BMX stunts join this year's events

Flips and twists on the half-pipe the half-pipe the half-pipe

The Unionville Community Fair brings BMX stunts to this year’s event

By Drewe Phinny Contributing Writer

When a community event lasts for 98 years, that’s a pretty good indication that it has become a major part of the fabric of the area. Anybody who has lived in Unionville, Kennett Square, Avondale and environs knows that the Unionville Community Fair, to borrow a phrase from TV marketing, is “a tradition unlike any other” (Thank you, Masters).

The website UCfair.org points out many of the interesting and important highlights that have dotted the local landscape with significant events surrounding the fair, which actually started as a corn show in 1924.

For instance, in 1925, the Chester County Fair was renamed the Unionville Community Farm Products Show. The fair has been cancelled three times - In 1931, due to a polio outbreak, in 1942, due to World War II and in 2020, due to COVID-19.

In 2009, the revitalized catalog was printed by Ad Pro, with color pages and a different look than previous years. Ad Pro is owned by Randy Lieberman, a Unionville alum, who donates his services to print the catalog.

This year, the fair is debuting a very special series of events and there is much excitement surrounding the new addition. Fair president Ed Schultz explained how it all came together.

“We attend the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs (PSACF) in Hershey. At the last convention, we saw a demonstration by this outfit

(Dialed Action Sports). Their BMX bike act was Olympic quality! We just felt like we had to bring it to the fair. So they will be doing two 45-minute shows per day all three days of our fair.”

The fair takes place this year from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.

As shown in videos on the Dialed Action website, a BMX (Bicycle Moto-cross) stunt show is a “choreographed performance with aerial and ground (maneuvers) such as back-flips… and 360 spins.” The shows also include teaching elements that can help develop young minds in a positive way. Such learning tools (anti-bullying, drug-free habits, bicycle safety and responsible choices) are a perfect complement to the more physical aspects.

An important part of the BMX stunt show’s anti-bullying approach is known as “The 3 R’s.” That would be “Recognize, Refuse and React.” Recognize refers to teaching students how to identify what bullying is, whether it’s physical, verbal or online. Refuse explains why being a bully is bad and how it can affect the perpetrator as well as the victim. React is the most important part of the message, explaining how important it is to tell a friend, teacher or parent about the bullying. Dialed Action Sports is just as concerned about the life lessons of morality as the excitement of off-road sport racing and stunt-riding.

Schultz described one specific BMX maneuver that really caught everyone’s eye. “They were inside a building, and the ceilings might have been twenty feet high. They take a run from about a hundred feet away and hit this half-pipe, shoot up into the air and do a flip with a twist and come back down on the wheels back on the half-pipe. I was duly impressed. It looked like they

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went twenty feet in the air. Of course, they have their helmets and pads. These guys are wiry athletes.”

Dialed Action Sports features over 20 performance rigs and hundreds of riders around the country. Promotional literature provided proudly proclaims that the group has become “the nation’s top provider of two-wheeled entertainment.” Specifically, Brian Cunningham and Chris Clark have planned, coordinated and executed over 6,000 performances across every state of the U.S. mainland.

The professional performance teams of Dialed Action Sports “represent some of the brightest stars of cycling. These athletes are pushing the boundaries of what is possible on a bike and have a passion for sharing their love of cycling across the country. With over a dozen teams forming the nationwide network, Dialed Action Sports is the only company able to book shows across North America.”

In addition to the physical showmanship of BMX bike shows, the group also stresses two practical aspects of life as a compliment to the performance aspect. “Besides doing their tricks in the air, these guys talk about safety and healthy life styles. Everybody was impressed,” Schultz said.

Schultz is justifiably proud of the lasting traditions that have contributed to the history of the fair. “This is our 98th year,” he said. “We’ve been going since 1924.”

And as the activities and crowds have grown and the participation has strengthened, the mission has continued to gain momentum. “So our byline is Unionville Community Fair, embracing all of Southern Chester County.”

And this year, something new…BMX bikes are coming to the fair.