CAL GIANT BMX

Golden State Qualifier #10

2006-07-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

Race Number 10 and a perfect 10 of a day for racing BMX at Manzanita Park. The track was fast and so were the Motos. Racers flew through the air and whizzed through the turns. Many of the races were won or lost by tire widths as riders pushed themselves to their limits and beyond.
As always, the Golden State Series is a chance to compete at that next level, against a different rack of dudes or dudettes than you get at your weekly local races. The moto members vary from month to month as racers age up or move up a class, or add a different bike (ie cruiser) the the stable. It is also a chance to see some familiar faces and catch up on the happenings of our extended BMX Family.
The California Giant BMX Team is really making a name for themselves at these Series Races. Although we are a relatively small team, we are consistently represented, and recognized as contenders in the motos.
Our Sunday line-up saw the addition of brothers Spencer and Ryan. Spencer's strengths are consistency and maneuverability. There is almost always a pile up in his 7 Rookie class and he always manages to find a way around the wreckage and cross the finish line in good placing.
Ryan has recently earned enough move-up points to become a 6 Novice. Ricky rides in the same class and on Sunday they had 7 riders, and consequently, a Main. The first 3 motos, with 4 and 3 riders aren't so bad, but 7 kids on the gate in the Main is a little bit nerve racking for the spectators. Cal Giant riders had gates 1 and 2 in the Main. A tough line to defend, they both rode hard into turn 1. The drag race to turn 1 was most impressive, with 7 bikes all wanting to find the sweet spot through the berm. Ricky has the "swoop 'em in the turn" move down to a science. He knows the precise line to take to come out ahead at the roller. He definitely used this to his advantage this weekend. Ryan and Ricky held their own in the big group and finished 4th and 5th. Ricky also rode in the 7 and Under Open on Sunday and gave us all heart palpitations when his bike locked up with another rider's in turn 2. Ever the competitor, he got up and raced hard to the finish.
Jeremy was not fully clipped in to his pedal in moto 1 of the 7 Novice race. His foot slipped completely off of it coming out of the gate, but he quickly found his footing and went on to make up several places before the end of the race. Jeremy doesn't seem to let anything bother him. He gets on the bike and rides as hard as he can to the finish line every single time.
Juan's 9 Rookie class was very similar to the day before's. Juan is really figuring out the track and it's finer points. He is working hard at practicing how to best approach the jumps and the turns. He has shown much improvement in the past few weeks. Dad Brad had great races on Sunday, too. His Cruiser Main was a thing of beauty and a joy to behold, with Brad using his knowledge of the track and working his way through the field, reeling in and passing his way to a 3rd place finish.
Ian raced the same pack of boys on the Cruiser. Each moto was exciting to watch as they knocked down the gate and sprinted around the track. All 4 boys are smooth and skillful. Ian powered through to the end every time around.
Cody and Carson are racing exceptionally hard. They are both at the peak of fitness and skill. They traded off places in their 10 Novice motos, finishing 1st and 2nd, 2nd and 1st, 1st and 2nd, racing hard to the line and shutting the competition down. Keep practicing and training hard everyone! Your efforts are showing!
Many thanks to all those behind the scenes that make hosting a big race seem easy and effortless. We are looking forward to the next State Series Race, again at our home track, in August.

Golden State Qualifier #9

2006-07-15T18:02:00.000-07:00

It was a perfect day for racing on the Central Coast. We could see the fog out there offshore, keeping the temperature from rising too high, but the sun was out and the wind was calm. The Manzanita Park Track was in great shape. A Giant Strawberry shout out to those volunteers who smooth and groom the tables and the step-ups and the doubles and the rollers for us.
California Giant BMX sported a father/son and a mother/son combination today. Brad and Juan were a blast to watch. Rad Dad Brad raced both 18 and over Rookie on his 20" and B"old" Guy Cruiser class. With a Main on the 20" Brad managed to dodge the dirt diggers, suck up and spit out another racer and finish 3rd overall!!! My favorite quote of the day, "There is something to be said for staying upright."
Son Juan races in the 9 year old Rookie Class. Juan very consistently pulled 3rds in a very spread out field. Each moto brought him closer to the number 2 in front of him. He seems to have inherited the endurance factor from his dad. Laurel and Ian both ride Cruiser Class. Ian had his work cut out for him today, racing some really fast 12 and 13 year olds. It didn't help that he lost his chain completely as he cranked out of the gate during practice. Not one to let a little road rash slow him down, Ian was a contender to the end of each moto. Laurel has not raced Manzanita Park since before her youngest child was born, four years ago. She chased Susan around the track, gaining confidence with evey lap. If only she would ride tomorrow, too...
Ricky cruised to an easy victory in the Open Class, showing his competition the Cal Giant logo on the back of his jersey all the way around the track. Having recently moved up to the Novice class, Ricky, 5, now races 6 year old Novices, too. His drive and racing skills carried him to thirds. I think I saw a new trick or two that he must have picked up at the Redline Camp. Having Grandpa there to watch probably factored in a bit, too. Our 7 Novice(for another month), Jeremy, is rock solid. He has a tough class of go fast kids. Sometimes they are 3 or 4 wide going into the first turn. It is alot like watching an older class because these little dudes really race each other hard. Finishing 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, he really helped the team today. Rounding out the team were Cody and Carson, our 10 year old Novices. They packed a 1-2 punch today, shutting down the competition in every moto. Cody got the perfect this time. Way to go Team Cal Giant. See you all at the races!!

Coming Attractions

2006-07-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

The July Golden State BMX Qualifier

will be held July 15 - 16 at Manzanita Park BMX in Prunedale, CA (www.manzanitaparkbmx.com)

There will be practice and a double point pre-race

($10 - points only) on Friday night, July 14th.

Looking ahead to August, the State Qualifier will again be at Manzanita Park, on the 26th and 27th (with practice and a pre-race on Friday night, August 25th).

Sponsor Shout Out and Thank You

2006-07-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

California Giant BMX wouldn't "BE mx-ing" without the support of our sponsors. Many thanks go out California Giant Strawberries in Watsonville, Platinum Roofing in San Jose, Body Zone Health & Fitness Club in Watsonville, Trey's True Wheel in Watsonville, and Cole Construction in Watsonville. Thanks are also due to our families who feed, transport, and support their riders as we race throughout the year.

Points, points, and more points

2006-07-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow (Sunday) is the quad point Bob Warnicke Scholarship race at MPBMX. Fees are usually around $16, most of which goes to an NBL scholarship fund. Last year NBL gave out alot of money to NBL racers who wrote and applied. For those out chasing points, San Ramon has their Warnicke on Saturday, July 8th, and Livermore has another Warnicke on Saturday, July 22nd. Check out www.livermorebmx.com for the details. Both tracks run 2 races in a day. I think the 1st race is the Warnicke and the 2nd race is a double pointer those weekends. Well worth the trip up.

Riders Ready

2006-06-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

Good Morning All,

I have now figured out how to put in a new post.
Next task...photos.

Congratulations to all that braved the heat and made the trip to Taft. What a great weekend of racing! It would have been a great place to hold the Championship, too.
More to come as I figure this out...

Okay Riders...Set 'em up...

2006-06-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

Here is my attempt at a cal giant bmx blog. I will do my best to keep current(as I sit at the keyboard with sleeping Nora on my lap). As I figure out how this works, I will pass on the info and techno tips. See you at MPBMX on Thurs.