The Dirty Knobs Podcast Season 2 Episode 16 with Hollywood Mike Miranda, JV James Vicente and EC Eric Carter sit and talk with the King of Kruisers, the Kos, Jeff Kosmala. Jeff shares the birth of the BMX cruiser, life with Mongoose and Redline teamates and the "Firecracker Story".
Name: Oliver Kienzle
Hometown: Kornwestheim, Germany
Started riding in: 1975 with Bonanza bikes. Real first BMX bike in '79.
Number of bikes: My wife says not enough
You've been a BMX fan from the start. What was the first bike that you decided to keep forever?
Oliver Kienzle: PK Ripper
Being from Germany, did you think all the American bikes were next level in the beginning?
Oliver Kienzle: Yeah definitely next level.
What were the first American BMX brands that you saw at a race in Germany?
Oliver Kienzle: Hutch, GT and Torker team Mirranda, Brackens, Judge etc
Did you ever buy a bike like that?
Oliver Kienzle: No, too expensive.
If you had the space (and the money), what bike would be on your "to own" list right now?
Name: Shannon Gillette
Hometown: Chandler, Arizona
Started riding BMX in: Racing in 1980, but have been riding BMX bikes since about 1976.
Number of bikes in the collection: Only a few as of now. It's alway revolving stable.
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Shannon Gillette: I always just kind of hung on to my personal stuff. Like jerseys and number plates. But the first bike? I lived in Hawaii at the time and the year was 1989. It was actually a friend's old race bike, a 1979 Supergoose and he was throwing it in the garbage in front of his house. So I swooped it up and he told me I couldn't take it. I had to buy it from him. hahaha.. I said what?! You're throwing it out in the garbage. He said I want $40 for it. I said DEAL! It was in rough shape, but working in bike shops for 10 years I was up for the task. Long story short, I cleaned it up, rev=built the wheels as the spokes were all rusted. Hawaii does that to bikes with all the salt air.
Name: Michael Gamstetter
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio, USA
Started riding BMX in: 1978
Number of bikes in the collection: Currently, 5. At one time, 20+.
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Michael Gamstetter: Yes, it was around 1996 or 1997. It was a random thought that popped into my head while I was working. I thought it would be cool to find an old JMC or Torker, a pair of Oakley II grips in the box and a set of Reedy pedals (I eventually had all those.)
Stuart King // On Location // Backyard // 1995 by Snakebite BMX
Name: Grant Stone
Hometown: Newbury, Berkshire, U.K.
Started riding BMX in: 1980
Number of bikes in the collection: 8
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Grant Stone: I’ve never really stopped riding BMX, so I have always had a current BMX in my possession. But I guess I started buying old school stuff about 9 years ago when I had the idea of replicating my Skyway TA that I sold in 1988 and regretted ever since.
At this moment, do you wish you had started collecting earlier?
Name: GAry Sansom
Hometown: Lewiston ID...
Started riding BMX in: 1969
Number of bikes in the collection: Over 600..200 plus completes and 400 plus framesets
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
GAry Sansom: Hmm... a couple times.. I rode all thru the 70's..and 80's.. when I moved to Portland in 1996, I was down to 5 bikes..then I found ebay..
At this moment, do you wish you had started collecting earlier?
GAry Sansom: Yes..they were so inexpensive in the early 90's.
Do you feel there is a need for BMX products to survive for history's sake?
GAry Sansom: For sure..part of the reason I started collecting.
What's one of your oldest BMX products in your collection?
Gary Sansom: My 1981 Kuwahara.. Skyway forks..Redline squareback
When you started riding what bike was the dream bike for you?
Gary Sansom: SE Quad angle..I recall seeing one in the shop.. 1980 or so.
Congratulations, Andy Ruffell! Inducted into The British BMX Hall Of Fame Class of 2023. By British BMX Hall of Fame.
Name: Rainer Schadowski
Hometown: Karlsruhe, Germany
Started riding BMX in: 1980
Number of bikes in the collection: Currently 61 and counting
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Rainer Schadowski: It evolved from my habit keeping bikes and gear I had raced and never sold. Then my Dad added more bikes and gear he got from retired racers and all of a sudden it was a collection. That was in the mid to late 90s.
Name: Jeff Tollefson, aka JT & The Torker Kid
Hometown: Saint Paul, Minnesota (USA)
Started riding BMX in: 1974
Number of bikes in the collection: Down to 25
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Jeff Tollefson: I actually started the day I got my 1974 Redline Squareback frame and fork 46 years ago. As a kid I traded and sold various parts yet by 1984 I had a basement full of vintage items then started JTFreestyle, my mini bike shop/mail order selling new school parts while doing Freestyle shows. So basically I was collecting from the start.
Do you feel there is a need for BMX products to survive for history's sake?
Jeff Tollefson: Yes, there are so many BMX innovations throughout the years and having those documented/displayed is key for all future generations to experience BMX. My daughter, Jemma (8), grew up with my vintage bike collection in our home. Seeing first generation Redline parts, Motomags, Addicks sprockets, various stems, one piece/alloy/chromoly cranks, into the crazy Freestyle parts she knows so much about the history of our sport before she became a National #1 BMX racer. When I bring vintage bikes to a BMX race the kids and adults all freak out on what we rode back in the day and have an opportunity to explain the history of BMX through the bikes.
What's one of your oldest BMX products in your collection?
Jeff Tollefson: My original 1974 Redline Squareback frame and fork
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.