I would like to clear the air about certain board members that are taking a little heat here.
As Track Director of EHT BMX, I asked two key individuals that work in our registration booth if we were ready for the open (i.e.: Registration info, who we give the check from the registered riders to, how the points are kept…. standard things to think about for this type of event). Since the first race would be ocurring at our track in three weeks, I thought it would be a good idea to be prepared for it in advance rather than wait till the last minute. Neither of these individuals had any idea that the series was finalized. Yes, a poster was posted on the outside of our Registration building that Rich F. asked me if he could post (which was a great looking poster if I may add). I said yes because I and the EHT BMX Assoc. Board all agree that this is an awesome idea to promote NJBMX. However, because these Ladies were IN registration or on the finishline scoring, they did not see, study, or maybe even read the poster. As board members of NJBMX they have specific duties.
The State Clerk will be doing the registration of the race because it is a State Qualifier, therefore she will be the one to verify that the non-pros are racing class also (NBL Rule Chapter 6 Sub B, which is also addressed in the Hyper Pro/Am rules), and they have to be in the computer in order to get a moto for the “open” printed out. The moto is part of the State Qualifier race, and insurance has to be paid for the riders in the race. It needs to reported to the NBL on the race report. The races obviously have to be run “in conjunction” with the regular motos, unless all riders involved in the open want to race 4 times in the span of approx 15 minutes (I as a “rider” don’t think that would be very effective).
The State Tresurer is in charge of the money collected at the State Qualifier. The money for the open should therefore be paid at registration, since it is being run “in conjunction” with the State Qualifier. If anyone other than the State Tresuerer is handling and keeping track of the money, she will turn it over to them from Registration (be it Rich or Glen) and both parties should get a receipt (after all, tracking of money is one of the “big” topics)
This being said, neither the State Clerk nor the State Tresurer were “informed” of any of this and if the State Commissioner and the Asst. St. Commissioner approved this series (which may I remind you IS a VERY good thing), THEY should have passed the info on to them as well as the Tracks involved. Yes, this series has been thrown around for a few months, but nothing was final at the last meeting. I was asked if I would support the series by Rich F. through a third party, I said “Yes”. That was the last I heard of it until I saw the poster and then checked the website (great website by the way).
There is no “power trip”, no “clearance” from the state clerk was needed, the open “IS OFFICIAL”, but the communication about the series….. “the people who need to know, know”, maybe should have a broader spectrum of dispersal. Maybe I don’t need to know, but some other support personnel may have a need.
Once again, these individuals started asking questions because I wanted to be prepared for the Hyper Pro/Am event that is scheduled to take place on May 5 at EHTBMX and it will be a great series. They are NOT trying to cause problems with the event regardless of what anyone thinks. If anyone would like to talk more about my thoughts on this, feel free to pull my ear at the East Coast National at EHT BMX this weekend. I will be glad to talk with you, and I hope to see you down here!
Chris Vliet
EHTBMX
Track Director
mediocre rider/racer