The 91原创 BMX track celebrated 40 years of racing over the Labour Day weekend, an anniversary that conveniently coincided with the provincial finals.
There were several hundred people lining the track to cheer on over 300 riders ranging in age from 18 months to 60 and up.
The celebrations started on Friday (Aug. 31) with a 40th anniversary race night that included a vintage bike show and movie.
The provincial pre-race, non-qualifier, event was on Saturday, with the provincial final on Sunday.
The 300-plus-member, all-volunteer 91原创 BMX describes itself in an online statement as a 鈥済rass roots organization dedicated to promoting the sport of BMX in 91原创 since 1978.鈥�
Bea Lindsay-Hawkins, 91原创 BMX vice-president, said it is a sport for the whole family.
鈥淚 ride with my son,鈥� Lindsay-Hawkins said.
鈥淲e have grandparents who ride.鈥�
She said the oldest competitor to tackle the 91原创 track to date was 78.
During the season, there are races almost every Sunday and practices almost every Monday, Lindsay-Hawkins said.
Mondays, Lindsay-Hawkins said, were the best days for newcomers to try the sport.
All they need to do is sign a one-day-waiver
鈥淲e have bikes, we have helmets we have everything you need,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e鈥檒l lend it to you.鈥�
More can be viewed at the 鈥�91原创 BMX Official Page鈥� on or by emailing info@langleybmx.ca.
Over the years the track at 42 Avenue and 207 Street has attracted riders from around the world during provincial, national and international competitions.
Over 3,000 people to 91原创 attended the most recent 2017 nationals, coming from as far away as Florida to compete in 250 different races.
This May, , who started with 91原创 BMX, was Canada鈥檚 top rider at the BMX World Cup in Zolder, Belgium.
Mechielsen.
In 2016, Mechielsen won the Elite Women鈥檚 title in the combined Elite/Junior Women鈥檚 final at the BMX Canadian Championships in Calgary.
BMX, which is short for 鈥渂icycle motocross鈥� or 鈥渂ike motocross鈥� got started in the 1970s when Southern California cyclists started riding on motorcycle motocross dirt tracks for fun.
According to one online account, it was a 1972 motorcycle racing documentary , that turned BMX into a national sport, thanks to an opening scene in the movie that shows young cyclists riding their bikes off-road.
The bikes were originally so-called 鈥渨heelie鈥� bikes meant to resemble a chopper motorcycle with high, 鈥渁pe hanger鈥� handlebars.
After the sport took off, manufacturers began creating bicycles designed especially for the sport.
Cycling BC describes a BMX race as .
Races are run 300- to 400-metre-long tracks over a series of jumps and bumps with banked corners known as 鈥渂erms.鈥�
BMX bikes come in a range of frame sizes from the mini for the very young rider to the adult XL and double XXL. One major variation is a slightly bigger BMX bike fitted with 24鈥漺heels called a cruiser.
dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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