FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

The first double issue of FAT-'zine. With 88 pages it was also twice the size of most 'zines back in the day. Issue 13+14 featured over 150 photos. The quality was terrible but at least it brought the message across. The typewriter was still doing its job but the ink ribbon was fading. I loved freshly new ink ribbons as it also had a white line up top that you could use to correct the typos. But more than once the machine got stuck behind a photo and the letter didn't line up correctly and you had to bring out the Tipp-Ex to change things. It was horrible compared to the computers we use today.

FAT-'zine was getting a structure with an editorial, contents page, news section, staff list, RAD-Lame section etc. and the double issue had the following features: Lageja contest, Freestyle contest in wherever, Bart & Martijn Deijkers interview, free VANS sticker, Kees Lemmens interview, Phantasialand report where some American riders were doing shows, Incertitude concert review, 8th Muenster Mastership report, Albert Retey interview, Amsterdam skate trip, Tropica and StokeBros write-ups, Rene Hofman interview, Trier/Kenn freestyle contest (1989) where we stayed in the concrete pipes, second FAT-JAM report where the FIAT 127 got thrashed, Andreas Althaus interview, we went to Spain to do a demo with David Quesada in San Sebastian and the ETA got loose.

Sean Coons did a comic and we already had stuff lined up for the next issue. 

Check back next week for issue 15 but first flip through the double issue page by page:

The day after the Mini FATJAM, or better, the Mini FATJAM afterparty at OJA, the day starts too early no matter what time you wake up first. Basically the day is a waste trying to recover from the long day and night that ends with a few drinks (too many). Now that events are back on the calendar it will also lead to multiple events happening at the same time. On the weekend of 2/3 April the Ultimate X took place in South Africa, Swamfest got wild in Florida, UEC racing was going on in Verona, Italy and also the Mini FATJAM took place. Next to that the annual Oldskool gathering put on by Marcel van de Hurk also draws BMX-ers from all corners and so harm van Brussel showed up straight from a BMX race in Nuland (making it BMX event number 6 on the same weekend). Two years of no events because of the pandemic with QR codes, mouth masks, social distancing, vaccinations, and now 6 on one weekend and actually, we like it like that.

Issue 12 had a green color. In the beginning we picked our color but after some issues we did not care. As long as it wasn't the same color as the previous issue it was okay. The cover photo on the green paper came out nice. Issue 12 had the infamous Believe it, or not?! news section, a reader photo section and also an MBL concert report. We used to have some ramps at the end of our street that we set up differently all the time. It was our ghetto skatepark but it worked for us. We also rode our scooters there, see page 9 and 10. 

RAD-LAME list, of course! Entered a Talent Show at school and won! One DJ, one rapper and me flatlanding on stage. We got a trophy and a day off. Sweet.

2 Hip King Of Nothing (Rotterdam) report where they stole my camera. Bad news it was. Free Dave Vanderspek Curb Dogs sticker in this issue. RIP Dave. Yes we rode fullpipes back in the day. 19 years ago in Lieshout. Take that.

Tony Hawk did a demo in Eindhoven and we were there. Ryan Moniham interview, Dynamo Open Air '89 report, Bresie interview, Miniramp pics, Pingel art,  Open Dutch vert skate championships, and a freestyle contest report from Sedan, France. Another road trip it was and we rode on carpet! That about sums it up.

The Sugar Hills trails in Aarle-Rixtel really started running back in 1990. It was also the first year a jam was thrown to open up the outdoor season. The March/April date remained on the calendar for the following 30 years. The name of the jam was dubbed the Mini FATJAM as the younger brother of the FATJAM that has taken place in the same town since 1988. Unfortunately over the past two years the global pandemic forced us to pull the plug and no events were possible in the way we envison them; having fun together. But guess what, the Covid situation is allowing us to invite the BMX family and friends to make a trip down to Aarle-Rixtel again on 2 April without any restrictions as long as we don't exceed the 500 maximum capacity. So do yourself a favour and make sure you show up early in order to "get in".
Bring your bike, a chair, your friends, some food, drinks, a good mood and you'll fit right in. Red Bull will handle the wings for the riders and their sound car will be set-up for tunes all afternoon. It's free to participate, it's free to spectate, it's free to park, it's free to use the toilet. We've collected some goodies from our sponsors (Thanks to @ridetsg / @paulsboutiquebmx / @fatbmx) so make sure to join the special session at the Sugar Hills Trails at 16:00hr. The trails are open for a session starting from 13:00hr and offer smaller jumps for beginners and the KILLER jump for the pros. It's an opportunity to ride dirt even if you are not a 'dirt' rider. The trails can handle some serious rain so no worries about the spot not being rideable even when snow is expected in the days leading up to the Mini FATJAM. We will ride!

With 48 pages this was a skinny issue of FAT-'zine. We're still inthe year 1989 and we went to Paris, France for the BMX Freestyle World Championships. John Yull, Mike Canning, Rolf Seiler, and Dave Beveridge got the cover from the Freestyle Championnat du Monde in St. Denis, France. The pages got messed up a little. It was pretty tricky to put the pages in order and then Joop van den Kimmenade had to be on top of it too when he stapled the 'zines together.

