Steve,
Funny that you should mention Bikes Fantastique. I went looking for a it a few weeks ago and couldn't find it. I am pretty sure I was right where it should be, it must be gone. In 92 or 93 my car broke down in front of it and they had an old Puch in the window.
James

I just spoke to a buddy of mine that is still in the area and he said it's a Starbuck's now. Go figure.

This is Paul Washington. I race Belmore back in the days were talking 79-86. I was ABA NY-1 #57 The year I started. Was NY-1#7 in 85. I rode for JZ Bikes on Merrick Rd in Freeport the year I got started, then Ghost, then Quality Bikes for most of the time.
Darwin Griffin was a lil kid then whose dad ran the Ghost team and drove us to the Armory in a box van.
In 1986 I turned Pro and probably was one of the first Long Island Pros if not the first. I used to drive Gary Mack around to go riding and to races.
Gary was one of my closest racing freinds.

In 1986 I toured alot with the Shimano guys Dave Dechert and John Schachel. I finished ABA National #85 Pro that year. (There was no A AA pro back then).

I moved to California at the end of 1986. Along with Erick Weinstetter started Jammer Designs making number plates.

I still teach clinics ( I taught my first Clinic in 81 with Erick up in Massachuettes). I also am the Orange YMCA track announcer.

MC Jammer,
Welcome aboard

I'm Ken Martin was NY-2 #1 in 84 and 85. Rode for JV, SMB and TNT. Are you sure those dates are correct, I rode for John Shackle's team SMB in 84 and he was way retired by then and running Steve's Moped and Bicycle World (SMB). His sister Kathy was still going strong though, racing the new girls Pro class.

Or my memoy could be failing me.....which is always a possibilty.

Kmart

Paul,
I don't know if you remember me, I was a few years younger than you. My name is James Gaglione, my bro Ed and I used to race at Bellmore. I used to race against guys like Mike Mills, Steve Jucham, Warren Wright etc... I remember when you were the pro at the track. I think you rode GT or Redline colors, maybe both. It was Vinny Griffens dad who ran Ghost. Vinny was racing again about 10 years ago. I think you also did the annoucing the year we had a PA system for a couple of months. Anyway, good to see more old LI guys around. You probably know the answer to this, when did Bellmore start? I started in 81 and was at the track probably in 80, so my guess is 79 or 80.
James
James

Paul,
I don't know if you remember me, I was a few years younger than you. My name is James Gaglione, my bro Ed and I used to race at Bellmore. I used to race against guys like Mike Mills, Steve Jucham, Warren Wright etc... I remember when you were the pro at the track. I think you rode GT or Redline colors, maybe both. It was Vinny Griffens dad who ran Ghost. Vinny was racing again about 10 years ago. I think you also did the annoucing the year we had a PA system for a couple of months. Anyway, good to see more old LI guys around. You probably know the answer to this, when did Bellmore start? I started in 81 and was at the track probably in 80, so my guess is 79 or 80.
James
James

I just had to wake this thread back up again. For no reason at all.

BTW, anyone remember my cousin? His name is Robert Gonzalez. He raced a blue Powerlite. I had his bike painted up and I put his name on the seat tube. He lived around the corner from Gary and Billy Mack and if you knew Gary or Billy, chances are you knew Rob too. He was a few years younger than Gary. I think he was Billy's age.

Wow alot of old names. Shackle, Dechert. Pete Lafranca (with Lake Melody, total downhill broke my nose there), I did Bellmore a few times when I was at my grandparents in the early 80's and Shoreham once with Rich Paye in 97. I miss Braddock on a Friday night crankin Ozzy in my buds car. Cool memories

You guys remember the Firdays when they would run braddock backwards? Nothing like an uphill BMX track without a flat starting hill.....

Good times!

