I still have my Cyclecraft cruiser. I bought it used in 1995--metallic blue with hand-painted silver bullet holes. Under the bottom bracket, the bullet holes form a smiley face.

Am I ever glad i stumbled onto this one! I was and am a Cycle Craft freak for about 20 years now I guess. Heard from alot of people on here that have brought back some great memories of the past.

Wacky- I remember when you used to kick my "kid brothers" butt years ago. Tony Lyhtgoe ring a bell?

TC, what a nut, the list goes on. My main reason for wanting to ride with and for cycle craft was the way everyone was soooo cool to people at the races, and the bike rock!

Can I get a cuiser these days?

Long live CC
HOLLYWOOD

Betty,
When I raced at South Park in 1986 (I think) Todd Corbitt was still on Murray and I was riding an original Murray X-20C. He, Shelby and Shelby's dad who was the T.M. at that point thought it was cool that another guy had a Murray jersey and bike at a national and I got to hang with them. It was great! Anyway, it was obvious that the bikes they were riding weren't Murray's and I always suspected they were Cyclecrafts. It's interesting to hear that Todd was telling you that BMXA was going to test a Murray. I'm assuming that they were really going to test a Cyclecraft with Murray stickers?

Brian Foster, Go magazine(Last issue of the Mighty BMXA, 1992 ABA grands)

Brian Foster, one of the greatest bike handlers of all time. The guy is simply incredible! Thank you for the reminder.

I can't remember the Murray test for sure, since I was getting the info from a letter from Todd, but we are contracted at one point to make race bikes for their riders. I had completely forgotten about that until you mentioned it. The pic of Brian is awesome. Look at the determined look in his eyes. Hey, those uniforms were colorful, weren't they? He had a unique quality of being able to read a line in the track and go for it. I also think he had no fear and that could be good or not so good. He always had a bunch of raspberries on him. Wonder if he ever reads this website. Someone should send him here to read all this old info.

I last saw George Frazier summer of 1999 at a mountain bike race held at Bike Butler in KY. He was racing then and doing fine....

George has gained a lot of popularity through this thread. Someone needs to contact him and tell him to read it. Hey, Kentucky, do you ever see Freddie Hooper ? Also, there was another really good rider from Ky. in the early eighties who rode in Hooper's class, and I think he retired BMX to play highschool football. Greg something, Maybe? I think the kid rode only twenty inch.

Now that it has been two or three days, my senior moment faded away and I remembered that kid from Ky's name is Greg Beller. He was very good in the couple years he raced. I also remember Tony Lythgoe, but I thought his name was Lyth.... not Lyht...... Did you mistype Brother? or did I write it down wrong on the motosheets? I think I still have some of Gary's motos when he was twelve or thirteen with this kids name in the moto. I will have to look them up. I save too much, ya know?

Didn't Cycle Craft do a cosponsorship with Cycle Works out of PA in the 80s? I'm pretty sure I remember Chase Digit riding one. Their team graphics were a red splatter paint like what came on the frames back then. I have some old pics somewhere.

I think it was Wheel Works leadsled. There were a good number of Bike Line riders on Cyclecrafts too.

I'll have to check the pictures tonight. I saw your other post and I used to know Darcey also BITD. We used to race Vally Forge and Bensalem a lot. When I worked at Wooden Wheels we ordered quite a bit of Cyclecrafts in for the Delaware area. I still have a set of the gray FredZ bars in the garage.

Betty, my spelling sometimes goes away, like the skills of old! Greg Beller, that dude was fast! Tony's mom (who basically raised me) turned me X at a local, without my consent, and I was terrified of GB. I can say that I beat him in my first race as X. He crashed.
Fast Freddy Hooper, Havent seen or heard from him in decades I guess. Never heard much of him after BMX. Beller was an outstanding football player and then went to the service for a while. Not sure where he is now.

Trey

Hey, Trey, Thanks for the info on those old Ky. riders. You must have been ready to turn X if you had a good day with Beller in your moto. Hey, don't down yourself by saying you won cause he fell. That's just racing, and he made a mistake and you didn't.
This is to Leadsled, yes Chase rode our product. He was in BMX a long time. Always gave Shelby good competition. That team WAS Wheel Works, and we sponsored their team with a co-sponsor ship a year or two. They competed in the bike shop catagory, I believe.