Kees Lemmens wrote a report about a session in Den Haag, Erlangen, Germany was covered by Matt Pingel,and  Haluk did the Tropica contest. We had an interview with the very talented Scott Carroll (RIP), and Lars from Mars wrote a story about bikers and skaters riding together.

We drove over to Uden fr a street skate contest which was won by Dirk Winkelman.  We checked out De La Soul live in Eindhoven and this report was followed by the Paris World's article.

Stephan Prantl was interviewed (page 42-43) and we had an anti-drinking campaign sticker (Drank maakt meer kapot dan je lief is) in issue number 11.

Still a lot of stuff was put onto the 48 pages and like every week you get to flip through it page by page.

Lee Reynolds made the cover of issue # 10 of FAT-'zine. He had not seen it until recently when he found it online. That's why we're putting these things on the internet. Those who did not save anything from back in the day still have a way to flip through the pages; digitally.

It's 1989 and we made it to the Mega Free event in Paris. We started working the "press pass scam" to get into places for free and to get backstage. Paul brought a suitcase, long jacket and a baret to impress the security guards and it worked. When he opened up the suitcase backstage his bottle of Coca Cola and bag of chips rolled out, but he was in! That game never stopped.

Back to the issue:
Carl Inkpen reported from a competition in Farnham, UK, Pingel went to Rom skatepark.

We had 6 'zine reviews (Liberty, ACK, Spazum, Shred Zone, Mayhem and R.A.H.F.).

There was no Photoshop back then but there were scissors and glue to make a double air on page 15-16. We traveled to Roncq, France for a contest and had a good time as usual.

Our local rap group was called Divorze, read the interview on page 22-23. Lars From Mars (BMX Masters MC) wrote another story for FAT and we interviewed Eric Fischer.

Did you ever have a cover of a magazine? Yes I did, FAT-'zine issue 9 right here. Putting yourself on the cover is pretty lame but what the heck, make your own (maga)zine and you have that control too. The photo was taken at an event in the Rai, Amsterdam and "street riding" was a new thing. We got plenty of cool artwork again from our friends at school. Somehow they never got caught. The StokeBros sent over a few pages and again we brought the news in the Believe it, or not!? pages.

It's 1989 and a photo caption says that Paul is back on the freestyle scene. A comeback in 1989! Paul also went to see Suicidal Tendencies twice and reports about it.

Issue #9 has 'Zine reviews (Sketchy, Fractured and Zenith) and Lars from Mars also wrote a story that you can find on page 18. We did a lot in 1988 and have 7 pages covering the places we went.

The free sticker page was filled with a terrible Airwalk freestyle team sticker but hey, it was free.

We went to a BDP concert in Eindhoven (P. 29-30) and went back to the University of Duesseldorf to ride the brick banks. The year was 1989.

Jeroen Hoogaerts (RIP) and Ron Wilkerson both got interviews. We did Another RAD-LAME list, Matt Pingel contributed more stuff and we went to the EnergieHal in Rotterdam for a session.

Issue 8 is the 8th issue of 1988. Not bad at all after the first issue (in 1987) was made as a joke. # 8 had 52 pages and on the cover were Albert Moonen, Jason Hassel and Thomas Fritscher.

Frans Swinkels and I went to Villeneuf d'Asq, France this time for a contest in dad's Lada. We pass the town on the regular and still think back of the comp we visited back in 1988. The Germany posse made it too. Paul went to see a MDC/SNFU & Afflict show in Eindhoven.

Dave Vanderspek died in 1988 which shocked everyone. Lars from Mars wrote down his thoughts on a rainy and sleepless night and sent it in. It showed up on page 18.

Pingel went to England and visited the Chingford ramp. Ralf Maier reports from a contest in Bern, Switzerland and Albert Moonen went to the 2-HIp King of Vert in Washington DC and brought us all the latest news and gossip. Back in the day there was no internet guys!

Issue 8 had a Joe Johnson interview. On the question "What do you hate" he answered: "When I am staying at Dennis McCoy's house and I have to fix his bike for food." Haha.

We took another trip to Amsterdam with the Divorze posse to visit a concert. This time RunDMC, Public Enemy and Derek B and DJ Scratch. Yoyoyo! Matt Pingel itw too and the RAD-LAME list.

We made a lot of them 'zines back then. There was no plan really but this was issue number 7 and the year is 1988. It's the issue that covers the first FAT-JAM. Riding street in 1988 was a new thing.

Having a car on the course was exciting for the street guys, and thrashing it afterwards was a good time. Check the sequence at the end of the issue.

Joachim Mulkens came through with more incredible artwork that he finished during regular school lessons. So good. He's a cop now but could have easily made his money doing comics or whatever.

Issue 7 has an interview with Sander Nieuwenhuis who still is our best Dutch vert rider. Pat Wirz contributes a report about the AFA Masters round 6 in Ohio where Joe Johnson did a tailwhip on a quarterpipe 4 feet out!

Matt Pingel went to London and visited Southbank. We got a free General Bicycles sticker this time. Jeff Hedges gets a BIO, we visited a MC Marvellous and DJ Cash Money concert and made a trip to Cologne for a contest.

It must have been our first time as it took one hour to get from the train station to the Jugendpark. 

The 'zines are starting to get interesting......

A cherished race. The one and only California Cup