What about Robert Eisenberg that rode for Schwinn. I know he raced Gass and the boys BITD.

[ August 13, 2005, 05:03 PM: Message edited by: Thumperpilot ]

There are a lot of guys that I forgot about. Eisenberg was also another fast dude.

Remember, since everyone is not born January, because of birthdays, some of these guys would be leaning towards racing a class a year older or a year younger.

I always raced Gass, Griggs, Lynch, and Henry LATER in the year cause their b-days were always LATER in the year.

I would always race Christopher, Anderson, and House EARLIER in the year cause their birthdays were aways EARLIER in the year.

1968'

Brian Gass (Elf)
Billy Griggs (CW, Schwinn)
Don Jure (Bandito)
Kiyomi Waller (co-Torker, Hustler)
Eddie Robison (Jag Raleigh)
Todd VanPelt (LittleJohn)
Roy David (Hank & Frank)
Rodney Cooper (Schwinn)
Paul Addams (GT)
Terry Tennette (GT)
Jon Tomac (Mongoose)
Korry Neal (Kuwahara)
Greg Beller (Profile)
Robert Eisenberg (Schwinn)
Todd Henry (Robinson, Mongoose)
David Silloway (Cool Tool)
Chris Torres (Patterson, GT, Torker)
Tosh Muraviov (CW)
Mark Steimer (GT)
Justin Shepard (CW)
Scott Stout (Robinson)
Tom Christopher (Tioga, BMX Plus)
Jon Anderson (Red Line)
Ron House (Vans)
Richie Anderson (Patterson)
Mike Lynch (SE)
Rusty Cable (Murray)
Bubba Hayes (SE)
Greg Liggins (Hutch)
Brad Dalbec (Thruster)
Todd Corbit (Murray)
Mike Discipulo (Nomura)
Eric Braegger (CW, Robinson)
Mike Giem (CYC)
Felix Samano (JMC)
Jim Melton (Ralph's Bike Sop)
Sean Jarvis (Diamond Back "Blue" Team, Europa Bike Shop)
Eric Kocen (SE)
Danny Smith (Jag)
DeRaffael (son of President of NBMXA)


**Names I remember but dont recall their sponsor

Jamie Tedesco
Mitch Martino
Freddy Hooper
Mike Wiggins
Mike Morrissey
Mitch Martino
Frankie Chirlo
Frank Nuccio
Jud Ciancio
Tim Gabriel
Peter Yi
Dale Eckert
Taber Isidro
Peter Buchanan
R. Serafin


You guys mentioned Rob Eisenberg. I ALWAYS beat him and Todd Henry in motos, quarters, semis AND THEY WOULD ALWAYS WIN THE MAINS! D-A-M-N! Aaaaarggg! Hahaha!
Both were very cool off the track too. I'm still friends with Todd Henry.

Eisenberg. 82' Worlds/ Vegas. 1st in ex & 1st in Cruiser

Henry. 83' Worlds/ Burbank. 1st in Ex.


Didn't Gene Roden from ABA have a son that was around our age?

Also.... Kiyomi Waller told me few years ago that someone who works for ABA used to race our class too? He can't remember who. Shannon Gillette? Anyone know?

[ August 13, 2005, 10:20 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

Anyone realize that this class was almost always overlooked by all the magazines? BMX Action, BMX Plus, and Super BMX.

Who got coverage?

Billy Griggs, Chris Torres, and Todd Henry would get coverage but it was always earlier in the year when they were racing Davis, King, Veltman, and Bark.

John Anderson, Tom Christopher, Ron House would get coverage when they would move up to racing Richie Anderson, Mike Salido, Kelly McDougall, ect...

Eisenberg once got a sidebar in BMX Action in a Schwinn test.

Why the lack of coverage? Was it cause we didn't have one to three dominating racers year round? Lack of big budget superstars?

Anyone got anything to add?

Yo JJ OMAS,

I was born in April of '67 so I think I may have been a year or so ahead of you. Matt Eggimann use to work at ABA also tell about a year ago. He was a year and a half ahead of me. Yo-Yo may have been talking about us racing him in cruiser class. I know I raced him in cruiser.

Gene Roden's son is named Tim Roden. He's about a year older than me also.

You gotta bust out the bike again JJ. Get out on the track and get you some! You can cut Leasure off out of the gate like I always do! hehehehehehe.....

Brad,
You always bring it to the table. Good response to my analogy of the class.

I really didn't research hardly at all on names. Any other good racers I missed?

