[bmiddaugh]

Rich Carolan offered to front the whole cost of redoing Flemington.
And…

So if riders don’t want to take care of the track.
and parents don’t want to take care of the track.
Maybe it’s time for a new group of people to start a track where there are people who can take care of it.
That’s my point of this whole thing.

How the heck did BMX racing get so broken in this state?
Wait, LMAO.
After being at that state meeting where all kinds of new good ideas were being generated and promptly shut down by a few vocal people, where people were more concerned with who was taking who’s riders then they were thinking about how to generate interest to get new riders, where a fantastic track run by enthusiastic people was given the freaking third degree by a few people, where me and my g-f were verbally assaulted.
I think I know what the heck happened to BMX in this state.

Why do all the kids who start racing quit and start freestyling…
I believe I have found many answers in my quest.

In my opinion, HC could have had a total rebuild thanks to Rich, which would have taken some of the heat off the few volunteers busting their ass to keep it up. But instead, and again this is my opinion, he was blown off for whatever reason, and after my lambasting in January, I think I know why. Rich is a decent guy who wanted to help and boom, shut down. Not everyone is Brett Middaugh who will continue to take shit and be a martyr for BMX, most people will just say f-you, have a good life.
I have talked with everyone involved in BMX racing in NJ.
Who’s doing it right?
In NJ? CJBMX
Overall TPBMX (they got the 501c3 going strong but CJ still gets more motos, I see a potential for strong growth there at TP)
Everyone else better start asking Glen, Scott, Vinny, Resz, Lisa and the rest of those BMX racing yahoos what they are doing.
CJ’s regional was just shy of the East Coast National and right with the CT Nats last weekend, and it was by far the biggest regional in the country. Why? Does everyone think I am in love with CJ so much? Nah folks, somebody is doing it right and it makes sense to get behind them and push harder.
Why are egos so damn big in BMX that people won’t say, hey Vanuch, what the hell are you doing out there with Resz and the gang that is making a difference.
Damn people, why do freestylers just do stuff and racers go on and on about changing things but then don’t.

(um disclaimer this rant was not directed at Debbie but just a ventilation of things that have been bugging me, thanks all)

[bmiddaugh]

Just in case anyone is wondering, Debbie is the coolest in my book, she does give me great opporutunities to vent though. 🙂

Dave, what up man? Drinking beer ain’t bringing new kids to the track brutha, and you know what, you are one of the few guys who when we drop a new BMXer in front of them you act like you’re their new dad.
So stop this whole, I don’t give a shit charade, when I know that you want these new kids to get the same excitement we had when we were kids riding.
The only way to do it is if there are some new freaking places popping up with guys who have the insatiable lust for BMX that you do. Why don’t you put down the can, pick up the phone call Rod and get some shit happening.
I’ve had enough of this shit, where the heck is Caputo? He was the one with the inside track to Toms River.

[bmiddaugh]

I will leave this off topic part of the post with this.

CJBMX amassed over 20g in the bank to pay for all the things it has made come true over these past couple years, and CJ has not even been in continous operation, it had to close in 1987 and reopened in about 1992.

Now EHT and HC have been in continous operation since 1981-82.
So I would assume that these tracks must have even more money accumulated than CJ has. So why doesn’t every track in NJ have a massive facelift like CJ.
Just for the record, the makeover took Tom Ritz on his machine, Scott on an earthmover and about 5 or 6 active volunteers. I say active because there was a lot of people there during the makeover but about 5 or 6 guys at a time doing stuff. um…no point in getting run over by a tractor, lol. So no it doesn’t take 50 volunteers to redo the track.
Oh and before I came along why wasn’t anyone in the state out actively pursuing donations to their 501c3 charitable organization?

Why, why, why.
A few people in BMX racing in NJ really get aggravated with me, but ya know what, isn’t the statement I just made one that makes sense to anyone on this board?

I want Tommydone, Chris and Dave to jumpstart something, dammit I want some racer in this freaking state to start something someplace so we can finally push this thing forward.
Dammit start being BMX racers and frigging lead, isn’t that what this racing thing is all about trying to take the lead and running with it?
I can tell you what freestyle is all about.
PROGRESSION.
Has racing progressed in NJ in the last 6 years?

[bmiddaugh]

Wow, a philosophical discussion, I like this.
If no one came to the forum section, I would still do this for myself, because I love BMX to the point where I am nuts enough to just run around and take pictures and write stories as part of my way of contributing. (I say part because no one should ever be afraid to yell at me to grab a broom or shovel when I am talking too much, lol). The forums were actually an afterthought, that everyone seemed to enjoy.
If I stopped covering races, told people who wanted to contribute to the site, “what do you know about BMX”, or showed a level of immediate distrust”, this place would collapse. Instead everyone who comes on here who shows that crazy love for BMX gets a place to hang and laugh with their buddies off the track. Some people come, others leave, but content on the front gets updated, controversies get started and fun ensues.

What I am trying to say in as nice a way as possible is that sometimes things have to change in a dramatic way. If a track loses ridership or for that matter an entire sport, then there is a reason or reasons for this happening. Sometimes it takes an extreme event such as tracks closing because people lose enthusiasm or whatever the reason to allow new people the chance to go out and try to have a go at running a track.

