BROTHERS IN BMX SCHMITH AND CO. MAKE UP AREA CONTINGENT IN DOWNHILL.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

The calendar says it's only August but Brian Schmith already has had a busy year. He has ventured to four countries and six states in his job as a world traveler - or more accurately, a professional BMX and mountain bike racer.

``At one point, you're a rock star,'' Schmith said. ``At the other point, you're like a traveling salesman. ... One weekend, you're staying at four- star hotels. The next weekend, you're at the Scooby-Doo Shangri-La Lounge.''

But something keeps bringing the 30-year-old back to his hometown of Lancaster, where Schmith grew up on the city's east side and attended school. And this week he gets the rare opportunity to stay in his apartment and compete nearby in the summer's biggest race.

Along with Bubba Harris and Michael Day, Schmith is one of three local riders entered in the Downhill BMX at this year's X Games. The final is today at Woodward West, a new action sports camp 13 miles outside Tehachapi in the town of Stallion Springs.

The race will be broadcast eight days later on ESPN2. But for Schmith, who finished 10th in last year's event, his dreams go beyond just taking home a medal from his second X Games.

This year, Schmith returned to Lancaster with his wife, Ines, to be close to his parents, as well as to someday open his own track in the Antelope Valley and work with kids.

``In the past, there's always been a lot of talent here,'' Schmith said. ``(But) there's a lot of kids that kind of get left out. There's not enough people helping them out.''

On his flights across the country, Schmith has studied to obtain his real estate license, the first step he hopes toward someday acquiring land for his project. In his mind, Schmith hopes to open an entire complex with city help, complete with BMX tracks and a skate park.

``I want to do a lot of things,'' Schmith said. ``Maybe too many things. My wife always says, `Just one thing at a time.' ''

He has the local ties, though, to make it work. Schmith started riding with kids in his neighborhood at age 3 and now is in his 10th year as a professional. But Schmith also made it despite never consistently having an area track on which to train.

Several Antelope Valley-based tracks have come and gone during his life, Schmith said. Lancaster currently lacks a track, and Schmith spent much of his childhood riding with his father to train at tracks from Santa Clarita to Orange County.

In addition, Schmith also knows what life can be like without riding. He crushed three vertebrae in his neck at age 14 and had to give up riding for three years. That was about the same time he started skipping class and getting into fights.

``One day, my cousin and I just decided we had to get back on the bikes,'' said Schmith, who graduated from Antelope Valley High in 1991. ``My parents were like, `What are you doing?' I just said, `I have to go for a ride.' ''

Three years later, Schmith turned pro. He has endured several ups-and- downs during his career, including a knee injury that took two years to mend and his decision in 1999 to give up the sport for a year.

``I was burned out,'' said Schmith, who drove another team's bus during his year off. ``I didn't know why I still raced. I needed to step back from the sport and refocus on what I liked about it.''

But Schmith is back and riding well for Team Hyundai/Mongoose. He talks about the attention an X Games medal could give to his plan. Meanwhile, Schmith hopes to continue riding for 3-4 more years.

He and his wife are expecting their first child, a son, this fall. And as for a new Lancaster track, maybe it will follow a couple of years down the road.

``I want to get the city behind this,'' Schmith said. ``Let's invest a little and give kids something positive to do.''

Bubba Harris, Lancaster

Birthdays and BMX go together for Harris, who started riding when his father, Burlin, took him to the track for his 7th birthday. But while Harris turned 18 Thursday, his plans of celebrating with an X Games medal were dashed over the weekend.

Harris, who graduated from Quartz Hill High this year, broke his wrist after colliding in a race at the American Bike Association World Championships in Reno, Nev. The injury almost certainly will keep Harris from racing in the X Games.

``Majorly disappointed,'' said Harris, who took seventh in the Downhill BMX as a rookie at last year's Games. Harris added he would need ``a miracle and a unbroken wrist'' to get on a bike this week.

At least Harris has future events at which to look forward. Harris is one of the youngest riders on the national circuit - so young in fact that when Harris was 9, his father asked Schmith to train his son. After a few sessions, Schmith told Burlin Harris he didn't know what more he could teach Bubba.

Today, the two are friendly rivals on the pro tour, though Harris' focus is exclusively BMX. Meanwhile, Harris credits his father, who now runs a camp his son owns, with his success.

``He was the biggest influence I had,'' Harris said. ``He was the one who took me to the track for the first time. He was the one who took me to all the events. He was the man.''

At 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, Harris said he's waiting to get his ``man power,'' which will come with age and allow him to break harder from the start line. He's also hoping to attend art school in the future, majoring in computer animation.

Michael Day, Canyon Country

Like so many of his counterparts, Day got into BMX biking by following an older sibling to the track. At the time, Day was 9, his brother Dave was 16 and they went to ride in Simi Valley.

Now Day is in his second year as a professional and will be competing in his first X Games this weekend at age 18.

``I don't think (other riders) are shocked by what I can do at 18,'' said Day, who graduated from Valencia High this spring. ``It doesn't come up as much as you'd think it would.''

Day was not expecting to receive an invitation to the X Games, which were given out to the top 10 riders based on point totals from the two main BMX circuits. Day was ranked 11th but gained entry into the field when one of the other riders couldn't make it.

``I was so pumped,'' said Day, who hopes to finish in the top eight at the Games. He took seventh and eighth in two races at the ABA World Championships last weekend.

Day also is good friends with Schmith and Harris, the area's other two local riders. When Schmith lived in Santa Clarita, he and Day used to train together on area tracks. And Day accompanied the Harris family to their summer camp five consecutive years.

``Me and Bubba are about as good BMX buddies as you'll find,'' Day said.

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Photo:

Brian Schmith of Lancaster, pictured, is the veteran in the group of local BMX riders that includes Bubba Harris and Michael Day.