Im looking for old friends who raced with me from 1978 thru 1986 in Connecticut!!! I go all the way back to the very first organized track in Ct, Dose anyone know what track that was???

My parents and I even built and ran a track at the famed Lime Rock Park. I miss you guys!! And all those pit tootsies!!!

I know that lowchin is from connecticut.

True Enough

I raced in the mid 80s. I raced at a track in Brooklyn CT called Nutmeg I think. Also raced in RI, MA, NH. Now living here in Fl I just started racing in May and havent stopped yet. Met a lot of cool people so far. I do miss CT but I have to admit getting to ride my bike all year here in FL is pretty cool. I dont have any pictures from back in the day which really sucks.

CTOldSchool
Welcome to Vintage really cool site with alot of really cool people. Have fun. Talk to you later Mike Silva

Yup, Ct here. I raced from 81-85/86 in Ct. Just started back up last year.
Welcome to the boards Ctoldschoolbmx

I used to frequent RTE 5 BMX in South Windsor CT. THE place to be for bmx/freestyle back in the 80's.
Welcome aboard.

I grew up in RI, but probably raced more in CT. I even raced at Lime Rock Park (how long was that track open?) when I was 7 or 8 on the OSR team. Also raced at Meriden, Nutmeg in Brooklyn, Guilford, Preston (anyone remember that one?), West Haven, Rt 5. in S. Windsor, Bethel, man I know there were more...anyways welcome.

If I remember was Nutmeg the track at a camp ground?? I liked that track. Then again when I was riding I dont think i ever net a track I didnt like!!

South Windsor was a good track...I remember the starting gate was like droping off the side of a building!!

Lime Rock was the first "national" track in the state. NBA. Does anyone remember Wilton?? THE FIRST TRACK IN CT!!!! It was in the vacant land next to the High School.

There was one at Bristol. The starting hill was a huge sand pile. Trying to climb up it was a pain in the A#@!! My first race was at West Haven. Do you guys remember Marvel Foote? She was a short but very big lady that was involved heavily in the state. I think that she was the State Comm. before Don Olson.

Here is a pic taken at Lime Rock. It is over the first jump. I belive the race was a double-pointer


NSR did a little work to the photo for me but I can not find that image.

Old-skull

I grew up racing Falcon Field from around `85 to `89. I have been trying for a long time now to get pics of that track from the late 80`s to no avail. I too would like to get in touch with some old riding buddies from up there (I`m in Texas now). If any of you know these guys, tell them to get on here and say HI:

Greg Williams
Gene Lee
MIke Bell
Lenny Liptak
Jimmy Overly
Chris Shara
Tim O`Connell

And welcome to the board!

Raced most of the ones that Glen said from 81 - 87....Welcome to our family

Hey Mike you need to expand on the "raced" part. It wasent really fair when you came down to CT. Spanked us is more like it.

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....

OK...so be it..I use to use you guys in CT back in the day for practice....lol

Nutmeg was at a campground. It had a huge berm for a first turn, if you went over it like a 30-40 foot slide down the back side. Does anyone have pictures of these New England tracks Id love to see some myself. I cant believe that between my friends and I that we have absolutely none.

I have a ton of pics I just came across....along with other memorabilia.....None I recognize as Nutmeg though....as soon as I can Im going to scan all of it!!....I did go over that first brem once....ONCE!!!!

Lime Rock.....fun times!!!!!

Just got done EM-ing Mike Patrick. I have not talked to him in 20 years or so. One of many reason why I love this site. Talking to friends that you havent thought about in years.

I know Ray Oulette ( sp) is a cop in Meriden now. I saw Gina about 3 years ago ( she still looks the same ). Somebody told me that Gill ( their dad ) just passed away. I haven't seen any of the Cameratas in a long time. Does Rick O'Neil ring a bell ? His son races and kicks some big a@@ !!
I'm trying to find Maynard White if anyone knows him, or where he is, let me know.

