About Park Orchards BMX
Our History
The Park Orchards BMX Club was formed in 1985 as a sporting club aimed at providing organised training and race events for participants wishing to get involved in BMX racing as a sport.
The club currently has a diverse group of members covering all genders and ranging in age from 3 to 50+. The club is family friendly and child oriented with the sport of BMX being particularly well suited to getting everyone in the family involved.
The club’s track is built on Manningham Council land and falls under the local Council’s jurisdiction. Therefore the track is open to the public whenever official club racing or training events are not running, so you can come and try out the track anytime. The track is maintained by club members, so when you come and visit our track please look after it and our club members will thank you.
Club Racing
Club race days (or Clubbies) are held generally on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month from February to early December.
Racing starts at 2:00pm for most of the year, weather permitting (arrive at 12:45 -1:30 pm to register). Gate Practice nights are run on Wednesday’s throughout the year, which provide opportunities for club members to come and train together. Details on times and any changes to the schedule can be found on our Facebook Page.
Park Orchards BMX Club is affiliated with Bicycle Motocross Australia (via BMX Victoria), so club members also have the opportunity to compete in the many open competition race meetings held throughout Victoria or the rest of Australia. Several of these events are hosted by our club each year giving riders from other clubs the chance to see what our track has to offer.
At our Clubbies, racing is divided into classes based on age and ability, to ensure that the focus of racing is on fun and rider skill development, rather than purely on competition.
At “Open” Race events racing is divided into various divisions or classes (as set down by the sports governing body). All riders 7 years of age and under race in the “Sprocket Rocket” classes.
The focus of these classes is on the development of good riding skills. Our club currently has a good bunch of sprocket rockets which includes a growing number of girls.
For riders aged 8 and over (the “Open” classes), the race divisions are divided up by age and gender, with the parents of our junior members filling most of the higher age classes making BMX racing a real family sport.
Becoming a Member
Visitors are very welcome to come along to our Clubbies and see what goes on. When starting out there are “4 Month Licence” race passes available at Clubbies, so you can try BMX racing out for yourself.
Complete beginners can be accommodated, so if your child is only just off their training wheels, don’t let that deter you from bringing them along.
Volunteers & Committee
Park Orchards BMX Club is run by a committee of volunteers. There are rostered roles and ‘on the day’ roles at events that you are welcome to fill and take part in.
The current committee consists of the following members;
- President – Kristie Parris
- Vice President – Andrew Paxton
- Secretary – Terri McKinnon
- Treasurer – Katrina Harris
- Club Registrar – Renee McDonald
- BMXV Liaison – Brett Freeland
- Facilities & Track Management – Dave Chadwick
- General Committee – Pam Beerens, Simon Metcalf, Mel Rankin, Daryl Habel, Jacqui Brudenell, James Hirsch, Greg Kelly.
All help is warmly welcomed, so feel free to approach a committee member to find out how you can be involved..
