NEW TO BMX

So you or your child has decided they are serious about BMX?

WELCOME TO BMX

In order to provide an introduction to the sport of BMX racing your first 3 club days are free.  After this if you wish to become a member, the fees are listed below.  Membership means you are associated with both the Hawera BMX Club and BMX NZ.  From there options are to race at club days only or events listed on the BMX NZ calendar – there are no prerequisite requirements to race away except being a member of a club and BMX NZ.  Club Membership is on an annual basis and runs from 1st of January to the 31st of December. It is open to all ages from young children to seniors.

There are four Categories of BMXNZ Membership/Licences

For ages 7 years and under you must get a Sprocket Licence which includes a number plate which can be collected from the points hut once membership has been completed.  You can race at any race meet on the BMX NZ calendar just like a challenge licence.

For the riders that are turning 8 this year or older (UCI 8), you have a Challenge Licence.  If you want to race at race meets on the BMXNZ calendar you require a Challenge or Sprocket Licence (this includes BMXNZ race meetings in Hawera). These licences will allow you to ride at club nights and race away at race meets on the BMX NZ calendar anywhere in New Zealand.

Applications for licences are completed on-line through the BMX NZ App “Become a member.” You need to choose Hawera BMX Club and fill in the required fields.  This online form can also be found on our website under "membership".   -You will need to provide a copy of the members passport or birth certificate which is attached in the app as part of the licencing process.  Full payment is also required on completion.  

The cost of annual membership consists of licencing through BMXNZ plus an annual club licence.  The different licence costs are:

BMX NZ Strider (no pedals) $5

BMX NZ Sprocket Licence $50 (UCI age 7yrs and under)

BMX NZ Challenge Licence $80 (UCI age 8yrs and over)

Hawera BMX Club Membership Fees are additional to the BMXNZ licence fee above

All these fees cover the period from 1st January to 31st December, fees are reduced for those joining from 1st July.



Race Plates

All rider UCI8 years and over require a licence plate to ride at events.  A number between 51 and 999can be selected by the rider.  Once selected please email hawerabmx@gmail.com to see if this number is available (no other club member has it).  BMXNZ has rules and regulations to following when ordering a race plate.  Zodiac Signs in Hawera and suppliers through BMX facebook pages and websites all know these rules. 

The following plates need to be purchased:

Male 20” (8yrs plus):

Yellow plate – Black numbers

Female 20” (8yrs plus):

Blue plate – White numbers

Cruisers (8yrs plus):

Red plate – White numbers

Numbers must be a minimum of 75mm high x 10mm wide and all plates must display a club prefix of 25mm minimum in height. 

Our club prefix is HAW. 

Riders attending BMX events without the correct plate, colour combination and/or number will not be able to compete at the event.  

We understand this can be very confusing for new riders.  Please do not hesitate to hawerabmx@gmail.com ask any questions or talk to one of our committee members at the track.

Transponders

You will hear people in BMX talk about UCI age - UCI is the age you turn in the current year, for example if you are joining for the 2024 year and your child will turn 8 anytime during the year, they will be classed as UCI 8. 

All UCI 8 years and over riders require a transponder to be able to ride at club, interclub and BMXNZ events. 

Transponders are used to score race times and positions of riders in race software such as Sqorz. 

Transponders can be purchased through BMXNZ when you join as a member or off the BMX NZ website or app under the transponder page.  The transponder needs to be attached to the front fork of the bike when riding.

Club Nights

Club nights are on Wednesdays and registration is online before 4.30pm - Racing from 6.30pm. 

If you are new come to the Admin building to register.  The online registration form can be found on facebook and on the website. 

At each club night Hawera  BMX Club members pay $3 rider fees and casual/non members pay $5 on arrival.  This helps with the running expenses of the club.
​​​​Race format is generally 4 races (motos), a break and then the finals.

Race Meets and Major Events

These are held throughout New Zealand from September through to May (the BMX season).  There will usually be 4 race meets in the Taranaki region in the BMX season.  BMX NZ issue a race calendar at around the middle of the year (after the BMX NZ AGM). 

Details on all events can be found in the BMX NZ App or on bmx.net.nz.  Entries will close off approximately one week prior to the event.  All information relating to the event will be on the flyer that is issued by the Club hosting the event. 

A Challenge or Sprocket licence must be held to race in these events.   All Challenge licence holders will also need to purchase a transponder and a subscription (order on-line from the BMX NZ App“Transponders”. 

There are Regional Championships held throughout New Zealand during the season, with each Region holding one of these.  The 3 major BMX NZ run events are North Island Championships, South Island Championships and the National Championships. 

Riders do not have to be selected to ride in the National Championships however they must have completed a minimum of 4 National Qualifying Meets (NQMs) in the calendar year prior to competing in the National Championships.  The flyer for any BMX meets and also the Race Calendar will state if a Race Meet is an NQM.

Bikes and Helmets

Bikes, full face helmets and gloves are available to hire from the Admin building for a hireage fee.  If you are looking to purchase gear there are several Facebook trading pages: Taranaki Only BMX Exchange, BMX Racing NZ Exchange, BMX Racing NZ Buy Sell and Swap.

Publicity and Communication

All the current BMX information and news will be posted on our Club Facebook page, links to the race flyers and other important BMX NZ information will be posted on facebook and on the BMX NZ app and facebook page.  Information will also be sent to members by email when required.  

Shop

Hawera BMX Club has a shop on site open during club nights and BMX NZ race meets.  There will be a variety of hot and cold food and drinks available for purchase.  Hot food needs to be ordered prior to racing starting, it will be ready to collect in the break.

Helpers

Non racing adults will be asked to help with various duties required for the successful running of the club, such as call up, marshalling, operating the gate etc.  If you are keen to learn any of these tasks, please ask and we will show you how these roles are done.  Our club is 100% run by volunteers so please help out where you can.

LETS LOOK AT THE BIKE YOU CAN RIDE

CRUISER OR 20" BIKE - AH WHAT?

Yep, that's right, you can actually choose what size bike you want to ride, or you can do what some riders do, and ride both types of bike from time to time.

In BMX racing competition, there are two different wheel sizes of bike available;

20" Diameter Wheels

The 20 inch bike is the same size as you see raced at the Olympics. The 20-inch bike is the staple diet of BMX racing. The sport originally started on bikes with 20-inch wheels, and that configuration has morphed into what we race today. The 20-inch bike is a more challenging bike to ride and can be less forgiving than the bigger wheels and frame of a cruiser bike.

24" Diameter Wheels (Cruiser)

Generally speaking, Cruiser bikes and 20-inch bikes don't compete in the same classes, but there can be the occasional exception. 

All riders under 7 years must wear elbow guards and knee/shin guards, please ensure your rider has the following:

All riders coming at any BMX event must wear, please ensure your rider has the following: