Hello Everyone-
We just returned from the Star Spangled Nationals in Severn, MD and all in all it was a good weekend. The way I look at it we got to spend time with family and friends, our kids got to spend time with their friends, as did my wife and I, and Hunter had a pretty good showing in his 5th national race this year.
The weekend started out with Hunter in another class of 6I riders for the pre-race...what he wouldn't give to show up at a track with a full rack of 5 year olds! He qualified 1st in the second moto and in the main he rode out a very strong 2nd.
On Day #2 (National #1) he raced his first race with 2 racks of riders (10 riders total), but his class was once again made up of 8-6I's and his buddy Andrew Sperano (4 YRS. OLD) from Dallas, GA. He qualified 1st in the 2nd moto and in the main he came unclipped right at the gate and had to play catch up from the word "go". The good news is two-fold; he did not get upset nor did he throw himself around and pout about the poor start and despite being last in turn 1 he ended up passing 3 riders before the finish (another foot and he would have made that total 4 riders). So Hunter ended up in 5th place on Day #2.
On Day #3 (National #2) he raced the same 2 racks of riders, but this time he finished 1st in the first moto and then in the main he got cut off at the first roller and again had to play catch-up. Fortunately he never accepts just "following riders around" and he was able to pedal his way past 4 riders to finish 4th overall.
In other news, we recently raced 2 NY state qualifiers and Hunter won both events. He is getting better and better despite the numerous changes I have made to his bike, including gears, crank arms etc. I am proud beyond words of his accomplishments and I am happy to share them with you.
Kind Regards
Bruce Newman
Rolling in to the Rock- June ’08 Alex’s mom reports:
Our trip to Rockford this year was like going home again. Alex has made two previous trips to Rockford, one at the age of 6 months and one at age 2 ? (ironically the ages of Alex’s brother and sister on our visit this year!) Both times his dad was still racing but this time it was his turn! We had to make a significant detour due to the disastrous flooding around Cedar Rapids, IA which made making Friday night’s sign-ups too much of a rush. Brennan and Deb arrived just in time to get B signed up and he raced Friday night and made his main. Making a main in an expert class at a big race like Rockford is quite a feat! As far as we know, Alex and B were the only Militia-mates to race the Mid America Nationals this year. The track at Rockford is fabulous, BMX is well-supported there with local races sitting at something like 4x the amount of motos we pull at our home track. LOVE the paved berms.
Alex only raced Sunday at Rockford (Father’s Day). We got up that morning to a torrential downpour and severe weather warnings. Of course the nationals start promptly at 8 on Sunday mornings so we got to the track to sit and wait under a tree while the weather system passed over (some hail and rain). Thanks to the paved berms and the tarps the track was ready to go around 10. Alex easily qualified into his open main. His first qualifier for class was moto 75 so we had some time to wander around and visit with his dad’s friends from VintageBMX.com. Qualifier time came around and the gate was stacked with the four fastest 6Is in town. Got tripped up in turn 2 and had to run his second qualifier, in which he qualified out easily. We were shocked he didn’t have semis at Rockford.
Open main Alex had a decent gate but had to pass several riders to get to the front of the pack. He finished a close second and got a hearty congratulations from his dad’s friend Bill Curtin of the ABA. Came away with his first ‘big’ trophy and a big ‘ol smile. Class main came around quickly and Alex bought lane 1. Unfortunately, lane 1 becomes lane 0 pretty quickly before the first turn so he had to haul some tush and move some riders over. He rode very strongly and passed rider after rider to finish 2nd again. Bill Curtin was there again at the finish to congratulate Alex and stand in amazement with Gino. Who would ever have imagined or dreamed that Alex would pull off a pair of seconds all in one day at the Rock his first time there? Greatest Father’s Day present ever for his dad. Now Alex has a nice pair of Rockford commemorative “bookends.” Pretty cool experience for a kid whose first trip to Rockford was in a diaper and a bib!
Nebraska Update!
Thought I’d update you on how the team is doing. They took 1st at the Omaha NE State Qualifier and 3rd at the Star City BMX NE State Qualifier weekend. Tristan Thoms is a great asset to the team and a motivator for Brennan. Brennan took a spill in the rhythm section after the Star City Qualifier on July 5 and it cost him. He broke both the left ulna and radius – the radius at the growth plate. He underwent a closed reduction on July 10 to move the scaphoid back where it belonged. All went well. He is in a short-arm cast for 4-6 weeks. He has already tried to grip the bars and has decided that he has a good enough grip to continue racing in the cast. He is grateful that he brakes with the right hand. J Tristan, Alex, Layne and Jack are racing hard and are sitting pretty in the state championship series. Brennan is actually sitting 1st or 2nd in the series for his age group and would like to hang on for another championship if he can master racing in a cast.
