Yakima Valley BMX & Indoor Track
News & Happings
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04-26-2006 - Union Gap Wont Charge To Park At Park 04-18-2006 - Fees For Park Use Always A Bad Idea 04-16-2006 - Ahtanum Park Entry Will Cost $3 Eventually 03-22-2006 - Ahtanum Youth Park Transfer Completed 03-17-2006 - Ahtanum Youth Park Fees On the Way 03-01-2006 - Union Gap Takes Over Youth Park 01-24-2006 - Union Gap (Yakima) Wants More Park Info 01-11-2006 - 2006 Yakima Valley BMX Indoor Schedule 12-22-2005 - Yakima Valley Indoor February - March 2006 07-27-2005 - Yakimas Walters Takes Fourth At World BMX Champ 07-20-2005 - A Yakima Valley BMX Race Report 03-16-2005 - Congratulations To Yakima Valley BMX Race Crew 02-24-2005 - Mike Redman Cominig To Yakima Indoor 01-27-2005 - Yakima Valley Indoor Announces 2005 Schedule 11-08-2004 - Yakima Valley Indoor BMX plans, But Nothing Is Set 09-08-2004 - Council Not Ready To Commit To A Eastside Skatepark 05-07-2004 - Yakima Locals Place Well In ABA U.S. Nationals 04-07-2004 - Last Ride for Lous Bike shop 03-15-2004 - Indoor BMX Report Double-Double Weekend 02-03-2004 - No Yakima Parking Fees 01-21-2004 - Compromise Cuts Planned Fee For Parking At Ahtanum Park 12-10-2003 - Charge A Fee? Critics Say Keep Parks Free 12-09-2003 - Yakima Park Fee? 11-20-2003 - Yakima Facing New Challenges For Next Season 10-20-2003 - Yakima Indoor News Rumors 05-20-2003 - Opening 2003 Races Yakima Outdoor 04-08-2003 - 3 Locals Tops In BMX Nationals 04-04-2003 - Waters Rising Close To The Top 04-03-2003 - Several Locals At BMX Nationals 07-21-2002 - Yakima Valley BMX SRC Doin It Right 03-21-2002 - BMX Riding On Common Ground 03-21-2002 - BMX Riders Flocking To Pasco For National Event 11-10-2001 - Yakima Doin It Right 10-18-2001 - BMX Riders Looking For Place To Ride 07-08-2001 - The BMX Race Is Not Always To The Swift 08-14-1999 - BMX Speed Demons Thrive On Thrill Of Racing 04-13-1999 - BMX Bikers Take To Phat Air At New Track 03-23-1999 - Spring Break Class Aims To Make Yakima Kids Safer On Bikes Union Gap/Yakima, Washington -- After weeks of debate, public input and shifting opinions, the City Council on Monday agreed to charge a $2 parking fee at Ahtanum Youth Activities Park. The fee goes into effect July 1. 2006 Id love to see this parking fee go away, Councilman Roger Wentz said. "But without it, our budget cant sustain (the park)." The council voted 6-1 to approve the fee, evoking mixed reactions among the 15-plus people in attendance. Councilman Dan Olson cast the lone dissenting vote. The council also unanimously voted to refund the parks budget to $235,000, reversing a recent decision to slash funding to $75,000. Public Works Director Dennis Henne estimates the $2 parking fee will generate $180,000 to $190,000 for maintenance and operations. An additional $90,000 from rental fees is anticipated. See Full News Post at: * http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/GenesBMX/message/10981 Union Gap/Yakima, Washington -- Responding to community protest, the Union Gap City Council voted against establishing $3 parking fee for Ahtanum Youth Activities Park Monday night. The City Council voted 4-3 against the proposal, which was to be implemented July 1. Councilmembers David Butler, Toni Webb, Dan Olson and Glenn Bateman cast the dissenting votes. The decision came as a surprise to many, with the majority of the council speaking in favor of the fee earlier this month. However, Cindy Pratt, president of the Yakima Youth Soccer Association, said she's grateful the council reconsidered. Im very relieved for the youth soccer players in our valley, she said. They really could not afford a parking fee. We are glad we are able to continue using Ahtanum Youth Park." The council has debated implementing a parking fee since taking control of the park in March. The county previously owned the 74-acre complex but relinquished its title for financial reasons. ( More ) Union Gap/Yakima, Washington -- Budget shortfalls in the past resulted in pressure to find new revenues for state parks by adopting a day use fee. The day use fee has resulted in reduced attendance, high collection costs, AND negative impacts to tourism. Attendance has decreased by 20 percent. Citizens, particularly the poor and elderly, have been negatively impacted by the fees... Excerpts from a legislative report on Substitute House Bill 2416. The state Legislature went on to approve