Very nice! Thanks for the pic. I loved that bike. Is that Mike right next to me? I seem to remember him with a helmet like that.

No one was home when the fire started, so no one was hurt, but the clean up/rebuild was not fun.

Here is a photo that I have been trying to get posted for a while. This one is because Todd mentioned his big brother in an earlier post. This is not Todd but his brother also an excellent racer who eventually went on to be a successful and pioneering freestyler.


Brad payed his dues as you can see in this photo. He was only talking with a pencil and paper for a while.

Mike

I finally finished reading the entire thread. I should have held off on posting before I read the hole thing.
Too excited with nostalgia to resist!
I remember watching Brad to a freestyle show in one of the big ballrooms at the Christmas Classic.
A few more ramblings. Crab, I remember being at North Park when you got hit
by lightning. I was sitting in a metal lawn chair watching the gate when it hit. I saw your body fly over the back of the starting hill. I received a shock sitting in that chair. Crazy! Always wondered what happened to you Jim.
Someone mentioned Bryan Persinger. Really a nice guy. I remember he was leading the main event at a state race final at Springfield(maybe). And in the last turn Todd Lyons took him out for the win. 14expert? Bryans response,
"I took the turn too high" I googled him ,he is a dentist in NC. Any one remember Mark Augustine?
When I tranfered to OSU, we ended up living on the same floor in a dorm. No ides where he is now.
Brian B. what happened to Glen Johns?

Mike.Sr. I love all your behind the scenes stories. Has any one thanked you for all your efforts back in the day. Thanks Mike
We talked about Marietta earlier, I remember the 1st berm and the river but not the Net. I was in a state rcae final there, cruise main and from about 2nd place on there was big tangle up. I remember telling myself,don't go over the berm!
That black and white DK photo, I think the last guy with long hair might be Mike Sell? maybe, looks like a JMC fork and all he rode was JMC.
If you do Rays agian, I would love to make a trip home to do it.
Hope you have seen "Joe kid on Stingray", the history of BMX. great movie.
http://adrenalinefilms.ca/joe-kid-on-a-sti...tory-of-bmx-dvd
Glad to see you found this Kory Y. greta times at our old trails. We went on to build 2 more awesome places.
Mike Schrader

There is a lot to read here!

When the lighting hit North Park I was in the middle of the infield. There had not been rain or lighting for about 20 minutes. I felt the energy flow up through my feet and out my hands and I was probably 150 feet away from the hill. I saw all of the people that were leaning on the chain-link fence around the track pulled their arms up in unison. I was sure everybody on the hill was toast. That's the most I've ever been scared at the track - More than when I was told at the Christmas race that someone in the stands was going to shoot me on the track. More than when I hear noise behind me and saw Larry Hembury wrestling a guy nearly to the ground because he jumped the fence at an outdoor national and was running to get me. ANYWAY, I guess those huge steel poles that held the sign over the start at North Park just acted like a grounding rod and ran it mostly deep into the ground. I remember Larry Hembury telling me he was back in the pits and jumped into my open van when the lighting hit. I had this goofy gull-wing door and left the van open most of the time.


Mike
p.s. yes a lot of people have said kind things about the efforts from BITD and I appreciate it, thanks. I think we all had great times at those races.

I think Tommy Riggle got hit by lightning also

Jeff, which page was that Southpark gate pic? I'll have to look at it again.

Mike S., are you referring to the DK homepage pic? (mike sells)

hey guys.. Found this on youtube... its from 1982.. they're saying the first track is Ft. Hamilton??? The 2nd is diffently South Park.. I know that track any where.. the last one they say is from NJ.. Let me know... Shawn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nd3Aai1bVA

Shawn,
That is not how Ft. Hamilton looks in my memory, but the South Park footage is really great!

Mike

BA's unfair advantage -



Ken taught Bill the basics ...
then BA took everyone to school.

Mike

Wow Mike,
You've got some great pictures in this thread...Please keep them comming

Jim,
Thanks, These are mostly old negatives and slides that I found recently and scanned. 90% are Mike and Tiffany. I took lots of other people BITD but gave away most of those. Finding the old negatives though gave me most of these. Also, I can't remember who ran what numbers back then to recall names now etc.

There weren't many people that flew around like this in those Hardy's colors though:



indoor:



Mike

I should add that I thought a lot of people would enjoy the photo of Ken since it seemed everyone was his friend. He's a good friend to have.

Mike

bills dad was a great guy. I remember the first time I met him and Bill at the old indoor Burbank track (everyone remember that one, great track, just smelled). I thought he was amish with his beard!!

Mike S. - it's funny that you should ask about Glen Johns. I just today sent an email to what I think is an email address for him. If he responds back, I'll tell him that you'd asked about him. I haven't talked to him in about 3 years, but last I heard he was living just north of campus (OSU) with his girlfriend Kirsten.

Mike Reddy - your pictures are professional quality. Were you shooting for a magazine or Bicylces Today back then or were you just better at taking pictures than the rest of us?? I'll also take this time to admit that I had a crush on your daughter Tiffany!! Good looking and raced BMX... what more could you ask for!! LOL!!

