A bicycle enthusiast wants to bring the vibe of street racing and bike tricks back to the community.
“From when we moved into Mitchells Plain, I started riding BMX. We had our crew that time already, guys getting together every day after school, just getting onto a BMX and going to different areas,” said Ruben Small (37), known as Youngdog in the street racing scene.
Small plans to host a street racing event in September at Nile Park, Portland.
Race day details
Twenty riders will compete, split into four teams of five. Each team will race under a colour flag, representing a different area in Mitchells Plain.
Prizes will be awarded to the top racers.
“They are not just racing, but they are racing for something,” Small said.
A “show and shine” contest will also form part of the day. Anyone with a built up bike can enter. Three judges will score the bikes on their appearance, their parts and how they are put together. The best bike in Mitchells Plain will be named on the day.
Food stalls will be available at the venue.
Small and his father have already met with their local councillor to get permission to close off the road. He is still looking for sponsors to support the event.
Back to the streets
Small has been riding built up bikes since primary school. Growing up in Mitchells Plain, he and his friends would gather after school, ride to different areas and build sand ramps on the field outside Princeton High School.
In those days, riders did not race for money, they raced for bike parts, he said.
“The guys were racing for parts. You got a part that I like on your bike and then I’m gonna race for that part. That was back in the days how the BMX thing was,” he said, referring to the informal name used to describe street racing.
Over time, the street scene faded and skate parks replaced the ramps. Small says many people feel that street racing culture has been left behind.
He set up his own crew, Pro BMX, to keep the culture alive and give young riders from across the area a place to belong.
A first rider meetup, held in March, drew cyclists from several areas and was a success. The September event is bigger — part race, part reunion, part showcase.
Small also has longer-term plans. He wants to find a space, such as a classroom or community hall, where he can teach young people to build their own bikes from scratch.
“If your mom can’t afford the bike and you got an old frame in the yard, don’t look at that frame as just an old frame. Look at restoring that frame and make it a brand new frame,” he said.
Small retired from doing tricks himself after a leg injury, but his son will take part in the show and shine. Small now sees his role as laying the groundwork for the next generation.
“I’m just the foundation now,” he said.
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