The Grand Forks BMX Club is gearing up for another season of racing starting May 2 at 6 p.m. at the BMX track located on the west end of City Park.
BMX, or bicycle motorcross, has bikers race a track with different contours, cornering and sections through about 1,000 metres.
The club has members as young as three-years-old to cruiser classes with adults.
Margaret Kovacs, treasurer of the BMX Club, stated the track is open for anybody.
“You don’t need a lot of equipment and when you first start out any bike will do until you decide whether you want to keep racing or not,” she explained. “You can start looking around for a proper BMX bike, but for the most part any bike will do to start.”
Started in the early-1990s, the club has seen racers from other race tracks take part in the club’s regular race night.
“It’s a kid-oriented event but anybody can come out and try it out,” Kovacs added. “We allow a racer to come out for one night free to test it out and see what they think about it and they can register for a month or a full-year registration.”
Every July, there is a Provincial Championship Race where other BMX riders from around British Columbia and Washington participate.
“That’s usually our big race for the year,” said Kovacs. “We do have quite a few from around B.C. and a few racers from the States coming up because we’re also a part of the American Bicycle Association.”
What Kovacs enjoys the best is the participation and camaraderie between the kids.
“It’s a real social atmosphere for adults and kids, it’s excellent exercise and a good family outing,” she concluded.
Races are every Wednesday at 6 p.m., registration begins at 5:30 p.m., from May 2 to Sept. 19.
For more information, contact Kovacs at 250-442-0133 or Dave Carlyle at 250-442-2221.
