I've had quite a few people ask me what Dirt Slinger is or was. I'd rather talk about others more than talk about myself. But here goes....

Dirt Slinger was a company that was originally a brand out of San Diego that made a frame, fork, stem, and I believe grips too. The company started back in the mid 70's. By 1978, it had faded away into obscurity.

In late 1983, a San Diego distributor, Bicycle Parts Pacific (a.k.a. BPP) bought the name and had a company in Taiwan build a complete Dirt Slinger bicyle. They were shooting after the market that Diamond Back had done so well with the Silver Streak. Bicycle Parts Pacific also was a distributor for OMAS road, track, and BMX products (hubs, headsets, and bottom brackets). BPP built a team of San Diego riders to help promote Dirt Slinger.

The 1983 Dirt Slinger/ OMAS Factory Team (with a co-sponsor from Zumwalt's Bike Shop) was Bill Parisen (17x), Jimmy Taylor (16x and cruiser), Johnny Johnson (15x), and Mikey King (14x) and Jeff Little (14x). Jeff Little was the youngest and biggest guy on the team 6 feet tall and 210 lbs. He quit BMX a month later to pursue Varsity football football as a freshman.

The first team appearance was King, Parisen, and Taylor at the ESPN Pro Spectacular in the Burbank Esquestrian Center Nov. 28, 1983.
The second team appearance was myself, Taylor, and King at the 1983 Jag World Championships in Burbank Ca. Mike King got a third in 14x.

PICS ABOVE-
Me #376. NBL BMXA Del Mar Nationals Summer 1984.



[ June 29, 2005, 03:11 AM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

So Johnny, what bike are you riding there? A Dirt Slinger? And you're running 1 3/8"s!

Johnny,
Didn't Mikey King ride for DS for a bit prior to his Huffy ride? I know we talked for a bit about the King Bros. in Rockford but I forgot to ask about that question.

Whoops! I didn't read your original post in its entirety. Question answered! I remember OZ posted a pic of Mikey riding for DS. It might have been Devonshire Downs.

DOES ANYONE RECOGNIZE THE DIRT SLINGER UNIFORM?

In the pic above, I'm running 20x1.75 Araya 7L rims, DT stainless steel spokes, and OMAS Series BPP low flange hubs. I was running 20x1.75 tires front and rear. We got hooked up with DT spokes (t-shirts and decals too). They had a distribution deal with BPP.

DID I RUN THE FRAME?-- I ran the Dirt Slinger frame for a few weeks. It was too short for me. I raced a Pro sized Hutch frame, forks, and bars with D.S. decals on the head tube, down tube, seat tube, and seat stays, bars, ect. Everyone else on the team ran the Dirt Slinger frame.

MIKE KING--
Mike King was on Dirt Slinger from November 1983 till Mid March 1984. Huffy team manager Bob Hadley, approached Mike at the CW Racing sponsored NBL War Of The Stars race at Devonshire Downs (North Ridge, California). He offered King a full sponsorship with Huffy. Eight months later, Mike became the ABA national number one amateur. Mike was always an amazing racer.

Here's an OMAS promo sheet.


[ June 29, 2005, 03:19 AM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

Johnny....BMX Plus April '84 pg.63....".....King rides roughshod over Doug."

Here you go. July 1984 BMXA

Here's a couple of King!
Good friend, phenominal racer.





[ June 29, 2005, 01:42 AM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

Johnny......Note the fact that my brother PAT LIERLEY was doing a one pedal start! That is something you don't see every day, not even in a picture! Oh the memories! Talk to you soon!
Lonny Lierley

Very Cool johnny. I was at that Del Mar race spectating it was near the skateboard park. I always wonderd what the DS in your name meant - now I know.
I cant remember how I know Lonny, but i remember him and he was hella fast, I think i hooked you up with plates when I ran Jammer Designs maybe. Who were you sponsored by Lonny?

Very interesting.


I remember when Mike King got signed up by Huffy but had no recollection of what team he was poached from.

He's doing quite well in mountain biking these days?

Johnny, I still can recall seeing Miky at the Y in the DS stuff looking good and FAST

Parks,
Yeah, I remember my Dad and I took Mike to an Orange YMCA night race once. He was sticking Griggs and Gass which was quite a feat at that track in eary 83'.

Johnny, in that photo above, the guy next to you is running a 1,75 tire. Your tire looks way skinnier than this, which is why I thought you were running skinnies. Remember, we're a lot older nowadays, and surrer from brain fade..(well, I do...) heheheheheheheeee

MCAM
It's just a wierd effect from the dirt, the distance, and the light. I was way too big to run a 1 3/8" rim. In that pic I'm 6' 1" and 185 lbs. I would have crushed em'! Plus I still have that set of wheels.

Racer.........I did run a few of your plates! In fact they are still in my possession. I rarely get rid of old BMX stuff. I am not sure what years you want to know who I rode for, but I belive I was riding for Moby Dicks Bike Shop out of NOR-CAL then. Thanks for the compliment! My class was very difficult back then and to be remembered as being "hella-fast" is a true compliment!

MCAM......My brother was riding an agressor front tire. It was a 2.125. He was a big boy! 5-11 weighing around 250 at the time.

Im pretty sure I first met you at some Bakersfield nationals. Yeah back then thats who you were on, they had red white and blue uniforms if i remember right.

I remember you not just cause you were a fast cat, but you were (and probably still are) always freindly and always had a smile.

Some would disagree with you! Especially my x-wife! I still have those plates somewhere in the garage! Glad I was remembered as a nice kid and not some jerk. Thanks!

Found some so-so old pics.
Can't find the good ones.
Kearny Moto Park, early 1984.


Mike King #12, Johnny Johnson #376, Jimmy Taylor #2











[ August 09, 2005, 05:17 AM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

Hinkdog,
Check it out homie.

Pat Lierly,
The pic should be on the first page of this thread.

If you don't see them, I may have to repost em. I don't see them right now. But they may appear on a better computer than the one I'm on.

[ January 15, 2006, 11:38 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

1st generation Dirt Slinger 76-77

I thought a dirtslinger was a varment that waits until dusk and slings dirt at cars that drive by. ?????

thanks johnny ....i raced that model in late 75 for them but it was to small for me and it heavy as hell....

quote:

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I thought a dirtslinger was a varment that waits until dusk and slings dirt at cars that drive by. ?????

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No, that's Utterback