Getting Started


	At Whip City BMX, we pride ourselves on helping people of all ages get started and advance in the sport of BMX. It can be a bit intimidating to walk into anything new, so that's why we've put together this helpful information guide.
On your first night of racing, please arrive at registration ready to fill out paperwork by 6:45pm. Registration closes promptly at 7:00pm, so this will give you and your parent or legal guardian time to fill out the needed paperwork. Well, with that out of the way, please read on for more helpful hints and information. What you will need on your first night of racing A parent or legal guardian if you are under 18 Money - it costs around $55 to get your license and register for that night's racing (if it is a single points event), not counting things like food, soda, candy, bike parts, etc. Proper equipment (click here for more info on equipment) Arrival at registration by 6:45pm Licenses First, each rider will need to purchase an ABA (American Bicycle Association) license in order to practice and race. Full membership: A full membership is valid for 1 year. The fee for the year-long membership is $45 (this does not include event registration fees). This membership is valid at any ABA sanctioned event. The moment you obtain a full membership is the moment you will begin accumulating points towards the year-end rankings, competing for year -end awards. In addition to being able to rip it up at any ABA track of your choosing, you will receive an ABA number plate with your assigned numbers, an official membership card that is great for showing off to friends (oh, and it is also required to compete at any ABA event), and, to make the deal even sweeter, you also receive a yearly subscription to the BMXer - the official magazine of the ABA. Discounts are available if you are purchasing full licenses for more than one rider. If you already have a family member with a full membership, signing up a second family member for a full membership is only $40, and for a third family member, a full membership drops to $35! Please ask for more information about these programs. IMPORTANT - In order to race at any ABA event, you will need to present either your current ABA membership card or a renewal receipt. Without the receipt or card, we have no way of verifying your membership. You will not be permitted to race without valid proof of membership. (Sorry, we cannot accept any friends or family members "vouching" for your membership.) Prices Each full-year license costs $45, due when you apply for your membership. There is also a race fee which must be paid at the time of sign-up for each race. The race fee amount depends on the type of race event (ie, local, state, national, etc.) For a single-point Friday night race at Whip City BMX, the race fee is $10 for the 2003 season. Numbers and Number Plates Each rider will be issued an eight-digit serial number, which is his/her permanent ABA member number. For any new member, "N16330XXX" (New Full Member) will replace the serial number on the moto sheets until the permanent membership card has been issued, which will specify the serial number. The rider will also be issued a bike number, to appear on the bike plate. This number must be displayed on each rider's bicycle at all times; an earned number (state, national, etc. ranking) can replace this number. Each plate must be legible so that the track officials and scorers can read it. The numbers on your plate should not be blocked by stickers or decals, and numbers cannot overlap one another. The following regulations for number plates MUST be followed for proper scoring:
	District number: Solid black number (minimum 4" high) on a white plate. Overall national number: Solid white number of a black plate. National age group number: Solid black number on a gray plate. Gold Cup championship number: Solid black #1 on a yellow plate. Race of Champions number: Solid white #1 on a red background.
Bike Inspection Every week you will be required to have your bike inspected for safety and proper equipment. This takes about a minute to do and helps keep everyone safe on the track, although it is ultimately your responsibility to keep your bike in good working condition and to follow the equipment rules of ABA BMX. Bike inspection is usually held right outside of registration - have your bike inspected before you register. Once your bike has passed inspection you will be given a ticket. When you sign up for that night's racing, you will need to exchange your ticket for a small "inspection sticker" that you will place on your plate. This sticker lets our track officials know that your bike has passed inspection. (The process of bike inspection may be subject to slight changes, depending on the staff coverage for the evening). Please be aware that bikes are not allowed in the registration area - they tend to get in the way of people waiting to register. After you have your bike inspected please do not bring it into the registration area. Practice After you get your bike inspected and register, you can go out on the track to practice. For weekly races practice starts at approximately 6:00pm. Motos Once the rider is signed up, he/she must wait for the motos (races, or heats) to be posted on the long, brown billboard, which is located to the right of the food concession (between 7:15 - 7:45pm for night races). If the weather is inclement or there is a threat of rain for the evening, the motos will be posted in an alternative location, to be announced during that evening's races. It's a good idea to bring a pen with you to write down your moto and your gates. First, find your age and class. You will need to write down your moto number as well as your gate numbers for the evening. It is important that you understand the ABA qualifying system before the races begin so that you do not become confused at an inconvenient moment during the races. Click here for a complete explanation of the ABA qualifying system. Trophies Trophy tickets are handed out at the finish line during the last moto for each class. If you have earned a trophy, your trophy ticket can be exchanged for your trophy as soon as you finish your moto. The number of trophies awarded depends on the number of riders for the class. Other Stuff You Will Need to Know Our page on the ABA qualifying system is filled with information on how we race our motos and important information for you to understand. We strongly suggest visiting the ABA qualifying page next if you haven't already checked it out! Another place for more good information is the FAQ page. Prices are subject to change without notice.

This page was updated 5/11/03