Mike Franze a.k.a Parks BMX Track has been around BMX racing for a very long time.
In the 80's, he was a fast rider racing guys like Mike Poulson, Rich Farside, and Timmy Judge.
In the early to mid 80’s, Mike also built the legendary Parks BMX track in Fullerton California.
Parks was home to a lot of BMX Action and BMX Plus photo shoots.
They also held "non-sanctioned" BMX racing as well. Complete with trophies and point standings.

Mike Franze is still very much involved in BMX.
He owns Fullerton Bike Shop which has an incredible, full bore BMX section.
Plus he has a national BMX team full of amazing talent.
Lots of old school racers drop by too like Greg Hill, Stu Thomsen, Perry Kramer, Dennis “The Red Baron” Dain,
and Eric Kocen to name a few.

Since a lot of us know him on Vintage and since he’s still in the BMX game,
I had to start a thread on Mike Franze.

Johnny Johnson
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Here’s some photos from BMX Action in 1984 plus the story they did on Parks BMX track.









[ April 09, 2007, 02:49 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

The story on Parks BMX track
BMX Action 1986








[ April 09, 2007, 02:46 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

...and he can still put in some good laps at OrangeY

Couple photos of Mike Franze from a test of the Sling Shot.
BMX Plus. November 1984.







[ April 09, 2007, 03:05 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

I have only recently met Mike at his bike shop. It was very easy to become friends with him for various reasons; he is an extreemly likeable guy, he not only owns one bike shop less tham 2 miles east of me, he also owns another shop less than 2 miles west of me (how cool is that?). The third reason is we have "old school" BMX roots in comon. Yea, we get along just fine!

Oh yea, his bike shop(s) are top notch!!! I grew up in the beginings of the organized BMX area. My first sponsor who owned the WSA BMX track in Oange County, Calif. made a brief attempt at a Pro shop at the track. Just your basic BMX stuff there. Before that, he had a connection with Steve Rinks shop called PedalPower. Another nice bike shop with your basic family bikes available and adding all the BMX stuff as it became available.

Then I became involved with and sponsored by Ralph's Bicycles in Downey, Calif. Another family style shop/leaning towards the high end "roadie" components, and adding the newest, coolest BMX stuff as it came out.

Now for Mikes' shops: WOW!!! Absolute kid in a candy store feeling. A great selection of all the newest and trick BMX stuff (all of which is so far over my old school head).

He has all the fun family stuff to balance out the scales of local neighborhood personalities.

But I could stare at, and oogle over, all day the variety of high end, technically advanced, road bikes AND mountain bikes in there.

Just flat out OOOHHH AAAHHH!!!

Here is a cover shot (of another one time bike shop owner) taken at Mikes' Parks track. I had a copy of this made recently for Mike, he is going to have Stuart autograph it for him.



I highly recomend stopping by his shop(s). A great guy with a big heart!

Cool post!

I went to Parks JH 1978 & 79. I would ride from Magnolia and Valencia up hill to get there instead of taking the bus. This way I could get some laps before and after school I spent a lot of time there BITD.

Good times for sure.

Thanks Mike

Man, how was Mike able to jump with that seat so high!

Cool guy and he runs a sweet shop!

I got a few more photos coming.
Mike could really get down when it came to jumping for the camera.

Parks Legend BMX..Fronz, Franzanooski, LOL

Mike, your the man! Mass respect over here for you bro..Hope your well!

Pics JJ, come on man..Hey nice ride you have in the pic up top..I like it..Have you seen Austin?

GH

(LOL) Hillage have you seen Austin?? Cutting edge... a little C -note from Jason.. you know the deal! All good. JW I jumped just like that with my high seat post just like you beat the young gun Gunslinger guy at the state race! Nice Job.

Thanks for the words Dennis you are to kind.. Hey Stu know do you re call PARKS?? Hope to see you soon!

That was not Mike int he photos, he only dug. His twin brother Otto was his stunt double. But when Otto hurt his finger in a thumb wrestling match, Mike took of his training wheels and did what he could without a stunt double. Man Mike I remember before the upper section was added. The photo of Stu, upper left, wasn't at the track itself right but near the bottom on the side of a hill correct?

Hey mike cool to see these photos again, just love those red levi's !
Owner of the best stocked bmx shop i've seen in years and one hell of a nice guy !
Good to know you mike.
damon.

Dude, Mike should consider running for public office in Fullerton! And I'm not joking either.

You read that article with quotes from Mike and each time he takes a disgruntled person and doesn't argue with them, but shows them the positive side and turns an enemy into an friend. I've seen him do it at his shop as well.

Mike's goal with his stores (Fullerton and Buena Park Bicycles) is to get more people on bicycles and turn them into cyclists. I'm honored to have him as a Giant retail partner store. There are lots of Giant bicycles riding around his area because of him.

Any rider who rides for Fullerton Bicycles should consider themselves lucky to be on a team with so much heart.

Long live Mike Franze and BMX in Fullerton!

PK

You can't get much more rad than those first 2 photos. I remember those pics and articles when I first read and saw it in BMXA back in '86. I even had a pair of red Levis - saw them at the store not long after and remembered how cool they looked in BMXA.