SHB 2416, abruptly ending a short-lived, highly controversial and counterproductive experiment with day-use parking fees at state parks as of April 9. In light of that action, the Union Gap City Council should reconsider plans to implement a parking fee for Ahtanum Youth Park as of July 1. It was a bad idea when Yakima County considered it before turning over ownership of the park to Union Gap. It's still a bad idea. ( More ) Union Gap/Yakima, Washington -- The Union Gap City Council on Monday provisionally approved a $3 parking fee for Youth Activities Park to go into effect July 1. The City Council voted 5-1 in favor of the fee, despite community protest. Councilman Dan Olson voted against the proposal. Council woman Toni Webb did not attend the meeting. The council intended to implement the fee May 15 but reconsidered after learning the charge could affect an upcoming soccer tournament. The new ordinance, reflecting the date change and other fee details, will be presented for the council's approval April 24. ( More ) Union Gap/Yakima, Washington -- Union Gap has a "new" park. The Youth Activities Park along Ahtanum Road will become the city's property Monday. Yakima County commissioners Tuesday voted unanimously to transfer the 74-acre complex, citing ongoing financial woes and the park's location inside Union Gap city limits. The Union Gap City Council agreed last month to accept the park at 1000 Ahtanum Road and some money from the county to offset initial operating costs. Commissioners declared the property surplus and transferred it to Union Gap after a public hearing at which no citizens testified. The city, as required by the transfer agreement, will honor all existing contracts with user groups, including the Yakima Youth Soccer Association and the Yakima Valley BMX Association, which developed a bike motocross track at Ahtanum. Mayor Aubrey Reeves said the city also will assume the job of taking reservations for park facilities. The county had farmed out that work to the Yakima Greenway Foundation after cutting the parks budget to a point where no staff was available to take reservations. "We are really happy. It gives us a lot of opportunities we never had in the past for activities and programs, Reeves said. Ahtanum is the second park the county has turned over to a city. Sunnyside took control of SunnyView Park along Yakima Valley Highway, between Sunnyside and Grandview, in 2003. Now, groups involved with the West Valley Community Park on South 80th Avenue are suggesting the city of Yakima take over that park. Should that occur, the county would be left with Eschbach Park on South Naches Road and the Lower Naches Community Park near Gleed. Commission Chairman Jesse Palacios said its unfortunate the county doesn't have enough money for parks. We can no longer afford to spend money on quality of life issues. Most of our money goes to public safety and the courts, he said. Its too bad, but that is the reality. Commissioner Mike Leita said the transfer makes sense, since the park is in Union Gap. He said annexations by cities bring tax revenues but also the responsibility to provide services. Ahtanum became an island within a city. It is only proper as cities continue to grow that they assume services the county has provided, Leita said. Along with the title to the property, the county will give Union Gap more than $27,000. The money is what is left in the countys 2006 parks budget for the Ahtanum park. The county funded the park for the first six months of the year. Union Gap/Yakima, Washington -- The new owners of a popular local park plan to charge you a fee just to get in. The city of Union Gap is set to take over Ahtanum Youth Park from Yakima county later this month. Several changes are being planned. One is to turn the youth barn into a senior center. But the biggest change will hit your wallet. Leaders may charge three to five dollars for each car to get into the park. We think we can make a special park out of it that everybody will be thrilled to come to, even if they have to pay a little bit, we want to make it worthwhile, when they get there, they get their moneys worth and then some, says Union Gap mayor Aubrey Reeves. The city says it will cost 300-thousand dollars a year to keep the park open. NEWS UPDATE: RE: Ahtanum Youth Park Fees On the Way ( 03/29/2006 - Parks New Owners Keep Same Hours, Fees ) Union Gap/Yakima, Washington -- Union Gap has agreed