Updates from Hunter Newman

Small Fry Football League MVP!! In 8 games Hunte...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:09:05 GMT

Small Fry Football League MVP!! In 8 games Hunter had 18 touchdowns and rushed for over 1200 yards. Likewise, he was the defensive standout...causing 8 fumbles, recovering 6 and had more than 90% of the tackles on his team. Next year it is a step up to the 7,8, & 9 year old league

Scored 4 TDs (99 yds. , 70 yds., 70 yds., and 29 y...

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:36:04 GMT

Scored 4 TDs (99 yds. , 70 yds., 70 yds., and 29 yds.) for a total of 268 yards on just 4 rushes. Also caused 2 fumbles...having a LEAGUE MVP season!

Has scored 5 touchdowns in 2 games, caused 2 fumbl...

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:31:57 GMT

Has scored 5 touchdowns in 2 games, caused 2 fumbles, recovered 1 and had more tackles in those games than could be counted...leading his team to a 2-0 record.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOLESHOT

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:04:11 GMT

"A Special Birthday Wish to Our Son...The Holeshot Hunter Newman"

This special wish is going out to you Hunter on your 6th birthday! As parents it seems like just yesterday you were doing 'hot laps' on the back deck as a 16 month old daredevil...for HOURS on end. Your mother and I never had to ask each other, "where is Hunter?" because we KNEW where you would be. Likewise, when you came to me at age 3 and said, "Dad I don't want these training wheels any more" I wasn't so sure that it was a good idea, but I gave you your wish. In return you treated us to an amazing spectacle of a young boy who was convinced he could do whatever he set his mind to. After seeing a BMX track for the first time at 4 years old and then racing the same track just 2 days later was a sight to behold. I think your mother has just recently stopped having nightmares :-) You made us proud as you competed in nearly every race from that August through November. However, it wasn't until we decided that your first full year of racing would be spent chasing a NAG plate did we realize that you were not only a great little racer, but an incredible young man to boot. As we just learned, you missed the Top 10 N.A.G. plate by a mere 11 points (my apology HUNTER...I had no idea that the Grands were double points ON TOP of your best 6 national finishes), but you do hold an even more prestigious plate that no other rider can claim.

You are S.O.N #1 !!! Every parent has aspirations of their children being #1 in something and fortunately you are already that to us. I am confident that there isn't a single rider or family in the ABA who could be heard saying that you are anything but a polite and respectful young boy. Racing gives you an opportunity to be the best racer you can be, but your interaction with those around you, both the racers and their families, has given you the chance to grow in to something bigger and certainly more important...you are a TERRIFIC YOUNG MAN and WE ARE SO PROUD TO CALL YOU OUR SON & BROTHER. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOLESHOT!!!

LOVE YA MAN!

Mom, Dad, & Kenna

2008 Disney Fall Nationals

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 07:11:10 GMT

2008 Disney Fall Nationals

We made our way to Osceolo Heritage Park in Kissimmee, FL for the 3-day Disney Fall Nationals. The purpose of the trip was 3-fold; it was obviously a race weekend (the last of the 6 East Coast nationals we attended); it was my mother's birthday (I love you Mama) weekend, and it was my parents 10 year wedding anniversary. So we had plans to do many things besides racing.

Day 1 of Disney was a great start to what we hoped would be a great weekend. Hunter had a full rack of 8 riders, many of which he had raced before in other nationals or at the various Redline Cup events, and a couple who have become really good friends; Big Bear Jackson Gentry (FL) and Andrew Sperano (GA). All of the riders are a great bunch of kids! In the first heat race Hunter transferred to the main by finishing 1st. In the hours of downtime between the heats the kids played football, crashed Matchbox cars in to each other, and played their NintendoDS games. In the main Hunter started from his usual gate #7, but worked extremely hard to finish a close 2nd behind William Hayes, a tough little rider from LA, who had battled with Hunter at other national races.

Day 2 of Disney was much more of the same. As a matter of fact, he was randomly assigned (?) the same 3 gates as the day before (?), in the exact same order (?). Likewise, he transferred to the main by finishing 1st in the first heat race. In the main he again started from gate #7, and again worked his way through the field only to end up finishing 3rd.

