Free Agent finds ME. Nice retro racer. Options

[HeavyMTBMXer]

(IMG:http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu270/MannKrafted/Odds%20and%20ends/2012_05250001.jpg)

Every now and then, you find one that takes you back to a different time in your life. Most of the time, it is a good time you had with friends and for a few moments, you forget that you might be 45 and a little out of shape, LOL.
I had this happen, recently, thanks to this "Old/Mid School Free Agent" that was tossed in my lap. As far as I can see, from pictures on a few BMX sites, it appears to be '88-'89 vintage and is a full chrome-moly frame and fork set up, not just a front triangle. I have a few guys that I work around that ride new school BMX bikes, more freestyle than race, and they are tanks next to this one.
Does anyone have any info as far as age or anything? I learned a few items in my hunt, about Free Agent and such, but any light you can shine on this one is appreciated.
I raced back in the early to mid '80's and it was one of the best times of my life. There was very little natural talent involved and I had to work harder than most to maintain any level of competency. My racing was in Salt Lake City, UT, a few months living in Phoenix, AZ and then back home to Montana where, for a very short time, I was one of the fastest guys in the state. The time I spent in Phoenix, being able to race 3-5 times a week was a HUGE help in the speed department.
I won't bore you with the added retro walk down a good path, but if you know more about this bike than I do, please share.
Thanks for your time,
LaMont in AZ

(IMG:http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu270/MannKrafted/Odds%20and%20ends/2012_05250010.jpg)

(IMG:http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu270/MannKrafted/Odds%20and%20ends/2012_05250002.jpg)

(IMG:http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu270/MannKrafted/Odds%20and%20ends/2012_05250005.jpg)

(IMG:http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu270/MannKrafted/Odds%20and%20ends/2012_05250007.jpg)

(IMG:http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu270/MannKrafted/Odds%20and%20ends/2012_05250008.jpg)

(IMG:http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu270/MannKrafted/Odds%20and%20ends/2012_05250009.jpg)

[bnd]

What's your last name? Your name rings a bell.

b.

[Kastanman]

first 4 digits tell you the month and the year. Your was build in Feb 1990. It appears to be a pro not a limo. Top tube will be about 19.5" if it's a pro and 21 if it's a limo.

[HeavyMTBMXer]

first 4 digits tell you the month and the year. Your was build in Feb 1990. It appears to be a pro not a limo. Top tube will be about 19.5" if it's a pro and 21 if it's a limo.

I am betting on it being the Pro. I took a spin or two around the cul-de-sac and there is no way that it would fit a guy my size at 5'-11". Last name is Mann and I remember a good number of the guys I raced with, between Utah, AZ and MT. Bill Brzenk was one of my good friends when I first started in Utah. He was so natural and I was not. He won his first race ever and just didn't seem to stop.
Let me know if the last name rings a bell and if you know me from those days.
LaMont in AZ

[bnd]

Any of these names ring a bell?
Ron Duncombe, Kevin Sleater, Roland Critchfield, Tad Snow..........all still close friends of mine.

b.

[HeavyMTBMXer]

Alright, who am I talking with?! Yes, those are all names I remember, very very well! Tad goes by his original name now, right? Roland and I went head to head at probably my last double-points race after moving back to Montana to finish high school. Ron and I were best buds and spent a ton of time riding together. Yer killin' me not knowing who I am posting to. Great to hear that it was not just a dream and that I really did know a person or two, LOL.
LaMont in AZ
MannKrafted Custom Milled Putters

[bnd]

Alright, who am I talking with?! Yes, those are all names I remember, very very well! Tad goes by his original name now, right? Roland and I went head to head at probably my last double-points race after moving back to Montana to finish high school. Ron and I were best buds and spent a ton of time riding together. Yer killin' me not knowing who I am posting to. Great to hear that it was not just a dream and that I really did know a person or two, LOL.
LaMont in AZ
MannKrafted Custom Milled Putters

My name is Bruce Ritter, I started racing at the indoors in late 1982. Quit in 86' then came back in 93'. I had a Patterson & a full uniform. I turned expert in late 84'. I wasn't really friends with those guys until later in life. All you guys were hotshot experts & I was trying t make a name for myself. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Roland came back to racing in the mid-90s & acutally turned Pro. He suffered a leg injury around 01' that almost cost him his leg. He is now the T.O. of Deseret Peak BMX track in Tooele.

Justin (Tad) is a close friend of mine as we got together in the early 90's. He's recently divorced & is struggling with it. He raced from 96-02' when he broke his collorbone & mailed it in.

Kevin lives up the street from me & actually helped me put away a few brews last night. He raced from 96-01'. He KILLED it when he did race.

Dunc is the head honcho a Maverik Stores. He is also the monster truck driver. He is a pretty well known celebrity now & a GREAT guy.

If you go to www.UtahBMX.com, I'm the head gopher there. Jsutin & I started that site back in 99' but somebody else runs it now. You can get ahold of Roland thru his link to his track on the site.


Last time I saw Brzink was at Bob Lunaks funeral about 5 years ago. Unfortunalty Utah BMX has been hit hard with alot of old schoolers passing away including, Doug Dunford, Bryan Oblad, Scott Taul & Rocky Anderson.


b.

[HeavyMTBMXer]

It is funny, how time just runs away and sometimes I don't realize just how much has passed since those days back in the 80's. Ron and I lived just a few blocks away from each other in around '80-'82. We hung out all the time and just recently got back in touch, via facebook. In fact, my dad's business allowed us to purchase a lot of stuff at wholesale pricing and put us both on S&S Works Replica racers, team matching jerseys and the old school Meno helmets. THOSE were good days!
It sounds like you started racing about the time I moved back to Montana, after three months in Arizona. It was a lot of traveling, the last part of my Sophomore year of high school, but I managed to stay plugged into racing by taking a job at a small bike shop back home in Billings.
Please tell Justin that I said, "HELLO!!!!!!!" Tad was always a cool character. He and I spent a decent amount of time running amok with Ron, terrorizing West Valley City late at night. We were good kids, though, LOL.
Kevin Sleater was a guy I only knew through the racing. He lived on the East side, as I believe Roland did, as well. Roland and I talk on FaceBook, from time to time and Ron is coming back to PHX for a Lucas Oil race at Firebird later this summer and will definitely get together for a catch-up session. When I talk to him on the phone, his voice still has the same tone that it did when we were kids and brings back some great memories.
I know that this is sort of all over the place, but I am fighting with the keys on my laptop and am not that great at multi-tasking, hahaha.
If I get back to SLC, anytime soon, I will fire you a note and would love to meet you and Justin. It has been probably 27 or 28 years since we spoke in person and I would love to catch up.
I will turn loose your ear and let you get back to your surfing.
Take care and have an amazing week,
LaMont in AZ
MannKrafted Custom Milled Putters. I was always ten times the golfer as I was the BMX'er. Funny how choices we make can last a lifetime.

[HeavyMTBMXer]

Well, its time in my house has come to an end. I will be listing this rascal in the "FOR SALE" forum and sending it to a new home.
Thanks for the comments and for the walk down memory lane. All of those names mentioned were very familiar and some were good friends that I had lost touch with.
The friendships were the best part of racing for me and I think I'll give Brzenk a call and see just how he is doing. Time to reconnect and catch up.
Thanks,
LaMont in AZ