I'm stoked that the ABA took the initiative to take advantage of the unlimited Class 5 UCI races. This will help the USA rack up some points towards Olympic qualification. Seemingly in conjunction with the ABA schedule being released the UCI calendar was also updated.
It shows Guthrie, Oldsmar, and Albuquerque as being UCI Class 4 (International Classic) races; with the Abbotsford, Canada race being the fourth "Classic" (each continent is only allowed 4 Classics, but an unlimited number of Class 5 races).

The one thing I've learned in 26+ years of racing is that the schedule will never please everyone. The ABA is a business. My guess is that the ABA schedules nationals for three reasons:
1. To capture the highest possible rider count/entry fees (6 West Coast races).
2. To strategically get a stronger foothold in a good market where they lack market share (2 Florida races + Alabama).
3. To reward loyalty or entice a new track.

No state is "entitled" to a certain number of nationals. Texas used to always have three nationals (DFW, El Paso, and Houston). As the moto counts gradually went down year after year two of those nationals dissapeared. Minnesota has had a national for as many years as I can remember, so maybe it was Wisconsin's turn; especially if there is a good growth potential there, or a very good program that deserves a national. Do you really think that all of the MN ABA tracks should switch to NBL, because WI got the national this year? Really? I bet the moto count will be about the same and I'm sure it will be back in MN next year. I would be willing to bet that if the NBL were to ever go away the ABA would definitely schedule more nationals on the East coast and the northeast to service the huge market in those areas.

Don't take it so personally; it's a business. If you think that are making decisions in a vacuum; you're wrong.

I hear ya!! But we are working at it...

Carl,

What is the difference/benefit between class 5 uci and class 4 uci?

Very well thought words Big Knobby. Unfortunately if anything they reinforce my point more than not. As you stated their reasons for having a national somewhere....
1. To capture the highest possible rider count/entry fees (6 West Coast races).
Couldn't have said it better.It's all about money. Nothing else...
2. To strategically get a stronger foothold in a good market where they lack market share (2 Florida races + Alabama).
Give it up! The NBL isn't going away and the ABA sure isn't gonna push them out of Florida...
3. To reward loyalty or entice a new track.
Obviously they don't care in the slightest about loyalty or this would've never happened! As far as enticing a new track, poor idea. You don't steal business from an existing client to bring in a new one. That's complete BS!!!

I will completely disagree with you as far as entitlement goes. Like it or not a State like Cali deserves more than one national just because the huge number of riders they have deserve that opportunity. As far as Wisconsin's turn? WTF EVER! Since when do we all get in line and have a turn. Grade school is over. Maybe next year they can have Rockford's turn. Let's see how that would go over! After looking at the Wis Rapids track online it is a beautiful facility and I bet it'll be a great place to have a national. Again, doesn't mean you should rob Peter to pay Paul! Really it would be great to have more nationals north of the Mason-Dixon line. It'd be great to chase a NAG plate and not have to have a factory deal or take out a second mortgage!

As far as switching to NBL? No it's not what I want! I want the ABA get over it's greedy case of anal-cranial inversion and make this right!!! Bring the national back and commit to keeping it here long term! In writing would be nice.

I will take it so personally. It is a business decision and a poor one! In business you can't just look at what you stand to gain but also what you stand to lose....

Class 4 awards more than 3X the points than a Class 5 race.
It will be important to do well at the Class 4 races.

Before this year each continent was limited to the best 7 out of 10 races (plus the national championships) to count towards Continental champs and Nations points.

Now it's the best 3 out of 4 Class 4 (Classics) races, best 5 out of an unlimited number of Class 5 races, plus the Continental Championships, plus the National Championships.
It just puts an emphasis on doing well at the Class 4 races and increases every countries' chances by having an unlimited number of Class 5 races.
So say Canada has a boat load of Class 5 races. That means that Nyhaug, Erwood, and Brown can collect the same amount of points as the USA without having to compete directly against American riders (as in the past).
That makes the Class 4 races (where, presumably, the Canadians and Americans will go head to head) even more important. In the end the difference in point tallies will most likely come down to Class 4 races.
Essentially, every country in the world is on much more even ground. You'll only have the Worlds, a handful of SX races, and the Class 4 races where multiple countries will have to go head to head.

Does that make sense?

You make my point to some degree. The rider count in Cali "deserves" the number of nationals. That's not an entitlement; that's earned. If the ABA can get the same rider count at a WI national as a MN national, then it's not a bad idea. It's like how the ABA goes back and forth between NY and PA having a national.

