McCollum Park hosts season’s final BMX qualifying race

The top BMX racers from across the state will be descending on McCollum Park in South Everett this weekend.

McCollum Park BMX is hosting the final Washington state qualifying race of the 2003 season on Aug. 10.

This will be the last opportunity for riders to better their scores in order to qualify for the state championships, which will be in September.

The age range of the competitors is likely to be as varied as any sporting event out there. The youngest division is 5-and-under, while the oldest is 51-and-over.

“We have boys and girls and mom’s and dad’s,” said McCollum Park BMX track operator Char Ayers. “Once the kids get done, dad wants to get out and try out. It’s a family-type of thing.”

Ayers has been operating the park, which is a non-profit entity, for eight years. Many people are surprised to find out that there is a BMX track at McCollum Park.

“Over half the people when they do find it ask ‘How long have you been here?’” Ayers said.

A volunteer staff of 20 individuals helps stage weekly races.

McCollum Park is located at 600 128th St. SE., west of Mill Creek. The track is the only BMX venue in Snohomish County. The nearest other tracks are in Sea-Tac or Mount Vernon.

Registration will take place from 9-11 a.m. and practice also will be held during that time. Ayers expects racing to start at about 11:30 a.m.

Last year McCollum Park BMX hosted the state championship and drew more than 700 riders.

“It was elbow to elbow people,” Ayers said.

Ayers expects anywhere from 350 to 600 for this Sunday’s races.

“There are a lot of kids,” she said. “There is a lot of action.”

The riders’ top three scores during the regular season are combined in order to determine which competitors move on to the state finals. The state championship is determined by a racers’ top three races during the regular season combined with the results from the finals.

Following this weekend’s races, McCollum Park BMX will be hosting its annual day camps, which run Aug. 11-15.

For more information on McCollum Park BMX check out its Website at www. mccollumparkbmx.com or call 425-485-3461.