Gruber Excels On BMX Race Tracks

By ANDY HUTCHISON

Published: Oct 17, 2008 12:00 am

By Andy Hutchison

Itâs not uncommon for a 9-year-old to go for a bicycle ride around his neighborhood, or even race on a local track ... but how about packing the car and going to Ohio or Kentucky to ride?

Neither of those destinations are unusual for Newtownâs Daniel Gruber. The BMX enthusiast recently competed in the 31st National Bicycle League Grand Nationals in Louisville, Ky.

Typically, Gruber rides in local races, including on local tracks in Bethel, Trumbull, and Torrington. The 9-year-old races year-round, depending on the track schedules, and travels with his family to compete in national qualifier races which are necessary to compete in the NBL Grand Nationals. A couple of years ago, Michael Gruber, Danielâs father, bought him a bicycle and heard about one of the local race tracks. The young rider gave it a try and has been hooked on BMX racing ever since. Equipped with shoulder pads and a helmet, Gruber has fallen off the bike, but he maintains a get-back-on-and-ride attitude that keeps him going back to the track whenever he can.

Having raced for only two years, he is already at the novice level and is working toward the next plateau: expert recognition. To qualify to compete in the nationals in Kentucky, riders have to race in 12 national competitions. So, Michael and Tammy Gruber took their son on six trips (two races each), including those in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, during the last year. It makes for a good way to see different parts of the country, Michael Gruber said.

At the race in Kentucky, Daniel reached the semifinal round and initially was among the top four, which would have put him in the main, championship race, but video replay showed he narrowly missed qualifying.

âI thought it was amazing how I just missed getting to the main by that much,â Daniel said.

The toughest part about racing is getting out of the gate quickly, the young rider said. But once he gets going, Daniel can move pretty quickly, as evidenced by his racing success. The 9-year-old likes races because the courses combine dirt jumps with turns for a fun experience.

Michael Gruber is thrilled that his son has a strong interest in BMX racing, in part because of the camaraderie shared on the race track.

âItâs not uncommon to see competitors helping each other out when practicing or a parent of one rider helping out a rider they compete against,â Michael Gruber said.

On most Monday nights during the season, Bethel Supercross holds a work and mentor night. Since everything is volunteer-driven, parents work on the track while the young racers ride.

The older and more experienced riders are encouraged to help the younger and less experienced riders, Michael Gruber said.

For more information on BMX racing in the area, visit nutmegbmx.org.

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The Way We Were

The Editor suggest a meeting between the "Rock This Democracy " and the Police Commission. As a former Police Commissioner the Chief should have followed the chain of command and discussed this with the Police Commission. The Chief reports to the Elected Police Commission not our Republican First Selection. Can't help but feel this is Republican politics again making an issue out of a non issue.

Assembly Ordinance?

I support Chief Kullgren’s request to explore permitting, and cost-sharing for large gatherings. The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I fully support the constitutional right to free speech and assembly. However, where and how often these protests occur matters. Main Street is not just a symbol — it’s a vital artery for daily life in town. When events are held there monthly, and at increasing scale, they cause disruption to residents, businesses, and traffic. While the Rock This Democracy group may describe these protests as unique or urgent, the frequency — roughly once every two weeks this spring — suggests more of a recurring series than a singular, spontaneous moment of civic expression. This isn’t about silencing anyone. It’s about fairness, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. Every time a protest happens, our police department is forced to assign resources, often on overtime. That expense adds up quickly. If any group wants to use public space regularly, particularly in a way that impacts traffic and requires police presence, then it’s reasonable for the town to consider permitting and cost-sharing — just as we do for other organized events like races, festivals, or parades. Let’s protect everyone’s rights — including the right of the community to function smoothly and the right of taxpayers not to bear undue cost for repeated events. I trust the Council to consider a reasonable path forward that balances speech with responsibility.

David, your passion for transparency would carry more weight if it weren’t routinely wielded like a cudgel. Let's set the record straight: no one is against easier access to documents or better online availability—we all want an informed public. But there's a difference between constructive advocacy and the kind of grandstanding that costs this town time, morale, and taxpayer money. You cite Ridgefield’s practices—great. Let's talk about that like adults. But instead, what we see is a steady stream of accusatory posts, legal challenges, and FOIA blitzes aimed less at solving problems and more at creating headlines. It’s not “slander” to point out that your approach often does more to divide and exhaust than to help. I’ve been at the very meetings you claim are inaccessible or opaque. I’ve seen your group turn logistical hiccups into conspiracy theories. I’ve watched as staff—who already work overtime—are dragged into another fishing expedition while real civic needs are left hanging. You’re not just pushing for access; you’re using the tools of open government to grind its gears to a halt. That’s not progress. That’s obstruction dressed up as advocacy. And the people paying for it—literally—are your neighbors. Let’s stop pretending it’s just about uploading PDFs. The issue here is how we engage. We can have real conversations about modernization without constant accusations, FOIA skirmishes, and Facebook pile-ons. Until then, I’ll continue to call out tactics that undermine, not uplift, our town.

Calls For Policies To Create Greater Transparency

The bottom line is this: costs are up, and no group—including teachers—is exempt. Ignoring Anthem’s recommended 22% increase last year may have directly caused the $2 million shortfall. Everyone has to share in the fix. That might mean higher premiums and leaner benefits. Complaints alone won’t solve the problem—realistic solutions will. I urge all Newtown Teachers to email their Union leaders and express their support for higher premiums.

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Its really easy to make assertions and cast doubts from behind a keyboard....a little too easy aparently. You might try conducting the actual research BEFORE doing it next time. If you do, you too will find that there's no need to imagine such a policy to improve public transparency and participation. Take a look at Ridgefield's P&Z meeting agendas on their website for starters. They are just one town that provide links to electronic copies of applications and other public documents, so that their commissioners and residents can easily access them and be well-informed, before meetings and public hearings occur and without making them drive to town hall (during business hours) to ask their land use staff to pull the files and make copies of them, saving everyone time (time is money), and gasoline, and missed work. Most applicants alrleady submit electronic copies, and for those who don't, it's a lot easier for a staffer to scan them once, than to have to make copies every time someone asks for them. And please don't misrepresent or slander those who advocate for smart, low impact & sustainable development policies and practices as 'anti-development'.

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Gruber Excels On BMX Race Tracks

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