History of Hamilton BMX Club Incorporated (1980 - Present)
Hamilton BMX Club was officially established in December 1980, following a public meeting that formed the first Committee after a BMX stalemate in Hamilton post the school holiday programme. The Committee quickly got to work building a track and liaising with Hamilton City Council and contractors, with invaluable support from Kirikiriroa Kiwanis.
By March 1981, racing was underway, and the official grand opening was held on 26th April 1981, with His Worship the Mayor, Ross Jansen, performing the opening ceremony. A strong turnout of 453 riders joined the event from near and far.
In January 1982, the Club accepted the Hamilton City Council’s offer of a new site in the Minogue Park complex, as the stadium was repurposed for the development of the netball complex. Racing on this new track began in March 1983, but the track was soon redesigned, leading to another move for the club.
The redesigned track featured a pro-section to cater to older riders and remained in use until 1995, when safety concerns led to a major redevelopment. With a grant of $25,000 from Hamilton City Council, the Club hired a contractor to reconstruct the track. Unfortunately, the project faced significant delays, and after 18 months with no track, the contractor was dismissed from the project.
Undeterred, the Club members took the initiative to finish the track and surrounding areas, completing it in time to host the 1997 North Island Championships. At the same time, a new start ramp, gate, and start mechanism were constructed. The start ramp was made possible through the support of WEL Energy, while The Community Trust provided funding for power and lighting.
Hamilton BMX Club has been the host for many major events, including:
- The 1985 Summer Internationals
- The 1992, 1997, 1999, and 2007 North Island Championships
- The 2003 and 2022 National Championships
In 2020, the Club celebrated 40 years of BMX with a memorable and fun event that brought members and supporters together to commemorate the milestone.
Today, Hamilton BMX Club remains one of the largest BMX clubs in New Zealand, with 32 registered clubs nationwide. BMX is truly a family sport, with riders ranging from as young as three years old—starting on balance bikes—to competitive riders in their 70s. Riders progress from balance bikes to 20” race bikes, with many adults racing on 24” cruisers, proving that BMX is a sport for all ages.
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