I don't have a dog in this fight as I'm currently stationed overseas.
In the 10 years that I ran a factory team it was always very hard to get the required 12 scores.
I oftened wished for a schedule that included closer races, but I managed to remain objective and realize that there was a bigger picture and the world did not revolve around my team.

When the MN national starts getting numbers like the Rockford national then I think you would have a legit argument. I think you should be grateful that MN had a national so many years in a row. I understand that the schedule and loss of the MN national is hurting you and your business, but do you think that the ABA specifically targeted you with this schedule? Do you think that they throw darts at a map of the U.S. whilst blindfolded to figure out the schedule? I believe that if they moved the national (this year) to Wisconsin they did so for sound business purposes.

Obviously we both have very different opinions on this topic. But that is the beauty of this great nation we live in, we're allowed to have and voice our opinions. I'll leave it at that.

BTW, If you are serving our country overseas God bless you. Thank you for doing what you do so we can have silly arguments like this and go ride our bikes around a bunch of dirt piles like crazy people. It is much appreciated.

Wade

Wade,
I understand you're angry and it's frustrating. I'm not trying to fan the flames.
I hope it all works out.

Serving my country is its own reward!

Redline Cup Finals hasn't been announced yet. Typically, it rotates, but I wouldn't be surprised if Burlington got it. If not, then I suppose Burlington will be on the short list for a race in the near future. The ABA crew visited the track & liked what they saw while in town for the Redline Cup Finals in Garner.

I love the Schedule!!!

Whole lot of ABA racing on the East Coast & in the South East. This may be the best schedule for us east coasters yet. Stoked!

+1. I like it too.

I really don't see how this is a bad business decision by the ABA. Wisconsin Rapids is in Central Wisconsin and what...maybe 3 hours from Minneapolis? I have news for you, ABA probably views Wisconsin Rapids and Minneapolis as the same national event 'market'. Meaning, the ABA is probably expecting a similar rider turnout at the Wisconsin Rapids National. Who knows, maybe they are forecasting more riders.

I'll have 20 years in BMX next summer and there were quite a few of those years where I hit the ABA national scene pretty hard(along with a lot of other WI families). In all those years, I've NEVER had an in-state (WI) ABA national. Guess what. All 20 of those years there has been a little national event about 1.5 hours from my house across state lines in Rockford, IL. That was my 'home' national and I was/am d@mn happy to have it. Even if it wasn't within my beloved Badger State. I was excstatic when MN first got a national, even if it was 5 hours from where I lived. Rest assured, there were some strong local scenes/tracks going on in WI that probably deserved a national event. Ever been to a 100 moto local race? I have, in Wisconsin...

My point is this: You are way too hung up on the borders of your state. ABA is acknowledging that our geographic area is strong by continuing to have national events in our national 'market'.

Seriously? Organize a boycott? Just because they moved a national 3hrs away. You should thank your lucky stars you have one that close. I'm sure all the people in Wisconsin did when it was in Minnesota. Did they ever boycott the land-o-lakes nats? I doubt it. I'm sure they were pretty happy to have it there. Look at the big picture, the tragedy is not that there is a national in Wisconsin. The problem is that there is not a 4th nat is the Midwest. maybe it should be in Minnesota, or maybe it should be in Missouri, or maybe back at the track in south Illinois, but there should be one more. I've been around bmx for over 20 years, as far as I know the only national that has never moved is Rockford, IL. I've seen pictures of that place in WI, it looks really nice and I hear that they run large moto counts every week and had a huge state championship race. Maybe the real tragedy is that the track in Minnesota got a national in pretty much their first year of existence and then again the next, when the track in St Could was much better. how long has central Wisconsin bmx been in operation? I heard over 25 years. They deserve a shot. the track in Blue Springs, MO is awesome too. They don't have a Nat next year either. I don't see anyone from there bashing Nebraska.

SO... suck it up and quit bashing your neighbor. Remember that thing we all learned as a kid called the golden rule? Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Well said TE......and BIG KNOBBY ...(Also I Love your avatar)

how many states dont have a national....
Seems No ones ever happy, so watch this....lol ...
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/video/vi...6934&ref=mf

Who cares how far they are away? That is part of the fun. IN 2006, I finished up the California Cup (Great Race) and drove from San Bernardino, Ca to the East Coast Nats in Delaware, why cause it sounded fun. Even more so, I have been on a 62 mile long island for the last 3 years and can't wait to be able to drive 10 hours (South Jordan, Utah) in one direction to go race my bike. Get out and see some more of the country, it is worth it.