Kory - Glad to see you on here. I remember you and Tony Cruz racing for Sundance. I didn't know you guys but you guys scared me with your long hair and hessian appearance!! HaHa... Tony and I ended up being fairly good friends as I only lived one town over in Pickerington.

Thanks, I didn't shoot for anybody back then, but I am happy with some of the photos.


Since you mentioned Tiffany racing I'll use the excuse to post up some of her racing:


Here's a favorite of mine because it shows to me how much fun everybody, but especially Tiffany and Nikki had at the track. Looking at the expressions on their faces tells a lot about those times:



Mike

Excellent photos Mike! Nikki still has that Thruster hanging in the garage; this is the only photo i have seen of her on it; Thanks!
I remember that State race w/ the net in the first turn was Whitman's first race w/real uniforms, they were mostly Black and made by Vera's. Danny Whitman took us to that race, seeing the pics brought back some fun memories.
Yes BA's parents are super cool, I emailed BA telling him to get in here. How about that JWahl Hardees sponsorship? I here the mushroom swiss burger is good!

I have a stack of pics about 8" tall from back then, I just need to take the time and scan/post more. Most are of me, but many of of the guys my age are in there as well.

Mike, thanks again for posting these pics. Every pic in this thred is great to see.

I'd scan over the holidays, but I'll be in Lexington, VA keeping the BMX thing in blood alive!

Jrad,
I don't think I have any photos of those original Whitman's jersey's at least not after all these years. I drove the Whitman's van to Florida with Danny one year. I think he had 14 kids in the motor home - and his daughter played the same Michael Jackson tape all the way to and from Fla.

I wish I stil had the chrome Hutch that Tiffany is on in the photo. I do have her White one hanging up.
I think this is Nikki's Thruster too:


Mike

Chris,
That would take your whole vacation to scan all those in!

Mike

This might be the earliest Whitman's Jersey I have a photo of and it is white. (and the photo is poor quality)


Mike

The picture of Nikki is awesome Thanks!
#96 is Mark Hayes, we went to the same high school. I believe that's Jimmy Crab in staging behind Mark, and it looks like Jay Vohndera (sp?) is back there also. Do you know what track this is? I'm guessing Waterford Mi.?

I think I have a B&W pic of the old Whitman's jerseys, I'll try to scan it soon.

I can't tell if this was before the Thruster or if it actually is an early photo of it too.


In the photo of Mark Hayes, I cannot remember what track that is. But it seems to me that Waterford might have had those white lines you placed the bike on at the gate. I seem to remember them as being slippery. I believe the rider to Mark's left is Tony Ooten from Ohio.

I'd like to see the B&W of the old Whitman's jersey.

Mike

Since I had posted photos of Tiffany and Nikki, I thought I'd give some time to the other girls of Ohio BMX. Here's is a good friend of Tiffany and Nikki

Dina Zimmer:


Almost all of my photos of the girls have Tiffany in them but here is one without:



Lots of legible number plates here with the bonus of "Downtown Marty Brown" in the starters chair at Kettering:



There is probably a limit to how many photos you can attach to one post...

Mike

Wow Mike, you must have tons of pictures. Just from what you've posted brings back a lot of good memories. Looks like I'll need to get the pictures from my parents to post some up. I know they have a picture of Mike Jr. with the tail that was down his back.

Greg,
I'm lucky that I have a lot of photos now that remind me of the great times Mike, Tiffany and I had traveling around the country with the NBL. Almost every week they got to meet up with friends from around the state and the country. I wouldn't trade that for anything. Unfortunately while I love all of the photos that I still have, I'll probably run out of photos that are of interest to all the other racers soon and that will probably be about Christmas or New Years. I really enjoy the photos that other people post too. But I will warn you, scanning a bunch of old photos is very time consuming. Worthwhile, but really time consuming so be prepared to sit at the computer for a while. Of course it was 3 degrees outside this morning so sitting at the computer isn't al bad.

Mike

Im very glad you did mike ,and wish some others would too.I understand how cumbersome posting up photos are and appreciate all your guys effort .Make sure to tell the kids we all said hi.
AND MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !

Now that so many of us are on here, it might be nice to start a "Where Are They Now?" series of posts. I think about the many friends I had in the 80s when we were racing so much. In many ways I was closer to some of the BMXers than I was most of my high school friends.

Meeting some of the gang again at the old school race was fantastic. Too bad it rained and the socializing got killed in that down pour.

I love comin to the O H I O thread, thats one of the perks from livin on the state line. i recall all of you and how tough the ohio riders were, keepem comin!