Thumperpilot,
Have we met? I recognize your name from Vintage. I'm very close to being back on the track. Bike, a 20" GT custom, should be finished being built next week. Got a nice Troy Lee helmet/ uniform. Need some shoes. I won't be clipped in. I won't cut offf Leasure. Just pull him right before the finish. We'll place 7th and 8th! Hahaha! Just kidding! Leasure's a very cool guy.

[ August 15, 2005, 07:17 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

JJ Omas,

We've never actually met. I've seen you at Rockford and the ABA Worlds in Ontario about a month ago. I work at ABA and can be found at all the bigger ABA races. I'll be sure to say hi the next time I see you. See you at the races.

Shannon Gillette

Wow, JJ, that is a long list! And that was just from memory? I better get with the gingko biloba. And that was just '68! My birthday was in Nov, so I raced a lot of '69ers, too. Will you post that list, too?

BTW, Nuccio rode for Pro-Neck for a while, I think, and Wiggins...an Orlando bike shop. He was a speed skater with huge thighs and would only race the minimum number of nationals to qualify for the Grands and would win all of them, no matter who showed up from Cali or wherever. Amazing. Don't know how he did at the Grands, though.

Hi Shannon,
I know who you are! Was gonna introduce myself to you at Ontario about three different times. Each time someone was bending your ear about something. I kept saying to myself "Oh wait till later" but that never happened. I'm sure we'll meet up soon enough.
Johnny

clmiller,
Every time I look at your name I think of Torker's Clint Miller. That guy was super cool to me whenever I would see him back in the late 70's early 80's. That's not you is it? I heard there's a Clint Miller who's a well know foreign street rider. That you?
No Ginko! That stuff don't work at all! My long term memory is excellent but my short term is a disaster.
Johnny

[ August 15, 2005, 03:30 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

I think Alan Foster was in that age group.

No, I'm not a Clint (what a cool name), but a Chris. I am often asked about the relation though. Not a skateboarder or QB, either. I was a semi-maker BITD, but did make a few mains and beat a few names once in a great while. Choked a lot, but, DAMN, that was a tough class.

1969

Kyle Fleming (DG)
Doug Davis (Torker, Diamond Back)
Mike King (Torker, Dirt Slinger, Huffy)
Steve Veltman (Hutch)
Carl Butler (JMC)
Craig Bark (GT)
Gary Renteria (Robinson)
Bodie Cook (Hank & Frank)
Mike Anson (co-Robinson)
Peter Casano (Tioga)
Dave Gianusio (BMX Plus)
Mike Scott (Vans)
Jeff Day (Shimano)
Danny Smith (Jag)
Leon Philpot (Bandito)
Shane Wimberly (Bike Shop of El Cajon)

Don't remember who sponsored these riders


Donny Graves
Ed Bauer
Trae Brannen
Jay Marek
Carlos Frausto (San Diego)
Jeff Lippelgoos (San Diego)
Jeff Frith- Smith
Pat Moneymaker
Vance Justice
Kenny Fox
Rod Stufflebean
Joe Duran
Kevin Morici
Freddy Hooper
Dean Turman
Frankie Churlo
Todd Cress
Brian Scofield
Dean Turman
Paul Scamardi
Royce Stanley
Scott Ferguson
Mike Memery

[ August 15, 2005, 04:29 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

How about Sean Speed and Nick Gregory from Cail... Anyone remember them?

Here's the NBL top 20 am's in this age group and how they finished 20 years ago (1985):

15 EXPERT

1. Matt Haden, CA
2. Chris Kennedy, LA
3. Kevin Collins, MI
4. Karim Richardson, NV
5. Marty Yockel, PA
6. Sean Riblet, Ca
7. Chris Verhagen, CA
8. Phillip Gaines, GA
9. Eric Carter, CA
10. Dean Laberge, CA
11. Danny Millwee, CA
12. Blake Roby, IN
13. Mike Stinson, PA
14. Kevin Gennodie, NY
15. Jack Wisher, MO
16. Donald Cundiff, KY
17. Scott Moore, VA
18. Mike Simpson, NJ
19. Dave Cullinan, CA
20. Keith Barnett, TN

16 EXPERT

1. Mike King, CA
2. Doug Davis, CA
3. Darwin Griffin, CA
4. Bill Au, OH
5. Donald Hier, OH
6. Frank Nuccio, IL
7. Billy Griggs, CA
8. Jamson Hendler, MI
9. Peter Casano, CA
10. Ron Walker, FL
11. Frank Amadio, FL
12. Mike Kiniyalocts, OH
13. Trey Smith, GA
14. Michael Nathanson, MA
15. Mike Lynch, NJ
16. Chris Clancy, CN
17. Steve Veltman, TX
18. John Noerenberg, IL
19. Kevin Kelly, MA
20. Robert Deily, PA