to save a local park from closing. Monday night (2-27-06), the city council voted to take over the operation of the Ahtanum Youth Activities Park. Yakima County currently owns the park. But the county says it doesn't have the money to keep up the facility. All of the 74 acre park is located inside the Union Gap city boundaries. The city says changing owners will be a natural transition. It says it hopes to make the park one of the best in the region. Mayor Aubrey Reeves says he wants to start soccer, horseshoe, and BMX bike racing tournaments at the park. UNION GAP (Yakima), Washington -- The fate of the Yakima County Youth Activities Park remains uncertain following Monday's City Council meeting. The City Council held a study session on the park issue prior to its regular business meeting and then agreed it still needs more information before deciding whether to take over management of the 74-acre park from Yakima County. The entire council agreed to direct Mayor Aubrey Reeves to hammer out details for a final transfer agreement with the county, but did not commit to take over the park. The final agreement is expected to document specific details of the real estate transfer as well as any underlying liabilities and obligations to be assumed by the city, including existing contracts with user groups. The council will likely vote on the acquisition next month. Faced with budget pressures, the county has cut back on park funding in recent years and has previously turned over two parks to other entities. In June, county commissioners offered the Youth Activities Park on Ahtanum Road to Union Gap. The county has budgeted to fund the park through June, at which time it plans to close the park unless Union Gap decides to manage it. According to a Union Gap committee report, the Youth Activities Park is the most heavily used county park. The park offers a variety of ball fields and buildings that are rented for large group events as well as a BMX bicycle track, a ropes challenge course and an outdoor equestrian arena. Yakima, Washington -- The 2006 Yakima Valley Indoor Schedule Via http://www.yakimavalleybmx.com/schedule.html February 11 Saturday 10-11am - Signup Single point race February 12 Sunday 10-11am - Signup Single point race February 25 Saturday 10-11am - Signup Sinlge point race February 26 Sunday 10-11am - Signup Single point race March 4 Saturday 10-11am - Signup Single point race March 5 Sunday 10-11am - Signup Race For Life Double point race March 11 Saturday 10-11am - SCR Double point race March 12 Sunday 10-11am - Redline Cup Triple Point Race Yakima, Washington -- News Clip Posted Via - WaBMXnews Yakima Valley Indoor Racing this winter, February - March, up to Pasco Nationals Opening February 11-12 Weekend Racing all weekends February & March up to the Pasco Nationals, except one They will be closed for the P.I. SCR weekend, February 18-19-20 2006 To Mike Bull and the Yakima Valley Indoor Race Crew Thank you, we extend our appreciation for your support ...p.i. staff & management Yakima, Washington -- CC - YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ONTARIO, Calif. Austin Waters of Yakima, who honed his racing skills with Yakima Valley BMX, finished fourth at last weekends ABA World BMX Championships in Ontario, Calif. Racing in 100-plus degree temperatures, Waters had reached the final in the Cruiser (24-inch wheel) class for riders ages 21 to 25. He had worked his way to second place on the final lap, only to get boxed in on a turn and see two riders pass him, dropping him to fourth. In the Class (20-inch wheel) competition, Waters reached the semifinals, from which the top three riders would advance to the final. Waters finished fourth in the semi, just missing another berth in the championship event. Yakima, Washington -- News Clip Posted Via - BMXtalk I want to thank all the riders,parents, and spectators for Columbia Basin BMX and Yakima Valley BMX successful and exciting weekend SCRs. Even the heat couldn't hinder the youngest rider who at 31/2 was blazing around the track. Also many thanks to the volunteers that made it possible. Everyone worked as a team so many thanks to all of you. Tonight the 19 th we had 2 new riders drive from Moses Lake to sign up and race. They are now new aba members. I gave them schedules to take to their local bike shops or to hand out to anyone interested. I also told them to check out gobmx and the other tracks. They are fast so maybe someday there will be some state champs from moses lake. I never hear much about their track so i asked questions. According to them there are potential riders wanting to race but no one has stepped up to run the track. it is built and waiting to be handed to someone. I can only imagine what that is like as most of us struggled to get a track built. I havent seen the track but I intend to. Mike Bull - YVBMX Yakima, Wa Yakima, Washington -- News Clip Posted Via - WaBMXnews Congratulations to Mike Bull and the Yakima Valley BMX race crew. They overcame a couple annoying difficulties and had a great RFL-SCR weekend... Good Job, and they are due a BIG PAT ON THE BACK for a good show... Mike Redman got rave reviews for the clinic he put on Saturday after the RFL race... Mike always does a good job with his clinics and he did so in Yakima last Saturday afternoon... Yakima, Washington -- News Clip Posted Via - WaBMXnews Mike Redman is coming to the Northwest! There will be a clinic to sharpen your skills and prepare for the national in Pasco Saturday March 12, 2005 Yakima Valley Indoor BMX in Yakima, WA Clinic to be held after the RFL on Saturday 4 Hours of training, time approx. 3 pm - 7 pm Saturday March 12 - RFL (single points) Sunday March 13 - SCR (double points) Signups: Saturday & Sunday 10am - 12pm The clinic is $45.00us per rider, 40 rider max Contact: Mike Bull 509-949-1530 (Eastside) Lorin Van Ogle 206-550-1304 (Westside) Yakima, Washington -- News Clip Posted Via - WaBMXnews Six weekends of bmx at the Yakima Valley Indoor.... February 12-13, 2005 February 19-20, 2005 February 26-27, 2005 with registration 10a.m. to 11a.m. March 12, 2005 - RFL (single) March 13, 2005 - SCR with registration 10a.m. to 12 noon both days March 26-27, 2005 April 2-3, 2005 with registration 10a.m. to 11a.m. Race Fees: single point races points class $15 double points $20; opens $5 Congratulations to Mike Bull and his crew in Yakima....... After some concern about arranging an 05 winter schedule for Yakima, they have reached a contract agreement with their landlord and will be racing this winter....... Yakima, Washington -- News Clip Posted Via - WaBMXnews Yakima Valley Indoor is discussing plans for running this winter nothing is set yet, but hopes are high... Yakima, Washington -- Hope for a second skateboard park in Yakima took a spill Tuesday. The Yakima City Council agreed that building another place for local youth to skateboard, this time on the east side of town, was a good idea. However, the council wasnt willing to commit $25,000 from federal grant money to design such a park, because the recommendation hasn't gone through the right process. Council said it needed to get the approval of a citizens committee established in February and to consider the proposal in the context of the entire budget. ~ For the Rest of the store see: ( MORE ) Yakima, Washington -- Yakima riders Austin Waters, 20, and Kody Brotherton, 11, reached the finals of their respective events in last weekends American Bicycle Association BMX U.S. Nationals in Roseville, Calif. In Saturday's racing, Waters placed sixth in Cruiser (24-inch wheels) for ages 17-to-20 and also finished sixth in Class (20-inch wheels) for ages 19-to-27. On Sunday, he placed fifth in Cruiser. Brotherton, competing in the 11-year-old Expert Division, placed sixth in Cruiser and fourth in Class on Saturday, then came back with a fourth in Cruiser on Sunday. Waters is training at a sponsors facility in Medford, Ore., for another national race May 15-16 in Salt Lake City. Lous Columbia Cycle on Fruitvale Boulevard is closing its doors this month after 15 years, bringing the number of bike shops in Yakima to its lowest point in decades. For the rest of the story see: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/GenesBMX/message/6120 Yakima Valley Indoor BMX A BIG Double-Double weekend March 13, 2004 RFL-Double March 14, 2004 SCR-Double Here is the new website address for Yakima BMX but under development http://www.yakimavalleybmx.com Yakima Valley Indoor BMX Lookin' Good over the weekend...... Friday night - 19 motos Saturday Afternoon - RFL - 39 motos Sunday - SCR - 250+ riders in 50 motos T-shirt short sleeve weather, and really warm..... Gorgeous day Sunday.... If you were there, you know; if you werent there, you missed a great bmx day, judged by any standard.... A good time was had by all, and the Yakima crew is to be complimented