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.
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...
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
Name: Jeff Utterback
Started riding in: 1969-1970 after seeing On Any Sunday with my friend Mike Brinkley. His father raced scrambles. We put motorcycle handle bars on our bikes around that time. Went to my first race in 1973 at BUMS. Started racing regularly in 1974.
Teams represented: Vans Bike and Key in Long Beach Ca. Dan Gurney, Yamaha (Raced a Moto Bike for a few weeks waiting for our Race inc. frames), FMF, Scot Enterprises, SE Racing, GJS So Cal. Almost rode for R&R (after Dan Gurney) and Race Inc.(after SE Racing). Bill asked me and offered to pay me a little something. Never went past the first meeting.)
What was the first bike you used to ride Bicycle Motocross at BUMS?
Jeff Utterback: Schwinn Jr. StingRay
In 1973, what were people using at the first few races you entered?
Jeff Utterback: Modified Schwinns for the most part. My Dad met Marvin Church Sr. and started modifying my frames with his as inspiration. The first he did was a Schwinn girls frame with more ground clearance and a straight top tube.
You've seen the BMX bike development firsthand. What kind of full suspension bikes did you get to ride?
Name: Òscar Pallarès (aka Òscar Quatredosdos)
Hometown: Alella (Barcelona, Spain)
Started riding BMX in: 1985
Number of bikes in the collection: Around 50
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Òscar Pallarès: It was in 2010. I decided I wanted to find a Monty 109, which had been my first BMX bike back in 1985. Montys were made in Barcelona and, at that moment, were the most competitive
Name: Jim Fisher
Hometown: Gaines, MI... Denver area now.
Started riding BMX in: '79
Number of bikes in the collection: 20 plus
Is your focus on BMX bikes from the period you raced in mainly?
Jim Fisher: Mainly '79-'84, I have to say I’m more a collector today than I was a racer back then. I just had and rode a few of these bikes when I was a kid/teen in small town MI. We didn’t have a track but we had a couple sweet bike shops and lots of places to ride like maniacs and we did. I dreamed of moving to California getting a Toyota 4x4 and racing with the pros back then.
Did you manage to get the bikes that you really wanted when you raced?
Jim Fisher: I was blessed to have some nice bikes... I followed BMX thru the magazines and got to know the guys at the local bike shops so I built up a few really nice bikes back then.
Name: Sean Ewing
Hometown: Costa Mesa, CA, USA.
Started riding BMX in: Early '70s
Number of bikes in the collection: 21 complete at the moment .. .. at one point had close to 40, but now it's mainly SE Racing
You never know when you find something good at a swapmeet. What's the latest score you had while strolling from booth to booth?
Sean Ewing: The bike is a piece of junk, but it has rusty CW handlebars on it.
How much would you offer for the bike at a swapmeet?
Sean Ewing: I have bought a few bikes just for one part.. I got a junkie bike for $40 but it had 1st gen
Name: Brian Britt AKA: SmokinEndo
Hometown: Stratford, NJ, USA
Started riding BMX in: 1985
Number of bikes in the collection: Today around 12 and maybe 10 or so frame sets. At the height of it all close to 50.
Next to BMX products, what else are you collecting?
Brian Britt: My Goodness where do I start? I guess with Hot Wheels... Collecting Hots kinda laid out the foundation for everything I collect. I do vinyl but sold off the bulk of it. Vintage toys like Joe’s,
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.