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BMX Racing Thrives In St. Peters Tucked away in a nook near old town St. Peters is a piece of real estate that draws nearly all of the local BMX racers on a regular basis. Given the relatively scarce nature of such facilities in the state ( 4 ), and in the Midwest for that matter ( California having 49), its appeal is first a matter of close proximity for local riders. But after a day of attendance, one readily notices the sense of family created by owner-operators Teri and Allan Rasmussen. This is the backdrop against which a host of friendly rivals of all ages battle it out on the track. St. Peters BMX has seen its share of racers for over a decade, some of whom started as youngsters there and continue to race into adulthood. To the uninitiated, it may be surprising to learn the rather young ages at which they begin. This early cultivation often forges a life-long love of the sport. Indeed, many of the sports national icons are twenty and thirty-somethings and beyond. Typical racing fare is a rapid-fire sequence of heats (motos). These prelims will cull the entrants by allowing the top one or two of each advance to the finals. Usually the next moto starts just as the previous one is coming down the finishing straight. This non-stop action lends to the fun and excitement. The U-shaped track goes out, around, and then winds back within itself. It is a series of undulations, jumps, and high-banked turns. At first blush one might think it short, but given the all-out nature of the sprints, the length is just right. The well-packed dirt course raises a bit of dust, but conscientious track attendants hose it down as needed. The start-house overlooks all, providing a vista for the announcer who seems to know all the kids by name. It adjoins the start ramp containing a hydraulic gate, which emits a hiss and metallic slap as it releases the next wave of bikers. The spectators who populate the adjacent hillside are comprised of siblings awaiting their starting calls and parents who shell out hard-earned money for bikes that can cost more than a weeks pay. Their enthusiasm is contagious and their support unfailing. Nowhere is found the dreaded "little-league syndrome" of parents berating their kids for failure. The emphasis is properly proportioned between having fun and trying your hardest. The kids, for their part, provide a mixed bag of entertainment. The youngest are adorned in colorful race suits while the elders exude an X-games aura with equal measures of piercings and peroxide. These visuals are accompanied by an ever-present thumping of amplified music that gets the adrenaline flowing. As the age groups advance upward, so does the speed at which they maneuver around the course and the amount of air they catch on jumps. As a consequence of this and despite all the safety precautions, an occasional wipeout occurs. Most often the kids dust themselves off and continue. If all of this sounds like a lot of fun, one look at the kids will tell you they found the Big Kahuna. If you have a young rider in the family, you can catch this wave on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons through the Fall as weather permits or check them out online http://www.stpetersbmx.itgo.com/
St.
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