Here's a thread for my longtime friend Mike Franze, A.K.A. PARKS BMX. The track was the brainchild of Mike's and was built and maintained by Mike and other local So. Cal. racers. It was in Sunny Hills (Fullerton) Cal. The tracks heyday was '79 thru 83 or so. PARKS BMX track saw many top pros of that era come and practice on it.

This picture is of myself (rt.) and Bobby Cain (left) jumping the doubles exiting the 3rd turn @ PARKS BMX in 1982. I am on a Bassett 24" cruiser and Bobby is on a CW 20".

I know there must be some more old skool PARKS BMX pics. out there. Please post 'em.

Thanks,
Kevin




[ May 06, 2006, 07:02 PM: Message edited by: Kevin Harlow ]

Bump

Kevin, Never ran Parks, but I know we met perhaps even raced each other at the Teen center. I ran an OM flyer as well as a Panda Pro Am.

I know that I spoke with you as well as Brian Skinner at Beavers or is my memory shot???

Curt

Kevin, any relation to Jim Harlow???

Think Feb 28 1982 race by Hole Shot in a VVA newsletter.

Curt,

I know of two people by the name of Jim Harlow. One of them races Mountain Bikes, and we are not related. The other is my step brother, and he has never raced a bike before.

What teen center are you refering to?

Kevin

The Teen center in the SF Valley on Victory Blvd.

As for Jim Harlow. The I am thinking he raced the "Reseda to the Sea" and other Victor Vicente (father of the modern mountain bike) type events.

If he is still racing mountain bikes that would not surprise me. Having said that I only met him in passing, I did not know him or hang out. Same would go for you. If we met it was either in a race (I am 41 years) or through some of early mountain bike guys like Victor Vicente , Brian Skinner (used to have a homemade rear suspension MTB), Rick Secombe (Local racer, then punk rocker), etc.

The good old days when it only took muscles to protect us! ;)

What the Basset deal? After DG and Powerlite?

Ben

Curt,

I still occasionally ride mountain bikes with Jim Harlow. He is a property tax assessor here in Riverside County. I do not recall racing BMX in the valley, but I may have. Why does the name Brian Skinner sound so familiar?

Ben,

By the time I was riding Bassetts, I was retired from racing on tour. The actual sequence was Powerlite '79 & 80, D.G '81, and G.T. '82. I had a serious head injury in '82 that put me in ICU for a week. When I recovered, I still had a lot of headaches and dizziness, so I quit racing. But as I began to feel better, I wanted to ride again. Bassett gave me a couple of cruisers and I raced locally for a year or so.


Kevin

[ May 14, 2006, 09:33 PM: Message edited by: Kevin Harlow ]

Somebody must have PARKS BMX! pictures to post?

I was never at Parks, but wish I did.
I heard that it was very cool spot.
Lots of coverage in the BMX magazines back then.

Very cool thread you started Kevin.

Mike Franze ROCKS!

Fullerton Bike Shop that Mike Franze owns ROCKS!
424 E Commonwealth Ave
Fullerton, CA 92832
(714) 879-8310

Maybe someone could post the pics of Franze from the Parks story in BMX Action?

[ May 14, 2006, 11:43 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

Kevin,

Ask Jim Harlow about Reseda to the sea. If he remembers (and is the same Harlow) he should know Brian Skinner. Brian was a bit of a maverick. In 82 he was big into the then developing MTB scene. He made several homemade rear suspension bikes. The suspension was patterned after the first generation Kawasaki Uni trak and/or the Suzuki Full Floater. I am confident he also raced BMX cruiser class both on 26 and maybe 24. He was a Tall one (as am I) so we would sometimes talk about what worked for a tall rider etc.

Any how, even if we did not ever meet it is always good to speak with someone of the same era.

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Here you go Parks.

Mike F,
I don't get it? I know PK (pic above) is your friend. What does that pic have to do with this thread?

JJ just trying to host a pic on vinatge? call me a dumby but I have had a hard time trying to get the pictures up.