Today we took a quick road trip to Bumps-n-Berms in York, PA.  We had been there before earlier this summer for a Gold Cup Qualifier, but this was our first time there for a regular local race.  They had had lots of rain earlier in the week so the track was "rough" according to my boys, but still it was a good day of racing.  It's six days into the fall season, but was quite warm today in the 80's with a big, beautiful, cloudless sky.  

It was a very small turn out with only eight motos and all but two of them were total points.  Jackson (8 Inter) had in his moto another 8 Inter and an 8 Novice and they were in Moto #4.  Gibson (11 Ex) had a 10 Ex (who was huge for his age) and an 8 Ex and they were in Moto #7.  Motos were posted, I had written down their moto numbers and gates in my notebook, and had my camera ready.  One thing I really like about Bumps-n-Berms is that the starting hill is connected to the second turn.  So I can be at the starting hill with them (if they want or need me there) to make sure they are lined up in the right moto and gate and then walk over a few steps to the top of the second turn for a great spot for photos.  

First round of motos, when Jackson's gate dropped he shot out of there like a bullet.  He got a really good lead and he was gone!  As he came round the first turn, down the second straight, and into the second turn, I snapped a bunch of pictures.  As soon as he crossed the finish line, a lady turned around and said to me "You're pretty impressive.  You've got a notebook to keep track of motos, a camera taking pictures, and a baby strapped to you."  It was amusing.  Yes, I did have baby Andrew sleeping in the sling dangling from my chest.  

Gibson was next.  They all had a great gate.  Down the first staight they went and for a moment I thought all three of them were going to crash.  They were so close to each other.  It reminded me of outfielders in a baseball game all running for the same fly ball slamming into each other and falling down.  But thank goodness they didn't crash.  As they came round the first turn the 10 Ex got the lead, Gibson was in second, the 8 Ex in third, and that's how they crossed the finish line.  And of course I snapped pictures of Gibby also.  

Jackson's second round of motos was an exact repeat of his first.  First place.  In Gibson's, he shot out of that gate and took the lead, but only just barely.  The 10 Ex was right on his tail.  Gibby managed to hold the lead all the way to the end, but on the fourth straight the 10 Ex was practically right beside him and just inches before the finish line he pushed himself forward and crossed the line first.  Gibson took second.  

We then took a small break before the main.  The boys rested and drank water while I took Andrew to sit in a shady area.  

It was then time for the main race.  I'm standing with Jackson while he's putting on his helmet and gloves and he says to me "Mom, I got this.  Becasue even if I come in second, I'm still going to get first place because of my points."  

Jackson's gate drops and he takes the holeshot.  He comes round turn one and has a major lead.  I then look away for a split second, which now I can't remember what for, and when I look back I see the other two riders passing by where Jackson should be and a big cloud of dust.  Oh no!  He's down.  And by the size of the dust cloud I could tell it was a hard fall.  I didn't go running over there.  I waited.  The corner marshalls were doing their job and handling it.  They weren't waving their arms frantically for help so I knew it wasn't too serious.  After about two or three minutes (which felt like an eternity), Jackson got up, got back on his bike, and finished the race.  He came over to where I was standing and explained to me what happened.  He said he came unclipped and wobbled just enough to some how cause him to flip his bars.  He bruised the under side of his arm pretty good, but overall was fine.  Fine except being covered in dirt from head to toe.  For the next fifteen minutes every time Jackson moved dust came floating off him.  I joked that he looked like Pig Pen from Peanuts.  

Gibson's gate drops and he, too, takes the holeshot.  He gets a good lead and keeps it.  He crosses the finish line first.  

So now to add up the points:

Jackson came in 1st, 1st, 3rd = 5 points.  Jackson 1st place with 5 pts. The 8 Novice 2nd place with 6 pts.  The 8 Inter 3rd place with 7 pts.   This is Jackson's fifteenth 1st place win as an intermediate.  Only five more to go until he becomes expert.  

Gibson came in 2nd, 2nd, 1st = 5 points.  The 10 Ex 1st place with 4 pts.  Gibson 2nd place with 5 pts.  The 8 Ex 3rd place with 9 pts.

Congrats to my boys.  They raced hard (and fell hard) today.  

~Miranda, mom of BMX Brothers