I lived in the poughkeepsie area from 87-89 and went over to a ct track near danbury, bigtime downhill first straight. i think it was bethel ct. then i used to drive to trumbull to nationals but never raced. anybody have any bethel photos?

New or old Bethel pics ? I can get new ones.

Anyone know or remember Bill Lordan? He raced in CT mid eighties, he was quite good. Anyway he is one of my closest friends. I almost talked him into racing again and getting his five year old son into racing, but hasn't happened yet. If anyone wants to get ahold of him I'll tell him to check out this site/thread.

Whats up guys! Starting racing in '83 Nobody ever mentions Farmington! (the town dump) my 1st race was there!
Guilford the best track! could even hold today's standard.
I remember racing Wilton one time?

I used to hang w/ Greg Bendas/Cory Beverly/Maynard White/Oulettes

Ray Oulette part owner I think of xtreme ATV in Meriden, I don't think he is cop anymore.

Maynard last I knew lives in Maine

Darrin Waterbury & I used to go at it, he still pops out @ Trumbull once awhile.

Mike Savage doesn't post but he trolls this site

London Wilmont still racing/TM of Bizzarro national team.

Roger Plaskett runs a track in Torrington still announces nationals for NBL.

Mike Memery?

Caruso?

Alot of ol schoolers coming back & the older racing classes are stacked w/ fast guys. No more 18+ x it's 35+ now!
Randy Bitinaitis


I started back in '99
Randy Bitinaitis

loopy, bethel is still there? whoa

First track I remember was at the Nike missle site in Manchester, which had been turned into a recreation area. Doesn't mean it was the first. I was only 11 or 12 so I didn't travel much. I do not believe it is there anymore, I'm always curious to check but don't get to my hometown much.

That's it? This thread is done?

I hope not!!!!!!

Geez...I KNOW I raced every track in Ct from 78 to 1985!!

By far Guilford was THE best track in the state if not the country from a riders point of view.

I spoke with Savage on the phone last week. Im trying to locate my old side hack...hes in the know.

Also spoke with John Rodi!! Hes the greatest living fossil there is!! He still rides but dosent race.

Im hoping to go to Ct for thier opening week of the season. First week of May!! I want to get to Trumbull and Meriden. Is the Bethel track still in the same place as back in the day??

i saw a map on the bethel site and that does not look like the same place i went to in 1987-89 i bet it moved or something

Sean, Tell John Rodi I said "hi". I still remember the time he installed a 3.73 rear in my '79 chevy pu. He hooked me up.

My dad used to race John Rodi bitd.
Bethel is still in the same spot it was.
Randy, how are you ? I was racing that old GHP cruiser this past year. You should remember. Ray used to own Xtreme ATV, but sold his half to the other owner. Ray being a cop would sell a quad then bust the people on them, so it was a conflict of interest. I was at Xtreme last month and thats what the owner told me.
I used to hang with Maynard back in the late 80's, early 90's then he moved.
Guilford was one of the best tracks !! West Haven was one of the worst tracks. We're going to be working on Meriden this weekend to get it ready for the season.

Since this thread is still alive, I`ll send out another plea: Does ANYONE have pics of falcon field from the late 80`s? That was my home track, and I have no pics at all. My mom usually worked on saturdays (and therefore couldn`t take any pictures)and I`d have to ride all the way home holding my trophies. It sucked, but I was proud all the same. Lots of nostalgia from that place and it would really mean a lot to see the old track. The new layout seems to be kind of a let down.

The only thing that I have from Falcon field is the starting gate. West haven was not that bad. That is where I had my first race/ first ride on a real track. Marvel Foote had her shop around the cornner from the track. After I bought my GT from her, Tony Wojack(sp?) and I rode down there to try out my new scoot. The track has a special place in my heart.

bethel same spot? same drop off hill for start??

It is in the same spot and the same hill.

