Tag Archives: retro racing
Frankston Helltrack series, finishes on a high.
Friday night, 25th, November, 2016 saw the Frankston Helltrack 7 round series finish up and with that, it wraps up the 2016 retro racing season for the year, with only the fun Knox Christmas clubby to go, it is time for most of us to enjoy a well earned rest and give our bodies a chance to recover and go into the 2017 season raring to go. Back to Friday nights racing though and the retro class had its biggest numbers for the series, with a number of newly plated Victorian championships riders coming out for a last hit out, the field for the night, included the 4V, 5V, 7V and 8V, add to that 2 semi finalists and a return to retro racing of Gordon MacRae and Layne Riches we were in for a fun night and some fast racing. 16 entries but by the time the gate dropped,
From criterium racing to retro BMX racing
What a difference, 4 years makes, back in 2012 I was racing 1 hour criteriums on a road bike and loving it, the criterium is a very tactical race and is not always about the person that has the fastest sprint. Break aways are common as are spells of hard riding, that are designed to take the sting out of the sprinters leg. I personally had a decent sprint, but couldn’t mix it in the end with the pure speed demons, but I could take out a race from along way out and make the race difficult for those behind me, I also loved breaking away out on my own and challenging myself, most often my solo break aways would not work out, but from time to time I would spring a surprise and hold on. With these tactics I found myself at the pointy end of the field
Frankston Helltrack Final round.
Over the past 14 weeks, the Frankston Sharks BMX Club, have held a 7 round race series which they dubbed Helltrack, held every second Friday night from early September, November 25th marks the last round of the series and the awards night for those that have qualified with both attendance and the points earned through out the series. From a retro stand point, the series has been well supported with an average of 8 to 10 riders each round, a fast flowing track, Frankston is one of my favorite tracks to ride and it also happens to be the closest to where I live, which is handy. Thanks to Ash, we do have some footage from Round 4 of the Helltrack series, enjoy. With the 2016 race season fast drawing to a close, Fridays racing is one of the last opportunities to get out there on the Old School
Rider Bio: Ashley Grange
Name: Ashley Grange Home Club: Knox, Vic. Classes: 40+ Retro Bike: 1983/84 Profile Champ Best Retro Results: 3rd Lilydale back to the valley 2016 3rd Frankston Helltrack series 2016 4th Frankston Helltrack open 2016 6th Vic riders cup Wyhndam 2016 6th Park Orchards open 2016 8th Knox Thunderdome 2016 12th overall Victorian State Titles. About Me: I’m 40 years old and started racing bmx in 1982. Numerous race wins and state plates between then and when I stopped racing in 1988. My best effort was 4th in the 9 boys expert state title and 7th in my last state titles in 1988. Raced Australia titles in SA in 1986 and missed out on a spot in the final due to a heavy crash in the semi while leading. Fast forward 28 years to 2016 and I’m back out on the bike racing and loving it. Sponsors: Old School BMX Progressive
Rider Bio: Adam Moules aka Retroracer31
Name: Adam Moules Home Club: Knox, Vic. Classes: Retro 40+ Bike: 1988 Vortex Cruiser Best Retro Results: 3rd South Eastern Cash Dash 2017 3rd Battle on the Border Wodonga 2017 3rd Portland Pandemonium 2017 2nd Frankston Summer series 2016 3rd Sunbury Stars Open 2016 3rd Geelong Spectacular Open 2016 3rd Knox Club Championship 2015 About Me: As a kid I always wanted to race bikes in some form, I lived next door to the Edithvale Velodrome so spent quite a bit of time there, alas my sports that I participated in had nothing to do with cycling, they being swimming, lifesaving, karate and tae kwon do. Fast forward 25 odd years and at the age of 40 I bought myself a bike and became a member of the Southern Masters cycling club. When I first started riding I was incredibly unfit and unable to ride 5 kms without having to
Retro racing into the future
Retro racing to date, has been a long time lobbying effort, not only by those that started it all about 8 years ago, but also by the people who revived the class and started laying the ground work, to build the class over the last couple of years to what we have today. It is the people who are racing today that need to push the necessary adjustments and fine tuning so that the class prospers in the years to come and as such here are a few of my personal thoughts of what I would like to see, not only in Victoria but Australia wide. Removal of the pre 1986 rule Australia wide, this one change alone has increased the sizes of the retro fields in Victoria to the point where we regularly see 2 gates of rides at a clubby, full gates at open meets and 48 entries
Nutrition and Training go hand in hand
It is fair to say that a big part of BMX training is getting the nutrition right, it is also fair to say that over the last few years, that I have not been spot on with my nutrition. To be perfectly honest the photo that was taken of me after the BMX Victoria state titles is a little embarrassing, I have really packed on some weight over the last few years, not that it is an excuse but I have had thyroid problems over the last couple of years, my thyroid has now been destroyed with radiation treatment and I am now on medication for the rest of my life, getting the medication doses right has taken a long time. The thyroid gland for those that don’t know, produces hormones which regulate the body’s metabolic rate as well as heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development and bone