Hi, I'm new to this site and this was my first Rockford gathering.
Very briefly, I'm just reentering BMX. My 8 year old son and I are racing. My last race was in 1984, I was unsure if I was being realistic about trying to relive an old passion of mine at 42, but I'm really having a great time. I LOVE BMX.
The banquet at the Clock Tower featuring Stu was everything I hoped it would be. I'd never met Stu, but I was no less impressed by him in person than I was in reading about him in BMXA years ago. What a great guy.
The old school bikes were wonderful to see again, though many were far too pristine for my tastes. NOS may be coveted, but nothing measures up to a well cared for surviver. A bike with a history.
Now about the Rockford event itself. I live here in Rockford. When I first heard about the event late last fall my reaction was; "You mean this has been going in my town for ten years and I haven't heard about it????!!!!".
I'm curious what kind of promotion this event receives here in Rockford. And kind of advertisements, Radio, TV, billboards? Rockford is a BMX town that doesn't know it is a BMX town. The Rockford track makes the news once a year for the national, and that's it. Nobody talks about Dad's or Mom's, or Granddads, who race competitively. A lot of the people who race here come from somewhere else. The vintage thing seems to be strictly word of mouth. Had I known more about this, I would have gotten involved sooner, I just had no idea about it.
I mention this because I heard at the banquet that the proceeds didn't quite cover the costs. If more people from Rockford knew about this stuff (i.e. if it were promoted), my guess is that more people from around here would want to be a part of it.
Just a thought.