BMX and R.C. car racers wrapping up season

When 7-year-old Brianna "The Bomb" Clinton rides in the BMX races at the Edmonds Sports Complex, she pedals the entire race -- never stopping to coast.

Brianna, with a witch hat taped to her helmet for Halloween on Sunday, said her favorite thing about BMX is "Doing jumps and stuff."

The season is winding down at the Carson City BMX Track on Edmonds with the friendly Sunday races ending next month.

"We've got girls and boys who race," said Mary Leaming, track director. "We've got racers from ages 3 on up to their 40's. Call them the over-21 crowd."

One racer on Sunday was 49.

BMX, which Leaming describes as "kinda like motocross, but on bicycles," has been done out on Edmonds for more than 10 years, according to Leaming.

Riders at the Carson track race for trophies in elimination rounds, and one of the only requirements is that they wear a helmet.

With the track at South Lake Tahoe closed for the winter, Carson's BMX track is attracting more riders.

"It's an awesome thing for the community," said Lauren Thomaselli, not only the parent of a racer, the director of the South Lake track but also a racer herself. "It's just another positive, healthy thing for kids to do. Being that BMX is an individual sport, it's good for kids who didn't make all-star," she said.

She described free Mother's Day and Father's Day races offered at the track which encourage more parent participation.

"We just enjoy being out here with our kids and ridin' and exercising," she said.

Her son Tony said his favorite part of racing BMX is "winning."

Tony and another rider, Matt Lynch, ride at the expert level for Bike Brothers, sponsored by a Carson bike shop, and Creation.

Riders at the Carson track are getting excited about the Silver Dollar nationals competition coming up in Reno the week after New Year's.

"There'll be people there from all over the world," said Lynch.

For more information on BMX racing in Carson City call 246-3660.

One hundred yards down the parking lot from the BMX track the High Desert Remote Control Club was racing on Sunday.

"We just came out to have a little fun," said club president Mike Santiago, sitting in the sun with his tiny Chihuahua Mija.

With the last of their every-other-Sunday races coming up on November 10, club members were fine tuning their T.C. 3 Nitro sedans, R.C. 10s and Lozi XXX NTs. Club members race both electric and gas R.C. cars.

"I like watching NASCAR and the way these guys handle the turns with their R.C. cars it can be just like that," said Richard Verano of Gardnerville, who described himself as an R.C. car mechanic.

He explained the adjustments to shock weight, oil, camber and springs made in response to different track conditions.

"It's just like a real car," added a guy in a lawn chair nearby. "Actually we don't say 'real car' -- these are real cars -- we say 'full size car.'"

High Sierra R.C. Club members are required to join R.O.A.R., a sanctioning body for R.C. racing which offers insurance for racers.

For more information

Carson City BMX track call: 246-3660

High Sierra R.C. Club call: 841-0720