Eight-year-old Tyler Beebe is not athome on Sundays watching cartoons or playing on the computer.Instead, he is in a racing jersey, pants and helmet, jumping hillsand popping wheelies, all while beating his competition.
    Beebe, a third-grade student at AbitaSprings Elementary School, often spends his free time at the BatonRouge Recreation and Park Commission’s Bike Moto Cross Raceway, adirt and concrete track filled with sharp turns and steephills.
    Jason St. Romain, cycle clerk for BREC,said Beebe is in the “expert” class of BMX racing.
    St. Romain said the class system beginswith novice. If a cyclist wins the first-place title six times theybecome intermediate, and if an intermediate wins first place 20times, they become expert.
    Beebe, who moved to Louisiana fromUtica, Mich. just three weeks ago, said he likes the BREC BMXRaceway better than his old track in Michigan.
    ”It’s more for me,” Beebe said. “At myold track there were bigger jumps.”
    St. Romain said the track, built in theearly 1980s, brings in people anywhere from 4 to 40 years old.
    But the track is proving to beespecially popular with young children.
    Tyler’s father, Robert Beebe, said BMXracing is a welcome change from team sports.
    ”It gives them something to do really,”he said. “It pushes them individually. Sometimes [in team sports]you can relax and let the team pick up the slack. In this you’reracing one-on-one.”
    St. Romain has his own reasons forenjoying BMX racing.
    ”I started off getting in trouble when Iwas younger,” St. Romain said. “I was arrested a few times. When Igot into [BMX racing], I put energy from breaking the law intothis. I started saving money to get new stuff. I just fell in lovewith it.”
    St. Romain said BMX racing is a greatsport for kids to get involved in.
    ”In team sports, the recognition isn’talways there,” he said. “This is where anyone is welcome. This iswhere they get to perform on their own level. There is no coachyelling at them. They go at their own pace.”
    Although many youngsters enjoy thetrack, adults are getting in on the fun as well.
    Cathy Robertson, 32, started BMX racingthis summer when her nephew from Connecticut spent his vacationwith her.
    When her nephew would go to the track torace, she became interested in racing herself.
    Robertson, who said she races forexercise and also to give the children some competition, saidSunday was only her second race.
    ”I like it,” she said. “It’s fun andit’s a challenge. I may come out last, but I’m having fun.”
    Robertson brings her 4-year-old sonalong to the races, but he watches from the sidelines.
    ”He’s still on training wheels,” shesaid.
    St. Romain said the raceway is openevery weekday, including for birthday parties on Friday nights andSaturday afternoons. The track holds a citizen’s race open to thepublic on Thursdays, and an American Bicycle Association race forABA-certified cyclists on Sundays, he said.
    St. Romain said that to be ABAcertified, a cyclist must pay a $45 annual membership fee. ABAmembers get $5 off for each additional family member.
    Participants must pay $10 to race onThursdays and Sundays, but the track is free when riding forleisure. Bike rentals are $2, helmet rentals are $1 and rentedpadding costs $1.
    St. Romain said the track does notsupply long pants or long-sleeved shirts, which are mandatory forall riders, whether racing or not.
    St. Romain said the track is becomingmore popular because some tracks in Mississippi and other areas ofLouisiana have closed. Also, Olympic organizers have added BMXracing to the events, with Olympic competition beginning in the2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China, St. Romain said.
    But even with the increase inpopularity, for some people, BMX racing is just something to dowith their children.
    Martha Mayers is the mother of ColeMayers, a 10-year-old who has visited the raceway for five years.Martha Mayers said the track has a family atmosphere.
    ”It’s something I can do with my son bymyself,” she said. “With this I can throw the bike in my trunk andgo.”