Re-Up; Preserving BMX History #36: Pat "Se666" McKenna (USA)

Jan 31, 2024

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 4303 times

Name: Pat McKenna Se666
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Started riding BMX in: 1977
Number of bikes in the collection: Varied over the years...around 80.

Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
PJ McKenna: I started to look for graphite Tuff Wheels and a Patterson back in 1998. I was calling Skyway, calling bike shops but then got sidetracked with a career.

Back then, was it much easier to find parts that you needed?
PJ McKenna: Sort of, I got stuff locally from Aaron Stewart and a couple local guys in San Mateo, California.

Has the market been killed by the "new kids on the block"?
PJ McKenna: I think it definitely spiked in prices as you have a lot of guys from my era that can afford to make huge purchases of non essential items. Back 10 to 15 years ago you had only like 10 heavy hitters...now you have scores of wealthy BMX aficionados. Guys like Walt, Vbiker Shane, Martin, Wasa,

Ken, Jamie, Poolboy Suzu400, Jim and others from Australia.

At this moment, do you wish you had started collecting even earlier?
PJ McKenna: Of course, I wish I would have continued seeking BMX in 1998 instead of waiting a few years to really ramp it up.

Do you feel there is a need for BMX products to survive for history's sake?
PJ McKenna: We definitely don't want our cherished past to fade away. To many of us, it's not the money, pain, or hassle the hobby can become, it's the fountain of youth and brings us all back to the most fantastic time in our life where we rode from dawn to late at night with no care in the world!

Which bikes have you built exactly to the spec a pro was riding it back in the day?
PJ McKenna: Stu's black STR1, Stu's 1979 GJS for SE, Stu's 1981 Redline Carrera, Bret Patterson's 1982 Championship bike.

Does it hurt to sell bikes you've worked on for so long?
PJ McKenna: Yes but I get crazy that I have too much stuff.

Is the BMX market any good to sell bikes now?
PJ McKenna: It is out of control, I sold a number of bikes last year to buy a house, a new truck and remodeling a pool.

Name three BMX collectors that you respect?
1) Dan Goins
2) William LaRoque
3) Darren Chan

What products are a great help when you find an old rusty historical piece of shit bike that needs to shine again?
PJ McKenna: Damn there is a lot of good stuff now days. But Barkeepers Friend is one product.

Do you have a man-cave where your bikes are displayed?
PJ McKenna: Yes, I have an entire room dedicated to BMX.

Do you always have room for "one more bike"?
PJ McKenna: Damn it they will kill me but yep...ha!

What's a bike (part) you have been looking for but haven't been able to locate?
PJ McKenna: I make it a goal to find everything...and I have even a Skyway og '80s cruiser. But I have always wanted a '70s BMX products factory team jersey.

Where can people reach you when they have that part available?
PJ McKenna: Se666 is everywhere. Museum, ebay, vintage society, etc.

Thanks to: William LaRoque for the guidance of bike building that catches the real antique uniqueness of our bikes.