Yeah, I may have been knocked unconscious more times than I can remember. But I still can remember stuff from back in the day. I swear my memory from BITD is better than my memory from late 90's into the new milennium.

So guess who I got a call from today? I'll give you a hint. A funny [please review the site FAQs] black dude who was from Ashtabula, OH & ride for White Bear.

-That's right James Good. Otherwise known as "Deuce." I hadn't talked to him in nearly a decade. He tracked my # down and gave me a call. Was super cool to catch up with him. Two of his kids are 16 yrs old & one of 'em is into BMX. So he's been going to the Chenga World skatepark as well as Ray's MTB park. Beleive it or not, he's got 6 kids. And actually, I think a couple of them ride. He's got 'em on some DK bikes right now.

I told him about the site & this thread. Hopefully he'll be around. Ohio peoples are always coming out of the woodwork lately. Cool stuff.

One thing I forgot: Does anyone remember BMXOhio magazine? My dad put it together & it was around for 3 issues back in 1982. I still got a few copies. I can't believe that my dad took the time to publish that mag. Classic.

Chris,
Good lookin' out on the SE's! That's cool that you're back on it.

Billy Ross,
Yeah, I remember staying at your house back in the mid 80's. I remember we rode to a track by your house, I think.

ProTour77,
Was the year 1988? If so, I got a full page photo in BMX Plus mag from hitting that jump behind the starting hill. I attached the photo below.

Steve Smith,
Are you sure you beat me at that race? I don't remember you ever beating me. J/K! Shoot, you beat me plenty of times over the years.

SVT_Pony,
You remember Donald McDonald? He's on this site somewhere. He used to live just over the river on the Hilliard side. He used to ride a bunch with us.



The paragraphs below are from my site (www.TODDLYONS.com) -It gives a brief history of my BMX'in over the years from the beginning. I need to update it though as it only goes through to 2005.

Wildman BMX History Lesson:


My Uncle Jim took me to the track for the first time in 1981 when I was 9 years old. By the mid-eighties my parents were taking me all over the Midwest to national races. From 1985 to 1990, I was kicking [please review the site FAQs] and was ranked in the top 3 nationally every year in my age group. The year that put me on the BMX map was 1987 when I won the World Championships as a 15 year old in Orlando, Florida. I backed it up the very next year with another World Title in Santiago, Chile.

In 1990 I graduated high school in Columbus, Ohio and immediately moved out to Southern California. With $1,500 in my pocket, I packed up and headed out West to follow my BMX dreams. When I first got to Cali, I lived in the infamous P.O.W. house with about six other BMXers. Every weekend we’d pile into vehicles and go on road trips to various races and trails. Around that time, organized jump contests were just starting to pop up, but they were usually just a sideshow at the races. In the early 90’s, the BMX industry was at a low point. There were only a handful of riders earning a living from riding. I went a few years earning less than $4,000, but when you’re sharing your house with 6 other guys and eating cans of tuna every day, you learn get by. The first car I bought in Cali was an old retired Postal Jeep for $400. It got me to the trails, but that was about it.

I spent quite a few summers in the early 90’s over in Europe hitting up races and jump contests. I became the European King of Dirt two years in a row and pulled my first 720 at the European Championships in Italy in 1992. In 1994 Haro Bikes sponsored me and offered me a salary of $500 per month. Holy [I tried to curse]! $500 a month just to race and jump my bike? I couldn’t believe it. It felt weird for me to take money for something that I’d be doing regardless. The next 3 years on Haro just got better and better. Co-sponsors came onto the scene and paid me to run their parts, wear their sunglasses, wear their clothes, etc. I was also able to fly to the races and contests instead of driving through the night and camping in the fields. Airfare, rental cars, hotels, food, you name it; it was all paid for. Welcome to Factory Superstar Status!

1995 was the year that BMX dirt jumping really started to boom and get some mainstream coverage. It’s no coincidence that this was also the first year of the ESPN X-Games. Back then it was called the “Extreme Games”. I got 5th at that inaugural contest in Rhode Island and got kicked out the very next year. It was a crazy night where I had a run in with the Rollerblade girl racers. But man, I had a good time… MTV Sports did their first ever segment on BMX & I was one of three rider that they featured. BMX was really starting to blow up. I also won my first ever AA Pro ABA National that year in Reno, NV, right ahead of the legendary Gary Ellis.

In 1997 Huffy gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse. The salary was over 5 times the amount I started with Haro just 3 years earlier! It was definitely a gamble though seeing as at that time Huffy was only considered as a K-Mart brand. I definitely took some heat from other riders for riding for such a mainstream company. My five years on Huffy were pretty carefree. It was a super relaxed program where I could travel when and wherever I wanted. I took advantage of the large budget and went to just about every contest and race that I could. They gave me my first signature bike (TL-88) and promoted me to the fullest. One month I had a photo on the cover of USA Today’s sports page and also a photo in the Wall Street Journal. During those years I was also the BMX team manager for JNCO clothes and Arnette sunglasses. I had about five other co-sponsors paying me a monthly salary as well. The money was rolling in from every direction, so I decided to buy a house here in Huntington Beach.

