We've been racing now for a little less than two years. Like so many innocent parents we entered the sport knowing almost nothing and after a bunch of trial and error and lots of money, we think we have a handle on the sport. We've been very fortunate because we started at a great track, that is great for kids. The owners were and remain wonderful and helpful and supportive, even though our racing has taken us away for long stretches. The ABA consolidated the region and we ended up with another cool track, right near our house. It is bigger, longer and bumpier than where we started, but the people running the track treat us like family. Other parents joined and we met other cool parents just as smitten with this sport as we are. All our kids have become friends and rivals and keep pushing each other to be better riders. Kids who compete on the track are helping each other with skills at practice and today was no exception. Today, we'd hoped to see our friends that we were with in Monterey. They decided to race in Rio Linda. We were really missing them.

We wouldn't be here if not for the great friends and families. BMX has a chance to start all over again. The Olympics will help it reach a wider audience and we already see lots of new kids and families joining the ranks. So here's to the spirit of help and cooperation. Spread the knowledge around. If you can help someone understand and save 'em a couple of bucks, please do. It will just make the whole sport better and our kids faster and help them have more fun, stay in shape, learn a bit of self reliance and the whole sport will reap the benefits. 

Oh yeah, one last thing. Put them in the right gear. If they're really going to race -  get a good helmet, gloves, shin and elbow guards. If they are really getting good, spring for an EVS or SixSixOne pressure suit to cover them up. That was one that we missed, at first. Now all the kids think they are pretty cool to wear. They won't like racing if they're getting hurt and racing's expensive enough without the doctor bills. Till the next time, safe and happy racing. See you at a track, someday.

 This week I practiced at North Bay and then instead of racing on Wednesday, I went to hang out with my friends Nickolas and Jackson. Dad took me to work with him in Sacramento and we were going to practice at Oak Creek. But our friends said to come over and practice at their house so off we went! Nick and Jackson have a really cool little practice track with a gate and a timer! There's always a lot of fun to be had there. Their dad was really cool and showed me a couple of little things to help me with my gate. They have a timer so you can tell right away what works and what doesn't. I learned some stuff that I spent all weekend working on and it really paid off. My gates were blazing at Manzanita Park, this weekend. I think they played a really big part in my win today in the Day 2 State Qualifier. The more I focussed on my control and motion, the faster I got. By moto three I had two and 1/2 bike lengths by the first turn. I was racing my friends T.J. Hiatt and Dylan "Dyno" Duarte and to beat them, you have to have a good day!

Manzanita Park is awesome! I told you all, last week, that if you can make the drive you've got to go. The NBL is very family and less intense than the ABA tracks. This track HAS to be one of the best in the country. They really care about all the kids and they announce the 5 & Under class main as if it were an A Pro event! I went with my friends Wyatt and Will. We all did really well and we played until sunset on the beach, watching seal lions in the waves! For all you kids in Ohio and Minnesota, get your folks to take you on vacation out here on the Monterey beaches and come race this track. It is sooo cool.

I missed out on ABA points at home. But you know what? I had so much fun. Hung out with some great friends. learned a lot about a really tough track and got to watch my favorite rider, Joey Bradford, blaze around his home track. It was a great weekend. See you guys soon. Have fun and be safe. But most of all... have fun! 

 Today me, my sister and my dad got up really early to make the trip to Prunedale's Manzanita Park BMX and boy were we glad we did! We decided to join the NBL so we could do another kind of track and gate cadence and Manzanita was AWESOME! It is kinda long goes kinda downhill and has really cool, tricky jumps and paved corners. I had a blast. It is also the home track of Joey Bradford and Joey Bradford dot Com his team. Where we live there are not a lot of GT's. Here, there's tons. The racing was really fun and it is scored and run differently than ABA. Everybody was so nice. They made us feel right at home. Bubba's mom was there with his sister while he was racing in Victoria, BC. He won both classes up there on Saturday. Niko and his dad were there. Ricky Castro was there and his mom explained tons of stuff to my dad. Joey's mom and dad were there and they were really nice. His mom told me a little about Joey's pictures from all over the world. One day I hope I get to see them. They sounded really cool. 

I raced Ricky and another boy and I got two thirds and a second. It was a special race called a Warnicke race. They charge a little extra and the money goes to help kids pay for their school. I got quadruple points! 

It is easy to see why the JB.com kids are so fast. This track is really "lippy" and the obstacles are way close together. I'm pedal manualing and there are some things you've got to jump. I'm definitely going to learn to jump, here. We're definitely coming back for the State races, next week. 