Day 3 of Disney was again, more of the same. However, instead of having gates 1, 5, & 7, he was randomly assigned gates 1, 5, & 3. Just as in the 2 previous days Hunter transferred to the main by finishing 1st in the first heat. During the main we had hoped that Hunter would be able to get out front and hold on to the lead as he had done in each of the 3 previous heat races. However, Hunter was cut off (obviously legal) in the first turn and had to jump on the brakes to avoid a costly crash for both riders. Similarly, the same thing occured in the very last turn except this time he had to slow to a snails pace to avoid center-punching the bike of the lead rider. The race should have ended with Hunter comfortably earning another a 2nd place finish however losing all of your momentum while the others behind you are still in their respective grooves and then coasting the last 15 feet across the finish line is never a good idea...especially when there are 3 or 4 other equally fast riders on the track. As a result Hunter lost the 2nd position by thickness of his front tire.

All in all it was a great weekend, a 2nd, and two 3rds is nothing to hang your head about. We are extremely proud of his first year racing national events. Good Luck to all of you attending the Grands and thanks for the great racing guys!!

Holeshot

Redline Cup Finals-East

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:22:54 GMT

Well our first Redline Cup Finals (east) has come and gone and although Hunter came up short by finishing 2nd to a good young rider from MI he had a good time and really showed his "go-gett'em" attitude as he bounced back from a disappointing 3rd the day before and really pushed himself on Day 2. Like many of the races we attended this year we came away with a little more experience, a little more understanding and a goal for the next race.

We met quite a few new riders and their families that we had not met at earlier races. Jackson Gentry and his father approached us because of their familiarity with Hunter's Loop'd site and Noah Ford and his father Greg were attending their first big race. Jackson had a great weekend and so too did Noah. Noah of course will be remembered as the young 5I rider who crashed hard on the backside of the first jump, landing on his face and shattering his visor (SixSixOne has some great helmets for the little guys Greg), but finishing the race while he peered out with only his left eye unobstructed by the flapping visor that hung from his helmet! A big round of applause is due to all the riders that day as each one got back on their bikes and finished the race....you should have seen the chaos. Likewise, Hunter's friend Andrew Sperano of Georgia was in attendance and the boys were able to spend some time together playing and just being little boys. It is always nice to share the whole race experience with friends...thanks guys!!!

Hunter would also like to congratulate all of the riders from VALLEY BMX on their efforts and achievements. We never did get around to taking any group photos, but had we done so there would have been lots of hardware to display. In particular, Alex "Bubba" Frey (Intense/Bizzaro) swept the weekend in OPEN, CLASS & CRUISER! That is 3 cups, 3 jackets, and 3 plates in one weekend. WAY TO GO FREY-DADDY!!!!

See ya at the races...

Is a little upset that some boys think it is ok to...

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:52:02 GMT

Is a little upset that some boys think it is ok to run him off the track just to get a win.

ABA BMX Quaker State Nationals #2

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:08:16 GMT

If you read the first two blog entries for Hunter's Quaker State Nationals you know that the tide had taken a turn for the worst and that Sunday wasn't going to be much better. When we awoke Sunday morning we were disappointed to discover that it had rained earlier in the morning. As if things couldn't get any worse right?

Sunday began much like the other races that Hunter entered over the weekend. He started out winning the first heat race, except this time he had to do so by coming from behind and completing the pass for the lead on the final straight-away. Having watched dozens of riders go down on this track and seeing their hopes for a main event qualifier slip away from them I was quick to point out to Hunter that he had better take it easy or he too could end up getting hurt. In hindsight, I think I may have put an even greater level of fear in him. But again, we would have to wait for the mains later in the morning to see how things shaped up. When the mains came around Hunter was not only stiff and sore (1 mud-induced crash and 2 others that were out of his control that resulted in a bruised elbow, roughed up shoulder, jambed pinkie, torn up knee and an upset stomach) but to be quite honest I think he was a little scared by all that had happened to him and all that he saw in the races leading up to his. When the mains finally came around the only thing Hunter could muster was a 3rd place finish.

Just as in life you have to take the good with the bad...

So the good for the Quaker State Nationals in York, PA...

Good

Hunter qualified for the pre-race mains by finishing first in the first heat race

Hunter earned a victory in Friday's pre-race

Hunter qualified for the National #1 main by finishing first in the first heat race

Hunter earned a 2nd place in the mains

Hunter qualified for the National #2 main by finishing first in the first heat race

Hunter earned a 3rd place in the mains

MOM, DAD & SISTER ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU HOLESHOT!!! YOU ARE STILL "THE MAN" AND YOUR WINS ARE COMING BUDDY!!

Bad

All that wasn't good!

