ah yes, rain. I remember that when I lived in NY. We rarely see rain around these parts. The whole state just burns up, that's all.

YOu guys are killing me! I cut my teeth at that track, and the pics I have seen of it from recent years showed it to not really live up to what I remembered from 17 years ago. Now it looks like it`s turning into a really fun, burly track again! I have got a TON of family up there still. Maybe it`s time for a road trip...?

nice! biggest jump in Ct!!
"build it & they will come"

I am telling ya guys this track is going to reek of old-schoolness. Fast, places to peddel and some big jumps. No more of the pump-jump-pump-jump-turn-jump-pump-jump-pump-turn-peddel-jump-pump-jump-pump-turn-finishline.

You guys are the reason I cant sleep at night!!!! Id love to race again but the "old" bod just wont take it!!!

Sean,

That is a bunch of horse hockey!!!! They have a ancient class just for old geezers like you. I will even let you use one of my bikes. Take your pick 20" or the 24". Nothing saying that you have to jump the 32' er on the first try. You can roll everything.

old-skull

Like Mosh said, the biggest and baddest class out there is the 35+. Get out there Sean. We're going to put Meriden back on the map for having a kicka@@ track. We have people running the track that care now. We have people that help out just to help out. It's going to be a great year for Falcon BMX !!

harry Leary once was quoted in saying Falcon was his favorite track in the country, and voted the #7 best track in one of the BMX rags from BITD. Will it return to it`s former status....?

JeffB:

HE#LS YES!!

Like I said before ....I go back to when the track was first built. I was frineds with all those guys. It was always a great track!! And great people...I last raced in 85. #1 in class last two years raced..Meriden was one of the 2 best tracks BITD. I loved Guilford froma rider stand point. Trumbull was home when that was built. Ill get on a bike and ride for a while before I get on a track thank you..and thanks for offering the use of the Bikes. Just like I remember...BMXers helping BMXERS!!!

You guys are awesome!!

i do have an old Hutch to restore.

Like I said before ....I go back to when the track was first built. I was frineds with all those guys. It was always a great track!! And great people...I last raced in 85. #1 in class last two years raced..Meriden was one of the 2 best tracks BITD. I loved Guilford froma rider stand point. Trumbull was home when that was built. Ill get on a bike and ride for a while before I get on a track thank you..and thanks for offering the use of the Bikes. Just like I remember...BMXers helping BMXERS!!!

You guys are awesome!!

i do have an old Hutch to restore.

Any of you guys know if the trails known as "the canyons" are still in wallingford? We built a jump called the "gravedigger" there, and (not to toot my own horn) When I went back to CT for a visit about TEN YEARS after I left, my cousin Joe said I was still reputed as being the only person to ever clear it without casing. He was several years younger than me and hung out with all the kids that...well... hung around and watched us ride. The guard had changed, the record remains....(LOL at myself)

I`m jonesing really bad to ride the new track once it`s done. I can`t believe nobody has pictures of the 84-89 track, though! I`d love to come out and help but it`s a 36 hour commute one way and I don`t have the vacation time :-p.

Ok, got some pics from today. The first pic is at the start of the day, and the last two are the finished track. We still have to clean up the center of the track and make it look nice, but the track is done. Still has to dry out, but here it is.

1st straight- speed jump, step-up, double. long left hand berm.
2nd straight- big step-up, 32' table, off camber step-up. left hand berm.
3rd straight- double, step-down, roller. right hand berm.
4th straight- table, table, 4 rollers, finish line.

Hope you all like it. It's going to be a really fast, flowing track. Old school flair. Nice jumps, and plenty of room to pedal. Like Old-Skull said, not a pump, pump, jump, pump...ect track.

A big thanks to all that helped out, or gave ideas. We have a great track director this year that wants to make Falcon what it once was.

Falcon BMX 2006




[ April 15, 2006, 06:34 PM: Message edited by: loopy813 ]

I just suffered a muppet-death! (remember how the muppets used to turn and flop over??). that track looks SOOO rad! (god how long has it been since I used that word!?) I mean, we have a great track, but that`s SO much closer to what I cut my teeth on.

Where is that Falcon track? I just remember Trumbull and Bethel.

think it's in merdian, pat.