So, if you're a kid who loves riding like I do, you HAVE to go to this track. It's fast. It's challenging. The people are so helpful and kind. Joey Bradford is here whenever he's home. For me it was hecka cool. We're gonna be spending a lot the rest of this year on gas. (Yuk) But you know what? It is really worth it. If you go, tell 'em Tobias sent you. You're gonna thank me. Happy racing...

 Had lots of fun today. Robbie is in Canada at the Victoria National, Lake is on vacation so it was me, Frankie, Jake and Wyatt for class today. I won first transfer and won the main. It wasn't easy 'cause Frankie is geared for the track and I had to be smart about how I raced. The really cool thing was how many people turned out for racing today. There were lots of new little kids and some really fast racers that we don't normally see at our track. Everyone's trying to get as many points in as possible. Not me, really. I decided the points will come. It's the education I want. Every race teaches me something else about me and about how to race. We are learning as a family. Dad, mom, we're all learning about the sport and how to do the best with the least mistakes. Heck, I'm only eight. I don't have to be number 1 after only 18 months of racing. Today was really good, though. I'm really learning. See you at a track near you. Tomorrow I'm joining the NBL and racing Joey's home track. I am so excited I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep, tonight! It's not the points, it's the learning....

 It was a hot, dirty, noisy time at Oak Creek BMX this weekend. I raced Open and Class both days and I had a great time. Dad kinda sorted out my bike after some of our friends thought I looked a little out of sorts on Saturday. We'd been running some longer cranks and even though I did get taller over the year, they were just too long. It really effected my gates and my "spinning up" during the races. I really, really hoped I'd make the Main in both classes, especially Open but it just didn't happen this weekend. Open was really "stacked" with the fastest kids in the whole country! I had Vaughn Herrick and Shane Lewis and couple of other equally fast guys in with me and I just didn't make it to semi's. Saturday, the cranks had a lot to do with it. Sunday, I was quite a bit faster, but missed the semi's by one position. Class went a bunch better with making the semi's both days. I almost won 1st transfer Sunday but I got passed by about 4" at the line. But boy what a great race. It was so cool! Of all of us local kids, Nickolas and Jackson did the best. They are awesome riders and really tough kids. They NEVER give up. What's great is that they are the nicest kids you could want to meet off the track and they root for everybody. Also, it was great to see my new friends that raced on the team in China. We were all happy to see each other again.

The best thing about the sport is the friends you make as time goes by. Vaughn remembered me from Super Camp last year, and he was happy I made the semi's. He's really fast but I don't think he's very "vicious". We got to hang out with all the families from Napa and Sonoma. Parker got a 3rd in Class on Saturday and that was so cool! So did Kristi! Everybody looked out for each other and rooted for each other. We're developing a real family feeling. North Bay BMX is a pretty cool place to race.

Oak Creek was as awesome as ever. They ran it really smooth and efficient and they added things to make it better than it was last year. You could tell they were supporting us local kids. They kinda make it feel like home, too! The only really bad thing was that my friend Scotty Molles got hurt. We all hope it's not too serious and that he gets better really soon. He's a great friend to everyone and it stinks he went down so hard.

So even though I didn't make the Main this time, I had a blast. I learned more stuff that will help me win in the future. I know what to work on and to never stop pedalin'  'till I'm over the line! And you know what else? There are some 8 Experts that realize they'll have another kid to worry about at the next national, and the next, and the next... 'cause every race is a new opportunity.

See you all at a track somewhere. be safe, race hard. What a cool sport!  

My whole family left for the Summer Nationals, today. We were very surprised at how much smoke was in the air on the way up to Roseville. We came up for Mike Redman's gate clinic which I love. Lots of kids came and worked really hard for a full 2 1/2 hours. I sweated like crazy and had a blast. My bike feels really good with the changes and Mike said I'm really steppin' up. We saw a bunch of friends and Gary and Parker were here. So is the Jones family and Scott Moles. Mr. Daniels and Dominique said hi and Mr. Baisley and his family are here. We've seen some of our new friends from China, too! We're already feeling like home. Linda always makes us feel wanted. We love Oak Creek. Tonight we're resting and tomorrow I'm taking the day off because of such a hard practice, tonight. The smoke didn't bother me too much. Can't wait for the whole thing to start tomorrow. We're gonna have a lot of fun. Hope to see you all at the track, it should be really cool!