We’re getting older. That’s a fact we can’t escape.
Sadly some of our contemporaries have already left us and others are struggling with some of life’s assorted physical and metal health related challenges.
The prospect of us all “getting together for one last session..” is becoming less likely as each year passes.
So an opportunity to assemble multiple groups of bmx cohorts in one room to celebrate the great and good among us seems like an opportunity not to be passed up.
However, I was (like many) VERY sceptical about the British BMX hall of Fame when it launched for its first year. I was wary of how the nominees and inductees were selected, who was selecting them, and exactly how much of the event would be dedicated to freestyle given that it was being ran by a group that consisted of mostly racers.
So I stayed away and watched from afar. I kind of expected the whole thing to be a flop.
But as photos and video of the first year event started to emerge on various social media platforms I started to have the creeping realisation that maybe Id missed out on something worthwhile.
I saw footage and images from the event featuring riders who were some of my all time legends and heroes being honoured for all that they have done for BMX, alongside a room full of faces that were clearly having a great time.
Maybe its the freestyler in me that initially made me sceptical.
Gala dinners and awards evenings like this are not in the freestylers DNA that’s true. If you’ve raced BMX at any level than you’ve probably been to an end of season awards night so an event like the HOF doesn’t feel too weird.
For freestylers its a different deal. In fact, this was probably exactly the kind of organised sporting related event that we were trying to avoid by becoming a freestyler! This was reflected in the fact that the event I was at last Saturday was attended by many more racers than freestylers.
Now I think its fair to say that racers do a much better job than us freestylers of preserving, celebrating, and honouring their history. And the people who appear to be curating racing’s history are, by and large, the people who experienced it first hand.
Whereas freestyle tends to sit back and watch relative outsiders present it’s history, only to then complain that they’ve done a shit job of it.
But Freestyle needs to move the dial on this.
It needs to take more ownership of its own past, and ensure it is presented and celebrated for all to enjoy.
And It needs to show up at events like the HOF so that its represented and heard (above all the racers cheering!!). Otherwise its always going to be the half time show.
We’re older now. And as I’ve already said in this article. Time is only going one way, so we need to move on somewhat from any hang ups we may have about events like this and come together while we can.
Now I acknowledge that there will still be people out there with reservations about the HOF. They may have problems with the people involved, or have issues with the way the awards are voted on.
They may think that “this guy should be before that guy”, and “this guy didn’t win as much as this guy os they should in”.
AND they may even be critical that at first glance, the event seems to do does nothing to get kids on bikes.
But in my opinion they’d be wrong. And here’s why.
Firstly (and I can speak with first hand experience on this) – the awards and nominees adhere to a selection criteria that has been drafted with input from numerous experienced riders.
And in terms of who gets inducted and when, its important to remember that the HOF is NOT some kind of historic reenactment society, and the event is not intended as a presentation of BMX history and its precise chronological timeline.
And finally. A very large percentage of the nominees and inductees selected are STILL out there involved in BMX and STILL getting kids on bikes. We’re talking about people like Phil Townsend, Scott Dick, Keith Duly who all actively contribute to grassroots take up and participation in bmx.
And if this event serves to give these people a massive pat on the back and stokes the fire to keep them doing what they do then BMX wins.
So maybe….just maybe….. critics of the event should consider putting aside any gripes they may have and just enjoy the people, history, and milestones in the GB bmx family while we all still have the opportunity to do so.
And if they really want to see things done differently then the best way to affect change is from the inside. Shouting shit through the window isn’t going to cut it but getting involved is the best way to help add your slant to anything.
BMX is an initiative based democracy and generally the people steering the direction of any BMX event are the ones who taken the initiative to make it happen.
I guess my final thought is this. I took along 2 of freestyles most cynical, salty old timers to the British BMX Hall of fame. And guess what…..they loved it. Maybe you will too.