Brian (Travelling BMXer)

well put streethawk and brianusmc!!!!

I drove up to MN to race no complaints, I stood up for the track when people complained about the "FLAT" Starting gate and hill.....people need to be glad we can just "race"....kids of the 70's would have died for this track availability we have now!!

LOL, LOL, LOL, that is a great video.

This thread just goes to show that it's physically impossible to please everyone at the same time


and that anti-national race is the dumbest thing I've read on this board to date. Enjoy that you still have a national within a few hours, show up and support your sport.

After reading Woody's comment I think it's about time to bring up the maps of the USA and show how the ABA Nationals are evenly spread across the USA.

I'm a BMXer, I travel. I have no problem traveling to races all across the USA. Most importantly I do not like having Nationals every weekend in the Midwest it takes away from the local program.

So yeah I'm happy with the schedule.

I think we in BMX have come to the conclusion that BMX Nationals are for all BMXers, while I do not see it that way, it is a National Series and should be for the cream of the crop.... Just like those who can not compete on the NASCAR Sprint Cup level have the local and regional dirt track and asphalt racing available to them.....


This is a national series and it should be spread across the nation...... I too would like to see those maps.....


Buntster

You and I are thinking the same.

I did some number crunching just to get a better idea.
I don't think the number of tracks in a state is a good indication.
Rider count is a better indication.
I did a quick count of current district rider count (boys + girls).
If you actually do the math then CA deserves 4 nationals.
If you add CA and NV together then they deserve 6 nationals.
AZ deserves 2 nationals.
TX deserves 2 by rider count, but history has shown that national moto counts don't reflect that.
Houston has the biggest district rider count in the country and they have one national 4 hours away, one 7.5 hours away, and then the next closest are 11 and 15 hours away.
Minneapolis (the largest population center in MN) has one national 4 hours away, one 6 hours away, and one 7 hours away. If MN gets its own national 4-5 years in a row with WI getting it once every 5 years; that's more than fair. Minnesota's numbers did surprise me (fourth highest rider count).

Florida only has two ABA tracks and 378 district riders, but they have two nationals.
That plus Dothan (AL has 3 tracks and 28 district riders) shows that the ABA is courting the NBL market in the Southeast.

If you roll the entire NE into one big area (PA, NY, VT, NH, ME, MA, RI, CT, NJ, DE, and MD) you barely have enough ABA ridership to warrant one national, much less three; so I think that is more than fair; and, again, and effort by the ABA to court the NBL market.

The Canadian series must be the best kept secret in BMX, with 4 out of the 5 nationals being within 4 hours of each other.

If anything; I would move the MD race to OH (ooh, how about an indoor national at Ray's mtb park on wooden jumps?); putting it equadistance from the NE and the Midwest; and I would move Albuquerque to Las Cruces making it closer to TX (but that won't happen, because the Duke City facility is so nice).

All in all I think the schedule is both fair and smart business.

I'll post the map I made when I get home. It shows where the nationals are and total district rider count by state.

Whip City? My girlfriend takes me there all the time !!

I love Carl.

I think the schedule is great, though I wish the tracks the UCI events were on were bigger and more technical in some cases.

Imagine if someone introduced the idea to this thread that many believe we should have half as many nationals.... imagine how much sour grapes there would be then. The same gripers of "We have too many nationals." would be bent over not having enough close to them.

Already booked hotel rooms and working on flights to bunches 'O races! Glad to see Chula getting used effectively.

In a world with limited resources, you can't always get what you want. That's just a fact. Besides, what's there for a BMXer to gripe about? Both national schedules are already out. No conflicts. Smile. Plan races. Go race. Have fun.




+1, so true

I didn't see North Carolina in Carl's model, so I gatherd our numbers.

4 Tracks

469 riders.

Where does that put is in your model, Carl?

Why does the state matter? Riders in El Paso, TX have a shorter trip to AZ, NV, NM, and parts of California than they do to their "home state" national in DeSoto. I'm in Austin and I drive almost 2 1/2 hours to race DeSoto. It's the AMERICAN Bicycle Association, and they are National races, so the states are irrelevant.

I don't care about what the ABA make this schedule. so just pick a few nationals where you live near by this nationals and then races for fun!

