United Bicycle Racers Association
Encyclopedia
The United Bicycle Racers (UBR) (initially and briefly known as World Bike Riders (WBR)) was a short-lived Bicycle Motocross (BMX)
racing sanctioning body based in Modesto, California
which was started by John Valdez, a bike shop owner, on his 18th birthday that lasted from 1977-1983. At its peak it had 34 tracks in California and Nevada. His philosophy was to cater to the local racer and deemphasized the focus on National events. Still, because of its California base, it did attract many of the national caliber pro racers who normally do not attend the events of small sanctioning bodies.
The UBR went out of business due to bankruptcy
and ceased operations early in 1983.
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
racing sanctioning body based in Modesto, California
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
which was started by John Valdez, a bike shop owner, on his 18th birthday that lasted from 1977-1983. At its peak it had 34 tracks in California and Nevada. His philosophy was to cater to the local racer and deemphasized the focus on National events. Still, because of its California base, it did attract many of the national caliber pro racers who normally do not attend the events of small sanctioning bodies.
The UBR went out of business due to bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
and ceased operations early in 1983.
Vital statistics
| Milestone | Event Details | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded: | May 1977. | ||||
| Motto(s)/Slogan(s): | "We're here for you." | ||||
| Years of operation: | 1977–1982 | ||||
| Original Headquarters: | Modesto, California Modesto, California Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California.... . |
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| Last Headquarters: | Same | ||||
| Original Owner: | John Valdez | ||||
| Last Owner: | Same | ||||
| Original President: | John Valdez | ||||
| Last President: | Steven littrel | ||||
| Original Vice President: | Steven littrell | ||||
| Last Vice President: | |||||
| Employees (peak): | |||||
| First track: | King's BMX Raceway in Medesto. | ||||
| Peak claimed number of tracks: | 32 in 1982 | ||||
| Claimed present number of tracks: | |||||
| Peak claimed number of members: | 5,000+ | ||||
| First sanctioned race: | |||||
| First National: | >- | Number of nationals per year: | Approx. six (including Grand National). | ||
| Span: | Regional. Tracks in California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... and Nevada Nevada Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its... . |
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| First Grand National: | October 17, 1979 Centennial Coliseum Reno, Nevada Reno, Nevada Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area... . It's Pro purse was USD$1,500 |
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| Last Grand National: | 1982 | ||||
| In house newspaper: | UBR Scene | ||||
| In house magazine: | None |
Proficiency and division classes and advancement method
| Division | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Amateur Proficiency and age levels 20 inch class: | Junior (Novice equivalent), Expert. 5 & 6 Junior (Boys & girls), then 7 Junior to 16 & over Expert in one year steps. Girls could race with the boys (thanks to Cheri Elliott Cheri Elliott Cheri Elliott was an American champion female bicycle motocross racer in the 1980s, and a champion Downhill and Slalom mountain bike racer in the 1990s and early 2000s. During her BMX career, she spent most of her racing career on the national circuit with the Skyway Recreation factory team... in 1982) but were barred from Powder Puff Powder Puff Powderpuff is a reference to the division of a traditionally male sport reserved for females regardless of the age of the participants.Powderpuff football games are an annual tradition at many high schools and universities in the United States and Canada... (the Girls classes) if they did. Amateur Open: 7 & under to 16 & over in 2 year steps. Age classifications only |
|
| Amateur Cruiser: | 13 & Under, 14-16, 17-22, 23-34, 35 & Over. Age classifications only | |
| Girls 20 inch: | 5-6 girls to 14 & over girls in 2 year steps. Age classifications only, no proficiency levels. Amateur only. | |
| Professional Classes: | Pro Cruiser, Pro 20". Open Expert, a Pro/Am division open to both Pros and Expert level racers. Men only. | |
| Qualifying system: | Moto system a.k.a Olympic System a.k.a Cumulative Scoring System. |
United Bicycle Racers Association list of National number ones
Pro Nat. #1 Men
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Pro Cruiser Nat. #1 Men
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Amat. Nat. #1 Men
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Amat. Nat. #1 Cruiser
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Amat. Nat. #1 Women
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Amat. Nat. #1 Sidehack
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See also
- American Bicycle AssociationAmerican Bicycle AssociationThe American Bicycle Association is a United States-based Bicycle Motocross sports governing body in Gilbert, Arizona created by Merl Mennenga and Gene Roden in 1977. It is the largest sanctioning body in the United States concerning BMX. It has tracks in Canada and Mexico as well as in the USA...
- National Bicycle AssociationNational Bicycle AssociationThe National Bicycle Association , later known as the National Bicycle Motocross Association was an United States based Bicycle Motocross sports sanctioning body originally based in Soledad, California that was created by Ernie Alexander in 1973 and ceased operations as an independent body in 1981...
- National Bicycle LeagueNational Bicycle LeagueThe National Bicycle League is a United States based Bicycle Motocross sports sanctioning body originally based in Deerfield Beach, Florida but after several moves it was based in Hilliard, Ohio...
- National Pedal Sport AssociationNational Pedal Sport AssociationThe National Pedal Sport Association was a South Eastern USA regional Bicycle Motocross sanctioning body originally based in Palm Harbor, Florida. It then soon after moved to Dunedin, Florida for most of its existence. Then in its last years Pinellas Park, Florida was its headquarters...
- United States Bicycle Motocross AssociationUnited States Bicycle Motocross AssociationThe United States Bicycle Association was a short lived Bicycle Motocross national sanctioning body based in Tempe, Arizona. It was founded in March 1984 by five former members of the American Bicycle Association : Rich Mann, Dave Cook, Geoff Sims, Steve Schaefer and Rod Keeling, who became the...