DK Gold Cup Northwest Championships

photos & story by Monica Bogue

NORTHWEST

CALDWELL, ID

Caldwell BMX was first built in the mid-80’s and moved around to different locations until finally landing a permanent home nestled behind Pipe Dreams Skate Park. Riders arrived Friday for the last chance qualifier to the unwelcoming haze from the ravaging fires on the West Coast. Saturday, the BMX gods were smiling down on Idaho and brought the beautiful blue skies and cotton candy clouds - to go along with some awesome racing action. Track Operator Bobby Schwyhart was overcome with emotion while speaking of his fellow volunteers and the hard work they put in to make this race a reality amidst the pandemic.

When I asked who to keep an eye on in Caldwell, one name echoed: Douglas Schmeichel. As a rider in the 14 cruiser and 14 expert class, Schmeichel was the hometown favorite for the weekend, racing for Jeff Upshaw’s DRIVEN Cycling Academy. After a couple crashes earlier in the year, one that occurred just one month before Finals, Schmeichel’s season was up in the air. In the end, he placed GC No.1 in Cruiser and GC No.2 in Class.

The “Fly Guy” - Ray Hudson, and Brent “Pee Wee” Lee of Bay Area BMXers are no strangers to one another. After 30 years of banging elbows, Hudson says Lee has always gotten the best of him (as well as their entire class). That finally ended on Sunday when Ray brought home the GC No.1’s in both 41-45 cruiser and class.

Dynomite! 13x Darren Mower, from Sandy, Utah skies it out for ACME.

Bike Master’s has a long history of great riders - and 16x winner Seth Fisher (#28) is one of ‘em.

Supercross rider Shawn O’Gorman was having a typical race weekend, leading every lap and fighting off injuries. A loop out in the rhythm section left Swifty with a fractured left hand, but the Air Force veteran came back to qualify for the main. Showing no weakness, he still raced and pulled off the win and the GC No.1 plate.

Congratulations to all the NW Gold Cup champions and thank you to all for making this race a huge success.

58

USABMX.COM H VOL. 10 / ISS. 9

Porter Heaps (Boss Racing) highsided it in 14 cruiser, which bumped the Chico local down to a Gold Cup No.3 plate for the weekend.

Sugar-Ray Hudson (Fly Racing) put on one of the best shows of the weekend in 41-45x, and finally ...after 30 years, beat his arch-nemesis Pee Wee Lee.

Upshaw’s Driven Accademy is flyin’!

PULL Magazine 59

(far left) Some of the fastest 15 intermediates in the Northwest get their snap on.

(left) Yess calls Kaiden Ireland the “Boomerang” because he’s always flying forward while spinning. With straight wins in 10 cruiser and 10x, he carted away two Gold Cup NW No.1 plates and jackets.

(far left) Mayhem-Box ripper Isaac Peddle (#1) lived up to his last name and cranked ‘er in for two 12x wins and a Gold Cup NW #1 title.

(left) The BikeMaster team was in full force in the Spud state.

NORTHWEST

CALDWELL, ID

(right) Zane Pickett lofts a sweet one hander.

(right middle) Factory Yess’ Banyon Howell (NAG#6) goes head-to-head with Driven’s (NAG#9) Douglas Schmeichel in 14x. In the end, they’d wind up Gold Cup #2 and #3.

(far right) To quote the OffSpring, #5 is “Pretty fly for a white guy.”

(far right) Bombshell’s Elinor Christensen (NAG#3) holds the lead on Diablo’s Brooklyn beck

(#37).

(center-middle) Big high-5’s go out to the entire Caldwell BMX crew for pullin’ off what other sports think is impossible - on such short notice.

Idaho ROCKS!

(right)

Hannah Haggerty (Driven Academy) lets her hair fly in 13-14 girls cruiser, and earned herself the Gold Cup #3 in a tiebreaker.

(bottom middle) Balance bikers rev their throttles as “Baby

Shark” cranks from the speakers.

(far right) To quote the OffSpring, #5 is “Pretty fly for a white guy.”

NORTHWESTCALDWELL, ID

(far left) Sydney Fye - doin’ it for the Mayhem/ Box brigade, scored seconds both days to earn a Gold Cup #2 plate.

(left middle) (NAG#9) Douglas Schmeichel won Sunday’s 14x main, but still lost the No.1 plate by one mere point.

(left) Coming in to this weekend, last year’s Gold Cup Champ, Brandon Loudermilk was favored for the 17-20X win. But nobody told that to Raise for Rowyn’s Zaine Stenson.

(far left) Bah-bah-bah-bah Benny, Benny, Benny ...and the Jet’s Racing.

(left) Jeff Upshaw knows how to pick ‘em - his Driven team was driven to go home with as many Gold Cup #1 plates as possible.

Full Til-Radio’s Sean Day hails from Washington and is currently leading in National Amateur standings. Will he subtract 1 from his current plate this November? We’ll soon find out.

If not, he’ll at least have a yellow Gold Cup Numero Uno to ziptie to his Radio bars. In Idaho, Suave was unstoppable.

NORTHWESTCALDWELL, ID

(far left) Owen Britain was hot after a yellow plate in 13cruiser, but fell five points short of getting a #3.

(left bottom) As can see, the Idaho fans were doing their best to social distance.

(left middle) To quote ZZ Top, “Every girl’s crazy about a sharp-dressed man.” Just ask chick-magnet Dawson O’Gorman.

(left) Due to Covid, this year’s Gold Cup podiums were a DYI project.

(far left) Dakota-Ssquared’s Haden Everts was on fire in 14cruiser, scoring a GCup #2 for his efforts.

(far left) Brent “Pee Wee” Lee ceelbrates with his longtime arch-rvial “Sugar-Ray” Hudson, after a weekend of incredible bar-bangin’ action.

(left) USA BMX’s Mara Fehd politely hands a Gold Cup No.1 plate and jacket to another stoked winner.

(left bottom) As can see, the Idaho fans were doing their best to social distance.