| For some people, coming down to help maintain a | | | | of the surrounding iron ore. It strikes the ground and as |
| BMX track is an unpleasant chore. But the important | | | | soon as you mix the light poles around the track, they |
| thing to consider is, it’s not done by itself and | | | | become lightening rods. The kids on the track ride their |
| volunteers are as important as the riders who ride the | | | | aluminium bikes on the track and that becomes a |
| track. Many clubs, particularly in the country, find it very | | | | recipe for disaster, so if it looks like a storm is |
| difficult to attract parents and riders to maintain the | | | | approaching, they can the night and come back the |
| track on a regular basis. It’s usually left to the few | | | | next day or the next week when the track dries out. In |
| dedicated members who do it for the kids, time after | | | | the mean time, there may be the need to maintain the |
| time. They know that without the job being done, | | | | track where the lightening has hit. |
| there’s no track nor a club for the kids. | | | | Tom Price now share a caretaker between the BMX |
| One such club facing these issues is Tom Price, based | | | | Club and the neighbouring Speedway to assist in |
| in the north of Western Australia. Their track is made | | | | preventing motorbikes using the tracks, which have |
| from a combination of clay, fines and any other dirt | | | | been a major issue in the past. The caretaker takes a |
| they can basically get their hands on. The Tom Price | | | | photo of any motorbike riders and walks off quietly |
| track has been going for more than 20 years with | | | | before ringing Kero or anyone on the phone list to take |
| Vice President Kero’s family involved for the past | | | | action and come down. Currently it’s a big |
| five. Over the years, the various families have made it | | | | deterrent but some kids think they’re above the |
| what it is today, by travelling to different tracks and | | | | law, which is when the police become involved to take |
| picking up elements to implement into their track to lift | | | | the appropriate action. |
| the skill of the kids. | | | | But finding volunteers to maintain the track has always |
| Kero works six days on, six days off but manages to | | | | been the biggest ongoing problem, an issue very hard |
| come down to maintain the track at least three times | | | | to eradicate. In the Pilbara, a large amount of parents |
| during his days off. Lawns need watering, the soft | | | | work shift work and long hours, making it difficult to |
| spots grinded and rain damage fixed up. Whoever has | | | | support their kids down at the track and participate in |
| a vehicle at the time, will use it to roll over the jumps | | | | club events, such as track maintenance days. Many |
| and berms to help compact it. Many clubs find this | | | | seem to drop their kids with their bikes in the car park |
| effective as long as they have the right moisture | | | | and use the club for babysitting. |
| content. | | | | “You get more people by organising a social” |
| Tom Price are in the process of using dolomite | | | | Kero states. “A barbeque and beers makes it |
| crackerdust, which goes down hard like concrete in | | | | easier to attract more attention and support”. One |
| some areas. It takes away a lot of the maintenance | | | | north-west club suggested that parents could |
| time and minimizes the damage, wind erosion and | | | | contribute several hours a month to help maintain the |
| hosing down for racing. Currently the contractor | | | | site in return for allowing their child to ride. It wasn’t |
| hasn’t yet delivered it and it’s an ongoing | | | | followed up in fear that the club would lose members. |
| process, even though it’s been paid for through | | | | It appears that some parents haven’t been made |
| canteen funds and sponsorship. | | | | aware of the maintenance requirements behind the |
| Some maintenance causes cannot be avoided. The | | | | scenes. |
| biggest environmental threat is the lightening because | | | | |