BMX - back in the day...























In 1980 the ABA/Redline Summer Tour came to my home town of Ottumwa Iowa...



It was pretty cool, there was even a picture on the front page of our local newspaper,
The Ottumwa Courier. There was a little article as well... Here's the front page shot...


And the article...


And the trophies...




Also from my scrapbook, here is another article from around the same time frame...







Something sort of cool about the caption, it calls the riders "future race drivers".
The guy in the middle Toby Lawless, actually ended up driving 360 C.I. limited
sprint cars at Knoxville Iowa in the 90's...



One of my all time heroes!!!

I honestly can't remember where I met Mike Poulson... But I found this autographed 8x10 all the same...
I *think* it might have been at the same race I met Jason Jenson, but I don't recall Team Schwinn being there.
I always admired Mike, from his riding ability, to his personality. He was a great role model for BMX...




I met Jason Jensen at a Race in Des Moines in 1982. The only reason I even
remember the year is I won my biggest trophy I ever won, at that race. I took
3rd in my age class, out of 92 riders.

It was a pre national race, part of some tour. I know it was a double points race on
a Saturday outdoors. My 3rd place Trophy was 2 feet tall. The next day we raced
indoors at Veterans Auditorium.

The only other thing I recall from the event was Team Jag, and Rebel Racing were
there, complete factory teams. It was the first time I had ever seen or heard of a
Rebel Racing bike.



Those of you that know me, know I am an SE man...


Here is a pic of my looptail Quadangle shortly after I got it. I bought it from Larry Mullinix.
He's in the first "BMX Drivers" pic... Notice the black vinyl snap pad on the frame...


Later I put black Tuff Wheel II's on it, and shortly after, decided it was TOO black...
So I decided to get it painted. I had the frame painted blue, and the forks were painted white.
I wasn't very color coordinated... Check out that jersey, and my helmet was custom painted
tan & brown, and had the huge SE wings on the helmet, and the rub on sticker on my visor!
Never did get the leathers... Here I am sitting, checking out my competition...


Here I just cleared our doubles, and am sprinting for the finish line...
finishing 2nd out of 3 in the semi, final transfer to the main...



Here are some pics of a few of my old bikes...

This one is my Redline MX-II - It was my second bike. I was number 38 in the ABA
Iowa-1 District for the 1980 racing season. That was the highest plate I ever earned.

My brother was in that shot, no shirt, big ole beer belly poking out, didn't think
you'd want to see that, so I cropped it. That's why you get the skinny pic...



Here's the only pic I have of my 1980 Schwinn Sting... This was my 3rd BMX bike.

This shot was shortly after the race on Exposition Hill at the Iowa State Fair.
That's where I got the Shimano shirt, when I met Bobby Encinas...



Here's the best pic I have of my 1979 Redline Proline... This was my 4th BMX bike.

I always had a problem trying to find a helmet large enough to fit my melon!



Here's a pic of some of our local "brat pack" from back then...

This is also unfortunately the only shot I still have of my looptail, gusseted Robinson...



Here's the guy that got me started in BMX...

Pat Quinn showing some of that old school style!



Here's a shot of one of my best friends...

He now owns his own bike shop, Riverside Cyclery in Ottumwa Iowa...
You'll find the link at the bottom of this page, be sure and check it out!



If you love Vintage BMX bikes, be sure to drop by VintageBMX.com - you won't regret it!





For the best sales and service in S.E. Iowa, check out Riverside Cyclery! Tell 'em Sprinter sent ya!





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