FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

History class never appealed to me. I dropped it as soon as I could. When it comes to BMX history, it's a different story. You see I’ve always thought that BMX originated in the USA in the late sixties until I walked passed a bookstore the other day. On the poster in the shop window was a picture of two kids riding bikes at a “fietscross” in 1956. The photo was taken in St.-Anthonis, Holland 15 miles from the FATBMX office. I walked in the store, searching for the mag and found “Ach Lieve Tijd”. The € 4.95 cover prize was a steal for a piece of BMX history. A quick search for more BMX pics was a negative but a story about Motocross I found. It mentioned that the sport of Motocross was started in the Netherlands on modified Nortons, DKW’s and BSA’s. Seeing that there is a truth to this, it is acceptable to believe that there were kids around pretending they had motorcycles but riding their bikes instead.

Bicycle Motocross anyone?

the man with whom International world wide BMX started by Gerrit Does Renny Roker, a unique promoter of among others, BMX. Recently I received an e-mail from the USA by someone called BMX MOM. This mail made me aware of the fact, that Mr. RENNY ROKER, the promoter of the JAG BMX World Championships in the early days of BMX (1978 and on), has been instrumental in finally getting BMX recognized worldwide.

transponders and big screen, a new impulse? by Gerrit Does October 3rd. 2004 the FIM MOTOCROSS of NATIONS took place in LIEROP – Holland, a small town close to the city of Eindhoven. Of course, as former MX rider, I had to be there.

Each year, after the Worlds, the University of BMX releases the results of the "World Championship Quality Survey". A selective group of international people (riders, officials, organizers and guests) do give their opinion on the World Championship run that year (check out the enclosed overall historical overview).

No more pulling back or jumping the gate! Just the other day, I received a revolutionary idea from former cruiser World Champion, Teun Stam - Holland. Teun did sent in a reaction on my article "Opinion on the 2004 Worlds" more specific the section were I talk about the false starts I did see during this years Worlds (watch the TV pictures).

After a couple of years running the UCI - Supercross of BMX events at Woodward - USA, talk is that this year will be the last of these events. The real Supercross of BMX has been at the European Challenge Cup events at Slagharen - Holland. I named this event the Supercross of BMX. UCI started the Woodward event in order to replace the World Cup series, but in fact the results were even worse. It did not work.

A few week after the UCI-BMX World Championship 2004 in Valkenswaard - Holland, I want to give my opinion on this prestigious event, which was rated THE BEST EVER. (check out the WC statistics 1982 - 2004 and Press-release). Perfect in BMX in the field of organizing an event is impossible, but this came very close.

Just recently we learned that the most famous and professional starting gate in Europe, used by the Valkenswaard BMX club Lion d'Or (Worlds track), has been taken away and has been replaced by a uni starting gate. In 1986, Ponypark Slagharen had a special starting gate built on advise of Gerrit Does and made by Hans Croes of the Waalre BMX club. It concerned a gate, designed by HONDA MOTORS Japan engineers and used during the I.BMX.F. Worlds on Suzuka circuit in Japan - 1984.