If I remember right Foster won Single A that weekend..........it came down to the 3rd main.

Craig didn't you win the pre-race that year??

Seems like Barry, Colegrove , and myself were screaming our heads off for you. Actually Barry and me, Colegrove was to busy eating all of our pizza!

[ November 09, 2005, 05:46 PM: Message edited by: whitey ]

colegrove was probably quilty of that a time or two.

didnt Jason Theodore ride for Cyclecraft after Torker?

92gli and leadslead:

You guys from the philly suburbs area? all thoose names you mention I know. I grew up in delaware county and was friends with Tom Diodato and John Jackson. My sister used to have a boyfriend named Bret Irrgang. All of thoose guys were from the Ridley area..

Yes, Jason rode for us from February 85 until late 89 or 90. He finally got out of BMX to concentrate on school sports and possibly a scholarship. Great young man and wonderful family. The first race he rode for us was in Montgomery, Ala national and he won class. He, Mike Lynch, and our own sons began our factory team. Mark Sterious from the Philly area rode for us for several years also. Remember him,Sparksvt? He had the best time in Austrailia in 89--swept both classes with two come-from-behind mains. Powerful rider.

3doors I'm sure I know ya? Where do U live. Hopper was from Morganfield Ky. I never seen anybody who drink so much coke or pepsi! Morganfield is about 35 miles from here(Kuttawa KY). The next morning I drive threw there I'll stop at the oldman coffee drinkin' hole and ask about him. Most people don't know how small most of these Ky towns are. They'll know something.
Betty & Joe would you PM me your mailing address so I can send you some pictures from the Backyard BMX days. Do ya'll remember Pico racing? Thanks Chris Haslam

Dude- Kuttawa! Rode the HOG trough there memorial day weekend. I am now in Henderson, origionally from Evansville- 3 miles from burdette. Hooper was a flyin twig! Dude was skinny as a rail but caffiened ruled!

Trey

Pre-race? I have no idea what race you are talking about. Grands? And if I did, I can't remember. That's not good.

I actually remember Pico racing. A guy named Bonn Garrett moved to my home town in Tidewater Virginia and had a Pico jersey (he was from east Tennessee). Later I was on the Vector support team and loved the way Ms. Martino would ask each rider to send in a update on his racing each month and then reading here news letter....really made you feel like part of the team.

It is a small world, because now I live just down the road from where CycleCraft and Vector were. I guess I got here a little late. A boat store is now located at the old Bike store address. I wasn't racing when CycleCraft was out, but I love the look of the bike.

Hey Brian, I certainly remember Bonn. He visited us not too long ago and introduced us to his wife. WE were good friends with his parents also when they lived in Kingsport. That boat store belongs to Mitch, our son, and his partner. Stop by when you are in the area and say hello. Right now, they are in and out because of winterizing boats on Boone Lake, but after Christmas, they should be in anytime. You're right, it is a small world.

Craig,

What do they call that race?? Race of champions or Pro Spectacular?? Man maybe its me I am older than you. I could swear we were watching you win something.

Maybe it was a dream.........either way you were flying and your set up looked good (as always!)

Off topic: Have you been hitting the weights??? The guns look bigger on Nascar Nation now.

Whitey

Hey, have any of you seen the thread in the old school section about Jim Puglin? It's heading reads something like " anybody remember this cycle craft rider?"

