Locals, Weak local rider/moto count at tracks across the country Options

[JAF2]

I travel weekly on business and usually ship my bike to get some track time in the cities I visit. BMX people are a different breed and I enjoy meeting them and making new friends. What I have found at most of the tracks I visit is dwindling moto counts - usually around 10 motos. I feel the local scene is the key to introducing new riders to the sport and finding ways to pump it up should be a priority.

Should USABMX require a minimum number of locals to qualify for a NAG plate?

[nigelnyc]

I think 5 should be a fair amount...if people are really interested in getting a national number than it should be a non-issue but I guess you could argue both sides. I don't think the locals should exceed more than 10% towards your national total though.

[CoopersDad]

Rockford BMX had 72 moto's at their state qualifier last weekend + Strider. Most tracks here in Illinois and Wisconsin are up 10+ moto's weekly! Local races/points have nothing to do with national races/points rankings and should not have. An extremely low percentage of racers do not race locals in favor of racing nationals, this debate has been going on for decades and is null.

The real reason any local participation suffers is due to lack of commitment from the parents and or guardians to get the racers to the track on a continual basis.

[JAF2]

Rockford BMX had 72 moto's at their state qualifier last weekend + Strider. Most tracks here in Illinois and Wisconsin are up 10+ moto's weekly! Local races/points have nothing to do with national races/points rankings and should not have. An extremely low percentage of racers do not race locals in favor of racing nationals, this debate has been going on for decades and is null.

The real reason any local participation suffers is due to lack of commitment from the parents and or guardians to get the racers to the track on a continual basis.

A 72 moto State Qualifier is strong and the riders who registered and raced it must have felt that there is a value in earning a State Plate.

I originally raced in FL for many years and the FL State Series required 8 local races, along with the Qualifiers, and the Championship. It was common to exceed 200 motos at both the Qualifiers and at the Championship. In addition to the required 8 locals, each local was scored, so a rider wanted to get 8 "perfects" and would race locals the entire State Season in an attempt to cap out. Some riders would race at other than their local track in an attempt to either capture another "perfect" or spoil a competitors chance at getting one. Local races were always in the 25-30 moto count range insuring that riders would race in their actual class.

As a rider, a parent of a rider, and a Team owner, I felt the level of competition was stronger and the rider/moto count was greater when the local race had a value other than a dust collecting trophy or saver stamps. Riders progressed at a greater rate because they raced more often and pushed themselves to win.

Would requiring locals to earn a State, Redline Cup, or NAG ranking increase the local moto counts, increase the competition, and progress the sport while attracting new riders?

[Bikemonkeys]

I think taking NAG riders out of the district was a bad idea. While a NAG number is their main goal a District Top 10 was a reward that many worked tword. Besides a almost NAG rider blows a leading district rider out of contention with just a missed main at Grands.

[Bmx Prof]

Nashville is steadily pulling 25-30 motos at local races and double that at the bigger races. We get 50-75 riders just at practice on tuesday and thursday nights. I'd say that our track is the healthiest that it has been in the last 15 years. We have a good number or NAG riders and Pros at practice... They may or may not race locally, but it doesn't seem to have hurt our numbers.

[ILBMX]

Rockford BMX had 72 moto's at their state qualifier last weekend + Strider. Most tracks here in Illinois and Wisconsin are up 10+ moto's weekly! Local races/points have nothing to do with national races/points rankings and should not have. An extremely low percentage of racers do not race locals in favor of racing nationals, this debate has been going on for decades and is null.

The real reason any local participation suffers is due to lack of commitment from the parents and or guardians to get the racers to the track on a continual basis.

Right on the head.

[thebondtrader55]

I really think that the tie with the Nationals is hurting the local scenes.

It seems to me now that the SX/O thing is light years away from what average riders can or want to do. The competition does seem to be doing OK however for the folks qualified. Love to watch it!

Nationals seem to be doing fine but they are also contested on fairly radical tracks. Big fan of the National circuit!

Even many/ most of the local tracks are fairly advanced today. They are quite a bit more difficult than the last time that BMX moto counts at the local level boomed. I still think that Mike C. had something when he discussed his BMX lite idea awhile back.

I know that many will say that the local tracks today are fine as they are and I will go along with whatever the membership thinks is OK. But it really puts it into perspective when you consider that Gary Ellis, Billy Griggs, and the other legendary Pros from BITD never rode a National track regularly that was as hard as the local tracks are today.

Not sure that the 3 levels do or should have very much in common with each other if numbers is the goal.

All the Best!

[Bikemonkeys]

I really think that the tie with the Nationals is hurting the local scenes.

It seems to me now that the SX/O thing is light years away from what average riders can or want to do. The competition does seem to be doing OK however for the folks qualified. Love to watch it!

Nationals seem to be doing fine but they are also contested on fairly radical tracks. Big fan of the National circuit!

Even many/ most of the local tracks are fairly advanced today. They are quite a bit more difficult than the last time that BMX moto counts at the local level boomed. I still think that Mike C. had something when he discussed his BMX lite idea awhile back.

I know that many will say that the local tracks today are fine as they are and I will go along with whatever the membership thinks is OK. But it really puts it into perspective when you consider that Gary Ellis, Billy Griggs, and the other legendary Pros from BITD never rode a National track regularly that was as hard as the local tracks are today.

Not sure that the 3 levels do or should have very much in common with each other if numbers is the goal.

All the Best!

I think you have a good point. I like the French idea of having to lines on one track. I kinda started doing that this year, just need to adjust somethings.

[ItryTOfly]

You must race LOCALS to earn a NATIONAL title? I see what you want to do but that doesn't even really make sense.

Honestly though, I don't see why so many people are intent on getting the national caliber riders to race locally. We need to increase the local rider base by bringing in new riders who want to be there (opposed to "forcing" riders to be there). If enough new riders are recruited, the state and regional series will become exciting enough that nationals will only be left to the elite riders.