FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

Name: E (Six-Pack-To-Go)
Hometown: Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey
Started riding BMX in: As a kid in the '80s, just around town, never raced or rode anything organized.
Number of bikes in the collection: Fluctuates but I’ve had up to 50 at one time.

Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Six-Pack-to-go: Yes, at was at the Race of Gentlemen in Wildwood NJ years ago and I saw a woman riding a Skyway TA and I was like damn, my buddy had that bike. That’s what sparked it. It was probably 2017.

You've got a museum in your shed, how often do you go in and just sit there with a 6-pack looking at all the stuff?

Name: Brett Jackson
Hometown: Hudson, Massachusetts, USA
Started riding: 1983
Number of bikes: 22

Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Brett Jackson: Yes, absolutely. I’m still green in the BMX collecting hobby. About 2 1/2 years ago I was looking for bikes for my twins. One wanted a BMX, one a mountain bike. While searching for a good quality bmx, all of the old feelings of riding came flooding back. I ended up buying my son a 2016 Redline and myself a 1998(?) GT. I quickly learned the difference between old school, mid school, etc.  I became determined to build a few old BMX bikes for my kids to ride. I found a couple great local guys into the hobby that turned me onto great Facebook groups. I was hooked.

What kind of bikes do you focus on?
Brett Jackson: I focus on bikes from late '70-s to mid '80-s. I do not like to go beyond 1985. (I have one or two beyond '85). I love both race and freestyle. I started collecting freestyle, and fell in love with so many race bikes.

Name: Bob Lipsett Jr
Hometown: Hamilton NJ, Mercer county, USA
Started riding BMX in: 1980
Number of bikes in the collection: 8 bikes

Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Bob Lipsett Jr.: Exactly when! I bumped into my buddy 2 years ago that I used to ride with back in 1980. We were talking about his business and what I do and he made mention that he just bought a new SE racing PK Ripper. I instantly thought of my 1981 Super goose that I lost in my parents divorce when I was 12 so from that day until now I've been back involved with late seventies an early '80s BMX racers,

Name: Bill Ryan
Hometown: Apple Valley, CA - USA
Started riding BMX in: Torrance, CA - USA
Number of bikes in your collection: I have never counted —— and I am afraid if I do the number will scare me.

Since you were part of BMX in the early days over in California do you wish you had saved more from the early days?

Name: Karl Chalk
Country: UK
Number of bikes in the collection: I've had many bmx but always only owned 1 at any time

Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Karl Chalk: I'm not a collector of memorabilia but enjoy seeing people's BMX related memorabilia.

Who were the first people you came across that helped you out to find the stuff you needed?

If you were at Dirtyfest, you saw it live. If not, tune in today on TorkerTV to see Eddie Fiola's incident.. and learn all about the Torker Freestyle Frame

Name: Cash Matthews
Hometown: Shawnee, OK
Started riding BMX in: 1972

Like many in the very early days who could not afford a motorcycle, the bicycle was turned into a motorbike look-a-like. What were some of the things you did to reach that goal?
Cash Matthews: Like most, we made lots of cool 2-stroke motorcycle sounds with our mouths!! As our group of friends who rode progressed, we started riding “flat track” style in a circle. We emulated Kenny Roberts and my Uncle, Jerry Matthews who were all accomplished Flat Track Stars. I conned my uncle out of a number plate from his motorcycle so that was the first cool-mod of the Schwinn. As many Flat Track guys, we added cardboard, grip covers to save us from rocks and things that never really mattered but they looked cool. In those early days, just having a set of waffle grips was epic, so we began there,

Name: Scott Towne
Hometown: Otsego, Michigan, USA.
Started riding BMX in: 1977
Number of bikes in the collection: More than I need, less than I want. I don’t consider myself a “collector”. I’m a lifer. Old BMX bikes are something I have because they are part of my story. I could give a presentation on each bike that I have and why it means something to me. In fact, I just might start doing that. “It’s all in the presentation” after all.

Name: Stu Thomsen
Started riding in: 1972 (I Think)
Teams represented: Three Majors: SE, Redline and Huffy.
Some of the smaller and short term teams were: Dirt Master, Webco, DG, FMF, Motobecane (One Weekend), my bike shop (Stu Thomsen’s Family Bicycle Center), Southridge Cycles (on MTB and BMX). A short stent back on Redline and now representing SE again.

What was the first bike you used to ride Bicycle Motocross?
Stu Thomsen: Schwinn Stingray

In 1973, what were people using at the first few races you entered?
Stu Thomsen: Modified Stingray type bikes and a few custom garage builds by ingenious fathers.

You've seen the BMX bike development firsthand. What kind of full suspension bikes did you get to ride?
Stu Thomsen: I had a custom made Monoshock bike I would race now and then at the Corona downhill

Name: Jason Van Buskirk
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Started riding BMX in: 1979
Number of bikes in the collection: 30+

Dutch roots by any chance?
Jason Van Buskirk: Yes, my Heritage is Dutch, however, I am born and raised in the U.S.

Is your focus on BMX bikes from the period you raced in mainly?
Jason van Buskirk: Yes, I tend to collect bikes from the late '70s To mid '80s... Probably 1987 being the latest. I do have a couple '90s bikes, but that's not the era I enjoy collecting the most.