NBL’s “Grand Finale” Draws Near
The 34th and final NBL Grand National is a little more than three weeks away, and the schedule for the three-day mega-event has now been posted by USA BMX. The weekend is really three races in one, with the “All Challenge Championship,” the UCI Class-5 “Pro Spectacular, and the Finale to the 2011 NBL National Series, all happening as part of the weekend’s festivities.
It all starts on Wednesday, August 31, when Justin Travis and his boyz get busy with a Future Stars clinic–always a popular and well-attended attraction for some extra track time, and to get some last minute tips on the terrain. The $40 tuition includes three hours of detailed instruction, plus a goodie bag.
On Thursday, gate up for paid practice, and get a head start on chillin in the pits with all your NBL friends. A $15 duke gets you on the hill for 30 minutes of age group gate practice (in advance of the Friday free practice). Two sessions, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon will give you ample chance to dial in your scoot for the Billy Allen facelift that the Derby City track will be getting next week.
Even though you’ll have been there for two days already, the weekend kicks into gear on Friday when, after the free practice concludes at 5:15PM, the “All Challenge Championship” gets going. The so-called “All-Challenge” harkens back to the UGP open of yesteryear, where you must be qualified to race (or unqualified riders can race open).
Mixed in to the All-Challenge, like the jalapenos in a punchy salsa, is the “Pro Spectacular” program. This train is also running on two tracks, with Class-5 points, and ABA Pro Series points (counting toward the 2011 ABA Number 1 Pro Title). The UCI program will feature four classes (Junior Women, Junior Men, Elite Women and Elite Men). There will also be NBL “Masters” and their equivalent of A-Pro (whatever it ended up being called).
And if all that “appetizer” action does not fill your belly, get ready for the main course–the34th annual NBL Grands. Two packed days of racing, each starting at 8:30AM. Day one will feature the first two rounds of motos, with day two of the UCI Class 5 race weaved in to the am racing. The schedule calls for the Pro mains to happen during the second round of amateur motos, and an autograph session with the athletes from 2:00 – 3:30PM.
Sunday, better get to Waffle House on Hurstbourne early, because the first gate will drop at 8:30AM once again, to run the third round of motos, and the 1/4s, semis and mains.
Word in the VintageBMX.com community is that, as the very last NBL Grands–and, in fact, the very last NBL race of all time, a growing roster of past NBL pros, BMX Hall Of Famers, past NBL officials and other BMX royal family members will be making their way to Louisville to be a part of this historic event.
Stick with BMXNEWS.COM in the coming weeks for more info leading up to the NBL Grands and then, of course, for our “Team Coverage” of the weekend’s action. We’ll see ya’ there!
PDF of the NBL Grands Schedule
Name Your Own Price on Priceline
*Note: Betterbidding.com listed a hit for $30/nt at the Homestead Studio Suites Louisville
