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Happy New Year
Redditch Premiers wishes everyone Happy New Year and hope you will have a great 2012
Track Re-Opens
Redditch Premiers BMX Track will reopen for club session on Tuesday 3rd January
Check Redditch Premiers Facebook Page for more information
Club Sessions
Tuesday 6.30pm – 9pm
Thursday 6.30pm – 8pm
Saturday 9.30pm – 1pm
Please note times may change due to weather. or other issues
Redditch Premiers New Pricing Information
All Persons Wishing To Use The BMX Track Will Now Need A Yearly Membership as Listed Below
Bronze Junior Pay and Play Membership £5.00 (Includes 1st Session)
Bronze Adult Pay and Play Membership £8.00 (Includes 1st Session)
Silver Junior Membership £15.00
Silver Adult Membership £25.00
Silver Family Membership £60.00
Gold Junior Membership £125.00 (Includes Free Race Jersey)
Gold Adult Membership £185.00 (Includes Free Race Jersey)
Gold Family Membership £500.00 (Includes Free Race Jersey)
In Order To Race In Club Races You Will Need Either Gold or Silver Memberships
Session Costs
Bronze £3.50
Silver £2.50
Bike Hire £2.50 Extra for All Memberships
Track Address
Redditch BMX Park
Near Golden Goose Public House
Icknield Street Drive
Matchborough West
Redditch
Worcestershire
B98 0DD
Telephone 01527 524550 (Live – Answerphone when Track not Open) 07411270147 (10am-8pm)
Directions from Junction 3 of M42
M42 J3
Alcester Rd Beoley, Worcestershire
1. Exit M42 at Junction 3 Evesham/Redditch
2. 1st Exit(when coming off southbound) and 4th exit (when coming off northbound) off the roundabout onto Alcester Rd/A435 heading to Evesham
Continue to follow A435 for
4.1 mi – filter from dual carriageway to single carriageway (single carriageway can have 40mph limit mobile speed cameras)
3. At A4189, Roundabout take the 3rd exit onto Warwick Hwy
then in 300 yrds Go through roundabout
1.1 mi
4. At the next roundabout (Morrisons Island), take the 1st exit onto Icknield St Dr/B4497
0.6 mi
5. Turn right in to Track just 20 metres before Golden Goose Pub entrance.
Information on the local area and family activities local to the track
Local Shops, Petrol Etc
1 minute drive or 5 minute walk from the track is a Morrison’s Supermarket with Petrol station
Overlooking the track is the Golden Goose Pub and Restaurant. This is open all day and serves Carvery from lunchtime right through to the evening. It has a pub garden that backs on to the track with a small children’s play area. They do take reservations so If anyone is planning on eating there after racing it is worth booking earlier in the day.
Arrow Valley lake and Park is a 2 minute drive from the track. This has several great play areas for all ages. Their is a Countryside Centre with a cafe that looks out on to the lake. Great place to take the kids for free!
The town centre is 5 minutes drive from the track. There is an indoor shopping centre which opens normal shopping hours on Friday and Saturday and 10am till 4pm on Sundays. It has most of the top high Street stores, plus it has a multi screen Cinema on the top floor(open till late).
Club & History
Redditch Premiers BMX Club was reformed in April 2006 by a diverse group including current professional racers, old school racers, keen amateurs and parents. The aim was to build a national standard BMX track and an active club in Redditch, after working hard for 4 years we achieved both these goals in 2010 and are continuing to build on those foundations. We are working closely with Redditch Borough Council, British Cycling Federation and other Local Agencies to try and build a facility which will benefit the young people of Redditch and the surrounding areas.
We could always do with more help and if you would like to get involved in any way or simply join the club to show your support get in touch through the contact page.
The Beginning
UK BMX Racing was born in Redditch in 1980.
The sport originally began in the early 1970s in Southern California, with youngsters imitating the motocross stars of the day on improvised dirt tracks. After discovering the sport on a trip to the USA, Geoff Wiles persuaded his employers Halfords to build a BMX track close to their headquarters in Redditch. It was then that the original Redditch Premiers was born. The track became a focus for hundreds of local kids to participate in an exciting new sport.
This was the beginning of a massive boom that lasted throughout the early and mid 80s. Quickly hundreds of tracks appeared up and down the country and BMX became a thriving youth sport.
