Sep 12, 2014

BMX bicycle racing is a way for the Raum family to bond. Timm, father of 3, is the track operator for Hagerstown BMX and races competitively. His wife, Tina, is the office manager. Together with other volunteers, the Raums help run Hagerstown BMX in Hagerstown, MD.

: Timm Raum, of Clear Spring, bikes up a hill to his hotel during the Quaker State National races in Pottstown, PA. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: Grant Raum, 14, of Clear Spring, sprays the BMX track with water before he practices with his dad and sister for a race at the Hagerstown BMX track. Grant’s mom, Tina Raum (not pictured) is office manager for the track and his dad, Timm Raum (not pictured) is track operator. The family came to the track early to practice and set up before a race. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: From left, Timm Raum sits on his bike while his son, Grant Raum, 14, both of Clear Spring, leans on his handlebars during a family practice for a race at the Hagerstown BMX track. Generally, Timm helps coach Grant on how to race. BMX is a type of bicycle racing that means “bicycle motocross.” Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: From left, Lilly Raum, 11, lies in the grass while her dad, Timm Raum and brother, Grant Raum, 14, all of Clear Spring, talk at the starting gate before practicing. Lilly prefers to watch her siblings and dad instead of racing herself. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: Grant Raum, 14, of Clear Spring, lifts one of his family’s bikes on the rack on the back of his family’s truck before they drive to Pottstown, PA for the Quaker State National races. The Raum family drove from Clear Spring together to stay the weekend in PA and compete in the races. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: From left, Ashton Raum, 19, sits in the car and looks at videos with her brother, Grant Raum, 14, as their dad, Timm Raum drives and Lilly Raum, 11, looks over the seat. The Raum family drove from Clear Spring together to stay the weekend in Pottstown, PA and compete in the Quaker State National races. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: From left, Timm Raum hugs his daughter, Lilly Raum, 11, both of Clear Spring, during the drive to Pottstown, PA for the Quaker State National races. The Raum family drove from Clear Spring together to stay the weekend in PA and compete in the races. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: From left, Timm Raum sits on his bike while his daughter Lilly Raum, 11, tries on her dad’s helmet in front of the hotel they’re staying in next to the Quaker State National races in Pottstown, PA. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: The entire Raum family walks from their hotel to dinner after a day of racing at the Quaker State Nationals races. From left, Timm Raum takes a photo of hot air balloons while Grant Raum, 14, walks with Lilly Raum, 11, Tina Raum and Ashton Raum, all of Clear Spring, in Pottstown, PA. The Raum family drove from Clear Spring together to stay the weekend in PA and compete in the races. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: Grant Raum, 14, of Clear Spring, changes into his uniform before his first race in the Quaker State National races in Pottstown, PA. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: Grant Raum, 14, of Clear Spring, laughs with his competitors before practicing for the Quaker State National races in Pottstown, PA. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: Grant Raum, 14, of Clear Spring, waits at the gate before his second race in the 14 expert class during the Quaker State Nationals in Pottstown, PA. Raum did not make it beyond the second round of “motos” therefore he did not qualify for the final races on Saturday. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: Timm Raum, of Clear Spring, attempts to fix his daughter Ashton Raum’s, 19, bike while he passes time at the Quaker State Nationals race weekend in Pottstown, PA. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: Grant Raum, 14, of Clear Spring, races in his first race in the 14 expert class during the Quaker State Nationals in Pottstown, PA. Raum did not make it beyond the second round of “motos” therefore he did not qualify for the final races on Saturday. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: Ashton Raum, 19, of Clear Spring, smiles under her biking gear as she waits in line to practice for the Quaker State National races in Pottstown, PA. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: Grant Raum, 14, of Clear Spring, races in his second race in the 14 expert class during the Quaker State Nationals in Pottstown, PA. Raum did not make it beyond the second round of “motos” therefore he did not qualify for the final races on Saturday. The same happened with his races on Sunday. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: Ashton Raum, 19, of Clear Spring, practices for a the Quaker State National races in Pottstown, PA. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: Timm Raum, of Clear Spring, watches bikers practice during the Quaker State National races in Pottstown, PA. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

: From left, Ashton Raum, 19, is hugged by her sister Lilly Raum, 11, both of Clear Spring, after losing her final race on Saturday. Ashton received last place in the 17-20 girls class and chose to lose over risking a crash during the Quaker State National races in Pottstown, PA. Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun

Children and adults of all ages race and practice at Hagerstown BMX. It is a local group of biker enthusiasts formed in 1999. Included in the group are Timm and Tina’s children: Grant, 14, Lilly, 11, and Ashton, 19. However, Lilly only races some of the time, and Ashton is away at college. Timm, along with the other parents at Hagerstown BMX, helps to coach his children while they practice and race.

The family travels together about once a month to attend National Races. Ashton will often travel from school to meet the other family members at these events.

In August, the family drove together to Pottstown, PA to compete in a Nationals race. They competed in a weekend-long event against BMX bikers from around the country. “It’s a way for us all to stay together and connect…and keeps us closer,” said Tina.

BMX bicycle racing, a family affair

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