Track Development Progress & Planning Update
In August 2017, the plans were put into motion to rebuild the Globe BMX track. We started the process by asking for your feedback on what track development goals looked like to you before we met with our landowners, the City of Saskatoon. We sent out a survey and gathered up results.
These are the things you said were short term goals: Drainage, power, new gate, soiltac, lights, better storage & registration building, fencing, permanent seating, sound system, rhythm section updates, bigger last berm….
These are the things you said were long term goals: New track, indoors, private location, plus lots of items in the first list.
After we gathered your feedback, we met as a board and with members of the Parks & Recreation department in the fall/winter of 2017 in order understand next steps to achieve many of those items on that list. ● Formalize business plan Formalize lease agreement with the City of Saskatoon ● Lease agreement approval by City Council ● ● Landscaping surveys & estimates ● Track Planning; what are the goals that are achievable Track drawings & estimates ● Budget & timeline planning ● ● Sponsorships, fundraising & grant applications ● And more...
We knew we had a long road ahead of us to get those steps completed. Here is a timeline of events that followed: ● February 2018 - We formalized the business plan and had the City of Saskatoon review and approve. This was completed over the winter of 2018 and submitted that same spring. ● May 2018 - At the AGM we provided updates as to possible new track locations and the scouting/evaluation that had taken place. Our current location made the most sense in regards to footprint, parking, power, location proximity to city center and other cities/tracks. June 2018 - During the spring and summer of 2018 we received approval to put in drainage and ● perform reshaping of the straights and burms. This work was completed before and during the 2018 racing season ● July 2018 - fundraising! We held our first annual fundraiser/fun race, and help the 2018 SK Cup Provincial Grands & Championships and used as another fundraising opportunity. ● August 2018 - met with city approved landscape architects, Crosby Hanna to discuss landscaping requirements outside of the track space and costs/process associated. ● September 2018 - discussed potential track designers. Inquired with both local (within Canada) and international track designers on options, costs ● November 2018 - met with SCA Executive Director and Chief BMX Commissaire to discuss track planning, events, goals and the recommendation to replace our current start gate
● December 2018 began draft lease agreement with help from Parks & Rec team at City of Saskatoon, who’ve ○ now become invaluable partners and advocates Formalized track development budget outline ○ ● January 2019 determined most cost effective ways to build a new gate. Determined that purchasing high ○ quality controls (Pro Gate) and using a locally built gate frame would give us the best value and most reliable long term option. ○ Developed gate budget, sourced parts & suppliers and partnered with Dynamo electric for supplies and aluminum build. ○ Confirmed Tom Ritz Designs as track designer February 2019 ● ○ Completed Co-Op Community Funding Grant with help from member, Mark Sikorski. This grant, if awarded, would provide crucial funding towards a new track. This will be announced in June of 2019 Requested 2D drawings of new track design and layout in order to use for Lease ○ Agreement/Expansion/Landscape planning, budgeting and approval - see next slide for proposed layout and design
● March 2019 Developed gate sponsorship package to help recover costs ○ ○ Ordered parts & materials Began gate construction. Kyle built the gate frame, Dynamo donated the materials for the ○ aluminum barrel and Driven provided the aluminum welding services. April 2019 ● ○ Presented Lease Agreement and Expansion plans to City Council members of the Community Service Committee ○ Follow up meeting with Parks & Recreation Landscape department members to present drawings, develop next approval steps and gain approval for concrete pad installation ● May 2019 Gate installation ○ ● Summer 2019 Fundraising, Major Sponsorship, Grant Applications ○ ○ Landscaping survey with 3D track rendering Budget and Timeline Finalization ○ ● Fall/Winter 2019 Establish Build Date ○
High Level Track & Facility Goals: UCI Compliant; longer, safe, fun, challenging ● Durable surface; soiltac & pavement ● Improved drainage ● Improved staging & starting area ● Preserve playground ● Shift angle of track for better viewing ● Seating area ● Pro section ● Fencing, but not locked ● Lights & Power ● Permanent building ● Comply with all lease agreement terms ●
Who is Tom Ritz? Dr. Dirt, the Master of Mud, the Guru of Gravel - a man with many names. Tom is a true artist, using a CAT 257B as his paint brush, creating BMX tracks around the world to get kids on bikes and to create Champions! Tom, a former pro-BMX’er who turned track builder over 25 years ago, is nowadays one of the most experienced BMX track builders in the world. For the last 15 years, Tom has been instrumental in developing the sport of BMX, pushing the boundaries, which created the BMX Supercross format. Working previously for the UCI (International Cycling Union) and EliteTrax, Tom has designed and built most UCI BMX Supercross World Cup and UCI BMX World Championship tracks since 2003 including the 2008 Olympic Games BMX track, 2012 Olympic Games BMX track and the 2016 Olympic Games BMX track in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. With his passion for building BMX tracks, building rat rods and designing tattoos, he started Tom Ritz Designs.
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