My First BMX Racing Experience

#Weekend Vibes #Sporty Girl #BMX Racing #WomeninSports #Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham #Upstate BMX

Tracy and her amazing family of BMX and Motocross – The Quigleys – at Upstate BMX

There was a chill in the air on the late summer night as we pulled into the parking lot of Upstate BMX Racing. Kids of all ages and their parents were getting bikes, helmets, and gear out of the cars to sign them up for a true Friday Night under the lights experience of BMX Racing. I was there to try the sport for the first time, adding to my goal of trying every sport once in my lifetime.

Stephanie, a co-owner of the organization, greeted me in an orange building settled next to the hilly dirt track being watered down by volunteers. I filled out a waiver, took my bright pink and blue helmet, and a lucky bike number #55 to pin to a bike being donated to me for the night by the Camp’s household. I would later race with the women in the family during the Bubble Gum Race and in 3 other ‘motos’, aka races.

“Races?” I said. I thought I was there to grab a bike, try the track once, and say I did it. Four races seemed daunting, yet exhilarating, and who was I to turn them down? As a long-time biker, I wasn’t too fazed.

As I got my white BMX bike, which has the seat is significantly lower than a regular bike seat and NOT meant to be sat on, I soon discovered BMX racing was about standing up on the pedals the entire time, going up and down the wavy, dirt track with side walls, and big and small dips, taking only 1 minute to finish. I was told to go to the top of the hill for a test run. Sure, but what happens then?

I met a fantastic kid named Colin who gave me some pointers as I approached the start gate. I said to him, “Do you have any tips for me since I have never done this before?” He smiled with a big grin and told me about pedal position, gate posture, and more, as I inched to the gate. Everyone else could prop themselves up on their bikes, standing on the pedals. I couldn’t quite do that, so I started with one locked leg and the other foot on the ground.

After three warning messages and signals, the gates go down, and off you race. The first task was to regain my balance by hoisting my other leg up on the pedal and trying not to sit down. Then the bumps came, followed by the curves, then more minor repetitive bumps, and then a couple of big ones, and then the finish line. In a minute, with a dry mouth and no breath, I remained confident, not wiping out in front of a good-sized crowd. Phew!

Having told the announcer, I was there to try it as a new sport, he grabbed my name and by the time I was back up at the gates, he announced my name, made me wave, and sent me off with a new fandom of people who couldn’t believe a 60-year-old chick was trying BMX racing on their track for the first time. But I must have won their hearts because I heard, “Go Tracy”, “You got this, Tracy,” “You are doing great, Tracy,” and applause the second time around the track.

I felt like an instant Olympian, but finished last, with three other women who gave me pointers, fist bumps, and accolades as well. As this led to the intermission, or more importantly, the Bubble Gum Race, for women only, I was into it! My legs were okay. I hadn’t fallen. I was getting the rhythm better and was finishing. As they took a photo of the Bubble Gum Race girls, I felt that pink flush of love for women and girls rush through my veins back to my heart.

This was a new and unexpected pack of pink power I hadn’t felt before. Standing next to our bikes, with pink helmets on, smiles on our faces, and lights shining everywhere, we were ready to compete and claim our Bubble Gum Trophies. Sisterhood at its best on a true Friday Night Under the Lights on a dirt track.

More applause from the audience as I finished the Bubble Gum race, not even in last place (so cool), and more fist bumps as we got our trophies. My new girls pack and I decided we needed to stand on the podium with our trophies to make the night memorable. It was simply joyful.

The announcer called me over to interview me so the crowd knew why I was there and what I was doing, this time in more detail. I explained my mission to empower women, particularly in sports, and to encourage more women to try out different sports. Enough with the common sports like softball and basketball. Why not BMX Racing?

What I learned from this experience is how incredible this BMX community is, from supporting new timers trying the sport, to raising money for a boy named Tanner who had an accident and needs medical support, to creating a clean, family-focused, uplifting sport without phones or fights, to gathering, eating, racing, and celebrating each other’s accomplishments.

I can’t tell you how many people came up and patted me on the back for being there. Where in this world do you find such a beautiful community of people? I know where – at the Upstate BMX Racing track in Newark, New York, any Friday night when the weather is raceable.

Check them out, and try a new sport. I know my friends at Upstate BMX will welcome you with open arms, and if you need some motivation, I’ll lend you my Bubble Gum race trophy!