PROP'S TO CYCLECRAFT.

wasn't Keith Mulligan on cyclecraft for a while, i think i have an old race video with him in it. I also have video's of BF when he was on cyclecraft from woodward i think.

he was I have a good memory

Wow... a lotta names here i haven't heard in a LONG time! a ton o' talent- and i mean the Martinos as well as the riders. i saw Joe and Betty in the local video place and they told me about this board. anyhow, i haven't been able to scour all the posts yet, but i see there are some very important names missing from the "CycleCraft Who's Who" list - without whom the CycleCraft machine would not have functioned. Or at least not functioned nearly as well as it did or put out the *****in' bike that everyone here loves. i'm probably forgetting some others, too. so if i may...
Dave Hicks - supreme welder and cigarette roller upper. the main reason CCs didn't break and had such beautiful welds.
Dale Messer (?) - uh... i'll have to think on that one.
Mike "Bones" Blalock - pretty much ran the Backyard when home and the vending trailer when on the road. also painted most of the CCs from late '86 til ??? pure eye candy. maybe even some jigging and tacking?
Wade Patrick - probably best known for his orange Scout, "Agent O". indespensible to Dave and Bones. you name it, he did it - from raw material to the finished item. and he did it well.
Jan Somebody-or-other - boxed up your sano rides with TLC so they'd arrive at their destination in perfect condition.
J.D (?) - guard dog extraordinaire. he made sure none of your shiny bikes or trick bits were carted off by covetous thieves before Jan sent them away. i think he liked an occassional Snickers, too.
hmmm... Dale Messer.... ah yes. he about the blew the walls out of the paint booth!
i was only with CC for a couple years, but have a lot of great memories of the job and the folks.

welcome aboard DaPainter. You won't be disappointed!

WOW is about all I can say... I raced with Joe and Betty back in the mid 80's as well. I'm so glad I found this site. DeBaker, I havent heard that name in a longime. I have some old vid's from the Grands I believe with you in them. Anyone rememer being snowed and iced in in Columbus, Ohio at the Hyatt Regency (I believe) for one of the War of the Stars races. There were so many good times had with the team and Joe and Betty. Thank you guys so much for what you did for all your "kids" and the sport!!!
Jon Booher (95b)

Here's an old pic of the Cycle Craft trailer from the mid to late 80's sometime, I think this was in Greenville SC.

We bagan using that trailer in the fall of 1989. The shirt E=R stood for "Effort equals Results" and was made by Tony Ashley. I think that's him standing at the trailer.

Big props to the cycle craft crew....I remember having so much fun being one of the young guys on a star studded team....there are so many memories (And good fights too, right BJ).

There was also Josh ??? from Michigan on the team.....

Colegrove

Whoa---I finally got through all of the posts....crazy...

Hey whitey, you know that I wouldn't eat your pizza on my own...Barry distracted you and I ate, then I got you talking about one of your Red Roof Inn's and Barry ate.....

Anybody remember the Weed Wagon? The VW bus with no brakes that you had to downshift to slow down (Uphill both ways to the shop!!!)

Another story about the Martino's...I remember when Mitch and I were riding for Kuwahara back in the early 80's that Betty and Joe had this huge tour bus that we spent a lot of time on....we were rolling like a rock star!!!!

WOW.. i am new to this site.. i did a search For MCS cause i am trying to refresh mine.. i came across this CYCLECRAFT thread and seen all the names..
WOW... i am from Louisville Ky... George and mike Frazier were friends of mine... basically showed me the ropes.. i remember riding around in Georges Austin Healy.. those were some awsome guys... .and in Their co sponsorship riding they actually took me under their wings and hooked me up with the Cyclecraft colors.. i have a pic of me somewhere out in front sporting the babyblue...
i doubt anyone will remember me.. i was pretty good at the times.. but ill drop my nAME ANyhow just in case i am another blast from the past...
Rick Pokorowski....

i am glad i fopund this site... and i will be riding again... prolly not on my mcs but most likely some other old school...

All I can say is that my Cycle Craft cruiser lead me to become a top cruiser rider in AZ. I litterally sucked befor I got on mine. The geometry and feel of that frame and fork was outstanding.

Little Story: Went to a national in CA and ending up hitting the gate in practice and breaking a rear dropout weld. I was mortified, but my calm and cool grandfather settled me down and found a MIDUS Muffler shop(only people he could think of with a welder) in the area and they hooked a broken hearted kid up re-welding my frame and getting me back in time for my mottos.

I am just starting a CC build. BETTY mentioned to me the possibility of my frame being a team rider frame because of the extra letters on the drop out. anyone know who rode for them with the initials A L? these are on the drop out beneath the P which BETTY has informed me stands for pro. any info would be great and if possible a contact so i can get an idea of how it was set up when this person raced it.