Man, I'm young.

i did not know meriden had a track back then, i drove thru there a few times

Thank god we had a bunch of "old-schoolers" out there the first day we were working on it. A lot of good input on the way the track was going to flow. I just wish I could have helped out more. That track is going to be something fast!!!!! If I am not mistaken the tracks open house is this Saturday. So come on down and yes that means you Mr. Heitman or anybody else that lurks on the bord(mike savage,mike patrick and the sort)!!!

old-skull

Sounds like a challenge??? I will get down there sometime this summer.....promse

Open house is on Sat April 22. Gate will be going, and we're having a swap meet. Track is located on Westfield Road, in Falcon Field, Meriden. This is going to be a fun year. Hope to see alot of you guys !!!

Hey pat...didn`t realize you were a texas transplant from Ct as well. Holler at me at the supers, it`ll be cool to put a face with a screenname

Jeff, I am from Ottumwa, Iowa, then moved to Poughkeepsie NY which was close to CT border so I went across the border to tracks. That was 1987-89. Then moved to Austin in 1990.

Here's a couple of old shots from Meriden. This one is from "War of the Stars" 1983.


This one is from " War of the Stars" 1984. You can see the " serps " in the background.

Well, Meriden just had it's first race of the season on the new track. Had 37 motos. We're hoping for more, but everyone loves the track so word of mouth I think it will pick up.

This is one of the members on here. He's kind of a shady cat.... j/k. Garrick is good people. He helped out with the track, and just smoked the 35-39 cruiser class. Not bad for his first race since 1988 !!

p.s. I'll have your stem and nipples this week at the track

Quick update. Ray Ouelete came into my bike shop the other day looking for some bleeder valves for his sons quad ( mountain bikes use the same valve). But he ended up leaving with a Free Agent cruiser. hhhhmmmm. Could we see a return of Ray ? I told him to come down this weekend and check it out. It was cool seeing him after 20 years.

hey george maynard is up in maine i havent seen him in years but a friend told me thats where he is Brian T (hi-tech)


ahhhhhhh the canyons i miss them they are now CONDO'S i still live here in wallyworld who is this?

oldschooler here from 83-90 i was a local at SILVERCITY but after the 84 season i only raced at the nationals and at the state tracks just to keep my state plate i miss the old days my 2 kids are starting this yr and im gonna give it a go again whats up old guys remeber HI-TECH

CT BMX BITD was the best, Meriden, S. Windsor (Rt. 5), Guilford, West Haven (WWBA I think, maybe NBL), Taunton, Bethel, Winsted....all great tracks. Loved the Wed night races at Rt. 5.

The "Tri State Series" was great too, racing MA, CT and RI and winning trophies, plaques. I have my plaque from 1983.


C.J. Thomas

Dennis Neubauer Here. I grew up in Poughkeepsie NY too, and my local track was Pleasant Valley BMX. My brother Al and i used to pack up the car in 84, 85 and 86 and race at trumble, Guilford and Meriden. Guilford is my ALL TIME favorite track, with its over-under bridge, the tall announcers tower, and the first straight that had no starting hill because the whole straight, right to the huge bowl first turn WAS a hill. you would come out of that turn so fast, the start up the hill, over the bridge then drop down the backside drop off. all of the burms were big bowls, and the track was super fast. They even had a fiberglass half pipe in the back. Then there was Meriden, one of the LONGEST tracks out there. It seemed to rain every year they had a war of the stars race there, but they would cut the track in half, and then it was as long as a regular track. The track was nestled in the woods, with trees everywhere for shade, just like Nashville. it was beautiful. Trumble had an awesome first straight too. and it was super long too. i remember it turned to the right then dropped down about 2 stories. not like today, though. you were going so fast back then, that you caught air, and landed halfway down. MAN, the good old days. some of our 15, 16 and 17 and over local mains were like national mains. i remember if we went to trumble, we were there ALL DAY LONG, because there were so many people racing. oh yeah, and rt 5 bmx. wasnt that right next to a skating rink? the track had a cool layout and was always soft in the turns, so you really couldnt slow down too much, because you had to use your momentum to get through them. i remember i raced my first open race there because i just turned 16 and wanted to race my older brother Al. he kicked my butt, but if it wasnt for him, i would have never pushed myself back then.

