Ohio’s Ashley Burt
I was 9 years old when I started racing BMX. I knew the second I first saw the place that I was in for a great time. The track was smooth, the jumps looked fun, and there was a feeling of excitement in the air that words just can’t describe. Eight or fewer racers would take to the track at a time while their fans (friends and family) cheered from the sidelines and bleachers and ironically feasted on curly fries while they shouted at those of us on the track to pedal faster. Better than all of that though was the fact that the place seemed to be swarming with girls. They were the sisters of younger competitors and the daughters of older ones and many were pretty cute. Cute girls were always a welcomed site at the track until the day one of them lined up on the starting gate in one of my motos. I had always hoped to find myself seated beside one of those girls, perhaps in a movie theatre or at a skating rink, but not on the starting gate at the race track. The light turned green, the gate dropped, and instead of my dreams, what became my worst nightmare came true right before my eyes. That girl whooped me around the track that day along with the rest of the guys and whooped us badly. She was fast, she was smooth, and she had no problem throwing you an elbow in the corner (knowing full well you wouldn’t return it in the next one). Since I’m now in my 30′s and my self-esteem has since healed for the most part, I look back at that experience (and several others like it that followed) as a valuable lesson in humility and sportsmanship, but at the time, it sucked.
Today there are other girls across this country of ours giving boys weekly lessons in humility and sportsmanship. One of those young gals is Ohio’s Ashley Burt. Ashley is a very fast racer, not only on the local and regional level, but on the national and international level as well. She is a great ambassador for BMX, R Bike Shop in Defiance Ohio, and we’re grateful to say, for Diamondback too. When she’s not winning races or going to school, Ashley can be found speaking at schools, churches, and a variety of other places as she promotes BMX racing, and helmet safety. Ashley’s fans have done a much better job of keeping me informed on her races and appearances than I have done keeping you informed. Ashley is a great promoter and her dad is a great promoter of her, so I’m going to let him tell you what she’s been up to. Below are some excerpts from e-mails I’ve received from Ashley’s dad and other fans.
Here’s a shot of Ashley and her Reactor Expert. If you’d like to get some help building up a bike that is as capable of winning races as you are, visit your local Diamondback Dealer. If you’re any where near Defiance Ohio, make sure that dealer is R Bike Shop. Don will help you set one up right so it fits you, your needs, and your budget.
Ashley has been a very busy 12 year old since she returned from the 2008 BMX World Championships in Taiyuan, China. A lot of businesses, organizations and schools helped her raise the money she needed for the trip. Now Ashley is giving back to everyone who helped her. During the school year, Ashley has agreed to visit and show slides from her China trip to schools throughout Ohio and Indiana. She will also be meeting with community organizations, veteran groups and clubs to share about her experiences. A number of communities asked her to appear in parades during the summer wanting to see the red, white and blue Team USA jersey. Ashley is also very passionate about helmet safety and she has been visiting area preschools educating young children about the importance of helmets when they ride bikes and skateboards. Ashley has been racing BMX for five years and loves the sport and making friends everywhere she goes. Ashley and her dad also enjoy visiting historical sites and museums when the travel to Regional and National races. Her favorite local tracks include Hire Park, Shady Lane, Akron and Heer Park. She rides Diamondback bikes and competes in both 20 inch and cruiser classes. She appreciates the support from R Bike Shop, Diamondback and Scotty’s Club 111.
Here Ashley races her Reactor Expert at the NBL Freedom Nationals at Nova BMX in Woodbridge, VA. I used to watch a gal race a lot, but my view was from the other side.
Ashley has set several goals.
To win back her Midwest Championship in 2009.
Win a Presidents Cup this Christmas in VA.
Top 5 in NBL National points.
Defend her State title.
Compete in the 2010 UCI World Championships in South Africa.
Here Ashley poses for a shot with the rest of those who made up Team USA at the 2008 UCI Worlds in Taiyuan, China.
NBL Today magazine ran a small story with pictures of Ashley. In September, Ashley spoke and showed her China slides to the American Legion Auxiliary Reuben J. Smith Unit 297, Payne, Ohio. In October she did the same for the Friends and Neighbors Club and displayed and talked about her Diamondback racing bikes. It was a very cold Halloween night but Ashley dawned her Team USA jersey and road on her sponsor’s (R-Bike Shop) truck in the Defiance, Ohio Halloween Parade. Her Diamondback Reactor Expert was on display. She will visit several more groups before Christmas that donated money towards her trip to the BMX World Championship in Taiyuan, China.
Here Ashley speaks to school students about BMX racing and the importance of wearing helmets. If you’re interested in having a lot of fun, getting exercise, and making friends, find out where your nearest BMX race track is by checking on the ABA’s and NBL’s websites. It’s a lot of fun. Especially if you ride one of our Reactor race bikes.
Indy Indoor and Dayton Indoor will be her weekly home tracks this winter unless she’s away for a National or Regional event.
Thanks Mr. Burt and the rest of you who have kept me informed on Ashley’s progress. Have a great rest of the week everyone and be sure to look into racing if you think you or someone you know would enjoy it. It’s definitely a sport that anyone and everyone can enjoy and thanks to indoor tracks like our local indoor up here, the frightful weather we’re having doesn’t keep the racing from happening.
Thanks for stopping by, Trevor
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