By Steven Spencer
Steven Spencer/Jersey County Journal
Racers from ages three to 60 gathered at the Brighton BMX track for the Gold Cup and State races last weekend.
Brighton BMX hosted the Gold Cup Qualifier and State races last Saturday and Sunday at the track near Schneider Park. Track operator, Johnny Murdock, said they had a great turn out with riders from ages three to 60 racing.
“It was awesome,” Murdock said. “Sunday was the biggest race they’ve ever had out there.”
Riders came in from everywhere including Texas and Tennessee for the Saturday and Sunday races.
“There was a racer from South Korea who happened to be on vacation stopping at different tracks,” Murdock added.
Murdock said it was great to see so many people getting out to the track, and pointed out the growing interest in the sport among girls.
“We have a balance bike race for the little kids who don’t have pedals on their bikes,” Murdock said. “None of the boys signed up. It was all girls.”
“There’s a lot of kids who find stick and ball sports aren’t their thing and they have fun doing this,” he added.
Changes have been happening at Brighton BMX with Murdock taking over as track operator last month, and getting the track ready in time for the races wouldn’t have been possible without the help of several volunteers.
“With the new volunteer crew pitching in, we were able to get the track ready to go in less than two weeks,” he said. “It’s an awesome parks department. The parks department and the mayor were very helpful with everything we needed.”
Steven Spencer/Jersey County Journal
Defying gravity, this rider finds himself at a near 90-degree angle during the Brighton BMX event on Saturday.
Steven Spencer/ Jersey County Journal
This rider catches some at at the Brighton BMX event near Schneider Park last weekend.
