So, That’s pedal power...
From : The HERALD, May 20th, 1981.


It is 18 months since Brenda and Ray Lawn first displayed a BMX bike in their Boronia cycle shop.
The locals used to scorn the machine because of the way It looked, Brenda said today.
“It’s different now, though,” Brenda said.. "The boom has hit so hard we can’t keep up with it.”
Brenda, 30, is secretary of the fledgling Victorian BMX Association.
In case you don’t understand, BMX stands for Bicycle Moto Cross — a sport made popular In America.
And if you don’t know what a BMX bike is, just look around at the chunky, robust machines kids are riding these days.

Mrs Lawn estimates that 200,000 of the bikes have been sold In Victoria in the past two years.
Gone are the days when kids went for 10-speed racers to give them a smooth ride down the street.
Now It’s machines with 50-cm wheels, knobby tyres. triangular frames and hard seats.
“Yes, the bikes are radically different from the 10-speed racers,” Mrs Lawn said.
“At first, the kids didn’t understand what they were for — now everybody wants one.”

The Lawns were among the first people in Victoria to form a BMX club.
“About five boys approached me one day and asked me to start one up.” Mrs Lawn said.
“We formed the Mac Cycles BMX Club, and now It has over 200 members.

“There are now 40 clubs affiliated with the Victorian BMX Association.”
Special BMX tracks are springing up all over Melbourne.
Races are held on most weekends on 200-300 metre courses which give competitors rough, thrilling rides.

Albert Abraham, a 69-year-old former racing cyclist, controls a track at Frankston.
“The sport is booming all right, but we are 10 years behind America.” he said.
“I just can’t imagine what it will be like when we catch up.”
Albert said that some bikes are worth $500 or more, and are mostly imported from Japan. Taiwan and the United States.

His track opened in April and already has 230 members.
Perhaps Mrs Lawn best sums up the boom. “It couldn’t have happened at a better time,” she said.
“What with the energy crisis and all that, the kids are enjoying pedalling without artificial power.

Tim Beattie, 15 (left), and Gary Dunn, 15, both from Moorabbin, in a "cross-up".



At the ready on the hill . . . The BMX boys line up to tackle the new course near Patterson Lakes estate.
(Frankston BMX Track).

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