on running an excellent program... Yakima, Washington -- Posted on BMXtalk It was made official today that there will be no parking fees at the ahtanum youth park. The commissioners made a comment that the concerns of YVBMX and soccer persuaded them to make their decision for no fees. It is worth standing up for what you believe in and voicing your opinion. It can make all the difference. Thank you for everyone's support. - Mike Bull YVBMX Also - No parking charge at youth park News Clip From The Associated Press (AP) Digital Wire 02/04/2004 Yakima, Washington -- Yakima County commissioners likely will approve a modified parking fee proposal at Ahtanum Youth Park next week to pay for parks the rest of this year. But the $1.00 fee which would take effect in May may be temporary. The plan, a compromise with youth soccer and BMX supporters who criticized an original proposed $3 fee, came up during a Tuesday hearing. During Tuesday's talk, commissioners agreed to consider a suggestion by the user groups that the county ask voters to approve a parks district. Such a district, perhaps including Union Gap and Yakima, could levy a property tax to support parks. The county also plans to look for grants to help cover parks expenses. Commissioners cut $100,000 from the 2004 county parks budget to balance the county budget. A similar cut occurred in the 2003 budget. Parks Director Dave Veley proposed the $3 parking fee to offset the revenue loss and pay for improvements to the park on Ahta-num Road, west of Union Gap. Yakima Countys other park, Eschbach Park on South Naches Road, has had a $3 parking fee for several years. Commissioner Jesse Palacios said the park district proposal has merit, especially with another initiative from Mukilteo resident Tim Eyman looming on the horizon this year to cut nonvoter-approved property tax levies by 25 percent. Eymans biggest success was Initiative 695, which eliminated the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax in 1999. The best option is to put it out there to the public this fall and continue to look for grants to get through the year, Palacios said. Commissioners delayed action on the fee last month after the soccer and BMX groups panned the idea as balancing the budget on the backs of children. Veley later met with the two groups and came up with the proposal to reduce the parking fee. The compromise also includes free passes for soccer and BMX track users and family members. Theres a kicker, though: The two groups must negotiate a contract with the county that includes an increase in user fees to cover the reduced parking fee. The Yakima Youth Soccer Association paid $2,700 in 2003. The Yakima Valley BMX Association will pay a user fee for the first time this year. Both associations maintain the park facilities they use. Fees for renting park facilities, excluding picnic shelters, also will be increased. Yakimas Greg Stovall, a soccer parent, coach and association board member, said Tuesday he remains unhappy over a fee, the first in the state for youth groups to use a county park. He said the county should look for other ways, including a concessions stand, the park district, art shows and other fund raising ventures. I dont think you will generate the revenue you need at $1, he told commissioners. You will be here next year because you don't think outside the norm. Mike Bull, a BMX supporter, told commissioners he wants to look for grants to avoid charging youth to ride the track. We dont want to abandon the park. Give us a chance to find money for grants, he said. If theres money for Joe Morrier, there should be money out there for kids. He was referring to Morriers proposal that he receive a federal loan to build a hotel in his closed downtown Yakima Mall. Yakima, Washington -- Plans to start charging parking fees at Ahtanum Youth Park are stalled at least for now. Yakima County commissioners put off acting on a new fee structure that includes first-ever parking fees at the popular Ahtanum Road park after parents, coaches and BMX enthusiasts criticized the plan at a hearing Tuesday. ( More ) News Post Via - BMXtalk We at YVBMX went to the commissioners today for a hearing on their proposed parking fee at our facility. So far they are not going to pass judgement until march. we have been very vocal in opposition to this fee on radio TV and newsprint. We are going to meet with soccer and the park to find a workable solution