Brixton BMX Club, the oldest BMX club in London, is fighting hard to save a popular track in Brockwell Park from ruin. They are finding the struggle immense, however.
"We're having to put pressure on the Council to trim the overgrowth on the track", Brixton founder Ken Floyde said. "If you came here two weeks ago, you would have seen how it looked with all the overgrowth. It looked uncared for and more like a wildlife garden than an actual BMX track."
The club, which was founded in 1981, has been attempting to maintain the track for quite some time, but doing it by hand hasn't been the most effective method.
"We are having clear what you see here by hand. We have no machinery, we've got no funds, but we all do this because we love it". Press officer Mike Woof said that Brixton is "struggling on a hand-to-mouth budget." Their goal is to raise £50,000 for "track upgrading, maintenance, tools, bikes and helmets" according to their website.
Woof appealed for donations by talking about the value of the club to the fabric of their community. "I think the value of what a grassroots club likes ours brings to the community is incalculable. It's a shame it's not recognized," Woof said.
"We are hosting one of the London Series events in September and this track needs to be up to scratch for that".
The Brixton BMX Club boasts a roster of 70 riders, and is inclusive of BMX enthusiasts of all skill levels. "We have about 80 members ranging from four-year-old strider bike riders, to people who are aged from five to 60", club member and coach Allan Hay said. "We have people of all abilities, all ages and all backgrounds here. We'll take on anybody who wants learn."
Brixton has produced U.K. star Charlie Reynolds, and BMX World Championship bronze medallist Tre Whyte.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
