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
You won't believe the old-school bmx photos Bill Batchelor took as a kid!
Craig and Isaac chat with Bill Batchelor about his old school photo collection he took in LA during the peak of the Freestyle movement - at 14 years old.
Just so I can watch and get stoked whenever I need it. Also went with a crusty VHS tape so it had the proper feel.
NBA founder, Ernie Alexander talks about early organized BMX racing competition.. the National Bicycle Association (NBA)
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.
Name: Tommy Yaley
Hometown: Mtn View. California
Started riding BMX in: 1974ish
Number of bikes in the collection: 9
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Tommy Yaley: About 7 years ago I decided I wanted to re-create the 1st Gen proline I had when I was a kid. I sold a bunch of my music gear collection and then, like everyone else, it took off from there. Just one more bike...
Mours saint Eusèbe (26) . Deuxième Championnat d'Europe de BMX en France aprèsDijon en 83.
In 1972, Gary Turner, a professional drag racer and experienced welder, started out making a BMX bike out of chrome-moly tubing for his son Craig to race at the BMX tracks. Craig's bike gets noticed and Gary starts to supply the frames to other kids and building his reputation one frame at a time. Gary Turner BMX was born.
Name: Timmy Williams
Hometown: Keyport, NJ
Started riding BMX in: Early ‘70s. Raced from 1982-1985, sponsored by bike shop in South Jersey called Beacon.
Number of bikes in the collection: Now, 30 completes. Once had over 45. I LOVE the odd/ rare BMX frames and parts, so that’s why my collection is different than some others.
Where does your love for BMX bikes come from?
Timmy Williams: When I was a kid, growing up in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, they built a BMX track a half mile from my house (It’s still there). I would ride by there on my bike to check it out and soon I asked for
BMX Vintage Footage - Rare find of the early years! by Terry Dussault
Awesome vintage BMX movie filmed on Schwinn Stingrays around 1976 in Southern California titled "Born to be Wild".
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.