NJBMX made 10,000 flyers for 4 tracks in the state.
NJBMX made 400 posters for 4 tracks in the state.
One track in Ct alone passes out 35,000 flyers.
And you all know what I went through just to get 10,000 flyers made.
If local kids truly want a BMX track, they will make it happen.
If guys like Dave and Chris were to somehow build a new track, I believe they would kill themselves telling everyone in 75 miles about it and treat every new kid or potential kid with the spark of enthusiasm they had when they first started.
THAT is what is needed.

I already talked about SC putting up the sign on Rte 9.
Do you know that when I was at HC last year for the state race there was not even a sign out in front of the library stating that the race was going on?
It’s funny I completely understand what you are saying but new tracks need to pop up in areas where people want them and will push them to new heights.

[bmiddaugh]

Howell survives and is apparently doing well because it has a scene.
Which is only gonna grow now that the people who have the bike shop are actively involved in BMX.
Some of you may notice the CJBMX sign underneath the SC Action Sports sign now.
Right on Rte 9 in Howell.
But, if everyone went their way in Howell, then that would be the end of it.
I don’t see that happening though.

The sport of BMX racing on a whole needs a refreshing of life. If those who are currently in charge of whatever tracks cannot get enough people to them and they are unable to continue then they will shut down.
Does it suck.
Yes.
But sometimes things like that happen for a reason.

Apathy would actually be the people who would be currently in charge of something letting it become rundown.

I am in charge of this website, (and actually the more I look at this websites interface the more I want to change it, lol)
It’s up to me to be sure it doesn’t get “rundown”.
The people in charge of their tracks have the same responsibility.
You want volunteers, then you must treat people as though they are welcome and wanted.

[bmiddaugh]

LOL, that hat has ABA and Egg Harbor on it.
I love it.
I think this will be a productive winter for us.

[bmiddaugh]

I want a BMX track in every town in NJ.
Just like baseball, football and soccer.
And I ain’t stopping till it happens.
😈

[bmiddaugh]

Here’s the poop man.
The straight scoop.
If someone like a few of these guys, opened a brand new track.
Free of the dogma of the past, run by completely new individuals.
Who were beholden to listen to no one other than themselves.
What could be accomplished would be unlimited.

The thought of a track completely run by guys who race and raced who know the sport from the side of the handlebar grips is almost overpowering.
And I can promise when I get this “project” done I am working on, that a lot more steam will be put into getting a new track going.

If rundown becomes shutdown, then there is nothing to do about it

[bmiddaugh]

That’s awesome because I know 2 incredibly responsible personable guys who could probably do an awesome job at putting together a place…. —

[bmiddaugh]

… ok, I can already see this going on for another 8 pages about national numbers for rookies.

Rich had a good point.

How is any of this working towards getting us more people riding BMX in NJ?

[bmiddaugh]

I just always find it amazing how you guys never seem to get real mad at each other when busting chops.
If you were all in charge of things…

[bmiddaugh]

I’ll get that guys email who’s running it.

[bmiddaugh]

Which leads back to this next post in the racing section.
http://brokenspokes.net/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=21591#21591

[bmiddaugh]

I take it Rich knows Tommy…lol.
Ya see, what I would like to happen is have..
Tommy and Rich at a state meeting.
Yea, that would be fun..
Yea…
Clips, no clips,
full face, no face…hmmm
For anything to change or be discussed you have to be “in charge”.
I hope you guys are all willing to step up and get officials licenses (nbl requirement to move up the “ladder”) so that you can make change.

The thing that I see here is everyone who gets on this site has the ability to disagree and then compromise with their eye very much on “WHAT IS GOOD FOR ALL BMX RACERS”. Not just what they personally want to see, or what is good only for their kid.

And I am sorry to say this, but it is, in my opinion, part of the reason that racing has fallen to the wayside and constantly has up and down swings.
The people doing it must be completely in charge of it. I have personally seen parents dismiss, as in not pay attention to, their own kids when the kid is giving his opinion on what the track should be like. Then these same parents turn around and say, “it’s all about the kids”. Well…if it’s all about the kids, WHY DON’T YOU ASK THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO DO?”
Trust me they know.
And to me quite frankly the only people who know what it feels like to be that kid, are the people who were already kids when they were doing this.

Now, our current state commissioner and his assistant are two guys who I know understand all these things, because everytime we come up with something, they say,
Sure, Let’s do it, and I don’t see a problem with that.
But we need more guys to actually do things.
And most importantly we need more guys out there applying for officials licenses.
Why?
So that when guys like Scott and Vanuch need a break from listening to us bitch, we can move on up and be commisioner or asst or secretary or treasurer or clerk or whatever needs done.

Who here will be at the next state meeting that will, undoubtedly begin to lay the groundwork for the 2008 season.
A season that will see BMX RACING ON NBC, AT PRIMETIME, IN THE OLYMPICS.
I never played stick and ball sports, so I never got into that whole “drop the ball” thing.
But I do know how to pedal my ass off, boost and hope I make it to the other fucking side in one piece. (well, I used to at least, those 2 diggers at Howell last year sorta took some fight out of me)
So who on this site is ready to do some freaking pedaling instead of coasting and seeing who else is in the lead?

[bmiddaugh]

ooook,
dang man the more of us old guys that come back, the more of that craziness of the early days of BMX returns with us.
People don’t believe me when I tell them that the OS BMX guys have more in common with the freestyle guys of today than the racers.
At least in the attitude dept.
We were all sorta…anti establishment, bad-azz little maniacs.

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