Runnymede Rockets BMX

Designed by British Champions Tim O’Shea and Marcus Rich, Runnymede Rockets was one of the most technical and challenging tracks in the UK during the mid-1980s. It featured a long first straight with a sharp, peaky speed jump leading to a 15-foot double, which flowed into a wide-open 180-degree turn nicknamed “The Wall.”

The second straight included a technical step-up where catching the backside was crucial for setting up another wide-open 180, leading into a tall camel jump. The final stretch featured yet another wide-open 180 turn, followed by a long straight with a tabletop and triples leading to the finish line.

Looking back at the track’s layout now, it seems relatively basic. However, the wide-open turns were a standout feature, allowing for plenty of overtaking opportunities. If a rider hugged the inside to protect their line, another could rail the turn and carry more exit speed into the straights, making for dynamic and strategic racing.

The key to success on this track was maintaining momentum, but the open turns invited aggressive moves, keeping the races unpredictable and exciting.

In a new era for BMX racing, Runnymede is flourishing again, reminiscent of its heyday in the 1980s. The track holds a special place in British BMX history, particularly as the site of the 1988 BBMXA (NBMXA) National Finals—the last BBMXA (NBMXA) National event before the merger with UKBMX to form the EBA in 1989.

This event also made history with Gary Morgan racing and winning the 17+ category on a Raleigh Grifter, a unique feat for the time. Additionally, it marked the final Pro-Class race (won by Tony Fleming) before the pros merged with Superclass, ushering in a new era of BMX racing for prize money in the UK.