New-look BMX track to hold opening day
Community’s effort is paying off
The track reopens after 20 years on August 20 The BMX track in Rattray is to be officially opened later this month at a fun-packed afternoon featuring some of Scotland’s biggest names in the BMX world – and a few local heroes too.
The track, which is the culmination of nearly two years of hard work and fundraising by members of the community, will be opened by Pete Nicol, a wellknown local face and former BMX rider who used to race at Rattray – including against none other than Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy.
Members of the Cumbernauld Centurians and the Glasgow Titans BMX clubs will be appearing at the event and local bike businesses such as Alyth Cycles will also be there.
And as well as the main track, there is also a smaller skills track at the site suitable for toddlers.
Plans to restore the BMX track back to its former glory some 20 years after the height of its popularity were first mooted around two years ago by Rattray’s Greg Morgan.
Greg, along with Craig Philip, Scott Mitchell, Stuart Retson and Alastair Hoey, first announced their intention to re-instate the track in September 2015 with the formation of a Facebook page to gauge local interest in the project.
Following what they describe as “phenomenal” support from the local community and the green-light from Perth and Kinross Council, work on the project got underway just weeks later as a team of volunteers spent hours clearing the site.
The old track was so overgrown it soon became clear that it would not be possible to re-use it, leaving the team with a far bigger project than first expected.
An anonymous donation of £1000 allowed the team to hire machinery to clear the site completely and seek the advice of a professional track builder, Steve Jenks, who designed the track, maximising the space available.
The RAD (Rattray and District) BMX Club was formed, logos were designed by pupils at Blairgowrie High School and numerous site visits and fundraising events organised.
Greg said: “After two years of hard work we’re delighted to finally be able to officially re-open the Rattray BMX track this month.
“We are a group of like-minded individuals who took it upon ourselves to re-develop the existing track and create a facility that provides a place to play and socialise for all members of the community.
“With the support of Councillor Caroline Shiers we successfully applied to the Tesco Bags of Help funding initiative, which gave us £10,000, and the East Perthshire Decides participatory budget scheme which saw us receive £1200.
“We also received donations from local businesses and organisations including Diva, the Wee Coffee Shop and the Rattray Arts Festival and sponsorship from Robert Smith Drainage Contractors, JSR Services Blairgowrie, Morocco Media and Alyth Cycles.
“Having this money behind us allowed us to approach a local contractor, Robert Smith, about doing the work and they have done a tremendous job. This was a first for them and the work took eight days in total.
“On behalf of the committee we would like to thank everyone who has supported, helped, voted or contributed time or money to this project.
“We are very proud of it and all the more so because it has been built for the community by the community”.
The opening event is on Sunday, August 20, from noon to 3pm.
The track is located on Hatton Road in Rattray. Parking is at Keathbank Mill car park.