They just knocked down the over/under bridge recently at guilford.You are able to see the remains of it from the highway.All that remains is the white building where the bike shop was. I drive by it every day(i live 2miles away)
If I remember ,it closed about 1986.

Hey Dennis,

How are you, how have you been...

Mike

West Haven was NEBA then NBL. Got my first trophy there. 3rd place in the 9-10 year old novice class.

Mike, Hey how are you? i am ok. Are you Still racing? i miss those days at Trumble and Meriden. the north east ROCKED in the 80's.

RlMike, yeah i laughed when i heard that the track is still there. They were supposed to tear the track down and build condos on the land.

Sean started this thread back in 2006: "Im going to throw some names out there the Demauro's the Oulette's Heitman...thats me the Landon's Wowack Wojcek...something like that...TOny Wo Daren Waterbury the Bedell's the Camarata's Ill think of more later.... " doesnt he remember Olear, Bishop, and Kulp??? We helped build Lime Rock winter of 1980. His Dad was a good dude, had a big silver Suburban, if is wasnt for Mr H wouldnt have been much bmx in CT. The team was Monstr Squad (why?? cant remember). Signed, Olear (Monstr Squad charter member)

I remember you Dave O'Leary. I am from Meriden and was in an age class about a year or 2 younger than you. I think you raced against Rick O'Neil and Scott Demauro. I raced against Carl Lohman, Ray Oulette, Mike Kitchen, Rich Wowack, Jeff Millington, Mike Patrick, etc. I helped build the Meriden track with the Cammaratas, Outlettes, Demauros, etc. Unfortunately, Scott Demauros dad passed away I think shortly after the track was built. I remember Sean Heitman, the Landons, Troy Debase, Dave Kulp, etc. as well. My first race was at Marvel Foote's track in West Haven. Tore myself up pretty badly on the gravel on the track. Good times back then. I've been in Fla. for the past 18 and drive by the local track once in a while. Not sure my bad knees could take racing again.

Hey Jeff, I remember you, yes you ran against some tough comp: Lohman, Oulette, Wowack, Patrick, remember Paul Kruger?? He probably gave you fits. Yes Rick, Scott and I were good buddies, I used to race West Haven Fri night and stay at the ONeils to race Sat at Meriden. During 80-82 my schedule was:
Tue Trumbull
Wed Wilton
Fri W Haven
Sat Meriden
Sun Lime Rock then Guilford
Tell me if you know what happened to Ricks sweet sister Karen, she was in a tragic car accident at 16 about 1983 and I dont think she recovered. I've got some photos from back then that will make you laugh, I'll try to post em but I need to find a way to scan em first. I stopped racing in 82, went to college, live in CA now, been here since 1990, lending $ to companies, I did an MBA at USC, you? Olear out

I grew up in Waterford, CT and raced for a little while in Groton but was more into the Freestyle Scene..

just spoke to jim overly about this topic ! maybe he'll join

I think i quit racing in '82 as well. i have a few pics too. i'll try to scan and upload them. you had quite a racing schedule. i was mostly meriden and guilford with an ocassional trip to wilton, trumbull, nutmeg. once in a while i did ocean city in RI. in the winter i did northhampton, MA and Jersey City, NJ indoors a few times. i remember kruger. he was tough.

you are right about Karen O'neil. She was thrown from the car and suffered a very serious head injury. I think she was in a coma for a while. When she came out of that she was never the same. She remained hospitalized and pretty much completely unable to care for herself. I don't think she could speak at all. She sadly passed away several years ago. She was such a great girl.

what kind of lending are you doing? vc, traditional bank, or something else? great school USC. your trojans are doing to college football what my hurricanes did a while back.

i went to college in 85 and then moved to miami for law school in 91. i've been here ever since. i have a law firm with some friends. my practice is primarily representing investors all around the country who have lost money as a result of stockbroker or brokerage firm misconduct and other investment fraud. check out our site www.investmentfraud-lawyer.com. i have a good number of cases in so cal. i'll look you when i head out there for a trial.

