SUN VALLEY, NV (July 7) – BMX, bicycle motocross, is a national grass roots two-wheeled sport. While it tends to fly under the radar when compared to other big league sports a rider can go on to compete in national events or stick to their local ones.
This region is blessed with a quartet of tracks and one of them, Battle Born BMX, is located in Reno. The track sits at the north end of the Sun Valley Community Park and has gone through quite a transformation over the past few years.
John Crabtree, shown here changing an tube for a racer, operates the Battle Born BMX track in Sun Valley.
John Crabtree, the track operator, explained this when he said, “January 2016 we signed lease and our 501C Non Profit took over the track here in Sun Valley. There’s one in Ely as well so they have a track out there.”
All these tracks are in the NV02 (Nevada 02), which is the Northern Nevada district and all are part of USA BMX, the national organization.
Asked about the response he’s gotten since taking over the track Crabtree said, “It’s been great, when we took the track over it was dead last in the state, out of eight tracks, and it was dead last in the district. We’re pretty happy to say this year we’re number one in the district and number 2 in the state.”
Like any outdoor sports the turn out depends on the weather and the time of year.
“Turnouts are pretty good, our very first race this year we had 27 motos and we’ve been averaging about 15. With summer we’ll be down to probably 10 or 12 motos today. As the season starts in January the numbers are real good, when summer hits the numbers taper off then in the fall they go back up. The season is January till December 15th and we run, weather permitting, every week.”
The schedule this year is every Saturday with sign ups from 9 until 10:30 a.m. and there is a summer practice session on Monday nights from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
While riders need to have a membership in USA BMX there are one-day memberships available for youngsters that would like to try their hand at this. And there are some bikes that can be rented including Striders for the little ones.
Riders need to wear long sleeve shirts, pants and closed shoes with no open toes. And helmets are needed.
Before the racing starts riders line up for the Flag Lap that proceeds the National Anthem.
After practice during sign ups the riders assemble for the “Flag Lap,” where many carry American Flags. Once the lap is completed the National Anthem is played then the racing begins.
Depending on how many are in a class all of the riders compete two motos before their main. If there are more riders than slots at the starting gate the first two motos are elimination rounds with the first two finishers transferring to the main.
Each moto starts when the gate is dropped and riders rush down the concrete ramp onto the dirt track.
Each start is from a gate that leads down a concrete slope an on to the track. Riders have to negotiate tabletops, a rhythm section as well as three high banked turns.
A moto is an all out affair on these single speed bikes so physical conditioning really is a plus. Even if a rider isn’t in the best of shape they soon will be as well as developing their riding skills.
There is a break between the first to motos and the mains. The first moto is for the youngest racers that use Striders and they only ride half the track.
Young Madelyn Apodaca won all three of the Strider motos.
On this day there were only two Strider racers; one was a 5-years-old and the other a 2-year-old. They actually raced three times as they wanted to go again after each finish
Well the 5-year-old won all three but in the last race the 2-year-old wasn’t that far behind.
At 2-years-old Bailey Trevethan needed a boost from dad to get up onto the table top. She ended up second in all three Strider motos.
All the mains had good, hard racing as the riders zoomed around the course and its three high-banked turns. The ages ranged from under 10 to the adults in the 41 to 45 year old class.
The events ran fast so on this day the final moto finished a little after noon. This allowed everyone to get away before the heat of the day really got going.
BMX is a great way for youngsters to start earning their racing spurs. On the local level it can be inexpensive but competing in the nationals will require some expensive bikes that are made for this type of competition.
Next week some of some of the local racers will be in Las Vegas for a national event.
Following is a listing for the tracks in our region and all of them can be found on Face Book as well.
TRACK LIST:
- Battle Born BMX
155 w. 6th Street, Sun Valey.
Race Schedule:
Saturday, sign ups 9 – 10:30 a.m., racing to follow. Monday (Summer) practice starts at 5:30 p.m.
• Carson City BMX
1555 Livermore Lane (Part of the Edmonds athletic facility.)
Race Schedule:
Wednesday, sign ups 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., racing to follow.
Friday, sign ups 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., racing to follow
Sunday sign ups 9 to 10 a.m., racing to follow.
• Fernley BMX
212 Mull Lane
Race Schedule:
Sunday, sign ups 2 to 3 p.m., racing to follow.
• South Lake Tahoe BMX
1201 Al Tahoe, Blvd, California
Racing Schedule:
Thursday, sign ups 5 to 6:15 p.m., racing to follow.
REPORTER’S NOTE: There is a photo gallery at the end of this article.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
- Three drivers originally from the Las Vegas area competed in Saturday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup event at Daytona International Speedway. The event itself was marked by several major wrecks which put two of them out of competition while the third, who only races part time, had the best result.
Brendan Gaughan started 16th and finished 12th after missing all but one of the wrecks although he was able to continue. Kyle Busch started 15th but a wreck dropped him to 33rd at the end while older brother Kurt started 23rd and ended up 37th after another wreck put him out.
• Once again this reporter will be on Teresa’s Garage Radio Show from 2 until 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. The show covers all thing automotive plus plugging a special happening at this year’s Hot August Night.
Teresa’s Garage Radio Show
Right about 2:15 I will have a preview section covering what is coming up this week.
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We now have six very appreciated sponsors that are helping support this site. Please patronize them as they support your sport.
Our newest is Moto Source located at 3180 Mill Street, unit C. They stock accessories and have a large service department.
The shops website is www.moto-source.com and their phone number is 775-856-3855.
Big Valley Honda is the first dealer in our family of sponsors. They sell everything from motorcycles, UTV’s, ATV’s and about anything else things one could want.
Their location is at 2225 Market Street in Reno and their website is www.bigvalleyhonda.com and they have a Face Book page, www.facebook.com/bigvalleyhondareno.
Our first sponsor is a full service motorcycle shop, Reno Motorsports and they too have a full service shop as well as about anything a rider could want.
They are located at 964 Terminal way, by Mill Street and their website is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
Sponsor PJ & Co Restaurant and Saloon located at 1590 Wells Avenue in Reno is familiar to most in the riding lifestyle.
Good food, great place and they have Bike Night every Wednesday. For further information please check their website at, www.pjandco.net.
Concours Body Shop, owned by racer and race supporter Gil Grieve, is a business doing quality repair work on cars and trucks.
The business is located at 240 Telegraph Street in Reno and their website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
If you are into karting or want the most cost effective way to start racing then check out Nevada Kart Sport, our only full service kart shop in this region.
The shop has moved to 894 Deming Way in Sparks and their website is, www.nevadakartsport.com.
Have a business targeted toward the motorcycle, motorsport or off road demographic? Well we are looking for more sponsors.
You can contact us either through the comment section of the site or our Face Book page.
PHOTO GALLERY:
How about allowing Electric RC cars at the Battle Born BMX track?
Probably no. It’s not designed for those although there is a track for
those RC cars at Mira Loma Park in Reno.