Beginners
Corner
Here you'll find the most Frequently Asked Questions
About BMX Racing In Torrington.
- How do I go about
getting involved with racing?
- What Is USABMX?
- What Does It Cost To Race?
- What Is a Race and How Are They Run?
- What are Classifications?
- Do you have any Riding Tips For The
New Rider?
-
for
USA BMX's New Rider Manual
- How
do I go about getting involved with racing?
The track is open to the general public whenever there
is not a scheduled event. Get to the track and try
it out. Be advised that you always ride the track
at your own risk. There are only a few things that
we ask:
- Never ride the track without a helmet on.
- Always go in one direction only.
- Do not use foul language.
- We recommend that long pants and a shirt with sleeves
be worn.
To race on race days you must join the USABMX. This
is easily done and takes about 20 minutes. There
are forms to fill out the day you first register
with USABMX. Bring a copy of your birth certificate.
A legal guardian must sign your USABMX registration.
Both the birth certificate and the registration
forms will be forwarded to the USABMX office with
your registration fee. (See cost information below).
You may race the same day that you fill out the
paperwork.
- What Is
USABMX?
USABMX is the sanctioning body for the entire
program. We abide by their rules and regulations.
All riders participating in our program, must be members
of the USABMX. A membership allows you to race at
any USABMX sanctioned track in the USA and Canada
(over 350 and growing). It also provides you with
secondary medical insurance, qualified officiating,
national and state point standings, a subscription
to a monthly magazine, a list of tracks and schedules
along with a membership card.
- What
Does It Cost To Race?
USA BMX Membership Pricing
as of April 1st 2020
Balance Bike & 30 Day Trial Membership $30
Balance Bike Upgrade to Full Member & Trial Conversion
to Full Member
$30
First Family Member $60
Second Family Member $55
Third Family Member $50
There is a race day entry fee payable at time
of registration for that particular race. It's $10.00 for the day.
For special races there are special entry fees.
See our schedule for details.
What Is
a Race and How Are They Run?
REGISTRATION: If you already have a USABMX license,
present it to the person
at the first registration window. Payment is made at the second window. You must register
for the days race before 11:30 a.m. Any later than
that and we cannot guarantee your entry for the 12:00
p.m. race. You may call in your registration (860-626-1BMX)
starting at 10:00 a.m. on race days. (Do not leave
entry information on the answering machine).
MOTO BOARDS: The
motos are your races. They will be run as three rounds
plus main events. The moto boards are where the moto
sheets are “posted”. The moto sheets are
the written forms with all the information about your
class that day. This includes your race number or
“moto number” and your gate position for
each of your motos. Motos are posted between 11:45 a.m. and 11:55 a.m. (hopefully)
PRACTICE:
Gate practice starts approximately at 10:00 a.m. on
race days and continues until about 11:40 p.m. You
may show up at any time within that time window to
take practice. Full USABMX required gear must be worn
during all race day activities.
THE RACE:
After the posting of the motos, the first 15 are called
to the starting hill at 11:55 p.m.. Each moto is run
one after the other. When one moto is crossing the
finish line, another has already left the starting gate.
With an average of 30 motos plus main events, the
running of the race takes about 2 hours.
FINISHING POSITION:The USABMX recommended transfer
system will be employed for most of the 2014 season. In classes
with four or more riders, the motos will be strictly
for the purpose of transferring into the main events.
No points are awarded in the motos. In each of the
three rounds of motos, riders will not run their next
moto if they become qualified by their finishing position
in the previous round of motos. Example: 6 riders
in a class; 1st round of motos the top rider of the
six becomes qualified. 2nd round the top two riders
of the five become qualified. 3rd round the top two
riders of the remaining three become qualified and
the main event will be made up of the five qualified
riders. If there are only three riders in a class, they will
only run motos and will earn points based on their
finishes in the three rounds. Foothills BMX reserves the right to run "Total Points" races on any particular race day. The track announcer will state which USABMX approved system will be employed for that days race.
- What are
Classifications?
20” wheels maximum size.
Most new riders start off in the NOVICE
Class. Each NOVICE is grouped in
the motos with other NOVICES of the same age. To become
classified as a INTERMEDIATE, a NOVICE must have accumulated
ten wins. Any NOVICE who voluntarily competes in
an INTERMEDIATE class prior to attaining ten wins,
will now be classified as an INTERMEDIATE and can
no longer race in the NOVICE class.
A INTERMEDIATE
becomes an EXPERT
when he accumulates 20 wins as an INTERMEDIATE.
The above classifications apply to boys classes only.
In Girls classes all new female riders have the option
to compete in the NOVICE class (Male and Female).
Any female Novice that voluntarily competes in a Girl
class at a National or any other race will be considered
a Girl in proficiency and from that moment on will
be required to race in the Girls class at all events. There are also classes for CRUISERS.
These are 24 or 26-inch bicycles. A CRUISER license
is included in your membership.
If there are not enough riders registered to make
a class in a particular age group, the clerk will
combine them with the closest age group according
to the USABMX rules.
- Riding
Tips For The New Rider
If you are new on the track, you’ll probably
make a few mistakes. Don’t worry about it. Just
use these general guidelines to help you avoid some
of the most common errors.
Don’t
Get Scared |
If this is your first race, you’ll
probably feel like you’re not too sure
what you are doing. You may think that everybody
has a better bike than you. You may have a hundred
other doubts as well. Just relax. Remember that
everybody else in your moto will be a Rookie
too. You’re all in the same boat. |
Gate
Start |
The basic one-pedal start is all you need
to know to get going. Put your bike straight
in the gate, set your pedals so that your starting
pedal (strongest) is a little above level. Lean
back a little and watch the lights. When the
green light comes on, throw your weight forward
and push down the pedal. Give a medium hard
first pedal, a real hard second pedal and you’re
off. |
Don’t
Get Carried Away |
Just because Ernie the Expert is jumping the
whoops on the last straight doesn’t mean
you have to try them. Don’t push yourself
beyond your capabilities. |
Pedal
All You Can |
Coast only in places where pedaling will cause
you to lose control, like in a drop off or on
the tight curves where you might lean far enough
over that a pedal snags on the ground. |
If You
Coast, Keep Your Feet On The Pedals |
If you lift them off for any reason you will
spend valuable time getting them back on again. |
Use
Your Brakes As Little As Possible |
Be sure to use them just enough to stay in
control of your bike. Taking the lead won’t
matter much if you wipe out later in the race. |
Don’t
Do Tricks During a Race |
One fancy wheelie could easily cost you the
lead, or worse, take yourself out of the moto. |
Don’t
Get Discouraged |
Especially the first few times out. In fact,
don’t get discouraged at all. BMX is just
for fun. If you win, great, if you don’t,
no big deal. Every rider out there is in a learning
process. |
|