ABA BMX Quaker State Nationals #1

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:48:04 GMT

I am not sure who conducted the Rain Dance Saturday morning, but whomever danced the dance got just what they were hoping for. The National #1 race started out with a 2+ hour rain delay that did so much more than just dampen the spirits of the riders and fans in attendance. The track was an absolute mess!!! The track operators and ABA track officials, along with hundreds of other little hands did their best to dry (repair) the track prior to the race, but it was like trying to put a fire out by dousing it with kerosene...the rain continued even in the midst of clean-up.

When the rains finished (read: no longer a down-pour but still raining) the races began. However, the racers would obviously have to deal with a much tougher track than they did the day before. In the first moto of the national #1 Hunter did an outstanding job of navigating the muck and mire and taking the win in Moto #1 (see video on website). It was certainly going to be a long wait between heat #1 and the mains....a very wet one at that, but he was pretty confident that he would score his first national win.

When the mains finally came around it was a complete disaster zone! Despite the intentions of those in charge, the track was as unsafe as any as I had ever seen. Now you might be thinking, "what does he mean by unsafe?". In my opinion, unsafe can be used to describe any track where you could guarantee a crash occurring in nearly EVERY moto that was on the track whether they were novice or pro. The corners were particularly unsafe due to the fact that the red clay was being pulled in to every berm by the riders as their mud-filled tires emptied on the more abrasive asphalt. To give you an idea of what I am talking about you only have to think back to your days in school when you were asked to make a pottery vase in art class. You know the one that ended up looking like a soup bowl instead of a vase. The berms had that same slimy consistency of wet clay...it was nearly impossible to try and broom down the corners because it was also next to impossible to even walk up them without sliding back to the bottom. Likewise, when the riders were coming through you had to leave the track which meant you would end up right back in the same mud you had just swept off. Again this was happening to pros, experts, and the novices alike. Furthermore, the mud was so thick and rutted on the dirt portion of the track that many of the riders, particularly the younger riders, could not even make it to the tops of the hills.

The above scenario sets the stage for the 5 Intermediate mains. Likewise, when you look at the video you will see that the once black asphalt is now coated in an orange clay slime. The boys in Hunter's moto had a rough go right from the drop of the gate. One rider went down in the first turn, Hunter flopped over at the top of the very next step-up, and the third rider made it through unscathed. The bad news for Hunter wasn't that he couldn't have caught the leader, but instead he was unable to get clipped in and was forced to "coast out" the remainder of the race. When all was said and done he ended up with a 2nd place finish on a bike so full of mud that it must have felt like he was riding a pro cruiser! I know Hunter was happy to have earned a 2nd, but clearly he was disappointed by not taking the first. Some things you can control....others are just in the Lord's hands.

ABA BMX Quaker State Nationals_Pre-race

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:42:03 GMT

Upon arriving at Bumps-N-Berms we were surprised to see the track had this ski-slope appearance to it. That is to say that upon the completion of your run down off the hill you were faced with an uphill climb back to the staging area. The only difference was the lack of a T-bar or lift to get us up there. Likewise, this was the first track that we have been to that had paved berms, steep sided 180 degree berms. It was certainly going to be a quick run from the top to the bottom.

Once the motos were posted we were glad to see that Hunter had a moto of 5I riders. The pre-race was going to be a total points race for the 3 riders. Both of the young boys were very nice and we certainly had high hopes for Hunter that night. The first moto Hunter finished first by half the distance of the last straight. He was confident and really rode a clean a race. The second moto was nearly a mirror of the first race. In essence, Hunter had the lock on first place, being that it was a total points race. Fortunately, Hunter does not have a "cool-it-gear" on his bike so when he is racing he is racing.

When it was time for the mains the story changes. When the gate dropped all three riders were off and running. However, when Hunter and another rider entered the second turn they were side by side. Hunter was on the outside and the other boy was hugging the very inside lane. This is when it got ugly.... The rider on the inside swept nearly straight up the exit of the berm and left Hunter with NO WHERE to go except OVER THE BERM (see video on website). He not only hit the top of the concrete-capped berm with his left knee, but he did a complete flip in the air before landing on his backside and sliding down the opposite side while his bike remained at the top. TALK ABOUT FRIGHTENING!!! I was videotaping the race from the starting line and the moment he disappeared over the berm I was on the move to get to him completely unsure of where he might have ended up. Needless to say he was scared to death and quite banged up when I did get to him. Special thanks to Debbie at SixSixOne (www.sixsixone.com) for getting us the protective equipment we needed for Hunter this past weekend with such short notice. He was scratched up as it was...I can only imagine how bad it would have been without the Pee-Wee chest-protector, and Comp elbow/forearm guards.