Some riders who live in California can afford drive to 9 nationals where it next to each state like 1 in Or, 2 in Az and 2 in Nv. (4 in Ca.)

I'm pick 3 or 4 nationals for next year.

Already bummed about there only being two pro series races on the east coast. And both in Florida. Please make the east coast redline cup a pro series again.

Yea, I noticed that, too and thought it was kinda weird. I know the Redline West is a Pro/UCI race this year, and I think I remember hearing that it would rotate each year.

Here we go, one at a time...

I really don't see how this is a bad business decision by the ABA. Wisconsin Rapids is in Central Wisconsin and what...maybe 3 hours from Minneapolis? I have news for you, ABA probably views Wisconsin Rapids and Minneapolis as the same national event 'market'. Meaning, the ABA is probably expecting a similar rider turnout at the Wisconsin Rapids National. Who knows, maybe they are forecasting more riders.

I never said this was a bad place to have a national or that it would have a bad turnout. In fact I stated that it looks great and probably deserves a national. Re-read the post! Heck, I'd even like to attend. Not sure if I can afford another trip like this though.

My point is this: You are way too hung up on the borders of your state. ABA is acknowledging that our geographic area is strong by continuing to have national events in our national 'market'.

Maybe a little. We are very proud of our BMX heritage and family here in Minnesota. Honestly though, if it wasn't five plus hours away it might not bother me. I actually quite enjoy Wisconsin. I've spent a lot of great times across the border. I DON'T HATE Wisconsin! Okay?

Seriously? Organize a boycott? Just because they moved a national 3hrs away. You should thank your lucky stars you have one that close. I'm sure all the people in Wisconsin did when it was in Minnesota. Did they ever boycott the land-o-lakes nats? I doubt it. I'm sure they were pretty happy to have it there. Look at the big picture, the tragedy is not that there is a national in Wisconsin. The problem is that there is not a 4th nat is the Midwest. maybe it should be in Minnesota, or maybe it should be in Missouri, or maybe back at the track in south Illinois, but there should be one more. I've been around bmx for over 20 years, as far as I know the only national that has never moved is Rockford, IL. I've seen pictures of that place in WI, it looks really nice and I hear that they run large moto counts every week and had a huge state championship race. Maybe the real tragedy is that the track in Minnesota got a national in pretty much their first year of existence and then again the next, when the track in St Could was much better. how long has central Wisconsin bmx been in operation? I heard over 25 years. They deserve a shot. the track in Blue Springs, MO is awesome too. They don't have a Nat next year either. I don't see anyone from there bashing Nebraska.

No I'm not serious about the boycott. Besides the ABA would never approve the race anyway. I do agree that the real tragedy is no forth national in the mid west. As far as your rip on Rum River, Take a hike. You obviously haven't been there. Pineview in St.Cloud is nice but it certainly doesn't put Rum River to shame. Yes I think Central Wis BMX deserves a shot, just take it from somewhere that already has too many nats. And yes it sucks that Blue Springs got the shaft too.


SO... suck it up and quit bashing your neighbor. Remember that thing we all learned as a kid called the golden rule? Do to others as you would have them do to you.

One last time, re-read my posts. I've never spoken ill of my neighbors. Completely complementary none the less! My only beef is with the ABA.

Okay I'm done now. Everybody have at me again!

If you lump NC, SC, and TN together they earn 1 national; it's close enough to Florida to be of interest, and there are some loyal folks there.
Just by my silly math.

I sent the map home in the wrong format. If anybody has Microsoft Publisher I can email the map to them, otherwise it'll have to wait until after work tomorrow.

seriously not picking you you here Deanna. I think your awesome. Put up the maps. would they show that my point of being able to race 4 weekends in CA be invalid? and would that make Reno more than 7 hours away? It was pointed out to me that the Reno riders, besides having 4 of the 6 they need IN STATE, can hit some of the CA races, as well as the UT one, which is 7 hours away.

It was also pointed out to me that the Phoenix race and a couple others are within 5 hours of L.A. I dont know, I didnt look it up. So put up the maps, and see if there are a total of 16 nationals within 7 hours of CA.... lol.

I like having lots of nationals in the Midwest during the summer months. Fun, fun, fun. Racing top guys, lots of nationals to choose from. I guess just like riding, I dont know.

would the map make the PA race closer than 11 hours away???

I dont buy into this "its a national series, you should have to travel the nation to race in it" crap. Obviously, the ABA doesn't either. They place alot of nationals within easy distance of the majority of their riders.