And that is some foundational "Trails Style" with the flannel shirt, jeans and moves. Definitely a motivation for me to dig and ride back then (and still today). Props to Mike and the Parks trails :thumbs:

Red Line tested by Mike Franze in BMX Plus









[ April 12, 2007, 08:00 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

Here's one of Mike's friend Eric Kocen (Johar/ Rad Pads)
batteling with Mahlon Abrams (Bridgestone) and Bubba Hayes (SE)

81' ABA/ Dia Compe Fall Nationals
Devonshire Downs, Northridge Ca.


[ April 12, 2007, 08:49 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

Johnny, any idea what fork Eric is running? It looks like a Bottema fork with all the tubing past the axle.

They look to be Bottema's and he looks to need some new Vans.

Dennis,
Think thats the way the Bottema forks were made when they first came out.
Did you talk to Kocen at the get together?
Did you know Franze before the get together?

I had met and talked to Mike a couple of times at his Fullerton shop before the BBQ.

The first time I went to the shop, Mike was not there. I introduced myself to one of the guys working there and he says, "I know you." It was Eric. We actually have history together. We raced the same tracks BITD, I also rode up to the Watsonville National with his family back in 77. ( I think it was 77)

JJ that is a great picture of Kocen, He was very pumped to see that on Vintage, nice job. do you have any more?

Have you seen Austin? Parks BMX Legend, it was great seeing you at Orange the other night, you still have your snap and first straight pull, very cool!

We need more people like Mike, while at Orange I noticed he pointed out people racing that had gotten their bike from his shop and when they would pass by he would speak to and with them, it was really cool..Way to go Franzanooski, keep it real and never change..You

When Jeff came out with the Forks he gave some to Eric and I believe sponsered him. A couple weeks later Erics dad Tom got Jeff to give me some.

I got more cool bikes from Eric and his Dad then anyone when I started.
GJS, Quad, LRV (Some thing Like S/N 10).

I first met Mike in early 90's in mtn biking.
He has been a good friend since then. Mike is one of the good guys in this world.
Mike all I can say is WOOOOOWWWWW
Never knew the bmx pasted. Only what the Sawson bro's talk about.

I first met Mike in early 90's in mtn biking.
He has been a good friend since then. Mike is one of the good guys in this world.
Mike all I can say is WOOOOOWWWWW
Never knew the bmx pasted. Only what the Sawson bro's talk about.
That's it I'm draging you to my house for a week
and have you show me some of those moves.
No wonder they call you the King of 20"

Bernie U

Franze sponsors old school, So. Cal racer Scott Swanson.
A while back, I posted a pic of me racing Swanson, Doug Davis, and Carl Butler
in Open at the ABA DG national
at La Mirada.
I'll see if I can find it.

Here's some more Eric Kocen photos.


81' NBMXA Summer Nationals at Rancho.
BMX Plus coverage.
Same issue as the Devonshire photo above.


My dad snapped a pic of the trophy dash at Corona early 1980

Harry Leary (Diamond Back), Tommy Brackens (Jag), Lee Medlin (GT),
Eric Kocen (SE), Mike Discipulo, snd Charlie Williams (Jag).
Mr. Chrstopher the starter.
I'm cut in half on the far right. LOL!


Everyone remembers this shot of Eric Kocen in the Johar Rad Pad ad.


Eric Kocen in the ad for Max BMX uniforms.


[ April 15, 2007, 10:22 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

Kocen at Rancho

Johnny

That RadGrip ad cracks me up. I was there for that photo shoot. Erics hair is blowing back because I am 2 feet in front of him with a record cover jacket waiving it like a freak in front of him.

Pics of franzanooski please.

Couple more of Eric Kocen.
(I've got some more of Mike Franze I'm gonna post in a few days)

Eric Kocen #2 battteling Richie Anderson #1(Patterson) on the left and
John Copeland (Diamond Back) #1 on the right.
Mike Salido (Skyway) is behind Anderson and Tony Denham #3 (CW) is in fifth.
ABA Great Lakes National. 82' BMX Plus

Eric Kocen at Corona 82' from BMX Plus.


[ April 29, 2007, 08:21 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

damn, that one footed table is rad!

wow, Eric is better than he say's he was! Only Pk can bench race that good. THANKS JJ. Eric is going to wet his pants when he sees the post!

Eric was also famous for running only front brakes!

Mike Franze with his son I believe last year 2006.


Mike Franze crossed up at Parks in the mid 80's


Franze at Parks


Look how many people came by Parks for (unsanctioned) race day!
There were as many as 20 motos at times.


[ May 03, 2007, 08:42 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

JJ thanks for the photos. and yes we use to get 20 motos on race day. we even had a pro am race with Mike Hollywood Miranda showing you to do battle with Dennis Kishymama, Kirk Crisco, Kevin Harlow, Steve Kane just to name a few. I think Hollywood won 80 bucks. I remember going had him the cash and he would not take it. He told me to put it back into the track and buy some more trophies.

JJ you were going to post some pictures of Kocen.. Show him some love..........

Those photos are great. Amazing that wasnt a sanctioned track. Everybody there just for the love of the sport. Looks like those of us who didnt live in so cal missed out on some great times down there.