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Since joining VBMX, I have been looking forward to participating in a thread devoted to Old School Chicago BMX. Well, I just picked up a new scanner, with which to scan up a lot of my old photos and memorabilia, so I figured I'd go ahead and start one meself.
Please post your images, team affiliations, favorite rivalries, etc, etc.
Goodies to follow (as soon as I can get this scanner to work with Mac OS 10.5).
Looking forward to seeing a lot of the old faces!
Best,
M
This post has been edited by MikeCarruth: Mar 20 2008, 08:08 AM
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the picture you have of south shore indoor brings back memories. Torkin' Tommy Trusky was one of the local guy I remember growing up. he was a few years older than me but I knew him though friends. keep the track stuff comin'. most of the tracks you guys talk about are all pretty close to me and I remember racing in Indiana and Illinois with N.B.L.
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Mikey - gald to see you've arrived with all your goodies. Get the scanner hooked up so we can all enjoy the Chicago BMX history. Hoping that you have some good pics omyself and the rest of the Sundance crew. Take care
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Speaking of Smoldering Ghettos, the guy with the real "old gold" would be Joe Dunphy, Jerry's dad. He shot photos at most every local and state race we went to. I have lost track of Jerry over the years, but some probative Googling has a Jerry Dunphy in Phoenix. May have to ring him up.
M
This post has been edited by MikeCarruth: Feb 4 2008, 04:47 PM
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I dont have any photos but I raced Fun way park in 1983, bought a brand new quadangle from the bike/skate shop..LOL But my best times were at Central Trails ,It was a home made little track with one big jump in the middle built off of central ave. on the south side... Any one been there???
I drove past there the other day and it was partlly houses built there with a big guard rail no more trails. The schwinn shop on harlems still there owned by the original people Richards.
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Hey Mike! Great pics/topic! We raced each other at Elk Grove(I think) in cruiser class. My chain broke right before a jump and I did a nose wheelie for 20 feet(maybe) before landing it safely. I think you bought me and my friend Randy Stanford some grub at the indoor concession stand after that. Ring any bells? Anyways, wondering if any of these names will ring any bells for anyone else: John Roy, Ted Wember, the aforementioned Randy Stanford, Wayne Gerdes, Tim Goodwin, Mark Walden, Brett Wood, Shawn, Warren and Papa Jerry Martiniak, Shawn Carmody, Gun & Bow Cyclery, Don Gill Bike Shop, Terry @ Tyson's Sporting Goods. If ya got any stories to tell, let's hear 'em!
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Ha! I do remember the chain-throw-to-nose-wheelie event, but not much more. What is your name?
Sounds like you are from up north, given some of the folks you mentioned...yes?
As for your list of other folks, I do remember:
John Roy (wasn't he on Team Chicago)? Brett Wood (Also Team Chicago) Tim Goodwin (wasn't he called "WFO" and hailed from Winthrop Harbor?) The Martiniaks (They were hooked up with Advanced Trickery for a while, as I recall) Shawn Carmody sort of, though maybe only from nationals I remember the name Randy Stanford but not sure if I could pick him out in a lineup
Speaking of Team Chicago, I remember them from the International Amphitheater race in 78 or 79, and from some of my first Itasca races. Those dudes had such trick uniforms and bikes, man, I thought they were the shizzle! Who was the little guy that was on the Team...Danny Schmitt, right? He was as cool as that Robert Emrick cat for BMXA, no doubt. Actually, just did a little probative Googling and found their Web site. Here's the link: http://www.teamchicago.tv/TC%20History.htm
There is the classic "Chicago Hit Squad" photo from way back then (I'd post it here, but I do not want to do so without permission)...tres cool! I just emailed Dan Schmitt to let him know about this thread...hoping to get some of their stories and photos up here.
Thanks for posting...let's keep it going! I was really hoping to get a Chicago local BMX scene reunion together this summer (whether at Rockford or someplace more local). Bring your green Ahern's jersey, your Orange White & Black Sundance Leathers, your Black & White Team Chicago helmet, and/or your Red White & Blue Team Schaumburg Vans and get on out there.