See again Carl's post as to why they might create a schecule. It is spot on. Any business that did differently would be stupid.

Since when did the miles you travel have a bearing on How "national" your ranking is.

"well, lets see.... he only traveled X amount, and this guy traveled Y amount, he got Y points while this guy got X points... carry the sandbag, multiply by riders... um, yeah, tied, but since he drove further, he now gets the NAG #1."

ridiculous argument, and I really cant beleive that guys I think have a good head on their shoulder followed this Shickwickian theory of nationalism... lol

Dude! Where have you been?

Wade, I didn't get the impression that you dislike WI, so I apologize if you thought I was trying to defend WI. That was not my intention.

My point (again) is that you need to stop worrying about having a national inside of Minnesota. When we don't have any drive-able nationals in the upper Midwest, that's when I think you need to start worrying. There are three nationals (IL, WI, NE) that are easily drive-able from MN. That right there says that the ABA has respect for and is catering to our geographic area.

Good point Will. I didn't look at it from that perspective.

Wade, I didn't get the impression that you dislike WI, so I apologize if you thought I was trying to defend WI. That was not my intention.

My point (again) is that you need to stop worrying about having a national inside of Minnesota. When we don't have any drive-able nationals in the upper Midwest, that's when I think you need to start worrying. There are three nationals (IL, WI, NE) that are easily drive-able from MN. That right there says that the ABA has respect for and is catering to our geographic area.

Glad you got me about Wisconsin. It's a great place and I hope I can afford to go race there.

I will continue to be hung up on a Minnesota national. As Big Knobby stated we have the forth highest ridership in the country and we get no love? Also I wish I could remember where I saw it but I believe when you look at it by population we are number two in ridership and number of tracks in our state. So yes I really feel this is a slap in the face.

As far as three nats being easily drive-able from here, I guess that depends on ones personal situation. Not really so for me.

Here is the map.

red stars are US nationals and blue stars are Canadian.
Remember, the numbers are rough and based on current numbers of boys and girls (didn't count cruiser due to duplicates).

The numbers don't lie, I agree MN has a lot of riders. I still think that having a national within three hours of the greatest concentration of riders in MN is not a slap in the face. I'll bet that the national in WI will be closer for a decent amount of folks from MN than the nationals in Brainerd were. So, I guess we agree to disagree.

Everybody got a bit worked up over this one in MN. I'm starting to think we take ourselves way to seriously up here.....

Flawed logic is something we're getting used to around here, not sure it is Deanna using it in this case. Take a state the size of California and put it out here on the East Coast, it would cover Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pensylvania New Jersey and the lower east side of New York. Place California over your part of the country and it covers Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinos, Iowa, Indiana and Western Kentucky. California may be one state but it covers a lot of ground and has a lot of riders.


Indianapolis to Charlotte is 428 miles, Chula Vista to Roseville is 525 miles (20% greater distance) but because theyre in the same state pea brains cant compute that distance. How many Nationals do you want there to be a year? 40, 50? if youre going to give everyone in the nation a chance to get to 5 nationals without driving more than 5 hours you're going to need at least that many.


Of course you are because the NBL panders to people who live where you do. You have 20 nationals in one section of the country, the rest of the country has to make do with just 4.
What brings up the point, which sanction has the actual "national" schedule? The one that has races spread out all over the nation or the one that has nearly all of the races in one region?


I agree, and thats is why everyone here is happy that ORL dumped the NBL and went with something better and more fun, the ABA.


Seems Deanna said nothing more than that the ABA had a more National schedule and that if you wanted to be considered a national player youll have to race the best racers from all over the nation. That wasnt her opinion, thats a fact and anyone not looking at the 2 competing schedules through nbl colored glasses can see it plain as day

Well we can agree on that! Hopefully we all get to race together next summer. I'll be in Rockford for sure (team goes there every year) and hopefully we'll make Wis Rapids too.

I'm really not trying to pick any fights here. Just can't believe the complete incompetence of the ABA in running it's own national series so poorly.

ABA if you're listening, Business or not it's not 100% about money. You have to take care of your customers. Minnesota is a big ABA customer. You shouldn't be bending us over. It may come back and bite you if you keep it up! The outrage I've already heard within our state in the last fifteen hours is crazy. I don't even want to see what will be said in the coming days and weeks...

Well, I thought you were bashing wisconsin. So, you're saying MN should have one too, not instead?

I think this has caused some people in MN to go through the same phases as accepting death of a loved one.

