Two years ago, Joseph Feliciano of Moorestown was given a 1983 BMX rally bike from his uncle David Shockey Jr. that was purchased at Workman’s Bike Center on Main Street. Today, despite there being no skate parks or BMX tracks to practice on nearby, 10-year-old Joseph has become a champion, winning a variety of trophies and awards at BMX races throughout the Tri-State area.
Joseph got into BMX through his father Jose and also by watching the 1986 movie “Rad,” about a high school boy named Cru Jones whose ultimate goal is to win a BMX race called Helltrack for a sponsorship that could lead him to fame. In the end, Jones wins the race. To inspire this generation’s BMX riders, the movie “Heroes of Dirt” about a BMX rider who inspires a troubled youth just made its premiere on Oct. 25 in Allentown, Pa., where most of the filming took place.
Joseph, a Moorestown Upper Elementary School student, was encouraged by his parents to pursue BMX when he received the bike from his uncle. With the help of Workman’s Bike Center, as well as Chip N-Dale BMX in Mt. Holly, Joseph and Jose were able to get the equipment and tools they needed to restore the bike, prepare for BMX racing and even start their own family-oriented bike shop in their basement that now hosts about 12 bikes and miscellaneous parts.
In his first race, Joseph was nervous. When starting off, racers are elbow to elbow, which Joseph said was one of the hardest parts of BMX racing because one small mistake could lead to a collision.
“Rolling down the hill, I was screaming in my head like a little girl. But it wasn’t that bad. Once you do it a couple of times, you get used to it. I was really excited actually,” Joseph said.
Jose was nervous for his son as well. The BMX track has a very high hill on which one can easily lose control.
“When I first saw him on the track, he had complete control. I knew it was OK. It came very naturally to him,” Jose said. “Seeing him cross the finish line, it was like he didn’t even break a sweat. He went around the track with no problem.”
Joseph ended up winning the race he and his father were so nervous about. And that was just the start of his many victories. Joseph has won trophies for first through third place, some of them as tall as his little sister. Joseph has also raced for charities such as Susan G. Komen and other scholarship races. At one race, the proceeds went toward a scholarship, and racers received special awards and were honored for participating. Joseph won an accomplishment award at this race.
“BMX is really fun. When you get those big trophies, you feel really proud. It’s also fun to do the races for cancer, too,” Joseph said.
His favorite parts of BMX are going down the hill, the feeling of going fast and the happiness of finally getting it right. After working hard with practicing, sleeping right and stretching a lot, “finally getting it down and knowing you’ve gotten good at it,” is one of his favorite feelings. He also likes to look at other racers’ bikes; some are so light they can be lifted with just your index finger.
Joseph said he would love for others to experience the sport, but with no skate parks or BMX tracks close by, it is hard for people try it. Joseph has to go to the BMX track in Egg Harbor, more than an hour away, to really practice. Otherwise, he practices near his house on a dead end road with his family and friends.
After the Black Diamond Skatepark in the Moorestown Mall and David Gentile Skatepark in Moorestown closed, along with the Lumberton track never being finished, there is no place for skaters or bikers to go.
“I feel pretty upset about it and disappointed. If you are going to encourage others who want to BMX race, they have nowhere to go and try to see if they’ll like it. Then, the only other place is riding in the streets, which is kind of unsafe,” Joseph said. “I really wish they had a track around here and that a lot of kids could experience the fun of BMX racing. Then they could go ask their parents if they could join and get into it and tell their friends. That way, the generation of BMX goes on.”
Jose felt there is a missed opportunity for his son as well as other BMX racers in the area, since you can win scholarships and sponsorships through racing.
“BMX racing is a good sport, and it’s for all ages. There are all kinds of people: girls and boys, novices and experts, age groups and classes. There are guys who are sponsored and race professionally as well,” Jose said.
Ultimately, Jose would like to see his son continue with BMX racing and maybe even make it to the Olympics. Since you must be at least 16 years old to be in the Olympics, Joseph isn’t quite there yet. But for now, he has an upcoming race in Egg Harbor called the Veteran’s Day Race on Nov. 8 where they will race in honor of the veterans and other military personnel.