Anyone up for that? Anyone have a "rolodex" of old timers they are still in touch with to round out the ranks?
M
QUOTE (Beaver @ Feb 8 2008, 06:49 PM)
Hey Mike! Great pics/topic! We raced each other at Elk Grove(I think) in cruiser class. My chain broke right before a jump and I did a nose wheelie for 20 feet(maybe) before landing it safely. I think you bought me and my friend Randy Stanford some grub at the indoor concession stand after that. Ring any bells? Anyways, wondering if any of these names will ring any bells for anyone else: John Roy, Ted Wember, the aforementioned Randy Stanford, Wayne Gerdes, Tim Goodwin, Mark Walden, Brett Wood, Shawn, Warren and Papa Jerry Martiniak, Shawn Carmody, Gun & Bow Cyclery, Don Gill Bike Shop, Terry @ Tyson's Sporting Goods. If ya got any stories to tell, let's hear 'em!
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I wasn't a racer...just a dirt jumpin', street ridin', half-ashed freestylin' (and some skating) punk kid. But I lived in Crystal Lake for 12 years and hung out at Schaumburg Schwinn and Sundance whenever we could get out there. A friend of mine and I ditched school on a couple occasions to drive out that way and ogle the PK Ripper frames and whatnot hanging on the wall.
CL also had a Schwinn shop that for a few years, would get some pretty nice bikes in there and always had decent parts in stock. That was owned by a guy named Crittenden that was an old racer for a while...BMX, and then other stuff too I think. Heck, I even worked there for a stint, back in high school. One of many, like Taco Bell, LOL...I'd work for a while just so I could buy something I wanted. Then quit or get myself fired because I'd rather be out "playing". Ahh, to be young and stupid. Heck, we lived with our parents, didn't have much to worry about at that point.
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that is way cool mike.....i used to live in chicago,willamette back in'76 thru '79 me and my brother had some great times riding our bikes and getting into bmx....our friend bought a sting and we used to ride up to the advanced tricker shop and drool over the bikes frames and trick parts....it was the first time i saw a pk ripper in person .....those where the days:)....i own a 86 to 90 pk ripper now....
This post has been edited by moko: Feb 16 2008, 11:05 AM
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Great stuff! Did any of you guy's race at the Joliet bmx track on Briggs street. I started racing there and then moved to florida. I remember Funway, Mendota, Champaign and several others but I never see anything on Joliet. I remember the Sundance and Funway teams were there quite a bit. Riders like Frank Nuccio and Mike Horton were a few local riders there that I remember.
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I ran freestyle contests there in 1985 and announced some of the races.
It was a pretty easy track (even by 1985 standards) but it was still fun to go down there.
QUOTE (jkbmx @ Feb 18 2008, 06:50 PM)
Great stuff! Did any of you guy's race at the Joliet bmx track on Briggs street. I started racing there and then moved to florida. I remember Funway, Mendota, Champaign and several others but I never see anything on Joliet. I remember the Sundance and Funway teams were there quite a bit. Riders like Frank Nuccio and Mike Horton were a few local riders there that I remember.
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QUOTE (MikeCarruth @ Feb 18 2008, 06:56 PM)
I ran freestyle contests there in 1985 and announced some of the races.
It was a pretty easy track (even by 1985 standards) but it was still fun to go down there.
Thank's for the reply. It was a pretty easy track but it was fun and it got me hooked. Do you remember the lights hanging down low out of the gate? I drive by there sometimes and they are still there.
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Awesome pictures Mike!!! I wish I had some from BITD- but unfortunately have none. I raced around Itasca and freestyled with the 2RAD guys here in Chicago in the early 80's. Portage park/Northside Wriglyville area was our stomping grounds, going to Grand cycle for our goods. Pat. (Chicagoland Ground Controllers)
Feb 2 2008, 12:44 PM