I broke my wrist really bad in Australia at the 1998 World Championships. I had to get 6 frickin’ pins put in and I couldn’t ride for 5 months. After months of therapy, I went to my first race and broke my other hand! Some suckers out there thought my BMX days were over. That fall was the MTV Sport & Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee. I stayed in a house where they filmed EVRYTHING (Real World style) & they aired the show on MTV. Fights, parties, destruction, naked chicks in the hot tub with me, you name it; it all went down at that MTV house.

But by the end of 1999 I came back and earned the NBL’s A-Pro title. After that year, I really put my efforts back into dirt jumping and hit all of the contests that I could. After a couple of good years on the jump contest scene, the BMX industry started to take a dive. With 9/11, the crappy economy, and the hurting BMX industry, Huffy dropped me at the end of 2001. I started off the first part of 2002 without a bike sponsor and I was paying my own way to the races. Luckily Intruder, a small bike company out of Florida, stepped up in March and paid my expenses to the rest of the year’s races.

In the beginning of 2003 I signed with a new and improved SE Racing. Right after the deal was signed, we went to work on my signature line of “Wildman” bikes. It felt good to have full support once again and have a travel budget that could get me to all of the events of the year. I had my best X-Games placing of my career in the Downhill BMX race where I placed fourth. Later that summer, I got invited to race in Bogota, Colombia for the first time. That was the 17th country that I’ve competed in.

In 2004 I was still runnin’ it full steam ahead. I got on a training program for the first time in my life and I consistently placed in the top three at races across the country. Half way through the year, I was officially hired as the Brand Manager of SE Bikes. It was the first time in my career that I was able to see BMX from the industry’s side. Trips to China & Taiwan, designing products, spec’ing bikes, assembling a team, designing ads, you name it, I was put in charge of everything SE.

I’m fortunate that SE has not only hired me as the Brand Manager, but in 2005 they still sponsor me as a pro rider as well. So in between business trips across the country & the world, I’m still out there rockin’ it on my bike. I may not be as serious as the other guys on the track, but I can guarantee you that I’m probably having more fun. BMX for life…

Oh good lord - I cant believe I found this... im having serious flashbacks - Dana Stahl -- I raced from 83-85. Girls. I talked with Jimmy Carabbia recently... you remember him? From Hubbard? I raced in Stow mainly and at Hilliard, Derby downs etc. Hung / Traveled with the Hemburys. Its true about Doug Jicha - its been a long time since he passed - 10 years I think? Hodgkins I believe.

Hello one and all. Mr. Smith suggested I come on over here and check things out. Must say, it brings back a lot of memories. The 84 Whitmans team photo really was a memory knocker. I remember all the tracks everyone is talking about. I raced my very first race in 81 at Burbank and raced there for many years. Even raced and Mr. Thompson's outdoor track he had up there in Avon Lake, Ohio. I remember Todd Lyons was staying at my house for a week and we were launching off the berm from the last turn into a jump on the second straight. Getting like 15 feet of air, crazy!! Those races down in Hilliard were like nationals. If you lived in a 250 mile radius and raced BMX you had to race at Hilliard! That really was a great time. And I am sure all you guys remember the "Chili Classic" at Stow. That was always such a great time. Usually freezing cold, eating chili, and racin!! And on a final note, If anyone runs into Nikki Danishek, tell her I said hello, she was a great kisser!!

To all . . . the NBL state race is in Akron this weekend. I'll be there running 35-40 Expert and 35-39 Cruiser. Stop by. Should be a good race and a fun weekend!

Chris Cline

See ya there Chris, Hopefully the weather holds out.

Brian Wick

Has anyone mention the Hubbard BMX track yet??? Late 70s thru early 80"s. We had a National once I can't remember what year it was maybe 80-81.

Yeah, great to see you post!

CC is Chris Cline.

How have you been? What are you up to these days?