[ August 15, 2005, 05:29 PM: Message edited by: John N. ]

I think the age groups listed in the first posting is a bit off regarding birth year/ age group, so here is the 1985 NBL top 20 am's in 17 ex and 18 ex, respectfully:

17 expert

1. Todd Corbitt, FL
2. Travis McGhee, MO
3. Tom Kiniyalocts, OH
4. Jud Ciancio, NY
5. Stacy Scott, IL
6. Kenny Pascoe, NY
7. Edward Semo, WI
8. Robb Beams, FL
9. Norman Veicht, FL
10. Rusty Cable, TX
11. Ricky Legault, RI
12. Rodney Johnson, GA
13. Michael Goeddey, MO
14. Dru Potts, MO
15. Chris Spattafore, CA
16. Artie Custer, CA
17. Jim Stinson, PA
18. Keith Golec, OH
19. Mitch Martino, TN
20. Tommy Chandler, FL

18 EXPERT

1. Rick Palmer, CA
2. Doug Jicha, OH
3. Craig Seibert, MO
4. Jarrett Justice, NJ
5. Tim Kakouris, MO
6. Harry Brock, GA
7. Jon Anderson, CA
8. Travis Chipres, CA
9. Matt Guinn, MO
10. Kevin Hull, TX
11. Fred Canary, FL
12. Ray McNally, FL
13. Charles Townsend, CA
14. Derek Reese, MD
15. Dalon Echols, FL
16. Jeff Hampton, IN
17. Mike Savage, CT
18. Andrew Wilkins, TN
19. Randy Doane, CN
20. Paul Nichols, KY

Also worth mentioning:

This data was pulled from the Jan. '86 Bicycles Today. Race coverage is of the first nat of the year: Charlotte Motor Speedway national. It reported 2100 entries@ 274 moto's!! Amazing.

Cool thread. Brad nailed it: we had great people
racing in our age group. One thing though, Tomac was born in '67 not '68. Makes you realize how good some of us were though, when you read that list of names. I know we also had the largest class as well..
Tim Gabriel

Feeling left out! Johnny I beat everyone in that class at one time or another. not as much as they may have beat me but that age group was absolutely the most overlooked by all the magazines! Take care all!
Lonny Lierley
Moby Dick bike shop 84-88

Why dont I see Charlie Williams on this list? I think he was th same age???

Just for fun, here's the 1985 NBL top twenty 13 and 14 experts:

13 expert:

1. Robert Lincourt, RI
2. Robert Swick, CA
3. Todd Lyons, OH
4. Lawan Cunningham, IA
5. Mark Franklin, MI
6. Steve Smith, OH
7. Dennis Dayrit, VA
8. Shan Hatfield, GA
9. Jason Theodore, PA
10. Joe Spuryer, TN
11. Sam Arellano, CA
12. Jason Kick, IL
13. Erin Salie, CA
14. James Stratton, FL
15. Brian Lopes, CA
16. Ralph Farrell, MI
17. Kenny Hogg, NY
18. John Hancock, FL
19. Butch Loyd, DE
20. Devin Coffield, FL

14 EXPERT

1. Brad Birdwell, AL
2. Mike Crehan, MA
3. Robert MacPherson, CA
4. Todd Gardner, NJ
5. John Hamilton, TX
6. Ronnie Rioux, CA
7. Andy Golobic, OH
8. Lance Mikus, CA
9. Craig Reynolds, IL
10. Damian Bernal, CA
11. Kerry Knight, IA
12. Mike Guttin, CN
13. Tom Diggens, OH
14. Richard O'Brien, MI
15. Paul Prestis, NJ
16. Barrett McManus, IN
17. Matt Williams, FL
18. Billy Jones, OH
19. Eddie Siegmund, TX
20. Dan Wyllie, IL

Here's the how the pro's finished twenty years ago:

A PRO (there was only A and B pro, for those who don't know):

1. Greg Hill
2. Eric Rupe
3. Pete Loncarevich
4. Turnell Henry
5. Shawn Texas
6. Edward King
7. Matt Harris
8. Harry Leary
9. Richard Zagars
10. Robby Rupe

PRO CRUISER

1. Greg Hill
2. D.D. Leone
3. Eric Rupe
4. Turnell Henry
5. Matt Harris
6. Stu Thomsen
7. Shawn Texas
8. Nelso Chanady
9. Jeff Ruminer
10. Robby Rupe

Women PRO

1. Kathy Schachel
2. Tammy Willever
3. Jennifer Zeuner
4. Jeannie Robertson
5. Mary Corden
6. Wendy Retherford

There were only six women pro's listed.

