WORK DAY 4-14-12

Last scheduled work day was today. We had a great turn out every workday we planned...and it shows. We have completed the shelter cover over the starting hill, clean & readied the concession building, got the track in near perfect condition and even built a strider track.

New this year will be strider racing on Sunday races and Multi-point races. You will need a strider membership to race. If you do not know, strider bikes are for the children that can not ride a regular bike yet - generally they are in the 2-4 year old age group. Strider bikes do not have cranks and pedals - they are operated by the rider's feet only.

Racing begins on Sunday, April 22. Registration is 10:30 - Noon with racing ASAP. We look forward to seeing everyone.

Special thanks to all the volunteers who helped on our work days, from the workers on the track to the helpers in the building and the volunteers who fed everyone. We have often stated how great a group we have and they excelled again this year in their ambition, time and talents to help us get ready for the 2012 season.

Mark & Kris

John & Karen Bingham Scholarship

It saddens Mark & I to have to announce that due to personal/medical issues, John & Karen Bingham will no longer be able to continue on as our Club's President and Secretary/Treasurer.
CWBMX has been blessed by John & Karen's generous sharing of their time and talents for the past 11 years.

When Mark & I originally approached them back in 1998 to consider becoming more involved, little did they know what they were getting into. Together we experienced the growing pains and successes of CWBMX.........the race seasons that averaged 14 motos and 55 riders per race to the season that averaged 28 motos and 117 riders per race.........the overwhelming project of relocating and rebuilding our facility and track.......the years we scrambled to figure out how to accommodate everyone for multi-point races to eventually hosting 7 State Championship Final Races and our first National event in 2010.

John & Karen have both been extremely instrumental in the continued success of CWBMX. They have been great allies as well as assets in our organization's growth and development. They may not be able to physically be with us every race day this season but we know that they will be in our thoughts as much as we will be in theirs. John will continue to be one of our announcers this season when he is able to.

In honor and appreciation for their many years of service, the Board of CWBMX has established an educational scholarship in their name - John and Karen Bingham Scholarship - thru the incourage community foundation. This scholarship is open to all Wisconsin USA BMX members. The deadline for applicant registrations is March 1, 2012.

For more details, clink on the scholarship link on our home page on the left or go to http://www.incouragecf.org/.

If interested in donating to this scholarship fund, please either contact the foundation directly at 715-423-3863 or call me at 715-421-4521. All donations are tax deductible.

Another scholarship opportunity is offered by USA BMX and is open to all members in the United States and Canada. It is the Bob Warnicke Memorial Scholarship. Every track this year will be asked to host a Bob Warnicke Memorial single point race and donate some of the registration fees toward this fund. For more info, clink on the scholarship link on the left side of our home page.

Check out "Take the Survey" on the right side of our home page. Incourage Community Foundation, formerly known as South Wood County Foundation is a big financial supporter of our organization. We have gotten many grants from them over the years. They asked for our help in promoting their survey about our community. Please take the time to complete it. Please help us support the organizations that support us.

Kris

2011 Year End Banquet

It is hard to believe that we are finishing off another race season. This Sunday, Sept 25 will be our final race for this year. We hope everyone enjoyed coming and racing with us as much as we enjoyed having you.

We will be hosting our End of Year Banquet right after the race starting with a Potluck. The track will provide drinks, hot dogs and brats. Please bring a dish to pass and come join in the fun and camaraderie of fellow racers and their families. Let us all celebrate a great year of racing.

We also will be handing out our Track Awards after the Potluck. Every rider who participated in at least 13 races from April thru August is eligible for a track award.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday for the race and the celebration after.

Mark & Kris

State Championship 2011

"Rain, rain go away, come again another day, we are trying to race today!" This was what we were all saying on Saturday as we watched over 1" of rain fall in approximately 1 1/2 hours prior to the start of our race. We watched the radar and did not even uncover the track until we saw that the storm was passed us. We ended up with a hour rain delay but much to the surprise of the non-locals, we were able to run a short practice by age group and begin racing just after uncovering the track. Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped uncover, broom and blow off the track. In no time at all we were ready to go. Track was in great shape. We appreciated every one's patience in the delay. We even had a bit of fun with doing pizza deliveries to those stranded in the infield spectator area of the track. We can not compliment our volunteers enough for the way they all went above and beyond the call of duty for the day.

Sunday promised to be a beautiful day, some sun, cool temperatures and less than 10% chance of rain. Guess what! The first "sprinkles" we got of rain was just after the 2nd go around. Not to worry, we had Greg's blowers and we got the wetness off the gate and track, volunteers broomed the water off any areas needed, track still held up great so onto the Main we went. Then a very unexpected rain cloud (which never showed up on radar) appeared above us and dumped itself. We did have to stop the race to blow off things again before we could finish the day. We were thankful that no more mysterious rain appeared for the rest of the day. We had a wonderful turnout of riders from all over the state as well as surrounding states. The racing was fantastic! Congratulations to all the State Champions as well as everyone who earned a State Plate.

A tremendous THANK YOU goes out to all our workers and volunteers who helped make both of the race days events a huge success.

Special thanks to IHIGH to doing a live broadcast of both days races. These races can be viewed on IHIGH's website which we do have a link to on our home page just below the blog/announcement section. Some races may be missing due to internet issues on Saturday. Thanks Aaron Vickro for taping the events, you did a great job.

We have three more Sunday races before the end of our season. Following the race on Sunday, Sept 25 will be our Year End Track Awards Potluck and Ceremony. Everyone is welcome to attend, please bring a dish to pass. The track will provide drinks and usually hot dogs and brats. Any racer who has participated in half of our races from May 1 thru August 28 (13 Races) is eligible for a track award. If you have any questions about this event, stop by and talk to us in registration.

Hope everyone enjoyed themselves for the State Finals weekend. We look forward to seeing all of you this Sunday at our next race.

Mark & Kris

2011 State Finals Weekend

This weekend is the State Finals with a Double Point Pre-Race on Saturday, Sept 3 - Registration beginning at 4 pm. Cost is $16 for class and $8 for open. Gates will be open at 3 pm. Sunday is the Championship Race - Registration beginning at 10:30 pm. This is a Triple Point Event. Cost is $25 for class and $15 for open.

Something new this year. IHigh will be recording the race for live video broadcast of both races. The races are also archived for later viewing. Check out the link on our Home Page right above the Blog announcements.

Special thanks to Brings Cyclery for the donation of a New Redline Race Bike (yellow) for a raffle this year. $1 per ticket. Bike will be raffled off on Sunday, you need to be present to win.

State Awards will be given out shortly after the Main Race on Sunday. All State Champions are requested to remain for the State picture after all awards are given out.

Hoping for great weather. Hope to see you there.

Mark & Kris