MID-AMERICA NATIONALS

2ND COMING USA BMX STOPS IN NEBRASKA ...AGAIN.

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A few days before the Mid-America Nationals, the World lost one of the greatest, innovative and influential guitar players of all time - Edward Van Halen. The older-gen BMX World, like myself, who grew up listening to Van Halen on the way to a BMX race in the early 80’s were all mourning the loss of a true Rock legend.

Thus, I suggested to National Director Bill Morris: “Let’s honor Eddie’s legacy by playing Van Halen non-stop during Friday practice.” His reply was simply “NO.” I then tried to negotiate - “How about just kicking off practice with their greatest album - Van Halen’s first album?” Again, Bill denied my request. “Half of these kids don’t know who Van Halen is,” he reasoned.

Well, I replied - THEY SHOULD! So even if we didn’t get a Van Halen marathon played over the PA system in Omaha - at least you’ll get one here.

RIGHT NOW / EVERYBODY WANTS SOME

Combine two of Van Halen’s greatest songs and it’s true - “Right now, everybody does want some ...BMX racing!” As the country continues to slowly re-open from the Covid lock-down, it’s obvious by the solid turnouts that BMX families from all over are anxious to get back to the ol’ familiar BMX racing, and Omaha BMX was a great place to get your BMX groove on. Five weeks earlier, after the CornHusker Nationals in nearby Lincoln, the track crew and Omaha CVB were given a list of improvements ...and they pulled it off precisely! Upon arrival in Omaha, the track was National-worthy and race-ready. With its paved turns, the surface was dialed in and hard packed, and the obstacles were abundant. A rockin’ rhythm and a monstrous double step-down-double jump (that needs a better name) challenged riders of all age and skill levels.