For some people, getting down to help maintain a BMX track is an unpleasant task. But the important thing to consider is that it is not done by itself and volunteers are just as important as the cyclists who ride the track. Many clubs, particularly in the country, find it very difficult to attract parents and cyclists to keep the track on a regular basis. Usually the few dedicated members are left to do it for the kids, over and over again. They know that if the work is not done, there is no track or club for the children.
One such club facing these problems is Tom Price, based in the north of Western Australia. Their track is made from a combination of clay, fines, and whatever other dirt they can get their hands on. The Tom Price track has been running for over 20 years with Vice President Kero’s family involved for the past five. Over the years, the various families have made it what it is today, traveling to different tracks and collecting items to implement on their track to enhance the children’s ability.
Kero works six days, six days off, but manages to get off to keep track at least three times during his days off. Lawns need watering, soft spots polished, and rain damage repaired. Whoever owns a vehicle at the time will use it to roll over the jumps and berms to help compact it. Many clubs find this effective as long as they have the proper moisture content.
Tom Price is in the process of using dolomite cookie powder, which falls hard like concrete in some areas. Eliminates a lot of maintenance time and minimizes damage, wind erosion and hosing down for racing. Currently, the contractor has not yet delivered it and it is an ongoing process, even though it has been paid for with canteen funds and sponsorship.
Some causes of maintenance cannot be avoided. The biggest environmental threat is lightning due to the surrounding iron ore. Hit the ground and as soon as you mix the light poles around the track, they become lightning rods. The kids on the track ride their aluminum bikes on the track and that becomes a recipe for disaster, so if it looks like a storm is coming they can stay overnight and come back the next day or next week when the track to dry. In the meantime, it may be necessary to keep track of where the lightning has struck.
Tom Price now shares a caretaker between the BMX Club and the neighboring Speedway to help prevent motorcycles from using the tracks, which have been a major problem in the past. The caretaker takes a photo of any motorcyclist and quietly walks away before calling Kero or anyone on the phone list to act and get off. It is currently a major impediment, but some children think they are above the law, which is when the police get involved to take appropriate action.
But finding volunteers to keep track has always been the biggest problem today, a very difficult issue to eradicate. In the Pilbara, a large number of parents work long shifts and hours, making it difficult to support their children on the track and participate in club events, such as track maintenance days. Many seem to leave their children with their bikes in the parking lot and use the babysitting club.
“You get more people by organizing a social gathering,” says Kero. A barbecue and a few beers makes it easier to attract more attention and support. ” A Northwest club suggested that parents could contribute several hours a month to help maintain the site in exchange for allowing their children to ride bikes. It was not followed for fear that the club would lose members. It seems that some parents have not found out about the behind-the-scenes maintenance requirements.
BMX racing is one of the fastest growing sports, but it’s hard to keep parents excited about the sport. It is the parents who encourage the children and without parental support, children outgrow the sport very quickly. Contributing behind the scenes to your BMX Club can offer great rewards: including learning new skills, social media, and community involvement. It only takes a few hours a month and is enough to lessen the burden on those who generally do all the hard work.