In the end, and due to his earlier efforts in heats 1 & 2, Hunter earned the overall 1st in the pre-race. It was certainly going to be interesting to see how he handled the rest of the weekend after that crash.

ABA BMX East Coast Nationals- Sunday Race #2

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:50:21 GMT

So here we are, the final day of the East Coast Nationals in Boiling Springs, SC. It has been an enjoyable and overwhelming memorable trip for not only Hunter, but for his parents and friends, both at the track and at home on their cell phones and computers.

Sundays races were scheduled to begin with no practice and at what seemed like o'dark thirty in the morning. Of course it is never hard to get a child out of bed particularly when they know they can go racing, but this has been a long weekend and no matter what the outcome of the race we had a 12 hour drive ahead of us!

Once again, Hunter had a rack of 5 year old & UNDER intermediate riders, but this time he would get a chance to race a young boy he had met by the name of Andrew Sperano. Now Andrew had just turned Intermediate by winning both the pre-race and the national #1 races on Friday and Saturday, but there is a catch...Andrew was still a 4 year old. We know how Andrew and his dad felt as Hunter just turned 5 and it would be quite some time before he was racing kids his own age. None the less, little Sperano will be tearing up a track near you!

The qualifying races were great and Hunter made it to the main again on Sunday morning with only 1 race left to go. Just a quick aside, I was asked by Hunter before the race began, "Dad can I take a few Hot Laps after the races are over?" Unfortunately the answer was no, but it just goes to show you that these kids just love to ride...win, lose, or tie...they just want to ride!

In the main Hunter started out in gate 6 and when the gate dropped and the pack moved toward the first corner Hunter was in 4th place (another rider in a gate far from Hunter actually moved Hunter to the far outside of the 1st corner and the other riders slipped to the inside...why wouldn't they it was wide open :-) So heading toward the 2nd turn Hunter was in 4th, but when the race finished Hunter had not only caught the rider but passed him and moved in to the 3rd place spot. And he didn't forget his trophy ticket this time!

It was a great time and we enjoyed spending our time with the other local riders who made the trip. BMX is a great sport for the kids and parents alike.

ABA BMX East Coast Nationals- Saturday Race #1

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:48:13 GMT

Now with the jitters out of the way, at least for Hunter, we were ready for Day #1 of the East Coast Nationals. Anyone who has ever taken a young racer to the track and has had to tell them that they couldn't race or practice because it wasn't their turn knows how hard this actually is. It is akin to asking poker players not to make any side-bets outside of the casino...it is just tough to handle.

When practice was over and the races began Hunter finally had what we had hoped for...a gate full of riders his age and competitive level. There would be 4 riders in his class, which meant he either had to win the first race or finish in the top 2 of the 2nd heat. The 1st heat race Gavin pulled out another win and Hunter finished 2nd. Hunter knew he could not finish in the final spot in order to meet his goal of making each days main. This is exactly how it played out when all was said and done.

Hunter finished the final heat race in 2nd, but it was at this point that I was approached by Kim (FreyDaddy's mother) about possibly changing Hunter's gear ratio. I knew that this might be a problem as he appears to "pedal-out" at a couple of our local track, but I certainly didn't want to chance changing it at a national race. However, I made the leap of faith (how could I not when someone points out what I have thought myself?) and decided to change his chain ring during the intermission before the mains.

I changed the gearing and turned Hunter loose for the main. It was a race I will never forget and one that I have watched at least 10 times already. Hunter really cranked it out in the main... He was so excited, as was I, that once he crossed the finish line he kept right on trucking toward the staging area. He had just earned his first trophy at a national event and the man at the finish line had to chase him down to get him his "trophy-stub". Likewise, I was beside myself emotionally so I was of little use to him either. Only a parent can know what this feels like and it is something I look forward to feeling again in his future races! Likewise, and thanks to the folks at Go211.com Hunter's mother and sister were able to watch the race from our home computer!

ABA BMX East Coast Nationals-Friday pre-race

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:46:33 GMT

After a long (13 hrs.), but incredibly beautiful trip from our home in upstate NY to Spartanburg, SC Hunter was ready to race in his first ever ABA BMX National Event (East Coast Nationals). Being that this was his first ever national race we set the following goals for Hunter: Race Hard, Race Fair, and Make the Mains.

Our first stop on the day was the J&R parts trailer to pick up another rear cog that he broke the teeth on at a race the previous Sunday. Unfortunately it was too late to have one mailed to us, but I was assured that we would be able to get him one at the track. As luck would have it we were able to find a replacement. So the day started out with some wrenching and a sense of relief on dad's part.