to this problem. If this fee were to pass I know it would hurt our recruiting efforts of new riders and bringing westsiders to our SCR. The soccer association is looking at moving to another park. we could move too but it wouldnt be as simple as for soccer. Wish us luck with our dilemma. Ill keep everyone informed as soon as things develop. Mike Bull - YVBMX Yakima Parks an rec is losing 100-thousand dollars. It wants to charge an entrance fee to the antahum youth park? A news clip post and a Reply from Mike Bull. CC - WaBMXnews ( More ) News Rumors and Tidbits Via - WaBMXnews Yakima Indoor, at last word, is still hopeful of running in February and March as they did last winter... May 17 and 18 races, Yakima had 18 motos both days. Saturday was cloudy Sunday was sunshine. The track was in perfect shape. We added 20 truck loads more dirt this year. I hope everyone will enjoy our RFL SCR in June. Mike YVBMX A news clip via Yakima Herald-Republic Sports News PASCO -- Austin Waters of Yakima placed fifth in two national-class, expert-level events and three other locals 7 year old Ryan Secondi of Ellensburg, 16-year-old Brandon Richards of Yakima and adult Scott Woodworth of Yakima each earned firsts in their divisions during the first two days of the BMX Great Northwest Nationals at the TRAC facility. Sundays final-day results were not available. Waters, competing among the country's fastest BMX racers in the 17-20 Cruiser and 19-27 Expert classes, finished fifth in both classes during Saturday's national race after earning a pair of seconds in Friday's "pre-race" competition. Woodworth edged Larry Wood of Tieton for first in the 28-35 Novice class Saturday, after having earned a first and a second on Friday. Secondi took firsts in the 7 Intermediate class on both days, and Richards won the 16 Intermediate class on Friday. Brandon Lee and Kody Brotherton, both of Yakima, turned in strong Expert performances on Saturday. TOP LOCAL PLACERS By age group, Classification and Place ~~~ Fridays Pre-Race ~~~ 9 Girls: 2, Candice Clark (Yakima). 13 Girls: 2, Bobbie Jo Gleason (Yakima). 15 girls: 3, Tosha Dovel (Yakima). 13 Cruiser: 3, Ryan Endicott (Ellensburg); 6, Dustin Miller (Yakima). 15 Cruiser: 2, Christopher Bull (Yakima); 4, Brandon Lee (Yakima). 17-20 Cruiser: 2, Austin Waters (Yakima); 6, Chris Brown (Yakima). 31-35 Cruiser: 1, Scott Woodworth (Yakima). 36-40 Cruiser: 4, Kent Brown (Yakima); 5, Jeffrey Huff (Yakima). 7 Intermediate: 1, Ryan Secondi (Ellensburg). 8 Expert: 6, Matthew Miller (Yakima). 9 Intermediate: 3, Alex Gonzalez (Yakima); 7, Frank Rowland (Selah). 10 Intermediate: 7, Jamie Hart (Yakima). 10 Expert: 7, Kody Brotherton (Yakima). 12 Expert: 6, Cameron Clark (Yakima). 15 Expert: 3, Brandon Lee (Yakima). 16 Intermediate: 1, Brandon Richards (Yakima). 19-27 Expert: 2, Austin Waters (Yakima). 28-&over Notice: 2, Scott Woodworth (Yakima). ~~~ Saturday's National #1 ~~~ 9-10 Open: 7, Kody Brotherton (Yakima). 9 Girls: 6, Candice Clark (Yakima). 13 Girls: 7, Bobbie Jo Gleason (Yakima). 15 Cruiser: 7, Brandon Lee (Yakima). 17-20 Cruiser: 5, Austin Waters (Yakima). 41-45 Cruiser: 8, Tim Irvine (Yakima). 7 Intermediate: 1, Ryan Secondi (Ellensburg). 8 Intermediate: 5, Zane Irvine (Yakima). 9 Intermediate: 7, Frank Rowland (Selah). 10 Intermediate: 4, Jamie Hart (Yakima). 10 Expert: 3, Kody Brotherton (Yakima). 12 Intermediate: 8, Andrew Evans (Tieton). 19-27 Novice: 6, Alan Shepherd (Yakima). 19-27 Expert: 5, Austin Waters (Yakima). 28-35 Novice: 1, Scott Woodworth (Yakima); 2, Larry Wood (Tieton). Yakima, Washington -- To 19 year old Austin Waters of Yakima, the cover photograph on the March edition of BMXer Magazine is like a tease: Youre THIS close to getting to the top ... Thats Eric Meyer, he says, pointing to the rider leading the pack in the photo. Eric Meyer is the top dog, pretty much, right now in our class. Thats Joey Backus. Thats Zack Bean." On the national BMX amateur circuit, those are elite riders. Usually, Waters says, Im right up there with them. The plate on the front of Meyer's bicycle is gray and white, indicating its a National Age Group (NAG) plate, and bears the number 1. That means the Seattle teen leads the nation in his age group, and will be one of the favorites at this weekend's Great Northwest Nationals at the TRAC Arena in Pasco. ( More ) A news clip via Yakima Herald-Republic Scott Sandsberry Austin Waters wont be the only top Yakima-area rider