BMX Racing - Yesterday and Today

BMX Racing - Yesterday and Today
Bicycle Motocross History

Whether you are just getting started in BMX, or you have been around a while, it's important to know the history of bmx racing if you want to progress in the sport.

BMX was born in the 1970's in Southern California. Since then it has grown in leaps and bounds, this year landing in the Summer Olympics in Bejing. BMX racers from all over the world competed in this first ever event: http://www.atbmx.com/actionsports-blog.html

Scott Breithaup is credited with forming some of the first ever bmx races. Sanctioning organizations like the NBA, NBL and ABA formed during the late 70's and started to expand. In the early days there were no specialized bmx bikes made by major manufacturers. Early manufacturers included SE, FMF, Mongoose, Redline, MCS, GT, Torker and Shimano. Some of those names are still around, but most all have gone through owner or management changes.

Early standouts included pros Dave Clinton, Bobby Encinas, Stu Thomsen, Greg Hill and Greg Esser. Today's AA and Elite Pros include the likes of Mike Day, Donny Robinson, Kyle Bennett and Cristian Becerine. If they are still racing, many of the older top pros have moved on to what is now called Masters, except for a few like Randy Stumphauser.

Renny Roker held the Jag BMX World Championships in the early 80's and brought international racers together for the first time to race bmx. Through the mid 1980's bmx racing gained popularity and tracks were built all over the United States and the world. But BMX racing enjoyed some lean years in the late 80's and early 90's and eventually experienced a slowdown as many of the early pioneers turned into adults and moved on. By then other forms of biking were growing like freestyle and mountain biking.

Bikes improved with the advent of stronger parts and better materials, but the 20" wheel remains the choice of bmx racing. Cruisers though first 26" wheel bikes now sport 24" wheels and primarily are used by older racers. Today's bikes are built from similar materials as the ones in the 70's, but technology and experience have improved them tremendously.

In order to compete in today's Elite Pro Class you must be physically fit. No longer can you be a slacker and just race on the weekends. Today's pros lift weights, eat balanced diets and often have professional trainers and agents.

Today's bmx racers compete on tracks with massive jumps and doubles. Many of the pro tracks are called Super X and are downhill resembling early California bmx tracks. The difference is these tracks have doubles that are 40' across.

The best way to get started in bmx is to visit your local track and watch a few races. If you like what you see, invest in a good bike from your local bike shop. They should be able to point you in the right direction. To find the closest bmx track in your area visit http://www.nbl.org or http://ababmx.com

You'll probably also want to watch some of the latest videos like Transit or Props. These videos will keep you excited about racing and help you learn. You can also download instructional videos at www.bmx-tips.com

BMX is a great sport and it looks like it will be around a long time. Get involved and have fun!

Barry Page has been involved with bmx since its' beginnings, and has raced in hundreds of races all over the United States winning numerous local, state, national and international number plates. He has worked in the industry by working at and owning bike shops, owning skateparks, producing videos and currently publishes www.atbmx.com and www.bmx-tips.com