National Pedal Sport Association
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The National Pedal Sport Association (NPSA) was a South Eastern regional Bicycle Motocross (BMX) sanctioning body originally based in Dunedin, Florida then in its last years Pinellas Park, Florida. For the first six years of its existence if focused mostly on amateur racing since they were stressing the family experience nature of the sport and putting on the fairest and most inclusive races possible, fitting their motto "Ride For Fun".
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[edit] History
[edit] Vital statistics
Founded: October 1974
Years of operation: 1974-1985
Motto(s)/Slogan(s): "Ride for Fun"
Original Headquarters: Dunedin, Florida
Last Headquarters: Pinellas Park, Florida
Original Owner/Founder: Robert Krokker
Original President: Robert Krokker
Original Vice President:
Last Owner: American Bicycle Association (ABA)
Last President: Rich Caporaso
Last Vice President:
Employees:
First track:
Number of tracks (peak): 26
Members (Peak): Approx. 3,000
Span: Regional. Four states: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina.
Number of nationals per year: Approximately eight (including Grand National)
First Grand National:
First Grand National Pro Purse:
[edit] Proficiency and division class labels and advancement method
Amateur proficiency and age levels 20 inch class:
Novice, Junior, Expert:
- 4 & Under (Boys & girls), then 5 novice to 16 Expert in one year steps. Number plate color also denoted the skill level of the racer: Black for Novice; Yellow for Junior; White for Expert
Open:
- 7 & under to 14 & over in 2 year steps. Age classifications only
Amateur Cruiser:
- 15 & Under, 16-20, 21-29, 30-39, 40 & Over. Age classifications only
Girls 20 inch:
- 5-6 girls to 15 & up girl in 2 year steps Age classifications only, no proficiency levels. Amateur only.
Girls cruiser:
- 15 & under, 16-20, 21-29, 30-39, 40 & Over. Age classifications only. Amateur only.
Professional Classes:
- Pro Cruiser, Senior (Pro) Open, Pro 20". Men only.
Qualifying system:
Moto system a.k.a Olympic System a.k.a Cumulative Scoring System.
[edit] Operations
Like the National Bicycle League (NBL) it did not award a year end overall national #1 male or female amateur. Amateur national number ones were awarded within age divisions. The NPSA did have year end overall National No.1 Pro 20" and Cruiser classes. The NPSA did have features particular to it. The NPSA season was really divided up into three: District, State and the three month long National season. The District level racing focused the racers on racing on the local level for local laurels without having to travel within the state and between states. The State season was reserved for touring the various NPSA tracks with in a state for the State Championship title. The national season was reserved for touring the circuit between the four states the NPSA had tracks in for the National number one titles culminating in a Grand National.
This was not its only unique method of holding races. Another was the "scramble system". The NPSA like the NBL and the now defunct National Bicycle Association (NBA) they used the moto system a.k.a the Olympic system to determine which riders graduate from the qualifying heats called Motos. In these motos points are awarded to the racers proportional to the position in which they finish. Each moto is run three times, that is the group of racers must race three times with the points awarded during each race to each individual racer being added. For instance say a 10 Expert racer had a class of 8 racers and he came in first in all three runs of his class. He would have a total of three points, 1+1+1 making him a certainty to qualify for the main (or if a large race the semi finals) save for a disqualification for a rule infraction. on the other hand if a racer came in last three times in that class of eight racers then he would have a total of 24 points 8+8+8 making it almost impossible for him to make the main save for someone(s) else being disqualified. The racers with the four lowest points would qualify for the main. However, unlike the conventional Olympic system, in the NPSA added a unique "Scramble system" that would shuffle the racers randomly or scrambled. The racers after each moto, if there were more than eight racers in a class (eight being the maximum number of racers the starting gate can hold at any one time) would be split into to heats, say in a class of 11 15 novices the first group would be six racers the second group would be the remaining 5 racers. Again, nothing unusual. What was unique to the NPSA was after each round, instead of the racers racing the same people they raced against the first time around as was standard practice in BMX, they would very likely race some racers that were in there class but not in the original first moto but the second. The race would be run in the second go round the points added to the previous total as before. Then the riders would be scrambled again and the race would be run for the last qualifying heat. The NPSA's position was that this was fairer since all of the racers had a chance to compete against the eventual winner with the winner not racing either the same easy competition he can beat with little effort with the racers that he have trouble with in other motos. Conversely he also will not constantly going against people he finds hard to beat while others having easy opponents. Of course either scenario could happen with the luck of the draw.
Another unique aspect to NPSA racing was that you moved down a proficiency class when one's birthday occurred. For instance say that on June 30th you were an 11 expert. You have a birthday on July 1st, making you 12. Instead of going to the 12 expert class, you were demoted down in terms of skill class back to 12 junior and was required to make expert again.
Until mid 1984, the NPSA had very strict, and to a few outside observers, too strict rules against contact between racers during races. The slightest bumping during a race could result in disqualification. You couldn't block pass, you had to stay in your lane at the beginning of the start (the International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF) had a similar rule). At one time the NPSA complained to the Orlando, Florida Parks Department about the National Bicycle League (NBL) making the jumps, in its view, too large at a track they shared with the NBL. Some outsiders went as far as to call it "racing for wimps" in regards to the NPSA.[1] However, these restrictions were greatly relaxed by the time of the July 1984 Supercross nationals.[2] Ironically, this was also the time when Ronnie Anderson, a new top professional in the major sanctioning bodies of the NBL and American Bicycle Association (ABA) was just being noted for his rough, all or nothing desire to win, resulting in numerous wrecks, to the members of the pro class displeasure.
While stressing family and amateur racing, the NPSA did have a pro class with events called "Supercross" held during the year to qualify the pros for the Grand National like the on held in 1982 at Daytona Beach, Florida.
[edit] NPSA National number ones by year
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Pro Nat. #1 Men
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Pro Cruiser Nat. #1 Men
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