Friday nights races began with a short practice session, followed by a 2 moto transfer race. At first it looked as if Hunter would finally be able to race other 5 year old Intermediate riders. However, this possibility was short lived; as it was discovered that one of the riders was not yet an Intermediate. So instead Hunter and another boy (Gavin Powell I think) were bumped up to the 6 Intermediate class. Now 1 year doesn't make a big difference in a lot of aspects of life, but it certainly does on the track for these young riders. The moto was then broken up in to 2 separate motos. Hunter made the mains but a quick dive to the inside by another rider caused Hunter to hit his rear tire and he took a pretty good digger! Fortunately, Hunter only received a few minor scrapes (he liked the idea that he had one just like his idol Jordan "The Warden" Goldbourn) and the majority of the impact was absorbed by his new (once new) SixSixOne helmet :-) He did however, get back on his bike and finished the race pedaling as if he were still actually racing. Overall he finished 8th in the pre-race!

All in all it was a great start for Hunter. He got the practice and track time he need and he met our 3 original goals for him.

STEEL WHEELS INDOOR BMX DAY 2

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:40:47 GMT

The day started out with a pretty tough choice...do I register Hunter as a 5 y/o Intermediate due to his win the day before (I thought he already had 7 wins but the ABA showed that he had 6 wins prior to Saturday's win...leaving him still one win short of being an Intermediate) or do I leave him as a 5 y/o novice?

The fact that I document all his racing via pictures and videos I was pretty certain I was correct so I moved him to the 5I's for the Redline Cup Qualifier race on Sunday. Unfortunately, when the motos came out there was only 1 other 5 y/o intermediate so he was in a class of 6I's despite having just turned 5 himself.

The first qualifier went pretty with Hunter finishing 3rd, the second and final qualifier he finished 2nd and thus made the main. After an unusually long and cold intermission without warm-ups the mains were called. The main started out as a worst case scenario for Hunter. As soon as the gate dropped the other 3 riders left the gate but Hunter did not.

This was not the way he had come out of the gate the past 2 days so I wondered what he had done. Upon review of the video we discovered that when Hunter mashed the pedal on the gate his foot slipped right off the pedal. He looked like he was trying to kick-start a Harley or something.

Despite this major problem Hunter did us proud by riding as if he were still in the lead as he chased the front 3 riders all the way to the finish. He never gave up, he never sat down to "ride it out", but he kept on driving and was awarded a 4th place finish and the trophy he had been waiting for all day!

It was pretty exciting for his first ever Redline Cup Qualifier!!

The Holeshot is an Intermediate!

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:02:47 GMT

It took Hunter 28 races (27 races as a 4 year old and 1 race as a 5 year old) to get there, but "The Holeshot" is now an Intermediate!!! Likewise, and because of the weather here locally (Upstate NY) and a lack of an indoor facility, we had to travel nine and a half hours to start the 2008 season!

Hunter registered as a 5 & under novice for the Steel Wheels Indoor BMX Race for Life event in Hobart, IN. He was in a gate of 5 riders, 3 from IL and 1 from IN. He proceeded to transfer to the main in heat one by finishing 2nd. Next up were the mains...before he left for the gate he said to me, "I'm going to get the holeshot dad!' and I reminded him that he had to get the holeshot and to keep cranking all the way to the finish. He did just that and came away with the win...his 8th!

2007 Racing Season-Looking Back

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:47:36 GMT

This is a very special thank you to ALL of the folks with whom we spent riding during the last half of the 2007 racing season. I can not recall I time where I have been so enthusiastic about running about, both here and there, while the work at home continued to pile up.

A special thanks goes out to The GOLDBOURNS: Tom, Leah, and of course Jordan "The Warden". It was Tom who first suggested that we bring Hunter out to see if BMX would be something that was of interest to him. "Let us assure you, BMX racing is definitely of interest to him" Likewise, it was the Goldbourns who kept us abreast of all that was going on locally by telling us where and how to get to the local tracks, what it is we could do to help Hunter, and introducing us to a GREAT BUNCH OF RIDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. Of course, the skills that Hunter acquired on the track throughout the season can certainly be attributed to Jordan's patience and willingness to help a new young rider learn the ropes of BMX racing. THANK YOU TOM, LEAH & JORDAN....WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND ADVICE!!