Deb Rima - Nebraska Team Manager!
Nebraska Crew Update.
Last weekend was a big one for the Nebraska crew. Star City BMX hosted a State Qualifier and a Redline Cup Qualifer. The track was the best I have ever seen thanks to some hard working volunteers. Rich had the ABA semi parked there and all the national banners down the straights and a custom StarCity BMX banner above the gate. With MJT Designs and Mike's Bikes in the house it felt like a mini national. On Saturday Alex took home a 3rd, the teams newest member Tristan Thoms rolled in for a first, Brennan took home a 3rd, Jack would also take home a 3rd, I see a trend here. Insane Layne would take home a hard fought 2nd place. Sunday proved to be pretty good for the team. It started bad when I found out that Mini Me Brennan Randal broke both bones by his wrist during practice after the races Saturday night. He seemed to be in good spirits considering the pain he must have been in. Alex would stroll in for another 3rd place, Tristan made it a double and took home another first place. Jack Big Sexy Gropp have tough day, he had 10 riders in his class with a stacked main. He got stuck in mid pack down the first straight, but kicked his big gear into action and fought his way to a close 3rd. Layne improved one spot and rolled in for a 2nd. He made so AA Pro moves in turn one that had people talking. Overall the team took home the third place team trophy. Look for the team to do some more damage at the State Finals in September. Hopefully Mini Me will be back in action by then! Heal up fast little buddy!
Hunter Newman Update
In his last 5 races Hunter has 2 wins, 2 seconds and for the very first time ever he had a DNQ. The DNQ was the last of 3 races on Saturday. He had raced a total points race in the a.m. (1st place), another total points race in the afternoon (1st place-RFL) and then raced again that evening (5th). He was really looking forward to the trifecta, but when the motos were posted it was him against the other 7Is at the track. He gave it his all and as a matter of fact he crashed out in the final turn diving under another rider in an attempt to take over the lead for the final transfer spot. But the loose "gravel" made that type of aggressive move a moot point. I was ecstatic that he would have that much left in his tank and that type of drive to make the main. However, he was a little upset, but not because he was going to lose points or not bring home any saver stamps. Hunter was going to have to sit out the mains while the other boys continued to ride and that is what bothered him most.
This weekend we raced an Earned Double Points race at Horseheads and a Redline Cup Qualifier. Hunter earned 2nds at both races behind the same rider who will be 7 years old in two weeks. This is the 3rd time that Hunter has qualified for the Redline Cup.
Also, we have another national coming up in just under 2 weeks. We will be traveling to Westfield, MA for the New England Nationals. We are hoping for another good performance out of Hunter. He has done extremely well this year, his 1st full year of racing, and the current NAG standings put him in 2nd place (points up to date as of Dixie Nationals) behind a rider from Texas who we raced in Georgia.
Land O Lakes National update.
Brennan, Alex, and Tristan headed north for the national in Minnesota. Turns out the Ghostrider was also in attendance. Saturday was a good day for the crew, Brennan made the mains in a tuff 10X class and took home 8th. Should have seen him jumping the doubles. SWEET!! Alex went down right at the 20 foot line in open and took home an 8th, he rebounded and took 2nd in class. On Sunday Brennan missed qualifiying by hair. Alex finished 2nd in open, he ended up going down again in the first turn but hopped back up to finish the race out. He got a bloody nose in stagging and rode his main with blood stream out everywhere. He looked like he went 10 rounds with the heavyweight champ when he crossed the line. LOL! But he was happy to finish. On Saturday Anthony "THE GHOST RIDER" Brasier took home a 5th in the 13Inter class and looked good doing it. We had to leave right away so I didn't get to see how he finished on Sunday. Let us know Ghostrider! Tristan got a 6th on Saturday and pulled in for a second on Sunday. Overall the Millitia represented very well! Good job team!
Update from our New Mexico rider Russell
In the state quilifier in aztec I placed 3. I raced friday saturday and sunday then the durango track held there races for the aztec riders to get there so i went there sunday to. That track is awsome.
Nebraska Squadron News.
Omaha BMX hosted the first State Qualifier of the summer and the Mini Militia was out in full force. Alex took home a first in 6 Intermediate, follow by Brennan taking home a 2nd as a 10X. (racing older kids) Layne and Jack would be stuck in the same moto and brought home a first and second in the 13X class. New member Tristan Thoms went down in the main and finished 5th. With the great showing the Militia also took home the first place Team trophy! Good job guys!
The Nebraska crew would also like to officially welcome Tristan to the team. Tristan is a 10 Intermediate will be a great addition to the team!
News from Hunter!
