*** BMX Brings People Of All Ages To Dothan ***
Dothan, AL -- 02/04/2008
Young, old and all in between.
Attired in colorful uniforms and perched atop their bikes, the riders
peddled with might up the hills and with skill around the curves of
the Wiregrass BMX Track in Dothan Saturday afternoon.
While the competition was fierce on the dirt track, it was the bond
between family and friends that was most prevalent at the Southeast
National competition, which concludes today at the venue located with
in the Westgate Complex.
Ken Powell was involved as a competitor with BMX and motocross racing
over the years. He introduced his 8-year-old son, Michael, to BMX racing
once the family moved to Dothan from Senoia, Ga., last May.
“We got him a little Mongoose bike at Wal-Mart and we took him to
the track,” Ken said. “He took right to it and did real well. When we
realized he was going to be pretty good, we got him a real race bike.”
Including this weekend’s national event, Michael has
already competed in three national competitions.
The youngster said his favorite thing about racing is “trying
to win,” and he doesn’t worry about wrecking on the track.
“I only wrecked once,” Michael said.
“A guy went over too quick and I was right there.”
“He got right back up and continued racing,” Ken Powell said.
Ann Powell worked in the concession stand on Saturday
afternoon as part of the local parents association.
“I pray quite a bit,” Ann Powell said when asked if she gets nervous
about Michael racing. “I know he’s in God’s hands. That’s the way it
is with any s****t.”
The camaraderie is what Jim Rempkowski
of Millbrook said has kept him in the s****t.
Rempkowski, 49, got the urge to try the s****t eight
years ago because his two sons began competing.
“It’s one of the few s****ts that it really is a family s****t,”
Rempkowski
said. “I’ve seen three generations of family members out there racing.”
His sons are no longer involved in BMX racing, but they remain
competitive in the racing world. One son is now a freestyle bike
competitor, while the other races cars.
Rempkowski, who moved to Millbrook from New Jersey in November,
still feels like he’s part of a family of sorts in the BMX fraternity of
riders despite his sons no longer traveling with him.
“I have friends all over the country,” he said. “I knew a bunch of these
guys when I moved down here because I had known them from other
races. This is a s****t where even if you race against someone, I’ll go
and help them out on the track.
“You can’t beat that.”
There’s was no charge for admission for spectators.
Those interested in learning more about the BMX
organization visit Web site www.wiregrassbmx.com
Geneb...Wenatchee,Wa****ngton-USA
All Things Northwest in BMX!
***** Gene`s BMX *****
http://www.genesbmx.com
|
