The Race Report

T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s

Featuring:

Matt Starling Bike Check

Armadillo State Race Qualifier

What’s wrong with BMX?

April 2012

A Houston, Texas BMX zine

The Race Report

PAGE 1

To whoever picks this up and reads it,

I really appreciate you taking the time to check out this

“zine” project I’m working on! It’s basically a DIY magazine,

much like the ones used in punk music to document and inform

what was going on in the local scene. I’m doing the same thing

but for the Houston BMX Racing scene.

Between studying, riding, and countless hours of

procrastination I came up with this little project and I’m hoping

people like it and I can continue to make issues. I just want to

help support the Houston BMX scene and give the riders

something to be stoked on when they see their picture in here.

It’s not supposed to be the most professional and perfect

magazine out there. In fact, I’m making it on a Xerox machine

partially funded by the money UTSA gives me to print stuff and

the rest comes out of my pocket.

Since I’m no good with web design a magazine is the

next best thing for me to get my ideas out there (see the

What’s Wrong With BMX article I wrote up) and publish the

pictures that our local photographers take.

I hope you enjoy!

E.J. Dorrian

Table of Contents

PAGE 2

What’s inside? Page 3—Matt Starling Bike Check

Page 5—Armadillo State Race Qualifier

Page 9—What’s wrong with BMX?

The Race Report

PAGE 3

Matt Starling Bike Check

Name: Matt Starling

Age: 19

Class: A Pro

Years Racing: 15

Frame: Free Agent Team Limo Pro XL

Bars: S&M Race Bars

Stem: Snap Pro

Grips: ODI Ruffen

Brakes: Shimano DXR

Headset: FSA

Forks: Sinz

Cranks: Shimano DXR

Pedals: Shimano

Sprocket: Snap 44

Chain: KMC

Seat: THE Junior

Seat Post: Fly Racing

Seat Post Clamp: Fly Racing

Rims: Envy

Hubs: Profile Elites

Tires: Kenda

I’ve been racing Matt since I can remember and he’s always been one of the

most stylish guys on the track. With no sponsor, you usually catch him on the

track riding for “team Dickies.” This year he stepped it up into the A pro ranks

and has had a successful rookie season. Here’s the setup Matt is currently run-

ning:

Matt Starling Bike Check

PAGE 4

Photo: Katie Frezza

The Race Report

PAGE 5

Armadillo BMX State Race Qualifier

Every year as the summer warms up so does the racing action and this

year is no different! With Armadillo having the second qualifier of the

year everybody showed up trying to get to the goal of 60 points early.

Here’s some of Kirby Cronk’s best shots of the weekend!

Armadillo SRQ

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The Race Report

PAGE 7

Armadillo SRQ

PAGE 8

The Race Report

PAGE 9

What’s wrong with racing?

I was recently checking Vintage BMX to see if my latest training

video got posted by my dad when I stumbled across a thread discussing

about why freestyle is bigger than racing (This links to the thread: http://

bit.ly/Hdfda4). They linked to a video of the finals from Simple Session in

Estonia which is the best BMX contest of the year then they talked about

what makes freestyle so much more popular.

It’s obvious that freestyle is much more simple Racing requires

more money, support, and a track. I believe one advantage that greatly

increased popularity of freestyle over racing is the power of the internet.

Racing lacks a good go-to website with updates, videos, and whatever

news is going on. BMXmania.com is probably the best racing website

that I know of, but it’s more outdated looking than craigslist. I can only

speak for myself, but I find it unappealing to look at and difficult to read.

With that being said, it’s mostly lacking stuff for the website.

Very few riders or teams put out any sort of video and release boring

press releases anytime something goes on in the company. However, if

they edited together a good video from the race I’d probably watch it.

Instead of a press release and a picture, companies should be putting

riders with filmers at the local track and filming “welcome to the team”

edits. Videos of top riders could be used as advertisements for products

instead of the traditional picture advertisement. Even team race reports

could be a collaboration of team riders’ motos from the weekend.

If a picture tells 1000 words, than a one minute video says

about 1.8 million. Video is much more appealing and more likely to be

seen. If racing wants to be as popular as freestyle if should follow what

has been proven to work. At least 10 good web videos by pro freestyle

riders are released every day. Each video, typically filmed by some sort

What’s wrong with racing?

PAGE 10

of professional filmer, generates anywhere from 4,000 to upwards of

30,000 views. Whether it be an edit of the rider riding, a bike check, or

even a how-to, videos can potentially generate significantly more

publicity than any other medium. Even myself, being a virtually unknown

rider, made a how-to video that has generated over 2500 views. It really

isn’t that difficult.

With video, riders turn from faces to characters. They become

the face of the companies they ride for and can promote products. Kids

will watch the videos and buy the parts that they saw their favorite pro

riding in the latest video. It’s a simple formula and freestyle has proven

it to work.

Essentially, racing lacks internet presence. What we need is a

user friendly, simple, searchable blog with the latest and greatest in

BMX and riders and companies producing content. Until then, we’re

stuck in the past. It’s a little ironic that I’m writing this in a magazine, but

you have to start somewhere.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to let me know what you think or

make suggestions to ejdorrian@gmail.com.