1. shock
2. denial
3. anger
4. depression
5. acceptance

I am in the acceptance phase myself. Went to bed last night in the anger stage. A lot of people made some really good points here. If I hear anyone come next summer here in MN still hung up on losing a national, I am going to get annoyed real quick. Time to move on.

I was a little worried that there would not be any sanction bashing on this thread. Whew, no more worries!

As far as MN having a bunch of customers, I'm curious how many times/ weeks ya'll race each year. I've heard there is white stuff that gets on the ground some times, but there are also indoor tracks. Our local track had 96 scheduled races this year, which seems to be a bunch of potential revenue for the ABA.

Just curious.

In a perfect world yes. I really wasn't bashing Wisconsin anyway. I really do like the place. Appleton is one of my favorite cities in the whole country. Great place!

I think this has caused some people in MN to go through the same phases as accepting death of a loved one.

1. shock
2. denial
3. anger
4. depression
5. acceptance

I am in the acceptance phase myself. Went to bed last night in the anger stage. A lot of people made some really good points here. If I hear anyone come next summer here in MN still hung up on losing a national, I am going to get annoyed real quick. Time to move on.

I'm trying Justin, but you know as well as I do it's complete BS. So don't beat me up or run me off a berm or something if I'm still crabbin' about it next summer okay?

I gotta say I'm pretty happy to have a NAT in WI. Never had a national at my home track before, or in my home state! (started racing in 1989) I'm a little bummed there's not one in MN also, or MO also. It would have been nice to have 4 NATS within a 12 hour drive. Oh well.

You guys are going to love the track in WI. It's fast! has a big start hill, paved turns, and plenty of room for the fans.

I think your directions maybe a bit whack as it's 600 mile from Indianapolis to Charlotte.

I'm originally from Appleton. Lived there for 29 years. It is a pretty nice place

(just trying to lighten the mood )

Our outdoor racing season starts in May and ends in October. There is one indoor track that runs October through April and races Sat and Sun. Most tracks run one race per week. Some run two.

Hard to race on a snow covered track! The winters are really hard on them and it takes a lot of work to get a track race ready for the season. Rains in the spring a lot and that makes it hard to schedule track work days. Once October hits the weather is pretty unpredictable. We have had several snow fals this month, and when it isn't snowing, its been raining.

I would love to have a middle of the winter race. Like in Janurary. Have registration some place warm, go to the track shovel it off, and rip it up wearing snowmobile suits. Not sure how well an air ram for the gate will work in the cold!

This is the first year I can remember more "National Races" on the west coast [15] vs the east coast [10]. This only supports my sanction labels based on where the majority of the riders live within each sanction.

ABA = W..C..B..L..

NBL = E..C..B..L..


I too disagree that in order for either series to be considered a National Series the races have to be spread evenly across the lower 48. As long as you are a member of either sanction, you have the same ability to attend any national no matter how close or how far. It's not any riders fault that the completion choices to stay away or selects another race to attend..........National Series means it's open to all members, reguardless of their mailing address.


Longere

My brother and sister in law live in Santa Monica. I was on the phone with him just now and when I told him someone said that Phoenix and Tucson were a 5 hour drive from LA he fell over laughing after having a few choice words about the mental capacity of someone who said that. He then said that last week it took them 4 hours to get to Palm Springs from their house and that the state line was at least another 2 hours away. When they took their kids to Phoenix for the Super Bowl last year he said it was about an 8 hour drive and Tucson was 110 miles past Phoenix


Then say that up front. the nbl national series fits woody because there is a race every week near woodys house. That doesnt make it a national series but it makes it a series you like more because of convenience


The majority of their riders being west coast? They still have to travel to Oklahoma to race the national series, is that not traveling across the nation? Nobody has said that you have to constantly travel across the nation week after week to race the national series but youre going to have to leave your region a time or two during the year, thats what makes it national.


Seems that what the ABA has done and youre having a difficult time grasping the concept of is create a National series.
shall we break it down, sure why not
na-tion-al: adjective
*. of, pertaining to, or maintained by a nation as an organized whole
*. peculiar or common to the whole people of a country
*. concerning or encompassing an entire nation
See it seems that in order to be "national" a series must encompass the entire nation as a whole and not just put a bunch of races next to woodys place so he wont have to go anywhere to have a fun fun fun summer.
I suppose if your goal was the woody regional title you could stick with the nbls schedule but if yyour goal is to be National Champion, youll need to leave the midwest at least once or twice a year