Vital Statistics
| Statistic | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded: | In January 1974 as the bicycle auxiliary to the National Motorcycle League (NML). It was founded as an independent organization on February 1, 1976. | |
| Motto(s)/Slogan(s): | "The Sanctioning Body from Coast to Coast"; "The Best in BMX"; "We are BMX" | |
| Years of operation: | 1974–2011 | |
| Original Headquarters: | Deerfield Beach, Florida | |
| Final Headquarters: | Gahanna, Ohio | |
| Original Owner: | George Esser (January 1974-April 1983) | |
| Current Owner: | Bernie Anderson (June 2011 – Present) | |
| Original President: | George Esser (January 1974-April 1983) | |
| Original Executive Director: | George Esser | |
| Final Executive/Managing Director: | Gary Aragon (December 2009 – 2011) | |
| Peak claimed number of tracks: | 200 (1985) | |
| Claimed present number of tracks: | Approx. 150+ (as of November 2007). | |
| Peak claimed number of members: | 49,000 (1985) | |
| Claimed number of members: | Approximately 5,000 (May 2011). | |
| First sanctioned race: | Miami Hollywood Speedway Park on January 26, 1974 in Miami, Florida. | |
| First National: | At the North Park track in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1977 | |
| First Grand National: | 1977. By 1978 The NBL had 18 tracks and 4,100 members. | |
| Last Grand National | 2011 | |
| Racing season | Virtually year round. Mid September to early September. | |
| In house newspaper: | Bicycles Today originally as a tabloid type newspaper beginning in August 1977. It would later change format (and eventually name) and become a magazine. | |
| In house magazine: | Bicycles Today, later name changed to BMX Today In December 2009 BMX Today ceased publication as a hardcopy print magazine and became an online only website. | |
| Span: | National, in its early years with most tracks east of the Mississippi River. |
In an interview conducted by former BMX racer Greg Hill at the online BMX discussion website bmxactiononline.com Bob Tedesco revealed his intention of stepping down as Managing Director of the National Bicycle League at the end of 2008 after 33 years involvement with BMX and the NBL, beginning as a track operator and then Northern Regional Commissioner in 1977, his first national post with the NBL. He was the longest serving head of the NBL (1983–2008).
Read more about this topic: National Bicycle League
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