I used to ride macleod track and northland track/ bowl. I remember seing a bmx display at the macleod YMCA man I was hooked then I used to hire their green madisons for $5.00 an hour as I had no bike.

I also used to hang out at the northland track at that point I had a torker, I lived on sothern rd and hung out there with other local mates. I broke a set of dx cranks there only 'cause I didn't get to my brakes fast enough and power slid into a fence pole.

there was a track at the back of the tri youth club where jock kelly and I rode one summer he was a bloody good rider back then too.

thought it'd be interesting to see if anyone else was riding at my locals.

Southside BMX Bullcreek WA
BITD pic:




[ October 16, 2006, 06:38 AM: Message edited by: QuicksilverBMX ]

thet's so cool that you have pics!!!

sorry about the spelling there

Ryde Eastwood - the design was the same as the Corona track in California.

This is me on that track in 1983:



Martin

Elphin BMX Track - Launceston, Tasmania.

First jump, first straight, slight downhill


Last corner and uphill pedal to the finish line


Yes that is a rubbish tip in the background.

I'ved just realised, I don't think there is a single jump in the second straight. Later it was modified with a double that could just be cleared or manualed if necessary. Not that we called it manualing back then.

South Eastern in oakleigh from 1980 onwards (and still riding there ), also rode bayside elsternwick, spring valley and waverley (where the 1982 aussies were held).... it was great back then - 4 sanctioned tracks within riding distance of home.

Metro West was my favourite but Blacktown was my closest and most fun. I just happened to be in the same class as Darren may and he always beat me. Little ****.
When the pro's came over from the US , Metro West went off. Castle Hill is still going although it's a completely different track. The start hill was a monster. Blindingly fast first turn and the home of the Speedwell ad. Ryde Eastwood was a bumpy track but a good design. The original track was good too with a great dropoff. I'm sure Alistair remembers it well.
Martin, love the Redline mate.
I just remembered another cool track. Bowlgowlah (sp) was a great track on Sydneys northern beaches. The rules were after the first jump, there were no rules. A very fun, tight track buried amongst the houses. Much like Minto. I liked Minto a lot too. Great riders down that way too.

[ October 16, 2006, 08:21 AM: Message edited by: COASTVL ]

Martin, do you remember the Harker family from Ryde-eastwood? I worked with Stephen and Jenny had a big crush on me for a few weeks. Good family.

Jenny had a big crush on me for a few weeks.

Talk it up

Yeah, Metro West was a cool track - night racing.

Nope, don't remember that family Coaster . . .

Hey Glen, Metro West was the best track and set up. I was a Canberra boy and we had a few tracks over the years but going to Sydney was awesome.

Minto was slick as well.

Not a race track but more a play track was near a mates place (Stu - 84profile) They build the track and there were jumps galore....... big *** ones as well...... ah the memories.....

Like Jarvi, mine was the Elphin track in Launceston. I remember those doubles on the second straight well.

Then it was a hard left down hill to a table top and after that triples before a big berm onto the back straight for the slight uphill sprint home (couple of easily speedjumpable humps along the way.

Or does my memory fail me Jarvi!!!???

Kurt the table top was actually a step up followed by a single jump the the triples. Yes the triples were more like speed humps compared to today's but the single had a bit of kick to it. All I remember is the uphill last straight and drop off. You ust have done it easier than me because to me it was more than 'slight'. Of course the drop off was much better in reverse and we used it for our jump competitions.

That's why I liked the Burnie track. Lots of down hill.

When was it bulldozed Jarvi - around end of '82?

Not sure Kurt but later than 82 as I was still racing in early 83. My sister actually lives less than 100m from where the track was. I think about it each time I go there, which is only once or twice a year though.

Sadly I don't think I had a crush on anyone, or the reverse, during my racing career so I can't talk about those stories. Oh, hang on, there was the time Leigh-Anne Kasper came down to race...

Yeah - actually it was probably in late 83 or early 84 - the Nationals were held at the new York Park track in 84.

Ooohh Leigh-anne, She was a cutie!

hey broke,i used to ride at the village all the time bitd.geez how good was the northies track/bowls huh?yeah macleod ym a fair bit too.lalor was me club though.southern rd huh.i reckon id know you! lots of mad pushies in heidelberg in those days.

As Leroy pointed out we were from Canberra bitd and travelled a bit to get to some cool tracks....I was never much of a racer (unlike Leroy who held a number 3 world plate)...but I liked going to different tracks (just to get eliminated in the moto's!) seemed like there was sooo many tracks...One that stands out, in my mind was Blaney about 2 hours from Canberra...it had the steepest first straight ever...Seriously steep, into a 90 degree right hand berm, the bingles were monumental...That is where very I got my highest placing ever, cause all the fast guys ate it, and I just coasted past (cause I was so far behind) for my 2nd place trophy...

About 25 kids in my surburb (Farrer ACT) got together and built this track in the reserve with the help of the local ranger (like you coud do that now). That was some of the best years of my life ...One time, when all the l pro's were in Canberra, they came to our track after racing was finished...pro's like Tim Ward, Glen Rawson, Darren May are the ones, I can remember....it was like a absolute highlight, these guys at our track, I was stoked....here are a few shots (which I've posted to death, as they are all I have left to remember it). We had our own gate, water jumps, canyon jumps etc...








Whoa, just got me on memory lane....I sound like one of those old guys...that always talks about the good ol days......sorry to rattle on!

quote:

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That is where very I got my highest placing ever, cause all the fast guys ate it, and I just coasted past (cause I was so far behind) for my 2nd place trophy...

---

I think that is called a Bradbury these days, named after our well known ice skater.

I also remember the one and only race meeting in Launceston (yes Glenn the one with Leigh-Anne) and after the racing all the visiting pros and us locals cruised in the city and rode around. Jim O'Neill pulling a mono in a full circle around a carpark was one thing I remember. Don't seem to see pros doing that kind of stuff these days. But that's for another discussion on another forum I guess...