I agree Robert, Ohio and the surrounding states had some great racers. There was an amazing amount of natural talent. Anytime you attended a race anywhere in the state you saw strong competition. Ohio was also fortunate to many national caliber tracks and track operators. Another part of the mix that I may have given too much credit to was the state NBL organization but I do think it is justified. The Ohio NBL noticed early that BMX was a sport for kids and invented by kids. The most that parents could do was work on things that made the races work more fairly for our kids. Probably every track meeting I ever attend, someone said "we're in this for the kids". The trouble is sometimes people failed to see that making rules to ensure that your children always won was not best.
The state organization worked along with the tracks and teams to try to keep the competition fair. After a child advanced from the beginner category, they mostly enjoyed being with friends and the strong competition more than just a first place trophy. In the late 1970's with so many tracks in Ohio, there were many rules that applied only at one track "for the kids" but was not a rule at the next track a rider went too. That was very confusing and frustrating for a child. The Ohio tracks got together and standardized their rules - the same rules that a racer would have to deal with later at a national event. Tracks working together was a great advantage for the Ohio riders allowing them to hone their natural skills.
Anyway Robert, this is getting too long again. The bottom line is I have always loved racing and the BMX racing in Ohio was always fun to watch.

Here is a photo that I have been trying to get an excuse to post and I think now is a good time.
The day I took this photo, I knew this guy loved racing, his parents were great people and his brother and sister were too. I doubt that I knew he would later become arguably the most famous racer from Ohio:




Thanks for putting up with my ramblings,
Mike

I am checking in from work and all photo links are blocked so I can't see who that last pic is of.

I can email you the picture if that would get past your filters.

svt_pony@hotmail.com

I'm guessing it is Todd Lyons, 84L is on his hotplate. Just a guess though.

Sorry,
I thought it would be fun not to give a name, but it is kind of tough to guess if you can't see the photo. Yes, it is a rather early photo of Todd.

Mike

Wildman on his lrv CLASSIC !

Misc old photos:

What was this black and orange jersey? I believe the 73E bike is Bill Eden.

Less obscure photo and not as old:



and ...




Mike

Is the #1 huffy rider lil greg beam?Cool

#7 mark augastine?

Yes, I believe that is an early photo of Greg. As usual though Steve, your memory is better than mine so I'll have to go along with the Mark Augastine guess.

Mike

Steve

You are correct on both pics. However, I'm not sure who the Whitmans rider is? I would be able to pick Mark out because he always raced with elbow pads which most of us didn't do.

36S is Tom Sandman and yes this is the Black and Orange Whitman gear I was talking about. Sandman was an awesome jumper, he also went to school w/ Mark Hayes & I.
The photo of Beem is awesome, I think he's on a custom pro lightning frame that Huffy made just for team riders.
Who is the #7 DK rider? I'm thinking it could be Billy D. but it's hard to tell?

What kind of idiot races with Tuff wheels? That's me in last place - Todd Toth.

This thread is great. So many good memories and photos.

I miss racing in the '80's.

Todd

i was always jealous of the race ohio series when my goood friend (jason Black) came home with those slic satin jackets....i had to go and do the Tony SABBITHTINI series to get one....way cool

At first i thought it may be vince cowie but he was shorter then even me .
My guess would be david hapner in the whitmans photo hes as tall as mike k[not sure if he was ever #3?]

I Dont think billy d ever got #7 he was always up close to #1 wasnt he jrad? That pic looks to be 86 cause the 85 plate [didnt bill quit in 85?.]

Welcome aboard todd toth -im accually thinking about getting a set of tuffs for my new se quadangle cruiser i just got .

That's good to hear - that the jackets were appreciated - not that you were jealous of course. The history of that series kind of plays off my answer to your last post in that there were so many good tracks and so many good riders in and around Ohio at that time that we needed another series. The state races could only showcase 5 Ohio tracks per year so we wanted a second series that had a real reason for a big race at some other tracks. It had a different format than the state races and special awards. I always thought they were great fun to run.
Mike

Todd, You must be closing in very fast on the pack there. The vortex created by those Tuffs has already pulled one riders foot off and to the back!
Mike

Good I thought that was the Whitman's jersey! Here is the Billy D. I usually think of:



OK, bad photograph, but with all the talk of Huffy and DK and the like it is one I had to post. In later years I remember Craig Reynolds smooth style (not an Ohio rider) and things about the way he rode reminded me of Bill. I saw Bill do things with a bike that were so smooth I was amazed.

Mike
p.s. but i don't understand the 20" tuffs and a cruiser on the track at the same time.

Practice maybe?

Is that the last corner at West Jeff?

Todd- before I even knew that was you; I was thinking "that dude in the back is Rad!" Tuffs, Flanel shirt, hanging the knee out!

Mike- thanks for posting the pic of "Billy the Bandit" he's got the Tuffs also! That's not a cruiser; it's Butch Thurman w/ 1-3/8" wheels. Bill doesn't ride very often, but when he does you can still that style, he can lay out flat tabletops still!
Mike your photos are not "bad" everything I have form this era was shot w/ a 110 camera; your out of focus shots put everything I have to shame. Thanks so much for taking the time to scan & post.

Chris, must be practice I suppose. I do think West Jeff, but I'm unsure of that too.

Mike



EDIT:
Chris, I see Jrad's reply - 1 3/8s is probably more likely.

OK, Thanks, Mike rode 1 3/8 much of the time so I should have recognized that. I have a memory of a perfect table top by Bill during a race. I was standing beside Doc Zimmer and we both watched it. It was truly a thing of beauty but the rest of the details are not for the internet even after all these years.

Mike

It's past time to put a Doug Zimmer photos in here.