The secret to Thursday night gates sessions at Macarthur BMX

Macarthur BMX will host rounds four and five of the 2024 AusCycling BMX Racing National Series in just over a week, and while the track will be dressed to showcase the premier BMX racing series in Australia, the venue is also a key site in supporting the BMX community in Sydney.

In a scene that’s reflected at BMX venues across Australia, the venue holds its biggest weekly gates session on Thursday nights, where riders and their families congregate to hone their skills on track.

However, speaking to club president Matt Thorn at a gate session earlier this month, AusCycling discovered how the evenings also help members connect.

“Look, it's always a great atmosphere here, and all our members get along ... It's just a great atmosphere and it sets a good vibe around the club,” Thorn said.

“I think having good help always helps to make things run smoothly. And when things run smoothly, the members are happy, and they'll keep coming back. So, if you can get that all to work, I think that the members will continue to rock up on their gate night and support the club.”

Preparing for a gates session is a team effort. From around 4:30pm, parents and committee members arrive and volunteer for everything from setting up and dropping gates, to manning the canteen, to standing on track and monitoring for first aid.

The night also caters for riders of all levels. Mini-wheelers, intermediate and Superclass riders are all allocated time on track, and the club keeps engagement high with live timing displayed on screens at the top of the 5-metre start hill.

While the club normally attracts anywhere from 50-80 riders on a Thursday, up to 150 riders might turn up leading into a big event, but as club secretary Dani Lane explained, the key to having so many people turn up is not just hosting big events.

“So, Thursday nights are always a really social event down here at Macarthur,” Lane said.

“It’s definitely beneficial for us to have that canteen open, because it means people can come and stay for a long time. They don't have to worry about getting home and making dinner, because dinner is sorted for them. Winter nights like this, it's freezing down here, so we've got heaters out for people to stand around and congregate around.

“Some [parents] are down here near the canteen, having a chat, having some dinner. Some are up on the berms, watching the kids, doing the videos for Instagram. And then we also have kids, not on the track, but behind the canteen playing football. So, it's very social. It's not just about BMX. Everyone's here just to have fun and enjoy it.”

Another obvious upside to the big turnout happens on-track, with riders preparing for race day against a full gate of other riders, as Macarthur local Andy Hughes explained.

“Lately there's been a good group of people coming down. So, we've pretty much had a gate of eight and it's been good battles,” Hughes said.

“It's good because it's like a fake race pretty much every Thursday night. So, you go through the same process, it's the same mental thing. It's just we do it on a Thursday night so when it comes to racing, it's a lot easier.”

Macarthur BMX hosted a National Series round in 2023 (photo: 5th Gear Digital)

The club also benefits from the venue having an 8-metre start hill – one of the few full-size start hills in Australia – which allows riders to build their confidence on the intimidating structure.

“I moved up from Melbourne because [being] able to ride an Olympic size, world-class facility every week is just, it makes the difference,” 2022 Men’s Superclass national champion Max Cairns said.

“I was always so jealous of the guys up in Brisbane that got to ride Sleeman every week. So, I kind of forced myself, came up here and now, you're on an 8-metre hill and it just becomes the norm. No more butterflies looking over the edge off that 8-metre hill any more.

“It's kind of like my whole community's here. They all come out on a Thursday night, Tuesday night out at Western Sydney, and everyone sort of follows the little circuit around in the western part of Sydney. It's awesome.”

Gates sessions on Thursday night at Macarthur BMX begin with mini wheelers at 5:15pm, with other categories on track until around 8:30pm. For more information, contact the club on [email protected] or visit https://macarthurbmx.com.au/

2024 AusCycling BMX Racing National Series, Rounds 4 & 5:

• Date: July 6-7
• Location: Macarthur BMX, corner of Hilder Street and Camden Valley Wy, Elderslie NSW 2570
• More Information:Event website

National Series Live Timing & Results

SBS On Demand Live Stream

Main image: Macarthur BMX