I don't remember that, maybe once. But I remember Jose Nieves, and I'm thinking at the track, that kid has got to be 18, he was. I remeber 60 motos on a Fri, tell the kids today about a local with that turnout and they look at ya like "NO WAY"

I remember the backwards races, that was cool. Total goofy 80's idea. They had a lot of good ideas there. The TO used to loan cruisers out to promote cruiser racing and give turkeys out for open class 1st-3rd before Thanksgiven.
JG

Let's not forget winning flowers on Mothers day too. Or the best idea ever, JV gift certs instead of trophies......

Kmart

Or the hats to the first moto transfers at the triple point races

Kmart

I raced the state championship at Shoreham in 1985. it was 17 and over expert then. i got #10 but i wasnt very good back then and the class was big. Kenny Pascoe won i think. after that, my brother Al and i used to race there alot. good track. Dont remember the Mack brothers, though. maybe before my time.
Dennis

Dennis! Whazzap! Hows everything goin for you? I see you're back on the track, so you must be having a good time, at least!
I'm stuck indoors, and it's been below zero for about the past 2 weeks. Go figure, eh?

Iceman

You Iceman!
Dennis brought in a video today of the NY State Championship for 86. Saw ya on it!

Iceman,
what is going ON!! Yeah, i raced the regional and got my butt handed to me. trying to make a comeback, sortof. how are you? Dude, Stephen Gerardy was there and his mom Marie. remember them? Eagle snacks team? it was great hanging out with them, and Tony Leaman, and i met a whole bunch of other old schoolers like us. email me when you get a chance.
Dennis

I talked to Shawn Richards today. it was nice talking about the old days at Shoreham bmx. the GOOD days when we had 50 motos at a local.
Dennis

Hey guys!
86 State, eh? How cool is that?! I don't suppose I could convince you to sell me a copy of that??

Stephen Gerardy, and Marie? Wow! I sure do remember them! I actually think about them quite often, and wonder what they're doing. Glad to hear they're still kickin it. Is Steve's Grandma still around?? She was awesome, too.

I really am glad to hear you guys are still with it. I wish I could be there, too.

I got a chance to hit up Tri-City this past summer on my loop Quad, and got some gate starts, and first straight runs in. It was awesome! I was blastin the gate with the skinny bars and all! What a feeling! It had been well over 10 years since I've had a chance to do that, and 15 years since my last race.

We're still trying to get something going up here, again. It'll probably happen... hopefully sooner then later, you know?

Iceman

Iceman,
I will get you a copy, for sure. just let me know where to send it. when are you coming to Florida?
Dennis

You're awesome, Dennis! You too, Ed!

I'd love to check out Florida! I almost got to go once, but it just wasn't meant to be, I guess.
Sure would be a nice warm change from this place!

Coincidentally, I'm sending off a buddy back to Florida in about 4 hours from now! I've gotta make it down there some day huh?

You've got mail, bro.

Iceman

by the way, back in the late 80s and early 90s there was a little track in Kingston called Jockey Hill. it was run by one of the BEST track directors i have ever known, Sal Miccio. has anyone raced there? any good stories?
Dennis

I raced there!!!!!
..and I have lots of stories.....
LOL...

Ed,
i know you have raced there. you are the topic of most of my stories from there. anyone else?
Dennis

To all you Braddock guys, I found a nice artifact. A Clock that I won from a Triple Points Trophy dash in 85. Remember those???

Kmart

I wish I could remember what things happened at what tracks, but I find myself mixing up a lot of those tracks/stories!

Iceman

never raced Braddock, but i went there once to watch with Merideth Lidstone. my brother was dating her then. i remember the bleachers were huge, or maybe i was small.

who is Merideth Lidstone?

Um, no really, who is Merideth Lidstone?

...she was a fast chick from the Poughkeepsie area of NY around 84-ish.....

I just 'spoke' to Gary Mack through MySpace. I pointed him in this direction. Hopefully he pokes his head in and looks around.

What is going on people this is Gary Mack how have you guys been I'm looking foward to getting in touch with all of my friends from those good old bmx days. peace

Yo whats up dude! Gary this is Nigel Cummings! I was always looking for a thread like this. I remember kicking your a@# when I turned 17x and you started slowing down! LOL!

