACING IN SLC?''
WHAT I WAS SAYING IS THAT THERE ARE STILL A LARGE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL BMXERS OUT THERE THAT WE CAN LOOK TO IN ORDER TO SPREAD THE WORD AND GROW FROM. THATS ALL THAT I MEANT, SORRY IF IT SOUNDED DUMB, BUT IT WAS MEANT IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN THAT.

AND IF I MAY SAY SO, I HAVE SEEN MOST ALL OF THE BIG TRACKS WEBSITE, AND IF THERE WAS A NUMBER ONE PLATE FOR BEING THE BEST, THAT WOULD BE YOU!!!!!!! (AND THAT INCLUDES THE ABA WEBSITE TOO!!!)

[Guest]

Oh my gosh Jason, I left my caps lock on and it appears that I am yelling at you, but Im not. Please accept my apology, I would never yell at anyone, Im sorry

[J Gallo]

Don't worry, I didn't think you were yelling

LARGE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL BMXERS OUT THERE THAT WE CAN LOOK TO IN ORDER TO SPREAD THE WORD AND GROW FROM

I totally agree with that, and I can definitely see your point about people saying... "Wow, I didn't even know this track was here!" because I can personally attest to it. I have lived in my house in West Jordan since 1997 and I didn't even realize RAD was just 2 miles south from my house!!

*smacks self on forehead*

Can we get like a "Bat Signal" beacon to shine up from the track?

[Guest]

I've got a freind that lives right behind the old harper/riverside track, and he says that he's lived in that area when all the stuff with the neighbors was going on. He also said that all those people in that area wish that the bmx track was still there.. I can remember going over to the track almost everyday and riding and racing on saturdays, then they put a fence around it and kept it locked untill a race or practice. It was a lot different in those day it started out thet you were a beginer,then novice and then a inter if i remember right . then when summer was over you would then start to race in the colisium at the fair grounds, what fun racing on cement floors woodin jumps and table tops with a couple of cans of hair spray to keep your tires sticky so you would'nt slide out. now we have this great place called RAD CANYON thanks to Pat Simmons and all the people that helped out over all the years to make it what it is today and what it will become in the future THE BEST BMX TRACK . and the only place to go is to make it better.

[sspencer]

The word of "BMX" definitely has not reached the masses. There is still a lot of tapping to do into the proverbial demographic keg. Without much promotion, we have roughly 500 racers in the state. If a little extra effort was put in, who knows what kind of numbers we could pull??? We dont have to go so far as to do TV and radio ad's. We have numerous of opportunites available that are free, other than the cost of our time, such as school programs, parks & rec, community gatherings, etc. It is the matter of just doing it. If each family or racer put in just a few hours of their time during the course of a season to promote the sport, it would have a significant impact.

Steve