Charlie Southwick a old UBR staple at the starting gate passed away on Sun the 26th.
I have seen charlie on a regular basis around Manteca for as long as I can remember. He always stopped by my bike shop to say hello and touch bases. He was part of the roots of early bmx and I will miss him alot.
Charlie to me is what I remember about old school starts "Riders Ready Pedals Ready Go" This was way before a push of a button. I know for a fact that some of Frank Posts wins came from having Charlie down to a "T". Maybe he can get that steak dinner from frank at a later date!!!.
I have been about to get a track up and running here in Manteca for the last 3 years. My goal was to have him do the very first gate start for our new track. I know he will be there in spirit.
Charlie will be missed. God Speed Charlie!
Jon,Cathy and Crissy Anderson
Full Version: Charlie Southwick Ubr National Starter Passes
He's little Chuckie Southwick's dad, right?
My condolences to his friends and family.
My condolences to his friends and family.
Charlie came to Patriot Bicycles for the awards last year. That was the single best part of the weekend, he wasn't doing real well then but you could tell how much it meant to him. I was talking to someone when they shot the UBR alumni photo but he had his daughter take one of he and I later. Jon, if you see her could you ask if we could get copies of those that she took and tell her that it meant as much to all of us to see him as I think it meant to him.
Tell her and Chuckie to check this post.
Here's the link to the post with the picture.
http://oldschoolbmx.com/community/index.ph...p=0&#entry0
Maybe he can hook up with Greg Robbins and Pat Patton for some gates.
Randy Schaffner
Tell her and Chuckie to check this post.
Here's the link to the post with the picture.
http://oldschoolbmx.com/community/index.ph...p=0&#entry0
Maybe he can hook up with Greg Robbins and Pat Patton for some gates.
Randy Schaffner
Bump
John,
We lost our national gate starter a little over a year ago. I think about him all the time when loading into a gate. Kelly Burnette dropped many national gates in his time. First starting out with the ABA and then going to the NBL when his wife worked for the NBL. Kelly was even given a write up from the Great Oz in BMX Action.
We had a memorial race for Kelly and had his son drop the gate the old fashion way by turning off the cadence for the Terra Box. Funny thing was the gate would not drop with Ed dropping it no matter how much we tried. Ed finally gave over the controls to the current gate starter and it dropped. I can't help but think that Kelly was with us at that moment.
Waterford Oaks now has a plaque right where Kelly used to sit. I picked the words out. The plaque states. Kelly Burnette with his dates. Gate Starter to the World. Your voice behind the gate will never be forgotten.
There is something to be said about the men behind the gate that us oldtimers just can't forget.
Sorry for your loss. I know how you feel.
We lost our national gate starter a little over a year ago. I think about him all the time when loading into a gate. Kelly Burnette dropped many national gates in his time. First starting out with the ABA and then going to the NBL when his wife worked for the NBL. Kelly was even given a write up from the Great Oz in BMX Action.
We had a memorial race for Kelly and had his son drop the gate the old fashion way by turning off the cadence for the Terra Box. Funny thing was the gate would not drop with Ed dropping it no matter how much we tried. Ed finally gave over the controls to the current gate starter and it dropped. I can't help but think that Kelly was with us at that moment.
Waterford Oaks now has a plaque right where Kelly used to sit. I picked the words out. The plaque states. Kelly Burnette with his dates. Gate Starter to the World. Your voice behind the gate will never be forgotten.
There is something to be said about the men behind the gate that us oldtimers just can't forget.
Sorry for your loss. I know how you feel.
Sorry to hear that Jon, he was a nice man. Really got around town on his wheelchair - I think the last time I saw him was at the street fair or maybe at our Fireworks Booth.
I hope he got to see Chuckie before he passed. I know that family is going through a lot right now.
Chris
I hope he got to see Chuckie before he passed. I know that family is going through a lot right now.
Chris
Info coming
I talked to UBR John Valdez today, his father John Valdez Sr. Owner of the Kings BMX shop and track(BMXA #2, Stanley Robinsons sponsor on the cover) passed away last month after a five year battle with cancer. Bad year for UBR people.
On a good note, UBR 30 year reunion being given serious consideration. Maybe we can do something in conjunction with the opening of Jons track.
On a good note, UBR 30 year reunion being given serious consideration. Maybe we can do something in conjunction with the opening of Jons track.
Jon
Thank you for the post. Charlie was an important part of our BMX family and he will surely be missed. Although his spirit will live on and the way he drop the gate will never be forgotten.
To the Southwick family we feel your pain and can only offer you our condolences in this trying time. May you find comfort knowing that Charlie meant a lot to all of us that knew him.
Elias Torrez (aka. MOE )
And all the HP Cyclery Team
Thank you for the post. Charlie was an important part of our BMX family and he will surely be missed. Although his spirit will live on and the way he drop the gate will never be forgotten.
To the Southwick family we feel your pain and can only offer you our condolences in this trying time. May you find comfort knowing that Charlie meant a lot to all of us that knew him.
Elias Torrez (aka. MOE )
And all the HP Cyclery Team
QUOTE
On a good note, UBR 30 year reunion being given serious consideration. Maybe we can do something in conjunction with the opening of Jons track.
That sounds like a great idea!
UBR spring championships Livermore 1979:
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QUOTE (RandyS @ Nov 28 2007, 03:48 PM) 
Charlie came to Patriot Bicycles for the awards last year. That was the single best part of the weekend, he wasn't doing real well then but you could tell how much it meant to him. I was talking to someone when they shot the UBR alumni photo but he had his daughter take one of he and I later. Jon, if you see her could you ask if we could get copies of those that she took and tell her that it meant as much to all of us to see him as I think it meant to him.
Tell her and Chuckie to check this post.
Here's the link to the post with the picture.
http://oldschoolbmx.com/community/index.ph...p=0&#entry0
Maybe he can hook up with Greg Robbins and Pat Patton for some gates.
Randy Schaffner
Tell her and Chuckie to check this post.
Here's the link to the post with the picture.
http://oldschoolbmx.com/community/index.ph...p=0&#entry0
Maybe he can hook up with Greg Robbins and Pat Patton for some gates.
Randy Schaffner
Great shots of him slamming down that gate. Those were the days!
Charlie will always be remembered!
Thanks Jon, that means alot. If you find any old pics please let me know.
Little Chuckie Southwick, that's cute! He is now 38, not so little but we still call him Chuckie.
Little Chuckie Southwick, that's cute! He is now 38, not so little but we still call him Chuckie.
QUOTE (JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger @ Nov 28 2007, 03:34 PM)
He's little Chuckie Southwick's dad, right?
My condolences to his friends and family.
My condolences to his friends and family.
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