Re-Up; Preserving BMX History #30: William "Larock" LaRoque (USA)

Jan 18, 2024

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 4039 times

Name: William LaRoque aka Larock
Hometown: Long Beach, CA

What's your earliest memory of BMX?
Larock: Seeing On Any Sunday for the first time and wanting an MX kit for my hand me down Lime Green StingRay.

Who were some of the BMX riders that you admired back in the day?
Larock: That’s a tough one! I was kind of Partial to the SE Factory Boys because they had such close ties to Long Beach, BUMS track was less than a mile away from where I grew up. Scot, Thomsen & PK of course. But who could deny the Panther, Dain, Utterback, King, Atherton and all of the others that graced the pages of our favorite magazines.

Do you feel there is a need for BMX products to survive for history's sake?
Larock: Absolutely. It was the fabric of life for so many. Not many of us didn’t want to own most every bike and part that we saw in the magazines. There was always something new and exciting to look at and want. Those same feelings still ring true today. Without the past, there is no future. I love seeing the progression of BMX from its early beginnings to where it is now. Eventually the things of today will need to be preserved for the future generations to enjoy.

How long did it take you to get your collection together?
Larock: It’s been a a life long pursuit that has never completely ended for me. Most of the bikes I’ve built and collected have moved on to new owners. I enjoy the chase of parts first, the build second and finally documenting with photos. I can look at and store photos much easier than hundreds of bikes.

Is it for the love of BMX you've got all those bikes, or is it a pension plan for you?
Larock: It’s the love of BMX for me.

Which bike do you like to ride on a regular basis?
Larock: I have a '79 Schwinn Spitfire that is BMX inspired that I enjoy riding.

How often do you look on eBay/Craigslist/BMX Museum to shop for old BMX stuff?
Larock: Daily, just to see if the next “one” is there.

Who are some of the people who have helped track some parts down that you needed?
Larock: Oh boy! That list is long & distinguished. Joe Buffardi, Darren Chan, Dan Goins, Brian “Sodbuster” Gutierrez, Dennis Dain, Bryan Fox, Rick Gaytan, Roc Caravalho, Jesse Vargas, Pat McKenna, Mark McCorkle, Perry Wills & Steve Firestein to name a few. I’ve had help from all over the country!

Who are some of the BMX connectors that you respect?
This is a tough one! There are many that I respect. The four that pop into my head instantly are listed below.
1) Darren Chan
2) Dan Goins
3) Brian “Sodbuster” Gutierrez
4) Joe Buffardi

What's the most ridiculous amount you have paid for a bike part that you needed to own?
Larock: I don’t consider any of my past purchases ridiculous, if I need it, I buy it.

Do you have another BMX project in your head? How would you start on it?
Larock: I do. I would start with Webco Mags. It’s not a Webco by the way.

Do you always have room for "one more bike"?
Larock: Absolutely.