Dilworth
With smoother rhythms and hills recently added, dirt freshly packed, and the royal blue gates freshly painted, the Dilworth Legends BMX track appears race ready.
A Minnesota state qualifier takes place on Friday, and if riders take first or second place in their heat, they qualify for the main event. And if they qualify for the main event four times in Minnesota, they move on to the state competition that takes place in Isanti, Minn.
Friday is an opportunity for racers to cross off one of their four required qualifying races needed for state.
“We are really hoping for about 200 people,” track president Danielle Mayer said. “We are expecting to average 75 to 100 racers. So that should be a good crowd.”
The track earned state-qualifying race status for the second time in its 30 years of existence, and for the first time since 2010.
The track is the only USA BMX-sanctioned track in the area, Mayer said.
It has stayed in operation largely due to the work Mayer, track director Ron Rudolph, and track coach Bob Swanson have done over the past two years.
“Every week you want your kid to race,” Mayer said. “The only way they could race is if they were to travel. A lot of families (can’t) … and that’s why it’s so important to keep a local track in the area.”
With the 900-foot track being dirt, when most others are clay, and the weather not always being idea for racing, Mayer urged USA BMX to grant the Dilworth track state-qualifying race status.
A track needs to hold at least 10 races during the season to be considered for state-qualifying status.
Last year, Dilworth Legends track notched eight races. This year, the track holds racing two times a week – Monday and Friday nights.
“I just explained to USA BMX we are just trying to save this track,” Mayer said. “And having a big event draws in a lot of riders.”
Racers are divided up into their respective age groups called motos.
Each moto has two heats and a main event – every rider is guaranteed one race.
There is no age limit so men and women are encouraged to race as well.
“Track coach, Bob, and his son race,” Mayer said. “You don’t have to be a kid to race. There is no age limit. It’s the same rules, the same everything. Bob has been in the sport for a long time.”
The city provides the land for the track, but volunteered time is responsible for maintenance and upkeep.
“We knew if this track didn’t stay up and running, there would be no track in the area,” Mayer said. “We’ve really done a lot of work out here this year. A lot of hours, but it has fun.”
The track’s motto is “keeping kids on the right track,” and Mayer echoes that because both of her sons race.
“It keeps them out of trouble, and it is good exercise,” Mayer said. “Because it’s an individual sport, it’s up to them how far they want to push themselves. Here everyone gets to participate, no one sits out. You always get a race.”
