December 28, 2007 we got work the NEW SIGN for Sooner State BMX was
near completion and we just had to get a SNEEK PEEK of it so we could
BREAK the news before Sooner State BMX did. Well here is the 1st picture.
Looking at this sign we see that it has good graphics and some familiar
items which most everyone who rides ABA BMX would recognize, especially
if you are from Oklahoma. The size of this sign is large enough to be
seen from some distance and it is an attention grabber! Will they put some
lights on it for night time viewing. We have not heard yet but we will
let you know as soon as we do. The color scheme is great and we like to
design of the track name with the rider included, very original to say
the least. In some ways it may remind you of another sign we have seen
at a local ABA track. What a creative bunch of people in Ponca City.
They are building a first class track there, this is just one touch they
come up with. GREAT SIGN
December 28, 2007 we went to really get a picture of the NEW SIGN for
Sooner State BMX. Now the above 'SNEEK PEEK' is just a 'Photoshop'
image doctored to look like the new sign. The REAL SIGN IMAGE is shown
below as SNEEK PEEK #2. We like the original design and lay-out, check
it out!
So on December 1, 2007 a trip to Ponca City was on the schedule. After
driving there with overcast skies and spotty misting rain it was almost
11am and we had arrived. The track was still a little rough. With cool
weather and misting rain we didn't know about watering the track. So
work started in several places to get a generally smooth and rock free
starting point. We worked until after dark. A very fruitful day.
Pan looking north (left side of image) to looking south (right side of
image). The track is built and from midway up the drive, facing the east.
Nice starting hill.
A pan looking west (left side of image) to looking north (right side of
image). From the top of the 3rd turn looking across the entire track.
The other pan shot was taken from beside the white truck and trailer
shown about the middle of this photo.
Standing at the north end of the drive into the park looking south at
the 1st straight and into the 1st turn. See how cloudy it was that day
the parking lot lights came on at Conoco across the street an hour
before sundown.
Looking down the starting hill into the 1st turn. At the end of the day
all this was raked, packed and ready for a big watering. Mother Nature
played with us all day but never did drop any real rain only some mist
now and again.
Here we have the 2nd straight just as if you were riding out of the 1st
turn. That jump was packed on all sides and was pretty smooth. Ripe for
a little riding but none was to happen today.
The 2nd turn in the background with part of the 3rd straight on the left
side of the photo. Matt, Travis and Karen are working on the jump going
into the 2nd turn.
From here it does not looking like we had packed that 2nd turn twice.
All this that packing with mostly dry dirt. We did get a day of work in
and the 2nd turn was where they would start working Sunday.
From the end of the 2nd turn the 3rd straight looked rough and it was.
All the track looked that way when we started working. With a good couple
more days of work things could be ready for a little riding.
Matt working, Karen working and Travis on the phone. Here in Ponca City
the men and women work on the track. It is nice to have some dedicated
help. With those helpers this track will be ready to race soon.
The last turn got packed a couple times today and was starting to get a
little smooth. More work is what it needed. They will get it nice with
some of their helpers.
From standing on the top of the last turn the last straight don't look
to bad, well it could fool you. This is a place where races will be won
or lost soon. This straight will make you stand up and work!
We can hear it now. The President is telling the Track Operator what it
is like to work hard on this track. It was all in fun and even though
we did get work done there was some fun as well.
On November 17, 2007 some of us made the trip up I-35 to Ponca City to
check out the newest ABA BMX track in Oklahoma, Sooner State BMX.
Located in Dan Moran Park the track sits on Highway 60 (BR) on the
north side of the Conoco refinery. The park has many trees and the Ponca
City Alternative Sports Association has more than one project under
construction. The BMX track is their focal point but a large new skate
park is under construction, sidewalks and picnic tables are also planned.
A pan looking east (left side of image)
to looking south (right side of image). This is before the track build
started. You can see the piles of dirt across the land.
A pan looking northeast (left side of image)
to looking southeast (right side of image). This is before the track
build started and before all the dirt had arrived.
Looking east from the original planned starting hill. So that is
240 loads of dirt, where's the rest?
Looking north from about where the outside entrance of the 1st turn is
now located. At the time it was a big pile of dirt. That pile was the
planned original location of the starting hill, this was changed.
A little gardening going on? I'm telling you if you plant those posts
you will not have baby posts growing there next spring! Only the rocks
multiply that way!
