FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

The January 1981 issue of Action Now magazine has an interview with Bob Haro in it. At that time Bob was still riding LPX Torker frames and Torker forks but it wouldn't be long before the first official HARO freestyle frame was born. For now enjoy the picture that Dean Bradley took of Bob doing a "speedway" as we called it. Note the two finger HARO levers, Max leathers, Offshore co-sponsorship, Oakley goggles, Skyway tuffs, Vans slip-ons, Bicycle Motocross Action jersey and Pro-Neck patch. More on the interview later.

The NBL Easter Classic took place in Florida last weekend. Author's Mikael Prokop had a good weekend with 3 wins (out of 4). Dutchman Robert de Wilde got a third on Saturday but didn't make it out of his motos on Sunday. He got stuck in some soft dirt and crashed once. Cristian Becerine didn't make the mains this weekend but there was more bad news. Warwick Stevenson is out with a torn ACL. He had to get off the bike while riding his backyard trails and made a wrong step. Get well soon Warlock! Anyway, here are the PRO weekend results:

BMX trix & Techniques for the park & street By: Tony Donaldson ISBN: 0-7603-1963-4 Prize: $ 19,95 US BMX books are kind of rare. Whenever you come across one at the library or a book store they usually make you giggle. The pics are outdated and the tricks not from this time. Tony Donaldson has finished a BMX-how-to book. Although the book was published in 2004, the pics already make me giggle. He's got Todd Anderson doing the vert part on a quarterpipe, Stephen Scheurer explaining the flatland tricks, Kyle Huber doing the street stuff and Mike Drolet doing the basics on a HARO Shredder with coloured chain wearing a pro-tec with sunglasses on.

A new website over in Germany is putting the BMX dates together. Visit www.bmxdates.de to see where things are happening. This site focuses on the German scene. The info is listed in German. For a more international Freestyle and Race calendar, click on our FATBMX event schedule. Seems like there are lots of events going on again.

Ahhh back again with a true old school picture from the May issue of BMX Plus1 (1980). The term Bicycle Motocross (BMX) is taken very seriously back then. It means sticking out your leg in the loose turn, crossing up the bars over jumps and ride any terrain that a motorcycle would go through. The smooth BMX tracks of today do lack a lot of the Bicycle Motocross feeling. If it's too loose or bumpy, complaints will be heard. Sticking out a leg in the first turn? man, I'm clipped in!! When there's a chance of the track being muddy, some of the riders don't even bother showing up. How different it was back in the day when bike tests went on no matter how many puddles could be found in the first turn.

Paul's Boutique is celebrating its 10 year anniversary this upcoming weekend. We caught up with owner Paul de Jong to see how he survived: When exactly did you start Paul's Boutique BMX hardware store? April 1st 1995 we started Paul's Boutique, Lambert van Stekelenborg (LAGEJA) and I teamed up and started a 100% PURE BMX shop, I bought him out in 2000. What made you decide to start a BMX shop? My shitty work as a salesmanager for roofing materials made it easy to quit my job and we couldn't buy anything in the Netherlands BMX wise so we started to import everything by ourselves and tried to sell it to the 100 riders that were left in the mid 90's.

Here's a bike check on Chris Arriaga's piece of steel. Just click on the picture to see what parts the Kink rider has on his current bike.

It sucks when your own spot gets torn down. It doesn't matter if it's an official skatepark, trails or your ghetto spot. Marten Koster is calling everyone to say goodbye to his ghetto spot in Gouda, The Netherlands. If you want to join this session, meet up with Marten at the Gouda train station at 7pm on April 8th. You can also e-mail Marten at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for info. Shred that place to pieces yo. Seek and destroy.

Barry Kohne is one of those riders who lives BMX. Besides being one of the talents that Holland has to offer, Barry works in a bike shop, started organizing contests and is working on a clothing company. Being a BMX-er also means taking risks. Barry is currently out with a messed up ankle. We asked him some questions for an article on FATBMX. How's your ankle and what happened exactly? My ankle is getting better. Despite the fact I have to chill and can’t ride for the coming 4 to 6 weeks. I have got a cast now so I'm kind of immobile and that sucks! It happened at the first round of the XLseries in Heerlen....the first contest I organized. I did this handplant transfer from quarter to quarter, but it didn't work out that good. I slid out and twisted my ankle resulting in a broken calve and some torn ligaments.

From the July 1980 issue of Bicycle Motocross Action UK 1.25 Pounds USA $ 1.75 Ahhhh you gotta love it, the tabletop. Still today my favorite "trick" of all if performed well. Vic Murphy is the master of it but back in 1980 Building Leapin' Jones did some rad ones for Bicycle Motocross Action magazine. These flatties are so rad, never mind the bowlegginess. The V-sign all makes up for it. Thank you Donny Jones for letting us enjoy your style 25 years later.