fbpx
Close

Uh oh...

It appears that you're using a severely outdated version of Safari on Windows. Many features won't work correctly, and functionality can't be guaranteed. Please try viewing this website in Edge, Mozilla, Chrome, or another modern browser. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused!

Read More about this safari issue.
Sports 0

Arkansas BMX: A Full Participation Sport for the Whole Family

O

Our family drives by the Mudtown BMX track in Lowell, Arkansas often. We play at the neighboring playground at Ward Nail Park, walk on the trail alongside the track and dip our toes in the pond a few yards away.

We have stopped to watch bike riders taking those hills.

My son and I recently took the opportunity to experience the BMX (bicycle motocross) track up close. He loaded his bike and grabbed his helmet and we took off for an evening ride on the track, and a conversation with some Arkansas bike racers about this cycle sport.

MarekBMX

While my boy tested his skills on the hills, I spoke with Angie Gautney, track operator for Mudtown BMX. Like others who work to make sure operations run smoothly, she gives her time to the sport as a volunteer.

She checked the track conditions while her son also practiced on his bike in preparation for an upcoming race. Ms. Gautney and I talked about the culture of support and participation for BMX in Arkansas, as well as the work it takes to get a track ready for a race. Rocks are removed, bumps smoothed over, holes are filled: participants and family members often come together to do these jobs and keep the track safe for riders.

The track in Lowell, on property next to a city park, does not receive city funds for maintenance. It is an open track, however—anyone can come and take a ride, whether they are part of BMX racing or not—making it an asset to the surrounding community.

Mudtown BMX is one of only three tracks in Arkansas: Bonzai BMX in Little Rock and Cabot BMX.

Mickey Lampson, whose son participates in BMX racing, also spoke with me about the sport and what it means to his family. Mr. Lampson and his son travel to other states, participating in two national BMX competitions each year. He likes the travel and the quality time it allows him with his son. For the most part he says practice and competitions are for fun and fitness, with few incidents of angry, highly competitive parents or bad sportsmanship.

BMXtrio

Serious injuries are also rare. BMX racing is about speed—getting across the finish line first—not about knocking out opponents or being rough, a common misconception about the sport. Riders are required to wear helmets, but most also wear some protective gear in case of falls. Hills and high-banked curves are part of the challenge and fun for all the racers.

Mr. Lampson appreciates that one of the main tenets of BMX is that children “never sit on a bench,” making it a decidedly different athletic experience than sports like football or softball. Another positive for families who are interested in participating is the flexibility the sport allows. Riders are not obligated to be at every practice or race. They can practice when their local track is open (which in Lowell, is every day except during events), and sign up on the same day in the hours leading up to a race. He said Arkansas BMX tends to be a little more relaxed in the sport than in other states.

Carol Rogers and her husband Gary are the track operators for Bonzai BMX in Little Rock. She also emphasizes how flexible BMX participation is and says the sport is unique because of that. “You come out to participate when you want. There is no obligation to a team.”

She loves seeing children progress in their skills: “Watching them set a goal for themselves and achieving it. It is good exercise for the whole family and a very family-friendly atmosphere.”

Riders at BMX in Arkansas range in age from 2-70. Young children ride Striders (balance bikes with no pedals) as part of their participation and racing even before they can pedal a regular bicycle. Competition among senior participants is reportedly quite lively.

Ms. Rogers says the best way for new riders to see if they like the sport is to simply come out and try it.

My son certainly enjoyed his evening of doing just that. He is ready to go back, so we’re adding that to our list of things to do before school starts back up. BMX has gained at least one eager young fan this year.

For information on participation and membership:

Mudtown BMX, Lowell

Bonzai BMX, North Little Rock

Cabot BMX, Cabot

Author’s note: Mudtown BMX recently hosted the 2015 Arkansas State Qualifier, and has seen its share of trouble this year. Motorbike riders riding on the wet hills after rains have vandalized the track, requiring volunteers to come and smooth over the damage. Dirt is periodically needed to keep the track in good condition. Opportunities for sponsorships to help with track upkeep are available at the Mudtown BMX site or by contacting Angie Gautney at mudtownbmx@yahoo.com.

Meet the
author.

Learn more about .

A little about .

Rhonda is a writer and editor who creates content and rights the wrongs of misspelled words and grammar gone awry. A born city girl, she raises three lively boys with her husband in the rural woods outside of Springdale. She loves sharing other people’s stories with the written (and edited) word via her freelance work at RhondaFranz.com. She holds Arkansas teacher licensure and offers advice, tips, education, and humor while telling true tales of parenthood and the pilot wife life at CaptainMom.net. She schleps her children all over Northwest Arkansas and occasionally works on freelance projects in parking lots from the back of her minivan.

Read more stories by Rhonda Franz

 

Visit Rhonda Franz’s Website

Like this story? Read more from Rhonda Franz

0
0
0
0
0
0

Join the Conversation

Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

Submit a photo

We select one featured photo per week, but we show many more in our gallery. Be sure to fill out all the fields in order to have yours selected.

  • Accepted file types: jpg, png, Max. file size: 5 MB.

Regions Topics
Social

What are you looking for?

Explore Arkansas

Central Arkansas

Little Rock, Conway, Searcy, Benton, Heber Springs

Northwest Arkansas

Fayetteville, Bentonville, Springdale, Fort Smith

South Arkansas

Hot Springs, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, Arkadelphia

Explore by Topic