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Story: Cycle racing

BMX nationals

BMX clubs emerged in the late 1970s and the first major racing events started in 1980. Shown here is one of the first national events held around 1981 in Wainuiomata, near Wellington.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: BMX Moto: New Zealand Cycle Sport, around 1981 (S-L-539-COVER)

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Simon Kennett, Cycle racing – Bicycle motocross and mountain biking, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/40278/bmx-nationals (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Simon Kennett, published 3 December 2012, updated 1 October 2015.