BMX racing in Cortez not long off

BMX racing in Cortez not long off

Oct 13, 2001

A ROAD GRADER does some earth moving work recently at the new Cortez BMX Track, located near Parque de Vida in Cortez. The dirt work is now finished. It won’t be long before there is racing at the track. Some hardware equipment still needs to be installed.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

It won’t be long now before local bicycle moto-cross riders are going up and down and around hills on an official BMX track.

Dirt work got under way in at the end of September and the dirt portion of the track is now completed. The new track is located at Parque de Vida, a block and half or so east of Mildred Road on Empire Street. The new sanctioned track is not be confused with the dirt track already in place.

In 2000, the Cortez Parks and Recreation Department received permission from City Council to apply for a grant to construct a new BMX track. In March of this year, the city received notice a grant was approved. The grant is from the National Parks and Recreation Association and the American Bicycle Association. The grant was worth approximately $20,000.

Stacey L. McLeran, manager national programs, said an ABA certified starting gate (eight-person gate) needed a concrete slab (not in yet). ABA Rapid Gate (to lift the gate up or down) was needed. Sure-Start (machanism with ABA certified voice starting command) was also needed. A local group person also needs to attend a seminar in Phoenix for the person who is responsible for the day-to-day operations. Moto-make software will need to be purchased. An $11,000 liability insurance plus $3,000 secondary medical policy on all members of the ABA. Promotional fliers and other displays will be needed as events are scheduled.

The development grant included all the services except for the rental of equipment for track construction and dirt.

The City aquired the property, and will supply electricity and water lines. The local organizational had to come up with some 2,000-4,000 yards of dirt, build a concrete pad for the starting gate, get the equipment used for construction, and hold a minimum of 20 sanctioned races for five years.

The staff was working with a local BMX group. A meeting was held on Aug. 8 to help continue to organize the Cortez group and to provide an opportunity for other interested citizens of Cortez to join the organization. Approximately 50 people attended the meeting.

The local BMX group committed to operating the BMX track and hold the required races. The group lined up equipment for the dirt work and they had some volunteers to help with construction. Mancos Redi-Mix donated the concrete with the actual work being done by another individual.

Since the races will soon be sanctioned here, riders from all over Colorado and the general Four Corners area will be coming to Cortez. The ABA will award riders points which go towards national honors. The Cortez BMX group members will be able to paricipate in all programs offered in the state or region, including getting points for the ABA Gold Cup program and the ABA State Championship series.