July 3, 2012 at 4:54 p.m.
BMX bonanza
Hodag BMX Club expects triple-digit rider count for weekend tripleheader
BMX bonanza
Friday is the club's Race For Life benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Saturday is a Redline Cup qualifier. Sunday is a qualifier for the Wisconsin BMX state championship.
Racing starts at 7 p.m. Friday and shortly after noon Saturday and Sunday.
"This is the weekend that if you are at all interested in seeing what BMX is all about, the races are just really, really exciting when we have these multi-point races," Hodag BMX Club president Brian Sturtevant said. "They're really fun to watch."
Race for Life - Friday, July 6
Local riders are out and about seeking sponsorships for Friday's Race for Life.
On a typical race night, only USABMX members are allowed to compete, but Friday's races are open to everyone.
"It's open to anybody," Sturtevant said. "You don't need to be a USABMX member to ride. You still need to make a $20 contribution, which you can be sponsored to do."
The money goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The race is a double-points event for the track, meaning that riders will be competing for twice the number of district points that are available on a typical race night.
However, the racers are responsible for coming up with the sponsorships that make this double-points night possible.
"You need to raise at least $2,000 to maintain that double-point (status) and we've done that, I believe, every year since our inception as a club," Sturtevant said. "Last year, we donated $2,200.
"Kids have right up until race day, when they register, to get sponsors. We'll give prizes to the riders that get the most money in sponsorships and the rider that gets the greatest number of sponsors."
In addition, the track will be holding a special class that night for parents that do not race. For a $5 contribution, the spectators turn into the riders.
Redline Cup Series - Saturday, July 7
The Redline Cup Series, a national series of over 75 races, hits Rhinelander Saturday. It is one of 24 stops on the central region tour as riders earn points to qualify for the Redline Cup Central finals in Blue Springs, Mo. Oct. 5-8.
"Redline hosts its own cup series," Sturtevant said. "Their races are held nationwide and there are only a few of these qualifiers that are held in Wisconsin. One of them was held at Elkhorn (March 18). One of them is held at our track and another is held at Madison (Aug. 5). If you want to go to the Redline Cup championship, you have to qualify in at least one of these qualifiers."
Saturday's race is also for triple district points, meaning that it will be one of the club's largest turnouts for the season.
"We're expecting 200-plus riders of all different skill levels and age groups," said Rob Deede, a 25-year old expert rider from Rhinelander. "My class, we're probably going to see A-plus riders and it's tough. Some of the kids that I go against there make national main (events). It's going to be some good racing."
"We've got people (coming) from Michigan and Minnesota, especially for the Redline Cup, because that's a national series," Sturtevant said.
State qualifier - Sunday, July 8
Similar to the Redline Cup, riders will look to earn points toward the Wisconsin BMX championship when the Hodag BMX Club hosts its state qualifier Sunday.
"Every single track in the Wisconsin system has its own qualifier," Sturtevant explained. "You need to attend at least three of those to get a state ranking. That state ranking is decided at the state championship, which this year is held at Central Wisconsin BMX in Wisconsin Rapids the first weekend in September."
For Rhinelander's Raven Sturtevant, an 11-year old girl expert who leads the Wisconsin District 3 point standings by a large margin, the weekend will be about catching up with riders from other tracks she does not see that often.
"I like meeting new people and new friends from different states," she said. "I'm going to have a lot of fun. I've got a bunch of friends at a couple different tracks I don't get to see them (until) state races."
About Hodag BMX
The Hodag BMX Club came into existence in 1999.
"There was a huge interest in getting a sanctioned race track in Rhinelander," Sturtevant said. "There used to be one in Eagle River and it had quite a bit of activity, but that died down and (riders) wanted one in Rhinelander, one that was public and in a place where the kids could easily access it."
Club officials worked with the city officials to transform an old softball diamond at West Park into the current site for the BMX track.
The track features a series of jumps and banked hairpin turns.
"There's a lot of buzz about our track around the state," Sturtevant said. "It's know as one of the better racing tracks. In the last two years, in particular, we've put in a lot of effort to improving the surface of the track, improving the quality of the obstacles. It's a very fast track. So it makes for very exciting races."
"It's amazing how fast we can get going on these bikes, sometimes getting close to 30 MPH, breaking 25 MPH for sure on the back straight," Deede said of the speeds accomplished riders can obtain over the short distance.
On a typical race night, the club sees anywhere from 25-30 riders, most of whom are just starting out.
"Right now we're in a rebuilding phase," Sturtevant said. "We have more younger, novice riders than we have had in years past. The numbers have declined a bit, but we're starting to see an increase in novice riders. In order to get the experienced riders, you need to start with novices."
Riders are paired with other riders that are the same age and skill level. Riders start as novices until they earn eight race victories, at which point girls earn "girl expert" status and boys earn "intermediate" status. Boys earn expert status after 25 victories. Expert is a highest classification an amateur rider can earn.
Getting started
Riders can be as young as four years old and can race well into their 50s, if they choose to.
It does not take much to get started.
"Really all you need is a bike, a long sleeve shirt, long pants and a helmet," Sturtevant said. "Almost any bike will do. The standard class bike, the wheels can't be any larger than 20 inches. That's kind of a classic BMX bike. They also have a cruiser class, for any (bikes with) wheels over 20 inches."
Sturtevant said that a good, used BMX bike can usually be found for under $100. In addition, to race most nights and earn district points, riders need a USABMX membership. The full retail price of a membership is $45 per rider, but Sturtevant said that the club pays $15 of that fee for new members and there is a discount available for families with multiple riders.
During the summer, races are held most Monday and Friday nights, with Wednesday night gate practice. The club races only on Friday nights when school is in session. The season starts in mid-May and runs through the end of September. Riders pay $4-8 during regular race nights, which allows them to run for trophies and medals.
"That you get to race people and you get trophies," 8-year-old Ian Miller said when asked what he likes about the sport.
"It's a really good family sport. A lot of the families really enjoy being here," Sturtevant added.
You can learn more about the Hodag BMX Club, and this weekend's races, by visiting the club's website, www.hodagbmxclub.com.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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