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TUCSON 32 Written by Sara Schaffer Standing on the sidelines of a racetrack four years ago, taking in the sounds, sights and smells, Stuart Meek was trying not to be a nervous parent. Waiting for your two young sons to begin their first ever BMX race event was not how he had envisioned his family’s FIRST outing to a bike event. Meeks Family BMX Park The Meeks family, Stuart, his wife Teri and their two sons- Taylor and Timmy, had just planned on visiting the USA BMX Southwest Nationals at the Tucson Convention Center when someone mentioned anyone could race, Taylor- age 8 and Timmy- age 5, wanted to try. The family friends who had invited them to the event cancelled, but the boys were too invested to not go. The boys had dirt jumper bikes, not race bikes, which to the untrained eye, can look the very similar – like a normal bike just much shorter. A regular adult mountain bike generally has a 26 inch tire, where the boys were riding bikes with 16 inch tires. Even for a BMX bike, the dirt jumping bikes have heavy frames, meant for taking lots of impact upon landing. Not only did their bikes not match the event, but the boys had on regular street clothes, jeans and t-shirts, with their Hot Wheels helmets and no race face masks or padding. Being true newbies to the sport did not hinder the boys in the least; they jumped in wholeheartedly and fearlessly. It was another story for their father Stuart anxiously waiting on the sidelines. He remembers the first time the boys were on the track like “Baptism by fire…The very first BMX race you throw your kids into should probably not be a National.” Once laps were completed and the results were tallied, Taylor made the main event in 8 Novice and walked away with a trophy, and Timmy missed placing in the main event by one spot. BMX Despite the youngest’ loss, the family had a great time with all the action and new interactions, they met many new and helpful acquaintances, some of whom they continue to stay in touch with today including Ben and Michelle Chandler. The Chandlers started Desert Sunset BMX over 13 years ago, when their son Jeremy Chandler was Taylor Meek’s age of eight. Their son had since grown, started mountain bike racing and attending college. They decided it was time to venture away from the racetrack which they had been devoted for more than 13 years of their life. Michelle jokingly suggested the Meeks’ take over their racetrack to keep it running, and with the Meek’s successful construction company they had the funds and availability to do so. On January 1, the Meeks’ began a whole new journey, Tucson BMX, located at 9245 E Irvington. They wish to continue to introduce the joy of BMX to kids and grown-up kids. Stuart says “We feel fortunate that Tucson is such an amazing community and will be an intricate ingredient to the success of this track and all of our riders.” Races are held on Wednesday and Friday evenings, and practice events are hosted on Thursday evenings. The cost to race is $12.00 and p ractice is $7.00 with a USA BMX riders license. They offer Beginner clinics, and will soon be offering Bicycle mechanic clinics. With Tucson being such a popular bicycling city and destination, they hope the cycling community can also expand to introduce new people to bikes in a way they might not have considered before- BMX. Tucson BMX
is there to support anyone interested - either by getting on a bike and attempting a bunny-hop, or by coming by to watch a race, or stopping in for a bike clinic, any way to share the love for bikes. They can be reached for hours, directions or questions at 520-293- 4BMX Timothy Meeks is currently riding the State #1 plate for the Expert class on 2 bikes, and Taylor continues to hold a top 10 position in the state. This is the First race ever for the boys. This Is Timothy Meeks a few weeks ago. #1 in the State on 2 bikes! Here is a shot of Taylor Meeks at the USA BMX Grand Nationals in Tulsa Oklahoma in November of 2014 “We feel fortunate that Tucson is such an amazing community and will be an intricate ingredient to the success of this track and all of our riders.” 33
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