Anglo American Cup
Halfords invited some of the best racers from America to compete against England's best racers at Redditch BMX track. The event was held in consecutive years, 1981 and 1982 and was the biggest BMX event held in the UK during this time. UK legend Tim March became the first British rider to beat an American Pro when he raced in a head to head against Harry Leary.
Local Riders
Many local riders enjoyed National success during the boom of the eighties and some of them are involved with trying to get Redditch Premiers back up and running again.
Chris Taylor was one of those riders, having great success in a very competitive age group and riding for the Halfords factory team. He doesn't race anymore but is still very much involved in BMX with his family carrying on the tradition. His son, Harley, and daughter Darcy are both regulars on the podium at national events and are active members of Redditch Premiers.
Tim Print was also a member of the Halfords Factory Team in the 80's. He looks after our website and is a member of the Club's Committee.
Gary O’Connor our Treasurer had great success on the national scene in the 80's. He was sponsored by Patterson Racing, local shop Supertune and went on to become British Champion.
The Decline
Unfortunately in the mid 80s Redditch track became a victim of it’s own success. Local resident began to complain about the PA system, the banging of the start gate and the amount of traffic on the road. The club were no longer able to hold races and the riders went elsewhere. With no revenue to maintain the track it fell into disrepair, eventually becoming overgrown and unusable.
The 90s and Beyond
During the 90s BMX in general took a downturn in popularity and many of the tracks which had sprung up in the 80s were lost. There was a hardcore of riders and parents who kept the sport alive in the UK during this time. Since 2000 we have seen BMX’s prospects looking bright again. Rider numbers are up and it is an olympic event now which has raised it’s profile and helped encourage more youngsters to give it a try. It is regulated by the British Cycling Federation now who have brought such great success to track cycling. General thinking these days is that the best way to make a succesfull sport is from the grass roots level by encouraging local children to get involved and providing them with good support, coaching and facilities. This obviously has great social benefits too and is what we would like to do with Redditch Premiers.
Putting it back on the UK BMX map where it rightly belongs as the place it all began.
About BMX
Fast , Exciting, Accessible
BMX Racing is a fast paced and exciting sport open to riders of all ages and abilities. BMX Races are held on purpose built, off-road, dirt tracks with sloping starts to generate speed, banked turns and lots of different sizes and shapes of jumps. Most BMX tracks are 300-400 metres long and riders race in groups of up to eight at a time for one lap. BMX races are organised by age category from 6 and under right up to 40+ for novices and experts, so there is a class for everyone and you will always be racing against people of similar age and ability. It’s a friendly sport which the whole family can get involved in.
There are two different types of BMX race bike: the 20 inch (standard size BMX bike with 20 inch wheels) and the 24 inch cruiser (a slightly bigger bike with 24 inch wheels) a favourite of the veteran classes
You don’t need a top of the line race machine to start with, you just need one that can get you around the track. You will need to remove any pegs or chain guards and if the ends of your grips are torn, you will have to use bar end caps or replace them. If you have a dirt jumping or freestyle bike that will be fine to give racing a try. And if you have a mountain bike you are still welcome at the track, there will often be mountain bike classes at regional races.
The only other things you need are a helmet, long sleeved trousers or jeans, a long sleeved shirt and some gloves.
Times and other info
Opening Times
Club Sessions
Tuesday 6.30pm – 9pm
Thursday 6.30pm – 8pm
Saturday 9.30pm – 1pm
Please note times may change due to weather. or other issues
Redditch Premiers New Pricing Information
All Persons Wishing To Use The BMX Track Will Now Need A Yearly Membership as Listed Below
Bronze Junior Pay and Play Membership £5.00 (Includes 1st Session)
Bronze Adult Pay and Play Membership £8.00 (Includes 1st Session)
Silver Junior Membership £15.00
Silver Adult Membership £25.00
Silver Family Membership £60.00
Gold Junior Membership £125.00 (Includes Free Race Jersey)
Gold Adult Membership £185.00 (Includes Free Race Jersey)
Gold Family Membership £500.00 (Includes Free Race Jersey)
In Order To Race In Club Races You Will Need Either Gold or Silver Memberships
Session Costs
Bronze £3.50
Silver £2.50
Bike Hire £2.50 Extra for All Memberships