Some early CT racing photos from Guilford May 1982, more to follow soon:

Guilford dip jump: Dave Olear 3, Rick Oneil

Guilford first turn: Dave Olear 3, Carl L next, Jim Kulp 2, Rick Oneil, Ray Oulette behind Kulp, Shaun Landon 1, Mike Patrick 7

More CT racing phtos, here is West Haven summer 1981, very tight and slippery, just one line really.

1. 16 over X, first straight, left to right: Rick Oneil 308, ? 1157, Jim Kulp 1302, Big Al 124, me 1103


"http://www.bmxhosting.com/is.php?i=689&img=BMX_11rev2.jpg" border="0">


2. 16 over X, first turn: Scott Demauro leads me and Rick Oneil

<img src="http://www.bmxhosting.com/is.php?i=729&img=BMX_1rev.jpg" border="0">


3. 16 over X exit of first turn: me 1103, Jim Kulp 1302, Rick Oneil 308 (notice Kulps right hand hitting my left arm, caused me to get sideways and hit a tree)

<img src="http://www.bmxhosting.com/is.php?i=730&img=BMX_12rev1.jpg" border="0">

Really? Sweet! Chris Shara is a member here now. 




LOL....Jimmy ended up messing around with a girl I dated after I moved away. Wonder if he knows I knew that.



Also just got in touch with Gene Lee and Greg Williams. I`ll try and get them on here soon

*** 2nd attempt at photos, forget my 3/30 posting, hope this works, if not..... ***


More CT racing photos, here is West Haven summer 1981, very tight and slippery, just one line really.

1. 16 over X, first straight, left to right: Rick Oneil 308, ? 1157, Jim Kulp 1302, Big Al 124, me 1103

http://www.bmxhosting.com/is.php?i=736&...1rev2small..jpg


2. 16 over X, first turn: Scott Demauro leads me and Rick Oneil

http://www.bmxhosting.com/is.php?i=737&...revsmall.jp.jpg


3. 16 over X exit of first turn: me 1103, Jim Kulp 1302, Rick Oneil 308 (notice Kulps right hand hitting my left arm, caused me to get sideways and hit a tree)

http://www.bmxhosting.com/is.php?i=738&...2rev1small..jpg

I don't know who keeps resurrecting these two and three year old threads, but it's kind of cool.

This is Lime Rock August 1981 16 over main, first jump, left to right Dave Olear 1103, ? 2420, Big Al 124, Jim Kulp 1302

*** 3rd attempt at photos, forget my previous, I'm learning ***


More CT racing photos, here is West Haven summer 1981, very tight and slippery, just one line really.

1. 16 over X, first straight, left to right: Rick Oneil 308, ? 1157, Jim Kulp 1302, Big Al 124, me 1103




2. 16 over X, first turn: Scott Demauro leads me and Rick Oneil




3. 16 over X exit of first turn: me 1103, Jim Kulp 1302, Rick Oneil 308 (notice Kulps right hand hitting my left arm, caused me to get sideways and hit a tree)

Nice pix, Dave.

BTW, I'm from Bristol, CT.

nice pics,my name is Rick Bartocetti,I know /new allmost of those people listed.I lived in orange back then and rode with Dave Kennedy,Scott Volpe,Sean Heitmann.Are any of you still riding bmx? I rebuilt a pk ripper that I ride with my son.For lack of brains I think about racing again.This year my son whose 8 my give it a shot.

This is Wilton CT first turn, summer 1980, the top 15X in CT at the time: Tom Saunders 836, Dave Olear 548, Chris Mcneil 191, Scott Demauro 145, Mark something (with horns), ? 140, all very fast dudes at the time, this track was the first in CT I believe, started in 1978 I'm sure, I raced there 79-82. Dave

is anyone still involved in the sport? it would be nice to have some sort of re-union this summer.I just came across my ct nbl awards banquet book from november 14,1982.Dave O'Lear 1st 17 & over x,Mike Patrick 1st 16 x,Ray Ouellet 2nd 15x,JeffKaplan 10th 14x,Rick Bartocetti <me>,4th 14x,Sean Heitman 5th 14x. 27 YEARS AGO how the hell did that happen