We had another great day of racing here in the southern tier of NY and northeast PA. We raced two tracks today, one at Horseheads, NY (Horseheads BMX) and one in Athens, PA (Valley BMX), and Hunter scored a 3rd at HHDS in a rack of 6 riders and he took home a 2nd out of a rack of 7 riders at the Valley. I don't know what it is about HOT weather but Hunter just seems to run like he is on fire when it is really Hot and Sunny! The videos will be uploaded to his website later this evening. We have one more race tomorrow after church and then it will be off to South Carolina.
Bruce & Hunter
Hunter HoleShot has quite the weekend in York, PA. Keep up the good work!
Here is an update on Hunter's most recent ABA BMX National Race in York, PA this past weekend.
I will also be updating his profile with video and pics in the next couple of days so check it out, leave a comment and don't forget to rate his site.
http://sponsorhouse.loopd.com/Members/THEHOLESHOT/Home.aspx
Quaker State Nationals Pre-race
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 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.
Quaker State Nationals #1
I am not sure who conducted the Rain Dance Saturday morning, but whomever danced the dance got just was 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 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. 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 next to impossible to even walk up them without sliding back to the bottom. Likewise, when the riders were coming through youhad to leacve the track which meant you would end up Again this was happening to pros, experts, and the novices alike. Furthermore, the mud was so thick and rutted on the track that many of the riders, particularly among the younger riders, could not even make it to the tops of the berms.
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 was that 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.
Quaker State Nationals #2
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 put more fear in to 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 fianlly 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!
Check the photo's page for Hunters Weekend!
Here are the latest updates for the week!
Colorado:
Badlands BMX was a HIT! for the CO. Team
DOMINATOR - Can believe it brother, new bigger bike and your first race on it and you took it HOME!!!!
E-MACHINE - Competition is coming brother, don’t drag your feet, show them at 3 you can compete, total points, you are in the REDLINE!
BRI - you are on FIRE, too hard on yourself, your first race since.... OCTOBER! Great job!
BAD TO THE BONE - I see some aggression in your pedal stroke these days, stay on it
Japedo - Now, if I had realized you removed your brakes before the race! You have the talent seeping out of you, let’s see you at practice, you will do great this year. Good job!
Fyin Ryan - THE BEST RACE I HAVE EVER SEEN OUT OF YOU!!!! Video coming soon
Congrats you all qualified for REDLINE!
Flyin' E - Little man just went I, racin with the big boys
JOI RIDER - Big spills and thrills this week? Big wreck but took 1st. NICE
Shakin Shawn - GOING UPTOWN TO I congrats
DOM the BOMB - still on it, just wait till he gets more track time, good to see you again this season, just warmin up!
J.R. - You are getting quick, focus on the full circle pedals
Tyler - what you disappear all winter, and come back on fire?
IN-N-OUT - phew! you are pushing the class to te next level
Thanks to all of our CO. riders, I am really impressed that you all stopped racing through the winter and you still tear it up today!!!
New Mexico:
CJ, just joined and Tuned I, congrats
New York:
East Coast Goals: race hard, race fair, and make it to the mains
Friday's pre-race: Had a class of 3- 5y/o I's in staging...moto changed..now we have two gates of 6 y/o I's (5 riders each). Hunter made it to the main, but in the main was cut-off in the first turn and crashed. Fortunately the majority of damage was to his helmet!!! So we ended up 8 out of 10, but we met all 3 goals!
Saturday...National #1 Hunter had a class of 4 riders (all 5 I's) and he made it in to the main in the 2nd heat race. Mains come around and Hunter was on fire...he was 2nd off the gate and never looked back. So in his first national race he earned a 2nd place trophy...what an emotional ride that turned out to be. All 3 goals met.
Sunday....National #2 Hunter had a class of 5 riders (4-5I's and 1-4I) and he made it to the mains in the first heat taking second. The mains came up and Hunter was in gate 6...even before the riders got to the 1st turn the rider in gate 1 cut across the track and pushed Hunter out to the far outside. Now he was in 4th...the other riders were quick to slide low in to the corner. he came back and passed one of them but could not catch riders 1 & 2. So he earned a podium finish again...this time a 3rd. Again all 3 goals were met.
GOOD update dad!
New Hampshire:
Annis is gearing up to start the season
Nebraska:
Nebraska racing has gotten off to a rough start. Racing was rained out this weekend due to wet track conditions. Hopefully next week will be better. Jack "Big Sexy" Gropp made is debut in Omaha. He took home a first place for his efforts. "Little" Alex Ormond managed to get a 3rd racing the older kids. Look for the whole team to finally be on the track this coming weekend!
Cant wait to see you in Blue Springs!
California:
We just did an update, right? New bike is on its way tear it up BLAKE!!!!
Missouri:
Ohhhh, the Ghostrider will be on point next week in Blue Springs. It was great last year to watch you and Lane in those age groups
