TimesLeader.com

August 20
It’s a three-peat

By Don McGlynn dmcglynn@theabingtonjournal.com

RANSOM- For the third year in a row, the Cedar BMX track in Ransom was notified by the American Bicycle Association that they have been selected to host the BMX state championships.

Above, BMX racer Adriel DeNaples at a Cedar BMX event.

Abington Journal Photo/Alice Stuffle

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Each year, the event is awarded to the track with the most member sign-ups over the year, and, again in Pennsylvania, that track is Cedar BMX.

The fact that the track has been asked so many years in a row to host the event not only shows the track’s popularity, but for managers Rob Vargo and Candy Rosencrance, it’s a testament to many hours of hard work.

“I think it shows how much the track has improved over the years,” said co-manager Candy Rosencrance. “Six years ago, you were lucky to see 20 people here for a race. We’ve worked hard to improve it over the years, and I think it just shows how far we’ve come.”

“My husband and I started running it about four years ago, and it’s a lot of work. We couldn’t do it on our own, we have a wonderful group of volunteers who help us out a lot, but it’s hard. We’re a non-profit, so any money we make goes right back into the track. So there’s not a lot of money set aside for advertising.”

The track currently has over a 100 members and averages about 60 bikers registered to race on any of the given race nights held Thursday and Saturday.

The state championship is scheduled for Sunday, August 24, but Cedar BMX has organized an entire weekend of events, beginning with a pre-race on August 22 and a double point pre-race on August 23.

“We have a lot of racers coming from all over, many of whom have never been on our track. The pre-race gives everyone a chance to get a feel for the track before the big day,” said Rosencrance.

There will be a few who are very familiar with the track racing this weekend: nine members of Cedar BMX, including, Corey Mruk, Charlie Banashefski, Drew Tinna, Alan Grow, Brandi Saldi, Tommy Missal, Kyle Nichols, Johnathan Clayton and Matt Merrifield, will be competing in the event.

To qualify for states, each racer had to compete in three qualifying races. The scores the racers received at those races and the score they receive on Sunday will be averaged, and from that, a winner will be selected in each age group.

“We’re really proud of all of them, they’re all very good riders,” said Rosencrance.

The question now is will Cedar BMX be able to go for four years in a row. And it might be possible, with the recent attention to the sport in large part due to it being added as an Olympic event.

“We haven’t noticed any increase in attendance or participation yet, but we think after the Olympics we will,” said Rosencrance.

“I’m thrilled it’s going to be in the Olympics because I think it will show a lot of people what the sport is really all about. I think a lot of people think of it as just people doing jumps and tricks, and that’s not what it is. It’s racing and it’s competing against one another, there are no tricks involved.”

Anyone who is interested in what it’s about live and in person can do so Sunday, August 24 at the state championships. Registration will be 11 a.m. to noon, with the race beginning shortly after.

Or on any Thursday and Saturday night, admission is free. Anyone interested in racing must be a member, but free one-day memberships are available for anyone interested in just trying it out. Registration is from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays, and 6 to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, with the race starting immediately afterward.

The pre-race on Friday, August 22, will begin after registration, which is 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday’s registration will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. For more information, call Cedar BMX track at 586-1146.