*** BMX Track Reopens In Simpsonville ***

Simpsonville, SC --
A broken hip hasn't stopped longtime BMX
racer Donnie Ballew. The 66-year-old shook
off the injury from seven weeks ago to last month
place third and then first in a national bicycling
competition in Delaware.

Ballew didn't look any less pleased he was one of
only three in the competition's 56 and older division
when asked about the achievement during last week's
reopening of a state-of-the-art BMX track at Simpsonville's
Southside Park.

The new $80,000 track was officially reopened through
partnership between the Greenville County Recreation District,
the newly formed South Carolina BMX Association and the
American Bicycle Association.

The track is the largest in the Southeast, according to
Raymond Dunham, the recreation district's special use
facility director. It's 1,010 linear feet in length with a
17-foot high burm on the first turn. More than 4000 yards
of new clay were added to the track, which boasts an
expert section with a 30-foot jump.

"This track is on the same scale of the Grand Nationals
and Olympic venue size facilities," Dunham said, adding
the Redline Cup East Finals were to be hosted at the track
over the weekend. "This event is great not only for the
participants but also for our local community having an
estimated impact of $150,000."

Ballew, a single dad since his two children were both less
than 2, first started managing Simpsonville's track not due
to any expertise in the sport. Instead, his 14-year-old son
Kevin, now 27, volunteered him.

"Kevin kept coming here and playing on the track even
though it was full of potholes and there was no track director.
From what I understand Kevin said, `Well, my dad can do it,'"
laughed Warren Baker, SC BMX president.

Kevin and his sister Casey, 26, don't race anymore.
Since retiring from Mt. Vernon Mills after 29 years of
service, Ballew said racing and helping area children
grow in the sport has become his life.

"They learn how to win. They learn how to lose.
They learn how to get along with each other and how
to compete with each other," Ballew said. "You wouldn't
believe how the kids and teenagers talk to each other about
how to do better. It's just a pleasing situation to see the kids
get a long and work with each other and how they can better
themselves racing."

Ballew has raced 11 of the 15 years he's managed the
track. He is ranked fifth in the nation and second in the
state in his division. He oversees all operations at his home
track including practice 6-8 Thursdays and racing every
Friday night with registration 6:30-7:30 p.m.

All gathered last week to dedicate the track credited his
dedication and determination with making the facility –
named Donnie Ballew's Ultimate BMX Racing in his honor
— a reality.

"We were about ready to drop off the map as far as ABA
in South Carolina was concerned. We as an association
couldn't be prouder to have someone like him," ABA
President John Clayton said.

"Three years ago during banquet I told the kids I planned to
build them a track they could enjoy," Ballew said tearfully
Thursday before proclaiming the track officially open. "This
is y'alls track."

Geneb...Wenatchee,Washington-USA
All Things Northwest in BMX!
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