The following information has been extracted from an ABA publication:

For the past 25 years, the American Bicycle Association has been providing countless people the opportunity to experience the world’s greatest extreme sport, BMX! The ABA is an association that was created by track operators,
for track operators, to provide centralized rules and regulations as well as insurance, with a focus on superior customer service and support. With over 270 tracks across the US and Canada and over 60,000 members, its obvious that ABA BMX is a huge success, and can soon be shared with your community.

As you may or may not know, the sport of bicycle motocross (BMX) racing provides people of all ages a positive activity, which promotes competition and good sportsmanship. BMX by its vary nature is a individual sport which involves the entire family. In BMX “No One Sits on the Bench”! Riders compete not only by age but also by proficiency. This allows participants to race others who are of similar age and skill level. Thousands of people throughout the world can attest to the positive effects of being involved in BMX racing.

The growth of the ABA has been phenomenal especially in the past several years. In fact since 1996 the ABA has doubled in the number of members and the number of sanctioned tracks across North America. This growth is due to the foundation that the ABA laid over 25 years ago. The foundation of programs and philosophies is still basically the same today with only few modifications to meet the need of changes in society.

The ABA also recognizes the need to give back to the community, and is extremely involved in the fight against Leukemia. Since 1981, the ABA and its tracks across the United States and Canada have raised well over three million
dollars for the Leukemia Society making ABA a top 5 fundraiser. Once a year, each ABA track holds a special race (the Race for Life) with the proceeds to go towards finding a cure for Leukemia. Each participant receives a special award for competing and can receive other prizes based on the amount of donations collected, such as patches, jackets and even free race entries for the ABA Grand Nationals. Most of all, each rider receives the feeling that only comes from helping others.

Having excellent relationships with manufacturers, dealers and promoters within the bicycle industry, the ABA is just your avenue to introduce and promote your community to the benefits of BMX. We look forward to your involvement with this exciting and constructive family sport of BMX.

XIV. Promotions 22

Of the hundreds of thousands of BMX styled bicycles sold every year, only a small percentage end up on the racetrack. The potential for new ABA membership is astounding, but only through an organized effort will these numbers be realized. Your efforts regarding promotion and sales will determine the success or failure of your operation.

BIKE SHOPS: Get involved with the bike shops in your area. Get to know the owners and the people who work there. Encourage them to carry BMX products and to become an ABA Saver Stamp redemption center. Inform them of what your operation is all about and what you can do for each other. Get them to allow you to place your posters, flyers and other material in the shops. Offer them a sign at your track for a discounted rate. Encourage them each to sponsor a team to help promote each one’s shop. Or, maybe even support two teams with one being made up of BMX customers who might realize a percentage discount on items purchased based on the given shop’s budget. The other could be the competition team, which the shop could choose to take care of as is seen fit. Bike shops will benefit greatly from BMX tracks, because BMXers need specialized racing parts and services, which are available from Bike Shops, not major retailers. It’s a perfect marriage!

CIVIC CLUBS: Let the movers and shakers of your community know what BMX is and what your program is doing for young people in your town. Many organizations are always looking for speakers at their meetings. This can give you the opportunity to present your program to some influential people that can become supporters of your program when you need money or have a problem with the city council.

LOCAL MERCHANTS: The local merchants in your area are an invaluable asset to your track’s success. Their support can come in several forms: Buying advertisement signs at the track or sponsoring your trophies and awards, sponsoring
a race or a series of races and/or placing your information posters and flyers in their places of business. Be sure to develop a complete written proposal to present to the prospective sponsors outlining what you will do for them. Detailed help is available from the ABA in this area.

ADVERTISING: Most track operators are on a small budget and expensive forms of advertising are not available to them. However, there are places where just a few dollars will go a long way. Church flyers, neighborhood shoppers and school papers are inexpensive places to put your ads. Flyers, posters and other door-to-door techniques also provide maximum exposure with minimum expense. Carry posters and flyers with you at all times and hand them out whenever you stop. The ABA can provide you with posters and other advertising help if you need it. Check with ABA periodically for any advertising promotions that may be in effect through the ABA.

XIV. Promotions 23

SCHOOLS: Sometimes it is difficult getting approval to give a presentation or even simply distribute info in public schools. But, there are ways to break through this barrier. One excellent way is to offer ABA’s BMXer magazine to the school libraries at no cost to them. Also, advertising in the school paper and encouraging the school papers to give news coverage to your races is helpful. If you can arrange to speak to a school group, be prepared to present an interesting program. If you get into the schools, the ABA has special school programs available.

MEDIA: Contact the newspapers and television stations in your area and tell them what is going on. Send out a press release when a noteworthy event is being conducted at your track. Encourage the media to cover your race results on a regular basis. IF THEY DON’T KNOW YOUR TRACK EXISTS, THEY CAN’T COVER IT.

Check with ABA for advertising co-op opportunities.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT: One of the finest things any track can do is get involved in a charitable event. In 1981, the ABA started the Leukemia “Race For Life” program through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America. This program has not only raised over $3 million for fight against Leukemia, but it has also exposed BMX to literally millions of people that may not have otherwise known of the sport. In addition, the riders have the opportunity to aid in finding a cure for this disease while enjoying the sport of BMX. The “Race For Life” exemplifies the family oriented qualities of the ABA and the sport of BMX.