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Dino Oberto ….. “Keeping Track”
There is a famous line in the movie Field of Dreams. “If you build it, they will come.” Such is the case at the newly opened BMX track on the outskirts of Hazleton.
Once an abandoned coal mining field, the land has been reclaimed and transformed into a state-of-the art BMX track and sanctioned by the National Bike League (BNL).
The track was put together through the efforts of the Tri Area Recreation Authority which is committed to a unified approach towards recreation. The parcel of land was donated by the city of Hazleton. There were also plenty of local businesses that donated time, effort and money to make the track a reality.
With no other NBL sanctioned tracks in the immediate area, the Hazleton facility serves all of northeast and central Pennsylvania in this unique form of competitive racing. A recent regional event drew nearly 100 riders from as far away as Ohio.
The NBL is affiliated to USA Cycling, the only national cycling federation in the US recognized by the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale). UCI is the International governing body for Cycling who are in turn working with the International Olympic Committee to ensure that every country with BMX racing will be eligible to qualify riders for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
“I think so far things are going good and each week it seems there are a lot more kids interested and we’re trying to get more involved. I think once we get a good local base of kids who come and ride every week then it will grow,” said Race Director Jack Longo.
BMX racing is a world-wide sport and is even part of the Olympics. One of the designers who had a hand in the construction of the Hazleton track, Tom Ritzenthaler, is also involved with the track being built this year in Beijing.
“It’s good to know that there is national and world notoriety coming to Hazleton and the surrounding area,” said Longo.
Like go-karts and quarter midgets, BMX racing can lead a young rider to pursue a career in the higher levels of the sport where in this instance it would be Motocross. But, as Longo points that’s not always the case.
“I not too sure about that because there are guys that come to race and are in their thirties and forties and they’re racing hard. They’re very competitive about what they do. Now it’s an Olympic sport too and I think a lot of kids are looking to get better at this and maybe someday make it to that level.”
The track is actually been in existence for the past two years but 2008 marks the first full season of racing. NBL President Bob Tedesco earlier this year redesigned the track layout. New loads of clay and macadam turns have made for some exciting action.
“There is a lot of good competition there. Some of the best racing is actually with the littler kids, the 5-6 year olds. They’re unbelievable to watch race. When you get into the older kids they also put on some good close racing,” said Longo.
Every Wednesday night there is open practice which starts at 4:00pm until dusk. A $3.00 fee is all that is charged. The only requirement is a helmet and long-sleeve shirt and pants.
Sunday racing consists of a series of motos with classes divided among age groups. Points are awarded which goes towards advancing into a higher level class.
“There’s different programs throughout the state. At the end of the year your points are accumulated. You then get a number plate which is given to the top ten point earners in each class. The goal is to get that number 1 plate,” explained Longo.
“From the state the points are then carried over to the regional which also has another program. Then comes the nationals and if you make it there you can go and race anywhere in the world.”
Longo is optimistic that BMX racing at the Hazleton track is something that has unlimited potential to grow. It’s just a matter of getting the riders involved more.
“There are programs we have that if you come on a Wednesday you don’t even have to pay, just come out and try it just for the fun of it. Or get on a buddy program and race on a Sunday and you wouldn’t have to pay for that either. So it’s not a lot of money involved,” he said.
“So far we’ve had no negative feedback about the track. Everyone is impressed. As long as we keep up on it and keep growing then it will be a nice place for kids to come and race.”
The track is located off of route 424, the Arthur Gardner Parkway. Racing will run through the end of November. There is also a website at www.hazletonbmx.typepad.com
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