This is one that goes back to the creation of BMX, Maurice was there at the start when this BMX thing first started. We get into it all here, the early days pre BMX, the influential golden gate park scene and the day Bob Osbourne came to cover it for Freestylin'.
So we've jumped forward a couple of decades for this episode of The Union Tapes. But this is equally as fascinating as the rest of em. Dan Benson started out riding in Sheffield in the mid 90s aboard an 80's BMX frame.
Dave Young was a top name pro in the mid 80s. Coming from Gateshead way up north the odds were stacked against the riders from up there, but thanks to the talent of himself, Pepi Winder and Steve Laidlaw, they shone a light on their scene and left a lasting impression as guys to look for at the contests and in the magazines. We get into the early days of the BMX scene in the north, working at a BMX shop at that time.
Starting out in the early 80’s Jess Dyrenforth became a staple name in the mid to late 80s BMX scene. From the first time anyone had seen him featured in BMX Action bike magazine's track in the woods article in '83.
Rooftop sprung into the BMX spot light in 1993 and scored the last part on the game changing VHS dirty deeds, which was the ground breaking video in 94.
From there he established himself as a solid fixture in any BMX media or event.
The Union Tapes Episode 8 with Eric Steel, if you are into BMX stories and history you aint gonna want to miss this one. Release date 20/11/22.
Back in the 80s I bought a magazine called BMX Action bike, the first issue I bought had a pic of a guy in race gear and full face helmet dropping into a concrete bowl.
Episode 7 of the Union tapes, is the legendary UK BMX rider Craig Campbell, if you into BMX stories n history, you aint gonna miss this one!
Scott Malyon was one of the big break out names from UK BMX in the late 90s early 2000s. Whenever he rode an event he was always a name that stood out, huge transfers, higher airs than the whole group and usually the furthest gaps.
I've known Andy Brown for well over 30 years now. As a kid many of us looked up to him and the crew he rode with as the older riders coming out of the London area, leading the way.