competing in this weekends Great Northwest Nationals, Friday through Sunday in Pasco. Nor is he the only one knocking on the door of BMXs top levels. Chris Bull of Yakima, 15, competes for the same cycling team as Waters does, a team sponsored by a Lake Stevens bicycle shop, and has been coming on strong in the 15 Expert and 15 Cruiser divisions on the state and national circuits. Bulls younger brother Matt, 14, is doing well on the state level, as are 10 year old Kody Brotherton of Yakima, 13 year old Bobbie Jo Gleason and 8 year old Allison Schuler. Those racers will comprise only a tiny portion of what figures to be a sizeable Valley contingent this weekend at TRAC, which will be huge by local standards. At Yakima Valley BMXs recent state qualifying races in Selah, the associations biggest event of the year, they had 62 motos (race heats) on the final day of racing. The Great Northwest Nationals, with an expected 2,000 riders, will have about 200 motos each day. Competition begins at 6 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday. Admission is free for spectators, and TRAC charges no parking fee for the event.  Yakima Valley BMX July 19th - 21st , 2002 News Clip Posted on WaBMXnews Sunday July 21, SCR double points day in Yakima. Totally good looking facility, very efficiently laid out, excellent registration location, good looking staging layout, beautiful track. Track rebuild this year is super, and the riders were very impressed with how smooth the track surface was. Compliments were coming from all corners, from riders and parents visiting the track. The Yakima crew had a mist rack set up for people that might feel too warm, and provided a way of cooling off in the warm temperatures. The rack was well over six feet tall, and plenty large enough for several people to stand in and around while the spray bathed you in a fine mist. Most refreshing, and obviously a lot of fun for many of the younger racers. SCR reportedly had about 57 58 motos and good rider count.... A good show was under way as I got hungry and left to see if Miners Drive In was still operating on Main Street... A visit to Yakima is not complete for me without a stop at Miners Drive In, a land mark on Main Street for a lifetime. Excellent burgers cooked fresh with no pre cooking; no microwave or steam reheating. Good food still; after many years. Miners is a short couple of blocks down Main street from the intersection of Main and Valley Mall Blvd, the one most of you drove through to get to the track. As I drove away from Miners the time and temperature sign showed 96 degrees at about 1pm Sunday afternoon. Yakima being Yakima in July, it was absolutely great.. News clip posted on Yakima Herald Republic Archives. A news clip via Yakima Herald-Republic Scott Sandsberry PASCO - For BMX racers and enthusiasts, this weekends Great Northwest Nationals event is a memorable occasion. Its the only national BMX race held annually in the Northwest, but this year marks the first time it has been scheduled on this side of the Cascades. The event at TRAC (Trade, Recreation & Agricultural Center) will feature experienced pros like Mark Melton of Illinois and Jan Baltzersen, a Dane now living in Southern California, plus up and comers like 16 year old rookie sensation Bubba Harris of Kent based Redline Bicycle. The field figures to include top Central Washington amateurs like 43 year old Janet Rindal of Walla Walla, a two-time national champion, and reigning age group state champs like 12 year old Bobbie Jo Gleason of Yakima and 10 year old Zach Wanderscheid of Goldendale. They will be part of a field of more than 500 amateur racers competing in various age-group classes. For most, this weekend primarily means a chance at seeing how they stack up against the sports best. There are groups of riders that do nothing but race at nationals and very big, big races, says Scott Woodworth, 33, a regular in the Yakima Valley BMX (YVBMX) races who first began competing as a 10 year old. So well get the top riders from the nation. Its going to be huge. And potentially nerve-wracking for relative newcomers like Tosha Dovel, a 14 year old West Valley freshman who began BMX racing less than two years ago and could find herself in against veterans of a decade of racing. Im really nervous for it, but Im really excited to see how Im going to do, she says. If I even keep up with them, then I know Im doing OK and Ill be happy. Like