As many older BMXers have done, Matt Mumford took a few years off to go to start working, go to school, get married, have kids, and get going in life. In 2018 Matt got back into BMX racing after 32 years off. During the 32 years off, Matt confirms that he probably rode less than 10 total miles on any bike in total. He raced NBL as a kid for 4 years and never got enough wins to move up a class because in Ohio he could only squeeze in about 20 races a year with the weather and limited number of tracks. “When I turned 16, I sold all of my bikes, started working, got a car, and never looked back.” Now living in Northern California, in February 2018 Matt spoke to local Napa BMX Pro, Donny Robinson, enrolled his family in BMX Race League, and told Donny that he was going to start racing, but was going to keep track all of his laps both racing and practice, and his goal was to hit 1000 laps for both racing and practice. “My first 100 laps were difficult to say the least. I strained muscles, and was generally out of shape. I wasn’t even sure how long I could go.” “Also, I have an addiction to buying things like bikes, and chasing parts, and didn’t want to get caught up in that, so I decided that no matter what I would only have 2 bikes total, one class bike and one cruiser. Many over 40 yr old guys can relate with that.” Matt thought that if he really focused on the laps and no so much the racing it would be beneficial, and the more laps he rode, the better he would become. The point was just to see what 1000 laps would do for someone. Over the last 15 months, he has inspired many dads and moms to get off the couch and off the sidelines and start racing as well, and Matt would like to challenge you and your friends on the couch to put in another 1000 laps. Double Duty? "My first race, I only raced Novice class, and got killed because I was racing experts and random age people. After that, every race I have signed up for both class and cruiser. (Except 1 where I flew to a Nationals with only my 20 inch bike) At Nationals I sign up for class, cruiser, and Open. Locally, I get the pleasure of racing guys like Eric Dyer and Jim Nelson in Cruiser when I go to Oak Creek, and I have also raced the Elliott brothers, and Rick Lowry on occasion." On May 11th 2019, Matt hit 1000 laps; raced 250 races both class and cruiser, 138 trophies, some National trophies, a few State trophies, and now is Intermediate with 3 wins. He started back February 17th, 2018, so as of May11, 2019 has been back 449 days. "I am very fortunate to live in Northern California, and the weather is great. Raced nationals at Bakersfield, Vegas, Roseville, Lemoore, Vegas, and Phoenix in the last year, and those were great. In the greater Bay Area you can race 6 days a week and twice on Saturday and Sunday. With modern communications, we have some groups of people on social media and we let each other know when and where we are racing so we can put together some good races." “I when I hit 1000 laps last weekend, I was amazed at how relieved and energized I was. We had 8 guys on the gate who were 46 and over in my class race, and it was just a regular single point district race. The support from the Napa Track and the outpouring of support was phenomenal. Now that I made it, the first thing I did was print another 1000 lap sheet, I am going to give most of my district trophies back to the tracks, ride a few thousand more laps…Clips… Manuallting….Expert class, get more people racing over 40 years old, and enjoy life. I want to challenge other people to do 1000 laps and I am going to plan some sort of fund raising, TBD, for the next 1000 laps. I am 48 years old, so I race 46-50 Intermediate. I race for Just Cuz BMX Racing, ride matching Speedco carbon bikes one 20 and one 24 that are very cool. Special Thank You to: My Wife Anna Chouteau, and Children Haven and Cerré, Donny Robinson, Jeff Slusher and Just Cuz BMX Racing, Napa/Northbay BMX, J&R Bicycles, Speedco, Nathan Johanson, Alexander Bailey, Robert Bacosa, 43 Designs, Jim Agger, James Poli, 20/20 Scott Hanley, Jose Lim, Brian Hood, Napa Valley Pull, James Grippi, Dynamite Nation, Jeff Moody, Nick Valencia, Wayne Riser, Dream Team, George Gomes, Matt Heaps, Mary Ann Sweazy, and a whole host of other people. Special Thank you to all of the people who put in long hours at the tracks making and keeping BMX a sport so that we can race.