I lived about a block from Painters Park ( West Haven ) back in the late 70's. I just never cared for the track. Lots of memories there though.
I might have some pics from the national at Meriden from the late 80's. I'll check next time I go over my parents house.
I believe we're starting work on Meriden around 8/9 a.m. on Sat. Still trying to get some machines lines up. If it rains, I guess the ground will be softer...lol

OK, I went to the nbl site or nutmeg site , the photos of torrington look rad as heck! I want to check torrington out. Also, looks like time has not treated trumbull well, and very few bethel photos there.

Trumbull is a great track. It looks different than those pics. Torrington is also a great track, Not really wide though.

loopy-cool to hear from you. See you Sat morn.

I was @ Meridens national "War of the stars" around '84? It rained all weekend & we raced on Monday.

You guys remember Meridens water jump?

Track work still on even if it rains? (I don't want to melt). Also what is everyone driving? I dont want to go upto some guy and say "hey loopy/ mosh whats up, old-skull from VBMX". As some guy is sitting there scratching his head looking at me like I have three heads. I am "pimping" a sliver F-150. Should I bring some tools?

I remember Meridans and Bethels water jumps. Meridans was good as it kept all the water in the jump. Bethels was not so good. It flooded the infield quite a few times.

I remember the water jump at Meriden. I started racing in Meriden when the start gate was to the side of the first berm. Started in 81 and quit in 86. There was a "War of the Stars" in 83 and 84. I still have the newspaper from it. That was a ton of rain !!

I drive a dark silver Galant. Last I heard, only cloudy for the morning then clearing up. Don't worry, you won't melt.

black Pro Concept 20" white Pro Concept 24" oh vehicle, silver Dodge pu blastin ol' Metallica oops 6 yr old daugters comin w/ me so some bubble gum music.

Mosh:

If I can find my $5.98 ep I will hook you up. Cant really help you with the bubble gum stuff.

Loop:
Remember the first jump after the starting gate? That was the first time that a crash had me riding in the back of a Amublance. Got the hole shot then went over the bars on that jump. 5 guys ran me over. Not a good day.

I still have a gnarly scar on my right hand from the doubles after the first berm (after the starting hill moved up the hill) - my friend jumped them and I rode them he landed on me with his brand new Hutch bear traps. I think they used to call those jumps the "serpentines". I remember that I could jump them, but it was way faster to pedal them.

the serps....big rolling doubles. ahhhhh good times

I have some pics from Meridens "origibnal" layout...start at first berm...hell...I have pics from Wilton!!! If I get down there for opeining week Ill let you know!!

We worked on Meriden a little today. I want to say a big thanks to Old-Skull and Mosh-B for coming down and helping out big time. It was pouring rain, it was sleeting, it was snowing. These pics really don't show what a sloppy mess we have, but it'll come together. Thanks again guys !!

Ahh the serps....supposedly the biggest doubles on the east coast at the time. Took me two years to work up the nuts to clear those bad boys. Got all pi**ed off one day when Ted and Woody were out there jumping them. I said "man, it`s time one of our group steps up and shows those sh*theads what`s up". Greg Williams went first, pulled straight up on his bars and looped out straight onto his back. I went next, starting at the top of the first berm, and hucked it as hard as I could. Snapped my left crank arm...but cleared `em! Good times.
Any of you guys remember Mike and Joe Gonzales
?I never knew Woody or Ted`s last names, but they were pretty good, but mostly freestylers.

MIke and Joe GOnzales.....sounds familiar but cant place em.....

Those pics of the track brings back memories....Is the registratin building still there with the corner stone memorial to Gus Demauro?? Wonderful man...sad time.

It was good to put some faces to the names on this bord. If anybody is coming to CT check out this track. It has some old-school flair to it( wicked fast with rythem to it)! Plus it is going to have a kick a@# jump to it. Can't tell you what it is , you are going to have to come down a check it out!!!

Old-skull

YEAH! what's that dozer doin to the little table in that pic?!!!! Nice!!! Ol skull, loopy very cool to meet up & even way cooler that you put time in for the track!!!
Till we meet up again.

Today was a nice day to finish roughing the track. Oh, that little table ? 32' lip to lip now. Here's a couple pics from today. Thanks again guys for coming down and helping !!