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The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

BMX & Skateboarding

It is not widely known in the town that Redditch is recognised nationally and internationally
for BMX and Skateboarding and for having the UK’s first official BMX track and races in
the UK. The original Redditch BMX track opening on 30th August 1980.
Halfords were very much behind
this thanks to David Duffield,
then Marketing Manager, (who
went on more recently to be
Eurosport commentator for the
Tour De France) and Geoff Wiles
who was an acclaimed road
racing cyclist.
Redditch Premiers was the first
BMX club in the UK too. Redditch
BMX track held the Anglo
American BMX race in 1981 and
1982 featuring iconic BMX racers
from the USA and even being
reported in the US magazine -
BMX Plus. BMX took off amongst
young people nationwide soon
From the Redditch Indicator . after.
The venue is at Icknield Street
Drive, Matchborough West
behind the Golden Goose Pub. An updated Redditch Skatepark opened on 16th April 2000
and the all new Redditch BMX track opened on the 10th July 2010.
BMX took a dip in the late ‘80s but was picked up by the Redditch Wheels Project Charity
who rebuilt the old track into a freestyle
dirt jumping area in 1996 while they
campaigned and constructed Redditch
Skatepark, one of the largest in the UK,
which opened in 2000. In 2006
Redditch Premiers BMX Club was
reformed and in 2010 a new floodlit
national standard BMX track was
constructed. The Skatepark and BMX
track are a hive of activity in Redditch.

The BMX track was featured on the
Runaround Children’s TV show hosted
by Mike Reid who interviewed Geoff
Wiles first and then showed a race at
Redditch BMX Track.
From BMX Plus USA Magazine.
BMX has come a long way as the
facilities and riding have become a lot
more advanced. Redditch has a fantastic set up at the Redditch BMX track and Skatepark
with a club house with a timeline, old newspaper articles and photos on display.

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