I'm new to VintageBmx. Anyone out there race during the mid to late 80's in Alabama? Just trying to track down some old names and friends and say hi. -Brad Waiwaiole

Mr HRPdesigns, Stuart Harrison is one you should know. He is an advertiser and frequents the forum waaaaay toooo much! LOL!

Bill Young

I was on Team Gulf with Stuart years ago. I sent him an email yesterday, but have not heard back from him. According to a post of his in 2005, it looks like there may be a few misunderstandings from years ago. There was never anything negative on my end, and I always respected him as a great rider and teammate.

Wai Wai, Sorry I have been out of town and just getting back online.

Great to see you on vintage and welcome to the most addictive Legal (LOL) website you will ever visit.

No worries about the "misunderstanding", it makes for a much better story the way I wrote it. I hope I did not cast you in too bad of a light. When i get a few minutes I will write back to your email as I just read it, but I am wiped out tonight and I do not feel like typing all the responses tonight.

Talk to you soon...

Stuart

Look forward to hearing from you Stuart.

I rode a little bit in Alabama back in the mid-80's. Good to see you on here Wai Wai.

Bird

Glad to hear from you Brad. I remember chasing you around Oak Mt. and Cascade. Never did catch you, but had fun trying. I know alot of people missed seeing you race after that Dothan crash. Didn't you race that NC mud national the following year?
I'm just getting back into racing. I quit back around 2001. Going to the Grands in a few weeks to watch and maybe do some shopping.

Wai Wai, if you are going to the grands, you are welcome to hang out and set up camp in the HRPdesigns/Team Moto Filler tents. There will be several guys from the old Bama scene.

Stuart Harrison (Dothan)
Russ Thompson (B'Ham)
Clarence Keeler (Montgomery) not sure if he is going.
Todd Langdon (Dothan & B'ham)
Welligton Cannon (Dothan) You probably raced old Welly. He willbe in and out of the tent.
Andy Uptain (Eufaula, originally now Huntsville)

Greg Lilly (b'ham) will be up there, I am not sure if he will be sitting with us or not sometimes he does and sometimes he doesn't.

Birdwell you need to come down also, just for kicks...

Wai Wai call me and let me know when you are going to be up there. I would love to talk to you. I will private message and/or email you my phone number and I will have it with me in Louisville. I am going to get up to Louisville on Thursday Moring sometime.

Wai Wai - I remember having to find a way to get around you on several occassions back in the day. It was guys like you, Michael Morton, Jimmy Fortenberry, etc... that kept me on my toes and made local racing interesting. You are correct about the silly putty nationals in NC in early 1987... that was my last race. I had been released by the doctors about 4 weeks earlier after being off of a bike for ~4 months, so I was gassed after Saturday's race and we packed it up and came home. I had to get back on the bike one last time, but I was certain before we even went to NC that it would be my last race, win, lose or draw. After that race I basically became the average high school student, played baseball and football, chased girls and enjoyed the side of life that I was unable to experience when I was on the rode 35-40 weeks per year. I missed the sport, and thought briefly about getting back on the bike after the 1987 season when a couple of sponsors called with opportunities, but decided to let it go. I had 8 great years and more memories than one person should be allowed to have, so that last thing I wanted to do was tarnish the memories or the accomplishments.

I see that you are in Tennessee. What part? and what are you doing with yourself these days? Do you keep up with any of the others from Alabama? I see Bo Cumbo a couple of times per year, but that is about it. He and I were at Auburn at the same time and we hung out alot, and we still get together in Auburn at a football game a couple of times per year.

I am going to try to make it down to Louisville for the Grands. My wife and I live in Cincinnati, so it is only a 1.5-2 hour drive. I will probably come down on Saturday when things may be a little more laid back... If I make it down, I will definitely look you guys up.

Best,

Brad

Birdwell the same invite goes to you. You are welcome in the HRPdesigns tent anytime. I am thinking about setting up near the third turn outside the fence. That would be the last turn from when you guys raced in Louisville last. It would be great to see both of you and talk about the old days. If this saturday is anything like last year it will be a long day for sure. 14 hours at the track or there about.

Hope you guys make it, should be fun.

Stuart

Brad,
If your going to make it down to the grands next weekend let me know.

I am going to try to make it down on Saturday. Not 100% yet, but it looks probable.

Bird