Editorial: Class Wars

You know how it goes. You drive 10 hours, or fly over two timezones to this week’s national. You get there, sign up and point your rider toward staging for a few practice laps. Then, “Motos are Posted” is called from the tower, and you make your way over to the boards. There, the news is delivered in black & white, with all the subtlety of a mackerel-slap to the jaw–your seven year old is racing 9 expert.

Gone are the hopes of a pair of good scores, or a car packed with high hardware. Instead, what awaits is a weekend of managing expectations, mending bruised egos, and explaining the harsh realities of the roulette wheel that is BMX Racing in the modern era (invoking the learned teachings of Sponge Bob and Mr. Crabs, where necessary).

Obviously, the need for combo classes is a reality that is a “lesser of evils” situation (how great would you feel if you were called to the trailer, and told: “No class for you today, go on home and we’ll see ya next time!”)? But I realize that either way, the situation tends to stink for riders in classes that don’t always make

The question is, what can be done about it? A common truth that is repeated widely is “More Kids…it all gets fixed with more kids,” and that is undoubtedly the case. If it is not possible for four seven year olds (or whatever age, but we’re using seven as the example) to show up, then the problem is certainly larger than just combo classes.

Naturally, there are more than three seven year olds in a 300 mile radius of any given race, but with the number of nationals (and other opportunities for scores, such as Regionals in the NBL), it can be tough to get them all in the same place on the appointed day.

Over a year ago, BMXNEWS drew up plans for an addition to our website called the “We’re There” roster. Members could create a race in our system, and invite people to declare whether or not they planned to attend. If they were coming, they would also enter the the classes of riders they are bringing. The idea was left to simmer on the development stove until recently…when we started to see a lot of 7-9 Expert and 14-Over Ladies Cruiser classes.

The big question I have for the community in deciding the ultimate viability of such a technology is: Would you use such a tool? Some might think that there is a strategic advantage in keeping your cards close to the vest, and not saying, one way or the other, your plans. That is certainly a delicate dance, in that you may end up with a handful of locals that could be handled with ease. But just as likely is that you’re racing a combined class. In an age class like the 7,8 or 9 (take your pick as to proficiency), or the older cruiser classes, the prospect of a bump up a year or two, or a drop down a class or two, respectively, creates a real motivation to try and unite with fellow riders to make a class in advance of leaving the driveway. But would people also stay away because of the big guns who are “scheduled to appear?”

And this would not only be for nationals. Members or track management could add any race, at any track, to try and rally support for their classes, in an effort to race an equally-matched day of motos and mains (or, God willing, motos, SEMIS and mains). If the class seems thin, well, then you can make the call at that time (afterall, going is the default posture today, so what the hay?). But at least you have some new information to help you make that call.

We’re talking about this topic on the BMXNEWS Forum. Stop by and let us know what you think.

—Mike Carruth