Tag Archives: retroracer31

Brutal punishment by the evil one, James Tait

BMX retro racing

In a flash of inspiration earlier this afternoon, I decided to head down to Knox BMX track and do a training session under the tutelage of AA Pro rider and coach James Tait, oh how I wish I stayed home or maybe I should have taken up lawn bowls. The session started off well, with the request from James to do a couple of warmup laps, after 2 laps I was gassed, I knew I was in trouble and it was going to be a long hour, the training session starts and we are divided into two teams, two relay teams that is, which involved relays of running, side ways running, kicking in yourself in the butt with your heels running and high knees running. Immediately I felt bad for my team as I was quite obviously going to be the weakest link and I apologise to tall the 8

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

2016 Retro State titles, semi and finals videos

The 2016 Victorian BMX Titles had some fast and furious racing with some great highlights in the 3 retro classes, videos of all the semi final and finals action, from all three retro classes, great racing and great job to everyone involved. Semi final action, featuring 8 to 13 and 30+ retro classes. Finals action, from all 3 classes, 8 to 13, 14 to 29 and 30+ retro

State titles are done, first thoughts.

Vortex race bikes

The first Victorian retro state titles are now finished and I am absolutely buggered, the heat and the humidity really knocked me around, so much so that each of my motos was slower than the last one, unfortunately I did not beat my fastest time at the track from the final of the open meet about a month ago, but I am sure if the conditions were more favourable I would have gone out there and achieved a better time. The personal highlight of the day was the competition I developed with 8 year old retro rider Jenson Brown, who rides in the 8 to 13 year old class, he was despondent after his 1st moto where he didn’t beat anyone home. His Father spoke to him and told him that had improved his lap times by 5 seconds from the last time he was there, his time of 59.247

Pondering the state titles

With the Victorian BMX titles starting in 2 days time from now, particularly my class 30+ retro, I was thinking about the long time in between drinks. What do I mean by that? Well at the age of 45, I honestly can say I would not think that I would be entering into state titles for any event let alone a sport I am relatively new to, that being BMX. My history in Victorian state titles in all sports I have participated in, is littered with awards, trophies and podium places, my last Victorian titles for any sport was back in 1998 on the day that I turned 27, I competed in the masters state swimming titles, in a return to the sport I did as a kid, I was proud to come home with gold, in the mens 200 breaststroke in the 25 to 29 age class. Before that

Knox Thunderdome retro class finals

Thanks to Adrian, who took the video of the retro class finals at the recent Knox Thunderdome event, enjoy. The author of the site is in the invitational final, which runs 1st and brings it in for 4th place, quite a fair way behind the first 3, but hey you have to start somewhere.