For those that don't know I raced Bellmore from 84-87. Jim Leach went to the same high school with me. I would share the ABA stories and he would give me the NBL scoop. I went to stony brook and started riding with Gaska and company. Raced at shoreham from 92-96, Secaucus 95-97. Been on my bike but haven't raced since. I have a ton of pics from Newbridge and other places like deptford and braddock. Gary, Al cayne and I are racing this year. 36 and over whatever. He still lives in Long Island...Roosevelt I think. You can find me at myspace/nigelnyc. Njracer identify yourself. From your posts I must know who you are.

Whoa....it's been almost a year since I had seen this thread.

I havent looked through this whole thread but, have Dave Masterson or James Vincente been mentioned? I know they both lived up that way.

Just to give you guys the heads up, Shoreham is haveing its 25th anniversary this april 29th I believe we are going to have a big party that day, vintage bmx bike area, lots of old guys and some good story, more info coming very soon

john

Hi John
Is that date "etched in stone" now? I'm going to get my plane tickets and fly up for that weekend!
That's gonna be so much fun!!!!
-Ed

i have ameeting with ron and betty on sat to go over final details, but the flyers are made we are working on an anniversary # plate, and looking for sponsors, so I would say the official announcement will be made on sunday

john

John
Count me in as a sponsor. Email me, or call me at my office- 904-683-0856.

sales@coloredtuffs.com

I'm there!

-Ed

Bought my plane tickets!
Oh YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!

John,
Where can I get a frame powder coated in Nassau County? If I can make April 29th, I want to come with a build.
James

i used a guy just off of exit 35 i think on the southern state he is cheep but the quality is ok i would not compare it to C4 his umber is 631 249 7368, just out of curiosity do you still ride. we have been riding oil city skate park on monday nights 7:00.

off topic sort of: I am discussing mid-hudson valley or NY or Conn. ufo sightings in the cafe if you guys have anything to add.
click

Kmart, I think the correct spelling is Pete Whogelmuth. We were in the same class back in the day. In fact the first time I ever raced Pete was at Howard County Maryland Outdoor. I've actually got a picture of him just standing up and cruising into the first turn after having blown his gate in a moto. A few years later my family moved from Bethesda Maryland where I was part of the Rockville BMX crew to Tenafly NJ and that's when I started racing Braddock and Pete on a regular basis. I want to say this move was around 1985.

I also remember Wayne and Leslie King. In fact I ran into Wayne King years later at the University of Vermont where I went to college. It was completely random that he was dating some girl up there. This was in 1987. I saw Wayne for the last time at Secaucus around 94/95 or so. At that time the cruiser class was small but building. Mostly it was me (Kasim) and Lars Tribus (a downhill Mt biker) who hadn't developed a good gate start at that time tearing up the class.

I don't remember too many names just faces and also a good crew of us went to Woodward camp for a week or two every year.

Does anyone here remember any of the Maryland riders like Billy Fitzhugh, Brian Weston or Greg Raiford (Richie Bike shop)? Those were the nightmare riders of my class.

I swear I'll scan these pictures today!!

Correction. Just checked and the pictures are dated!! Pete W. showed up at Howard County in 1984 and I think it was either a State race or triple points race.

Hey Kaz, I used to race you @ Secaucus in those days with Lars. Do you still have that Assassin with the funky brake cable passing through the seat tube? By the way Pete W. is racing again and so is Craig Wilson. Where are you? We all race at CJBMX otherwise known as Howell. It is an NBL track on Rt.9. PM me or just respond here and I'll fill you in on what all you have missed. -Chris Gulich

Hi Chris, I was actually borrowing the Assassin from a buddy and returned it to him before I moved out to So Cal. I don't remember Craig Wilson though.

So what have I missed. Lars told me the Secaucus track is a parking lot now. Is Pete still fast? What's he racing on?

This past weekend I was able to tell 2 former Shoreham riders about the reunion race coming up in April. Stephen Gerardi and Danny Lewis... Hopefully we'll get a good turnout!