I guess you could say Greg Hill had a good season.

Hey Lonnie,
I thought you were a year younger than Davis and King. Thought you were born in 70'.

Tomac was born in 67'....

Charlie Williams.. born in 66'?


ABOUT EVERYONE'S AGE....
Like I said earlier in this post. Since everyone isn't born in Jan, some people are going to lean toward being in a class a year younger or older.


Gary Debacker,
I've never met you, but you were a great racer. Very cool to see you here. You still friends with Eric Rupe? I saw and talked to him twice over the last two months. His son Rocky is 21 now! Crazy!

Johnny Johnson, Thanks for the kind words. I have not spoken to Eric in a couple years. I can say that it is great to see him still making a living in this sport for this long. That guy is BMX. We had a lot of great times when we were on Mongosse together in 88, with Travis Chipres, Sam Arellano, and Shelby James. That wasnt my best year as far as performance, but I can tell you it was one of the most fun. He was the first to take me four-wheelin in a Lincoln Town Car at the NBL Grands, when they cancelled the race due to rain. Lots of fun.

I agree with Brad...the classes back then in that age group were simply amazing. Everyone was so talented and you never knew who was going to win.

Hey Brad, do you ever hear anything about Nick Dottino? Or Wayne (?) he dated darcee for a while?

Jen,

Haven't heard anything at all in recent years about Wayne King or Nick.

Hey Johnny Johnson, I think Charlie williams was borned in 1966 I raced him all the time and my birthday is 10-8-1965 I allways moved up before him. Charlie still races I talked with him at the Orange y Redline Q/State race at the end of June.

Johnny that story you told about the race in Palmdale/Lancaster when you decided after that to sign up as Johnny instead of john I wanted ro see if you had more info on that race I think that was the race I won 16 Expert and won the trophy dash against Rod beckering?

Mike Kitchen

Hey Mike,
How could I or anyone forget the name Mike Kitchen! I don't know another thing about you.... but I definately remember your name.

That Lancaster race... I have a really good memory. But that lap is the ONLY THING I remember about that race. I don't recall my bike, uniform or anything. I'm guessing my age at that race. Probably 14. I think I totally choaked and blacked it out of my memory. Sorry bro. But it's cool to hear from you.

Does anyone know GT rider chris torres? I'm his fiance and trying to find the old magazines where he was in ads (as a surprise). Help!!!

I remember Chris and just sent you an email. I'll have a look and see what I can come up with. I remember seeing him in some old ads and such that I have in my old bmx stuff.

I rode for GT a few years after Chris. Athough I'm pretty sure Gary Scofield was the team manager for both of us.

How is Chris doing these days?

I've got pics of me racing Chris around 80', 81', I'll look around for them and post em.

Jonny, You mentioned BUBBA Hayes (SE). I wonder what happened to him? I wish I spelled better so I could mention some OHIO riders that I think may apply, My attemt. Tom & Mike kinieoklits, Doug Geeka, Matt Ling, Billy Au (?) I hope nobody gets messed at me for jumping back a bit!

Someone a while back (I think either Scot B or PK) mentioned that Bubba was driving trucks for a living.

I remember Bubba and PK, since they came down here to New Zealand around 1983, and I got to meet them both

"Someone a while back (I think either Scot B or PK) mentioned that Bubba was driving trucks for a living."

Is it the same Bubba that won this years World Championships? Anyone? Bubba T-boned me once so badly that it knocked my shoes off. In Detroit I think, I was so mad I never even retrieved them from the last corner. Hero to Zero.
Tim Gabriel

No, this Bubba is Bubba Hayes... ex Factory SE in the eighties

Bubba's real name is Melvin "Bubba" Hayes. He was a tough compettitor PERIOD!

"No, this Bubba is Bubba Hayes... ex Factory SE in the eighties :

Huh? Do you mean YOU are Bubba Hayes? That's who I'm talking about!

mcam,
Didn't we meet at Rockford?

The way you said that last comment, you make it sound like "YOU ARE" Bubba Hayes of SE?

Explain bro....

Bubba raced 1 3/8 wheels as an older am.

---Quote from John N.
---Bubba raced 1 3/8 wheels as an older am.


Bubba was what.... 120- 140 lbs as a 16- 17 ex.
They were able to withstand him

Here's a pic from either 15 expert or Open at the
83' Jag World Championships in Burbank Ca.

Johnny Johnson #33 Dirt Slinger
Peter Yi #72
Don Jure (green and yellow) Bandito
Rod Cooper Huffy
Rob Eisenber Schwinn (far right)

In the background.... Paul Addams and JG Garonzik (GT)


[ September 08, 2005, 05:13 AM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]