Hazleton BMX racers are on a ride to glory

GINO TROIANI

Times Leader Correspondent

HAZLETON – Lined along the starting gate side by side, all four competitors waited anxiously for the gate to drop.

Equipped with BMX bikes, helmets, and full racing attire, it was clear that this crew was not getting ready for a typical ride in the park.

In that group was 15-year-old Olivia Longo of Hazleton, competing in the 2010 New Jersey BMX state qualifier race which was held at the Louis Schiavo BMX Track in Hazleton on Saturday.

Longo, who has been competing for the last three years, explained Saturday’s race, which attracted more than 100 competitors of all ages, was the fourth of five qualifier competitions for the New Jersey State Championship, which will be held in Flemington, N.J. on October 16.

In order to participate in the state championship, riders must attend two of the five qualifier races where they are ranked on a cumulative scoring basis in their respective classes based on their performance in a series of “moto’s” or races.

BMX which is short for bicycle motocross first hit the scene in the early 1970’s as a sprint style competition on an off-  road style one lap course. As the sport gained popularity dirt tracks began to pop up all across the United States as competitors gathered to race the customized cycles. Today, the sport has reached international recognition and in 2008 became an official Olympic sport.

The Louis Schiavo BMX Track was built by the Tri Area Recreation Authority in 2005 and officially opened its doors in 2006.

According to Roy Higgins, president of the Parents Association at the track, since opening it has grown significantly in size, and is currently home to around 60 riders who race just about every weekend from March to October. “As long as you can ride without training wheels, you can ride on the track,” said Higgins.

Higgins placed a major emphasis on maintaining a positive recreational area for both kids and adults to enjoy within the community. “It’s all for the kids… We’re just proud of the simple fact that we can take a kid off the street and put him on the track,” said Higgins.

Through her tenure, Longo has racked up a slew of awards and titles. Currently, she is ranked second in the state and first in the region in the 15-year-old girls’ novice class. “This is a great sport and it’s fun,” said Longo. “The thing that I like about it is that nobody gets left out; everybody can participate.”

Tom Donahue, 39, of Turnersville N.J., agreed, adding that BMX racing has helped strengthen his relationship with his 9-year-old son Liam. “This is a sport where nobody rides the bench,” said Donahue.

Currently, Donahue is ranked fifth in the region in the 35-40 year old expert class, and Liam who started racing just over a year ago is ranked first in the region in the 9-year-old rookie class. “I’m not half the rider I was when I was 18, but I’m having more fun now because I got him involved,” said Donahue.

Donahue said he began racing in 1983 when the sport was relatively new. After more than two decades, he said he never imagined he would be riding BMX bikes with his son. “To be able to take something from my childhood that I held dearly and be able to pass it onto him and have him enjoy like me, I love it,” said Donahue.