It's not an aluminum frame by chance?

Damn this thread is gonna go on forever.

its not aluminum. not eactly sure of the metal. maybe cro-mo

Just found this site. I just pulled my CycleCraft out today after 20 years under the house, in the barn, or in the garage. Thanks to you guys, I've got the bug again! I used to race in NC and I got a chuckle about Meaker with his blue CC uniform. His white Vans always looked like they just came out of the box!

Thanks for the memories,

Jason Marguerat

They reached the status of idol by definition long ago:
Main Entry: idol
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: person greatly admired

Yup I would say that sums it up nicely. Greatly admired and respected....
I thought you guys might enjoy seeing a letter I sent to Betty this evening.
Let me know if there is interest in a Cyclecraft nostalgia website and a big party for past Cyclecraft riders and friends....

Happy Landings,

Brent




Dear Betty,
I was so pleased to find your posts here (on Vintagebmx.com).
You see I was a co-factory rider in late 1989-1990 and the Cyclecraft family was there to show me what BMX was truly all about. (Fun before trophy's became my mantra.) Even though I was all the way out here in Washington State, calls to Cyclecraft and the team 'zine made me feel part of the team. (I seemed to always talk to Pete Dylewski or Rich Bartlett... Lucky for Rich because I bought a Block frame from him.)
I was thinking of starting up a vintage Cyclecraft website and hosting a big shindig for all the past Cyclecraft riders. ( We are all getting a bit older so I better get the ball rolling as soon as I can. Haaaa haaa)
Anyway if you have any of the old team zines (I scanned one and posted a link below so you would know what I was talking about) I would love to get a copy of them..even scanned images would be fantastic. (I lost all but the first zine)
Here is something that is sure to jog your memory.. Remember when you had a contest to see who could design the best/most challenging BMX track?
Well I won that contest with a track that featured a vicious 3 headed mind reading talking dog guarding the gates of hell which riders had to ride through to get to the finish line... I designed it my senior year in History class.. back in 1990. It was pretty funny.
I was going through some pics and found this gem. (See link below)
This photo was taken at River Valley BMX track in Puyallup Washington.
The riders from left to tight are Mich Raich, me (Brent Sprute), I'm not sure who the guy in the blue sweat shirt is, Lindsey Johnson and David Dozer. Now that was a stacked moto!

http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab191/M...c/BMX1990-1.jpg
http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab191/M...ramepainted.jpg
http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab191/M.../cyclecraft.jpg

I found a old XLX frame like the one I used to race and gave it a new paint job....Brian Foster would be proud! (who welded these things the still look fantastic after 20 + years of riding)
Well I'll wrap this up with a heartfelt thank you for all you do/did for BMXers far and near.
Thanks and cheers,
Brent Sprute Owner/Rider
www.rideandglide.com BMX Stunt Team

ahh...Todd "in orbit" Corbit. Use to race him in Florida (15x and 16x). Fast guy.

I wanna see a cc frame, can someone post a pic

Here you go.. Just painted hours ago...

http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab191/M...ramepainted.jpg

Click to view attachment

C.C. are still being made. and better than ever.

I have a 92 that I race
long in the front
short in the back

I was a part of the Cyclecraft family in 86. As an employee of the Martinos I was introduced to the ways of working for what you want in life and enjoying them at the same time.
We built bikes for Murray, Haro, Studd and the first batch of TNT's along with any other wild creation we could dream of. (scooters, gravity bikes) FRED'Z bars were one of the best projects, I found the old Vector jigs and added a different miter. this became the most copied bar ever. Those bars are nearly industructable Im still riding an origanal set today (23 year) but with much more grace than the flip I did on the backyard track.
I worked with all of the people mentioned by DA PAINTER. I remember that the dog was the employee of the month several times once for biting a thief. Wade and his scout scared the crap out of me several times including a trip down a deadend road at about 50 MPH with a dirt hill at the end (the barrel factory) THE Duke boys had nothing on Wade. I remember the team being around all summer long and dinner time. What no love for fishbait. Josh Martino

Many thank to the Martinos

Tricker Joe