We would also like to thank that fine folks at SIXSIXONE (www.sixsixone.com) for sponsoring Hunter toward the end of 2007 season and agreeing to sponsor him throughout the upcoming 2008 season. I will never forget the look on Hunter's face when I shared with him that he had been offered a sponsorship deal and explaining what we would then have to do. He looked me right in the eyes and said with a huge smile, "Must be they saw how hard I pump my arms in the rythm sections." It was priceless. We look forward to pushing your racing protection products as we push ourselves to be the best we can be on and off the track!

We would also like to thank all of the families and friends we have made while racing....the list is long, but each of you has helped us in this new sport that our kids REALLY LOVE!! In particular though we have to include the 6 & under riders that Hunter (and eventually Kenna too) raced with: Little wild man J.D. Goodrich, Alex "Superfly" Steyers, Hayden Robinson, Anthony Robinson, Hannah Garrity, William "The Dustbug" , & Nate Dibucci. THANK YOU BOYS FOR REALLY PUSHING HUNTER!!!

Likewise, to all the track volunteers and track operators WE THANK YOU for giving our kids a healthy, safe, and family friendly place to ride and race!! We (The Newmans) are going to be pushing your tracks and ABA/BMX racing really hard in our local schools this spring to boost our numbers and bring this great sport to those who may not know of its existence. A special thanks goes out to all the Garritys for your tireless work so that we can all race each week!!

Looking ahead...we can't wait to see you all at the tracks in 2008! 'Til then we will be building a new bike for Hunter and perhaps getting us an indoor track to ride all year long!!

THE NEWMAN'S

Bruce, Kelly, Hunter,& Kenna

CEDAR BMX HALLOWEEN PRO-AM & BMX RACE

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 13:41:42 GMT

As a new rider this was our first trip to Cedar BMX (www.cedarbmx.com) in Clarks Summit, PA. We were told that the Halloween race event was a great time for both riders and their families. In addition to this being an ABA Double Points race there was also a Pro-Am race that was a big hit with everyone in attendance and there were games for the kids too.

We arrived with a contingent of NY01 riders, including two of my buddies; #470 Hayden Robinson (6N) and #473 Anthony Robinson (6N). There were lots of riders compared to the 4 local tracks we normally ride. As a matter of fact there were so many riders that I thought I might even get a moto of 5 & under riders for the first time in 26 races. When the motos were posted, all 24 of them, we discovered that we would be riding in Moto #7 with 4 other riders. As it turned out we were 1 rider short for a true 5 & under gate.

However, this was as close to a full gate as I had ever been in, but things went extremely well for all of us. I qualified for the main in heat #1 by finishing 2nd to the eventual winner (#504 -a 6 year old novice from PA). Hayden finished 1st in the 2nd heat race and Anthony finished 1st in the 3rd heat race to make the main.

Although nearly 2 cold-hours had passed since I last raced I was super excited because this was the first race I had ever run under the lights and I saw the trophies earlier and they were BIG. I pedaled my hardest in the main and earned a 2nd place finish...I just couldn't get myself in to the 1-spot, but my family was very happy that I gave it my all. Hayden "The Finisher" Robinson came through by pedaling all the way to the finish line to capture the 3rd place spot. Anthony also brought home the hardware by finishing 5th in the main despite worrying about his father who suffered an injury in an earlier race.

It was a great way to finish the year unless you count The Grands in Oklahoma. Here's hoping that dad can win the lotto so that we can go to OK over Thanksgiving break!!

Hunter's Love of Bikes

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:41:08 GMT

Hunter first began riding a two-wheeled bike (with training wheels) at the age of 16months. It was all we could do to keep him and his little bike on the deck or on the driveway.    His love for his bike has been a constant with him. If it weren't for his Razor scooter and his bike I don't know that he would have ever been happy.

This past summer at the age of 3 1/2 y/o he came home and said, "Dad I don' want my training wheels on here any more". Hesitantly I agreed and off they came. He began not by riding the bike down a hill or on a flat area somewhere but instead he rode in circles on our deck (16' x 24'). And it was from here that we ended up with our little bicycle rider.

It wasn't until we were invited to "come see the local track" that we finally decided to let him ride a few times to help him get a little more out of his riding.   Little did we know that after we purchased a Redline mini for him that he would be racing with 5 and 6 year olds and still "bringing home the hardware", as the other young riders say.

We are now 2 months or so in to his brief racing career and things are going great for Hunter. Despite being the YOUNGEST RIDER he has accumulated 2-1sts, 7-2nds, 2-3rds, a 4th, and a 5th.