The Story of the Northridge Pacers
The Northridge Pacers Track Club was originally founded in 1974. Ken Futernick, then with the Northridge Knights, a football and basketball organization, recognized the need for a youth track and field team in the area. He lobbied the Knights organization and was successful in founding the division and ran the club through its formative years. By 1980 it was time to become independent of the Knights, and so on March 1, 1981, the Northridge Pacers became an independent non-profit organization, listed with the State of California.
The Northridge Pacers Track Club is an organization that promotes youth fitness and team
spirit through our Youth Track and Youth Cross Country programs (Ages 5 to 15). Through
these programs, we believe that we make a small contribution to the growth and success of
our children. All services are provided by volunteers, whether it be coaching or
administrative duties. The fees we charge are given back to our children in the form of
trophies, ribbons, uniforms, a yearbook, and a picnic, as well as maintaining and
replacing the necessary equipment.
We join similar organizations in friendly competition. Our signups are open to any
youngster in the greater Los Angeles area. No athlete is turned away. We teach them skills
and stress that they have a good time, but also point out that if something is worth
doing, it demands their time, attention and devotion. This, obviously, has been a
successful approach, as the Pacers has grown to become a club of over 250 athletes. Many
of the club's runners have won National Championships, City High School Championships and
others have become simply better citizens because of their experience with the club.
Our motivation is the concept of run for fun; everyone is a winner just by his or her
participation. With this attitude, we feel we can best help our young develop in body and
mind, and be better able to deal with the challenges of school and life.
We find our athletes, parents, and sponsors similarly motivated.