Wow, it has been a long, long time since the original 16 got together to make the very first Vintage Rockford Gathering. In 2000, there were only 20-25 bikes on display and only one cruiser



NOS Framesets on display. JMC AP, Race Inc, GHP



The "Mid School" section included this ELF Double cross



Ben Joy and Clarence Perry talking about old times in the 1970s Pro Class



Scott Towne, Ben Jerry, Jeff Venekamp, Craig g0rk Barrette.



This is about how busy the display was the entire time.



Without g0rk and the Redline Team, we would be sitting around an old tree.



Someone really should have moved that minivan



Blurry Group shot to follow so you can try to name the original 16

15 in the photo (and my son Justin taking the picture). Can you name them?

Uggg it's way to blury but I know a few that attended. I will let someone else name them off. It still is amazing how big the event has gotten.... Sorry you won't be making the trip in 08 Ken but thanks for sharing the original pictures.




Message added that I just want to track down Clarence Perry! Damnit someone has to know how to get in touch with him............................. Let me know!

Thank goodness photography has advanced since 2000

I've seen these pictures over the years. It always makes me think how ahead-of-your-time you guys were.

....it also makes me think you guys must have been bored s h ! t l e s s at some point during that day

But seriously, always neat to see these pictures. It gives (or SHOULD give) proper perspective to an event that has often come to be viewed as something other than it was originally intended.

Great pix, Ken...thanks for posting them!

Best,

M

I can't name them all, I was only there in spirit! (our son was born a few months earlier and being the event was Fathers Day weekend, I couldn't swing it.....) I remember Towne telling me all about it and I was so bummed I missed it (but have made it to every one since). Thanks for posting.

Cograts on what you guys have turned this event into. Quite an advancement.

By the way, I was at the big Rockford race in 90 or 91 and the only vintage part of the weekend were about 5 old bikes cordoned off to one side with a vote for best survivor.
And I said to a friend......Survivors? I still ride my 81 Kuwahara! They are calling our old bikes survivors?!

Ken & Justin, Bill, Ben & Ben, Clarence, Scot, Jeff, & Craig. That's only 9. Who are the rest???

The 24" Hutch was actually Ken's race bike then...

We actually gathered one year earlier over by the last turn. We had about two bike racks of bikes.

Jason L. (Where are you dude?)

b.

Ben,

Believe it or not, 2000 was the same year we were at the last turn. Then, after the races on Saturday, we all gathered at the Redline trailer for our little show Remember, we "borrowed" those bike racks from the other side of the road during Friday and Saturday morning's races and Jason had that funky $5 "lean to" (glorified tarp) to provide us some shade.

One of the cool things about that weekend was............ a dozen of us raced the national or at least the pre-race....... Even Ben Joy suited up and raced

I remember some, but not all of the attendees that weekend:

Midwest Crew was:

Jason Leikam
Kevin O'Donnel
Scott Towne
Jeff Venekamp
Ben Jerry

I have to check my records but I think Paul Smith and Todd Zimmerman were also there. I just cannot remember all of the names.


West Coast attendees were:

Ken Pliska
Justin Pliska
Ben Joy
Craig (gOrk) Barrette
Clarence Perry


Mrs Sod, The "big" guy in the photos was the local guy that owned the ELF Doublecross. Bill's first trip to Rockford wasn't until the next year (2001) when OldSchoolBMX.com was up and running.

Ken are you sure? I think the first event was far less "effort". I did race in 1999, but it was a year before this. Sounds dumb, but I did have Knu Skool Vans till a year later. I raced my BADD in style 95/Deck shoe vans. I remeber Towne riding up and being quiet. Jason brought his BBQ for year 2 (us) and year three (after the indoor event for them).

Regardless, Here was when we started with the BMX Alzheimers Ken...

http://www.roostbmx.com/events/northwest99-1.htm

The 1999 weekend also marked Jason L's first of dozens of retirements from BMX and my last race ever...

I spy the ever elusive Todd Z. out of WI and possibly a Factory Nomura Rider in the photo with the Van. Can you name him?

great stuff and thanks for posting the pics.

"Ken are you sure? I think the first event was far less "effort". I did race in 1999, but it was a year before this. Sounds dumb, but I did have Knu Skool Vans till a year later. I raced my BADD in style 95/Deck shoe vans. I remeber Towne riding up and being quiet. Jason brought his BBQ for year 2 (us) and year three (after the indoor event for them).

Regardless, Here was when we started with the BMX Alzheimers Ken...

http://www.roostbmx.com/events/northwest99-1.htm

The 1999 weekend also marked Jason L's first of dozens of retirements from BMX and my last race ever... "

Ben, the 1999 show on your ROOST link is the one you and I did at Portland. I still have plane tickets to Rockford 1999 but bailed hard the week before and had to cancel. There was no official ROOST summer gathering until 2000 at Rockford.

2000 was the first year: Justin and I flew into O'Hare and met you and K'OD at the north parking lot of Rockford. We hung out at the last turn all day on Friday and most of Saturday. Craig (gOrk) Barrette had scheduled us to utilize the Redline Trailer and tents after the races on Saturday. ROOST was the title sponsor and there were 16 of us.

2001 was the second year and we hadn't even planned it until winter of 2000 when K'OD and I were discussing it on whatever forum we used back then. 2001 had gOrk as the guest speaker and Jim & Vera Melton as guests of honor. I got the long distance driving award as Austin and I drove the Benz from Portland. If memory serves, Craig (gOrk) had us set up next to the Redline Trailer again all day Saturday. We also sold tons of the "New" Uni seats from the back of the Benz that trip.

2002 was the third year and I drove the Benz from Portland with both Austin and Justin. In fact, I drove straight through from Spokane without stopping or sleeping. Arrived in time to race the Thursday night local race. My kids made a small fortune at the swap meet selling NOS Hot Plates for $15 and NOS Fluted Seatposts for $5. Cash Matthews made his first appearance and had those killer name tags made. It was the first year for VintageBMX.com and Supercross was a major sponsor. I think Greg Hill was the guest speaker.

2003 was the fourth year and I flew Lisa out to meet me that Friday (I always arrived on Thursday) so she could see Jim and Vera again. I booked the Melton's a nice room and they continue to thank me to this very day 2003 was also the first time in a long time that the Rockford weekend was not on Father's Day weekend, it was the following weekend. Scot B. was the guest speaker. Cash and I had both let ourselves go and the first thing Scot said when he walked up to us in the hotel lobby was, "Cash, Kenny, damn...... you guys haven't missed any buffet lines"

More to follow..... it is tough to remember this stuff

OK - So I was at Rottenfish in 1999. But it wasn't an official gig.

Only question is who is this "Cash Matthews"? I'm in Texas now and I just saw a billboard with hsi name.

I also was having a business dinner last night and an associate said he had a "Redline". But the cool kid had a Cool Bros. I asked if he knew Stratbike...

The second sentence is not true, The other are.

Reminds me of "Big Science" when the dad says "Who is this GARY character?"




I think the OM said something eerily similar to me at his wedding, upon seeing me for the first time in 21 years.