Chris

WOW,I JUST GOT THRU READING 13 PAGES OF INCREDIBLE OHIO 80S BMX,,,I AM SHOCKED AT ALL THE NAMES IVE BEEN READING,,IM NEW HERE,MY FIRST POST,JIMMY CRAB CARABBIA.I DONT KNOW IF ANY OF YOU REMEMBER ME BUT KNOW PRETTY MUCH EVERYONES WHOES NAME WAS LISTED,MY MOM WAS A SCORE KEEPER WITH THE NBL,IM FROM HUBBARD OH,RACED FROM LATE 79 TO 89,,NATIONAL # 20 IN THE 16X IN 82 BACK WHEN THEY GAVE OUT 20 NATIONAL CLASS RANKINGS,PRO STATE CHAMP 85 ECT,,,DA DA DA,,,WOW THAT WAS A GOOD TIME,,,I EVEN READ ABOUT THE HUBBARD BMX TRACK WHERE I GREW UP,I HAVE TONS OF PICTURES FROM THE HUBBARD BMX RACEWAY ALONG WITH ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RACES,,IM STILL TRYING TO GET MY AVATAR UP,,,BUT ILL POST SOME PICS SOON,,,,,ALSO I NOTICED PEOPLE THROWING AROUND SOME NAMES OF THE OLD OHIO CREW,,,HERE ARE JUST A FEW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD I DIDNT HEAR,,,VAN MAY - AA PRO SCHWINN/SNAKE OIL,LARRY YOUNG -SOMA,DANNY LEWIS-SCHWINN,RODNEY HALLAPY-SCHWINN,THESE GUYS GO BACK TO 78 AND 80,,ALSO I USED TO TRAVEL WITH J.D.LIND,,THE HEMBURYS,BILLY AU & CO.I ALSO RODE FOR FRANFORD BMX THEN WHITTMANS WITH BIG NARD AND LIL NARD,,ILL NEVER FORGET BEING IN NORTH CAROLINA WITH WHIMANS FOR A DOUBLE NAIONAL GETTING OFF THE BUS WITH THE CAVE MAN FROM WEST VIRGINA AND MY BIKES SOMEHOW GOT LOST AND BIG N WAS AT THE TERMINAL YELLING AT THE TICKET OFFICER AND HE SPUN HIS HAT AROUND TO GET CLOSSER TO THE WINDOE WHILE YELLING AT THE OFFICER,FOAMING AT THE MOUTH,,,ID LIKE TO THANK TODD LYONS FOR LETTING ME USE HIS CRUISE SO I COULD PRACTICE,AND ID LIKE TO THANK RONNIE ANDERSON FOR TAKING EVERYONE OUT IN THE FISRT TURN IN PRO OPEN MAIN,,,IS CC CHRIS CLINE,,,MAN WHAT A TREAT THIS SITE IS,,,,,,,,

just had a flash back,,avon lake bmx me and jim griffith practicing and todd lyons and cant remember name,i think last name ross,were using the berms as take off and landing ramps,incredible,you could have parked 2 cars between the gap

Jimmy, you, Van, Rodney and Danny. I remember all you guys from Hubbard. You guys were all a few years older than us. Van was a legend. Me my cousin Bobby, C. Duela, P. Baker. I rember summer nghts at the DQ hitting that jump behind the storage shed next to the car wash.

HUBBARD BMX RACEWAY,HECK YEA I REMEMBER,,I GREW UP IN HUBBARD I REMEMBER MY FIRST RACE THERE I WAS 12,,,I WASENT ACTUALLY RACING AT THE NATIONAL, I STARTED RITE AFTER THAT,,IT WAS THE TOUGHEST TRACK IN THE WORLD STARTED OFF FLAT WENT DOWN HILL THEN CAME BACK UPHILL TO THE FINISH...ALSO A YEAR OR SO AFTER THAT THEY PUT A HUGE SET OF DOUBLES AT THE TIME THEY WERE HUGE,,,I REMEMBER WHEN THEY WERE FIRST BUILT,,HEAR ARE SOME OF THE FIRST GUYS TO JUMP THEM,,OK HEAR IS SOME OLD OHIO NAMES I HAVENT HEARD,,VAN MAY,,DANNY LEWIS,,MIKE PETROSKY,,RODNEY HALLOPY,LARRY YOUNG-WHO BROKE HIS NEW GT ON THAT JUMP I WAS THERE,,AND ME AS A NOVICE..I ACTUALLY HAVE A BUNCH OF OLD PHOTOS OF HUBBARD ILL LOAD UP LATER,,THIS IS MY FIRST TIME ON THIS SITE,,AWSOME,,OH YEA I THINK THE NATIONAL THERE WAS IN 79

Avon......... Yeah, good times

oh my,,,,who is this,,,,not to many people new about that jump,,i was on a fifty pound raliegh back them with stripped out gooseneck that power mechanics teacher welded together for me, i destroyed that bike,,,

oh my,,,,who is this,,,,not to many people new about that jump,,i was on a fifty pound raliegh back them with stripped out gooseneck that power mechanics teacher welded together for me, i destroyed that bike,,,

Hey jimbo welcome aboard! Nice to hear from you ,remember me[steve smith] i was just a punk kid ....I remember looking up to you and hanging out at a few of the races and b-s ing with you..
Anyone hear from the mcfarlands anymore?i figured id ask since theres a bunch of you from up that way ?

