Date post: | 22-Mar-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | ej-dorrian |
View: | 227 times |
Download: | 2 times |
The Race Report
T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Featuring:
Matt Starling Bike Check
Armadillo State Race Qualifier
What’s wrong with BMX?
April 2012
A Houston, Texas BMX zine
The Race Report
PAGE 1
To whoever picks this up and reads it,
I really appreciate you taking the time to check out this
“zine” project I’m working on! It’s basically a DIY magazine,
much like the ones used in punk music to document and inform
what was going on in the local scene. I’m doing the same thing
but for the Houston BMX Racing scene.
Between studying, riding, and countless hours of
procrastination I came up with this little project and I’m hoping
people like it and I can continue to make issues. I just want to
help support the Houston BMX scene and give the riders
something to be stoked on when they see their picture in here.
It’s not supposed to be the most professional and perfect
magazine out there. In fact, I’m making it on a Xerox machine
partially funded by the money UTSA gives me to print stuff and
the rest comes out of my pocket.
Since I’m no good with web design a magazine is the
next best thing for me to get my ideas out there (see the
What’s Wrong With BMX article I wrote up) and publish the
pictures that our local photographers take.
I hope you enjoy!
E.J. Dorrian
Table of Contents
PAGE 2
What’s inside? Page 3—Matt Starling Bike Check
Page 5—Armadillo State Race Qualifier
Page 9—What’s wrong with BMX?
The Race Report
PAGE 3
Matt Starling Bike Check
Name: Matt Starling
Age: 19
Class: A Pro
Years Racing: 15
Frame: Free Agent Team Limo Pro XL
Bars: S&M Race Bars
Stem: Snap Pro
Grips: ODI Ruffen
Brakes: Shimano DXR
Headset: FSA
Forks: Sinz
Cranks: Shimano DXR
Pedals: Shimano
Sprocket: Snap 44
Chain: KMC
Seat: THE Junior
Seat Post: Fly Racing
Seat Post Clamp: Fly Racing
Rims: Envy
Hubs: Profile Elites
Tires: Kenda
I’ve been racing Matt since I can remember and he’s always been one of the
most stylish guys on the track. With no sponsor, you usually catch him on the
track riding for “team Dickies.” This year he stepped it up into the A pro ranks
and has had a successful rookie season. Here’s the setup Matt is currently run-
ning:
Matt Starling Bike Check
PAGE 4
Photo: Katie Frezza
The Race Report
PAGE 5
Armadillo BMX State Race Qualifier
Every year as the summer warms up so does the racing action and this
year is no different! With Armadillo having the second qualifier of the
year everybody showed up trying to get to the goal of 60 points early.
Here’s some of Kirby Cronk’s best shots of the weekend!
Armadillo SRQ
PAGE 6
The Race Report
PAGE 7
Armadillo SRQ
PAGE 8
The Race Report
PAGE 9
What’s wrong with racing?
I was recently checking Vintage BMX to see if my latest training
video got posted by my dad when I stumbled across a thread discussing
about why freestyle is bigger than racing (This links to the thread: http://
bit.ly/Hdfda4). They linked to a video of the finals from Simple Session in
Estonia which is the best BMX contest of the year then they talked about
what makes freestyle so much more popular.
It’s obvious that freestyle is much more simple Racing requires
more money, support, and a track. I believe one advantage that greatly
increased popularity of freestyle over racing is the power of the internet.
Racing lacks a good go-to website with updates, videos, and whatever
news is going on. BMXmania.com is probably the best racing website
that I know of, but it’s more outdated looking than craigslist. I can only
speak for myself, but I find it unappealing to look at and difficult to read.
With that being said, it’s mostly lacking stuff for the website.
Very few riders or teams put out any sort of video and release boring
press releases anytime something goes on in the company. However, if
they edited together a good video from the race I’d probably watch it.
Instead of a press release and a picture, companies should be putting
riders with filmers at the local track and filming “welcome to the team”
edits. Videos of top riders could be used as advertisements for products
instead of the traditional picture advertisement. Even team race reports
could be a collaboration of team riders’ motos from the weekend.
If a picture tells 1000 words, than a one minute video says
about 1.8 million. Video is much more appealing and more likely to be
seen. If racing wants to be as popular as freestyle if should follow what
has been proven to work. At least 10 good web videos by pro freestyle
riders are released every day. Each video, typically filmed by some sort
What’s wrong with racing?
PAGE 10
of professional filmer, generates anywhere from 4,000 to upwards of
30,000 views. Whether it be an edit of the rider riding, a bike check, or
even a how-to, videos can potentially generate significantly more
publicity than any other medium. Even myself, being a virtually unknown
rider, made a how-to video that has generated over 2500 views. It really
isn’t that difficult.
With video, riders turn from faces to characters. They become
the face of the companies they ride for and can promote products. Kids
will watch the videos and buy the parts that they saw their favorite pro
riding in the latest video. It’s a simple formula and freestyle has proven
it to work.
Essentially, racing lacks internet presence. What we need is a
user friendly, simple, searchable blog with the latest and greatest in
BMX and riders and companies producing content. Until then, we’re
stuck in the past. It’s a little ironic that I’m writing this in a magazine, but
you have to start somewhere.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to let me know what you think or
make suggestions to [email protected].