any of the local events held at Autanum Youth Park in the summer or at Selahs Canyon Stables in the winter, the TRAC nationals are sanctioned by the American Bicycle Association and follow the same rules. The difference is you may have 30 to 40 racers in your age group (at TRAC), and here (in YVBMX races) you may have anywhere from four to seven, says Mike Bull, YVBMX president. Theres people flying in from all over the United States, and they're looking for national age group points." IF YOU GO What: Great Northwest Nationals BMX When: Friday through Sunday Where: TRAC complex in Pasco Admission: Free to spectators. (Participants' entry fees range from $25-$45 for amateurs to more than $100 for pros.) Directions: Follow I-82 and then I-182 to Pasco. Take Exit 9 (Road 68), then go north from the off-ramp to Burden Boulevard. Posted by Mike Raich WaBMXnews ***** Yakima Valley Indoor, Selah, Washington ***** Not being able to stand a Saturday evening without a bmx race, I took a drive Saturday evening to visit the Yakima Valley Indoor. Dan Clark and crew are doing it right, doing a great job. I was envious of their dirt, it looks really good for building and packing. The track looked good; solid, well packed due to good dirt. The track was also wide, which is a big plus whenever it can be done. Good looking gate system. Most competent announcer, a very good young lady sounding great and had a lot of enthusiasm, made all the motos sound hotly contested. Racing weekly on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday they are providing the most complete winter race scheduling ever in Washington. Congratulations to Dan and crew on a job well done. Not knowing where the place was, I printed out the directions from their website, and took off. It was dark by the time I got there and as I left the freeway I was concerned about finding the place. The instructions made it appear that the arena was just about two miles from the freeway. What I found was that once you exit the freeway, you turn right and simply follow the road for about 1.3 miles and the arena loams up at you on the right side of the road. CANT MISS IT. One of the easiest BMX tracks I ever looked for, to find. Website instructions are right on. Registration is 4:00-5:00pm on Saturday, and the flag lap was underway by 5:30. They are doing it right in Yakima. The seating area is huge for a small arena. Three rows of space available down one whole side of the arena. Most small arenas hurt for seating, as does Peninsula, but not the Selah arena, seating is excellent there. They didnt appear to have any Westside riders Saturday night, but had a couple on Friday night. They were expecting a group of Richland area riders for Sundays racing. *********************************************** 11-12-2001 A footnote on my earlier comments about traveling to Yakima Valley BMX in Selah...it has been reported to me that Yakima is posting their race results on their webpage, if you wish to check them out I havent been on Washington's highways much of late, except for the routes between Seattle and Sumner to get to River Valley BMX, and from Seattle to Port Orchard to get to SK BMX and Peninsula Indoor BMX. Those two routes are polluted with traffic and travel at breakneck speeds of 0 to 45, sometimes a little more, during the hours I need to be on the highways, byways, and expressways. On my little excursion to Yakima, I found that 80mph was not enough speed to keep up with traffic. Traffic was light on I90, the slow people were doing 75 85 most of the way from Issaquah to Yakima, and were up to 70+ between Bellevue and Issaquah. 80 didnt pass anyone, but I did get passed at that speed by SUV's galore, 4X4 trucks, a couple of vettes went by so fast I had to look twice to be sure they were corvettes, and some 18 wheelers passed me also. I havent been on I-90 in a while, and havent driven that fast outside the state of California in years, nor driven that fast that long in a long, long time; and I got home with a feeling that I need to travel there more, it was a fun trip without the WSP vehicles messing with anyone.... News clip posted on Yakima Herald Republic Archives. News clip posted on Yakima Herald Republic Archives. News clip posted on Yakima Herald Republic Archives. News clip posted on Yakima Herald Republic Archives. News clip posted on Yakima Herald Republic Archives. |
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