Steve- any word on the date for this big old school event your putting together. An idea I had was a 30+BS Open like they do on Friday at Rockford. Just let me know the date if you know so I can check with the wife to make sure no family things are going on.

I didn't go to Florida with Whitmans. I went to Florida with Zeronine once.

Steve, are you thinking we would all be on old school bikes? Or just us old guys racing? I currently have an old 20" together I can have race ready in a second, but I'd need to do some work on an old school cruiser.

Of course I have both new school bikes ready to go.

Dana Stahl. Wow, haven't heard that name in like forever. Good to hear from ya. Where you living now?

Crab,
Glad ya made it to the site. You still short? LOL...

Next time I'm at my dad's house in Ohio, I'm gonna dig up some BMX Ohio mags from the early 80's. There will be all kinds of names I'll be able to dig up from there.

Somebody mentioned Matt Ling. Man, he was one of the first guys I looked up to.

Not sure if I mentioned this before, but does anyone remember my sister, Brenda? She used to go to all the races back in the day. She dated Bill Danishek & also Dave Clymer from PA. Anyhoo, she'sbeen heavily into road racing for the last 5+ years or so. She actually placed 3rd at the Criterium National Championships a year or so ago. You can peep her site at www.bluv717.blogspot.com or do a Google search on her. She's still racing now & she just got hired by SE & Fuji Bikes as the Southern California sales rep. She's actually racing in Delaware this weekend. Shoot, she races more than I do nowadays.

Keep on postin' guys. I'll be checkin' in from SE's facory over her in China.

Dana Stahl. Wow, haven't heard that name in like forever. Good to hear from ya. Where you living now?

Crab,
Glad ya made it to the site. You still short? LOL...

Next time I'm at my dad's house in Ohio, I'm gonna dig up some BMX Ohio mags from the early 80's. There will be all kinds of names I'll be able to dig up from there.

Somebody mentioned Matt Ling. Man, he was one of the first guys I looked up to.

Not sure if I mentioned this before, but does anyone remember my sister, Brenda? She used to go to all the races back in the day. She dated Bill Danishek & also Dave Clymer from PA. Anyhoo, she'sbeen heavily into road racing for the last 5+ years or so. She actually placed 3rd at the Criterium National Championships a year or so ago. You can peep her site at www.bluv717.blogspot.com or do a Google search on her. She's still racing now & she just got hired by SE & Fuji Bikes as the Southern California sales rep. She's actually racing in Delaware this weekend. Shoot, she races more than I do nowadays.

Keep on postin' guys. I'll be checkin' in from SE's facory over her in China.

I'm only 33 but i do remember Eddie Nelson.

I remember me too. I'm 38 and "Out Of Shape" ready for a come back - i'm not just big boned -Great to read all this stuff. It's like a time machine.

I remember me too. I'm 38 and "Out Of Shape" ready for a come back - i'm not just big boned -Great to read all this stuff. It's like a time machine.

Eddie, that didn't take long! Welcome to vintage!

Don't let Ed fool you about being out of shape . . . he may be (as we all are), but he still knows his way around the track!

It must have rained all night Saturday for them to cance Sunday so soon??

It wasn't that bad. They could have raced if they wanted to make the track and all the riders a mess. It did rain off and on later. Hard at times. Tarps blew off in places and the track had big muddy spots. It would have sucked to race on. I've raced on much worse. When I was stupid!!!
Like Ft. Wayne Indiana national 85? when a national was 2 days. It started raining during the mains. My open main was the next to last race. In the first turn Frank Nucio slid into me while I was leading. The 1st turn wasn't pavad (pre-aspalt days - except Sarrasota). The whole main crashed. I rode/pushed/walked to a 4th place finish. The trophy was real nice (like they used to be) wood. It warped.

It wasn't that bad. They could have raced if they wanted to make the track and all the riders a mess. It did rain off and on later. Hard at times. Tarps blew off in places and the track had big muddy spots. It would have sucked to race on. I've raced on much worse. When I was stupid!!!
Like Ft. Wayne Indiana national 85? when a national was 2 days. It started raining during the mains. My open main was the next to last race. In the first turn Frank Nucio slid into me while I was leading. The 1st turn wasn't pavad (pre-aspalt days - except Sarrasota). The whole main crashed. I rode/pushed/walked to a 4th place finish. The trophy was real nice (like they used to be) wood. It warped.

Joey,
Got the Memphis discs. Gotta take a look at em.

Hey there Crab. There werent too many people around when me and Todd jumped those berms at Avon. That was some good air!

Billy

I still owe you some more footage from the moto's I will get that to ya Asap, so sorry for the delay man i have been Busy, busy busy,

Steve Smith

Are you planning on coming down to louisville for the Reunion/race/picnic ????