Up until 1988 CDN CMX was run by the ABA and was called CABA. A few smart people decided to Canadianize BMX in Western Canada ( which outnumbers Eastern Canadian BMXers by 10:1) and formed the CBA, Canadian BMX Association. Eastern Canada went NBL. All Western tracks joined the CBA with the exception of Nanaimo and a couple of smaller organizations located on Vancouver Island and the BC Lower Mainland. Under the CBA (similar in nature to the NBL's non profit status ) BMX grew and prospered.
In 1995 UCI awarded the 1997 ' Worlds' to Canada. The CCA, Canadian Cycling Association somehow got their pickers in the pie by claiming that they were the Canadian representatives of UCI including BMX. UCI and the CCA concocted a plan whereby if the BMX Worlds were awarded to the CBA, the CBA would in the future be required to relinquish the governing of Canadian BMX to them. This was the master plan of UCI and appears to be their masterstroke. They used this tool ' that is the awarding of the worlds' to entice/force hosting countries to join their National Cycling Body while dangling the Olympic carrot. The NBL was the last to fall. ( I've read your Rumors story and I gotta tell ya that if the ABA wanted to unite BMX they should have bought the NBL before they sold out to US Cycling. Cause now it will never happen no matter how often the ABA makes an offer. In fact I believe the opposite to be true. I believe the ABA will eventually sell out to US Cycling. Clayton John may be immortilized but he's not immortal.)
Any how back to my story. All was fine until after the Worlds. Negotiations between the CBA and the CCA appeared to be going well but were guarded. In 1999 a final agreement was signed between the CBA, CCA, Ontario BMX and Quebec BMX. Unfortunately the CBA leader representing our organization on the National BMX Commitee did not get ratification from the tracks, did not consult with them, did not inform them that an agreement existed, did not even let them know the agreement had been signed. It wasn't until the CCA began flexing its muscle that CBA members realized they were in for a fight for their life and the right to determine how BMX was to be governed. Unfortunately the CCA did not see eye to eye with the majority of tracks as to the process of governing/managing the sport.
Cash is King and Cashflow is its Lifeblood. Several tracks sided with the CCA. That and track/member insurance issues depleted cashflow. Ultimately the CBA fell victim to CCA's heavy hand and poor communication, diminishing trust and CCA lack of understanding of how BMX works.
Today Canadian BMX is in tatters. What was once a proud, strong union of Western Canadian Tracks has become ' The Gunfight at the OK Corral'. The ABA moved in and signed most British Columbia Tracks and some Alberta Tracks. The remaining Canadian tracks are CCA. Both sides will not communicate, will not share licensing. The animosity borders on hatred. People that were friends are now enemies.
Canadian BMX unknowingly modeled itself after US BMX. That is two sanctioning bodies, one non profit, one for profit. Each side hating the other. Each side destroying the sport while trying to destroy each other.
Personally I hope US Cycling buys Clayton's group out. That means Canadian BMX will become truly Canadian. And BMX will see a rennaisance because its free spirit will grow without the shackles of hate and greed.