Yup ... it's true. The last time I was in Nashville, at the Music City BMX track was in 1986; covering the Murray World Cup for the mighty BMX ACTION magazine. Prior to hopping on the plane, I grabbed the '86 volume of BMXA and re-lived my last trip to the famous Nashville BMX track.

There were a few things I'd completely forgotten about that race - such as how sponsor Murray delivered their "huge" $27,000 Pro purse with an A-Team theme. A skydiver (supposedly a white B.A. Barackus, ) landed in the infield with a steel case full of cash, when suddenly an army jeep drove down the first straightaway firing blanks at the crowd, while the rest of the so-called "A-team" ran out in the infield and escaped the Army men. 
I also remember how when that issue of BMXA hit the stands, I got critiqued by a lot of people for writing about the riders, more than the race. (Which was my goal.) It was one of those lessons learned, that you can never make everybody happy. There will always be some complainers - and that still stands true to this day. 

In my Murray World Cup story, I wrote about the Hutch team's accomodations and how Charles Townsend couldn't cook spaghetti. I wrote about the international BMX travelers - Sheepdog had just returned from Tahiti and Toby Henderson back from Thailand. There were 228 motos. And Eric Carter left his bike at the hotel.  I thought it was a good stroy, because it gave the "behind-the-scenes" happenings and the inside scoop from the pits. 
This time around, I'm sure my story will be quite different. 

Overall, it was great to be back in Nashville after nearly 3 decades. A lot of things seemed familiar, while a few things definitely changed. For one - their cool new barrel starting gate from Onyx has a big ol' roof over it. Our official starter - Ron Jones, was spoiled in Nashville, with a comfy director's chair to sit in, his own portable fan ...even a plush marble counter-top to lean on. "This is how it should be at every race," Ron seriously joked.

What I loved most about Music City BMX is the same thing I was so stoked on back in '86: this track is all about speed and catchin' air. Photo-wise, you can't take a bad pic from any angle, anywhere on the track or sidelines. In these times when it seems that most tracks are all about speed manualing and power-pumpin', Nashville's fast and furious first straightaway screams, and sends everyone from 5 novies to the World's fastest Olympians to the skies. (Of course, the 5 novies touch down a little sooner).  The famous 32 foot tabletop jump down Music City's first straightaway is intimidating to some, and a complete blast for others. By the time you reach it, you are haulin' buns. Hit the lip and you are launched - along iwth 7 others, in to oblivion. It's great for photos! 

As if that wasn't enough airtime, the next step-up is the prime photo spot, as riders whip it to angle themelves for the asphalt landing in to turn one. I could've just sat on the edge of that turn at shot there all weekend long - and it was hard not to. Great pics there. 
Even the tiny-lipped roller out of turn one is photogenic, as the top Am and Pros lift up right before it to catch some backside momentum. Catch it at the right moment, and it captures the skill and talent of today's BMX bad-asses. 

I didn't shoot the 2nd straight doubles too much;  but instead stuck by the larger triples in to turn 2. Riders were still packed together like sardines going in to the second paved turn, and their speed was still maintained to sky it. Got some great pics here - especially on Sunday, during the Expert mains. The sun was behind them, but poppin' them with a flash, it gave me a cool rider-shadow on the backside.  Ryan Pettigrew threw me some whipped style on his way to winning 16x. 

Of course, the most solid proof of how awesome of a track Music City BMX is, came after the last main. Riders had stuck around afterwards - and not just the usual Answer~S-squared team. Of course, they all had to help teardown sponsor flags and drag off the USA BMX tuff-blocks, before they can ride. The USA BMX big rig was nearly packed up and the track was still full of riders who couldn't get enough of Nashville. 

In retrospect, I am wondering why it took me 28 years before returning to Music City BMX. 
Next up for me - SOUTHPARK (my first time there, EVER) !