Whats up guys? Im looking for guys/gals who remember Friday nights at Boystown or Pompano or Pineridge, Saturday nights at Homestead and Sundays in Coral Springs. Early-Mid 80's to early 90's. Also, NPSA races at Perrine and the 83 Grands in West Palm. Not to mention all of the NBL Nationals and state races in Florida in the 80's

welcome, i'm from st pete, but our team used to race all over florida. spoke city. welcome!
mike

Hey now, I raced from 84 - 88 and I raced Friday night at Pompano, Sat at Homestead and Sunday at Coral Springs and some times Sunday at Cabana Colony in WPB. I raced for WP Racing and then for DV Bikes.

I raced on all of those tracks as well. I was also on WP Racing 84-86. Most of the WP Racing team turned into Factory Titan in late 85.

I remember you Mike. I remember when Bill Prince brought you down from the NE and you showed up at Pompano one Friday night and wooped us. Matt Williams used to rule that track. He raced for Barry's. You may remember Shawn Basinger who also raced us and raced for Barry's. He and I are still very good friends. We both race today but mostly ABA. I live in GA and he lives in Arkansas.

Yeah, I remember both of you guys. Bass e-mailed me last year some time. Any information on Matt?

I was pretty good friends with Matt back in the early 90's until he got married and.....

He has his own business importing tools from China and selling them to Home Depot or something like that.

Yeah Bass told me he reached out to you on here. Do you ever get back on the bike???

No not yet. I might some day. I miss riding very much, I would love to make a go at it again. Your racing?

Its good to hear from you guys. Mike, I was probably 7 or 8 when you came down to Florida and started kicking [please review the site FAQs]. No joke, everytime I hear Ozzy, even today, I think of you lol. The BMX scene down here was so huge back then I am not even sure if we realized. Just about all of those tracks I mentioned are gone today. I live around the corner from Boystown and its a vacant lot that they are about to build on. Homestead is overgrown and hasnt been raced on in years....Im sure you already know about all the rest.

Yeah, there were quite a few awesome tracks BITD. Coral Springs closed not too long ago. I think my fav would have to be Homested after the redesign. I loved that huge jump on the 2nd to last stright. Huge air on that one if you wanted to. That's cool about the Ozzy thing. If it's one thing that I want to be remembered for is my love of the OZZ man. Still a trusted friend to this day. By the way, who did you ride for?

By the way welcome to the family!!

Actually, Coral Spgs is still running but the rider base is pretty small. There have been talks of the city moving the track but no date set. I quite racing in 88 and then got back into it in 99. I moved to GA in 2006 and have been racing off and on. Its tough to ride with 2 small kids. I just started bringing my 4 yr old to the track and he loves riding.

BTW, how do you post pics on this forum? I have a bunch I'd like to share?

Who is SnapG anyway?

I have no idea who SnapG is, I'm sure he will tell us. My bad I thought that Coarl Spring closed down. I bet it's tough to ride with 2 kids. I have 4 so my boat is a little bigger and my wallet even smaller. As far as posting pics, not sure how do do it here, everytime I try it says that the file is too big even when I size it down. I just use Photobucket.com (I think thats what it's called), it's free. Try that, or I'm sure somebody will help you out with posting them here.

I'm Snapper Green from Miami. I doubt very seriously that you remember me lol. I raced for Factory Powerlite 84-85 and then took a few year break from the National scene. Mike, I am a few years younger then you and remember you racing the locals down here and of course the Nationals. I guess you could say I was in that "looking up to the older riders" stage. Eventually I started racing nationals again in 88 for Phase II and Coastal Bike Supply before I quit. My best years were probably well after you left the track. But I do remember you with WP,CRIT and MCS. I remember Bill Prince, Jeff Devito, Brian Fell and his brother Trevor to name a few Good times man.....you were always up to something lol

Snapper- I remember you. I remember quite a few of the older guys wondering why a "little kid" was smokin' them... good to see you on here. My name is Pete Bruno and I raced pretty much the whole time you did. I rode for Cyclecraft and then Bonzai about the time you were racing.
Coral Springs is still up and running, but barely. The track is slated to move to Quiet Waters park in Deerfield, but unfortunately will probably end up as an ABA track. That was the last I heard, but that has probably changed 6 times by now.
A bunch of the Florida old timers are on here- Ken Robison, Jeff DeVido, Doug Shader, Roy Reboucas...

SnapG, Thatns for the intro. Idon't remember you by name but I bet I would if you posted some pictures. Welcome to our little family. Bill Prince posts on here as well AKA busterbrown.

Here are a few from when I was down there in '83 at the WOS.

Kendall 15 Cruiser.





Pompano 15x



Pompano results.

I love pompano, that was a great track. While driving down I95 here in Ft. Lauderdale I can see the Goodyear blimp hanger from the road. It was right near it (I think). I always think of that track when I see it.

Pete,

I remember you and all of those guys!! Its nice to see i'm not the only one who still has it in my blood. I saw that Coral Springs had a state qualifier earlier in the year and was surprised to say the least. I just recently went out to a local at Miami South (formerly Pine Ridge) and was dissapointed to see the low turnout. It's amazing how massive BMX used to be BITD in South Florida.... Anyway, I don't ever see myself riding again but I do miss the competition and friends from time to time.

Anybody else??

My home track was Ray Greene in Jacksonville but we traveled down for the state stuff/nationals so I ran all those tracks at one time or another! Some of my stiffest competition at the national level came from girls whose home tracks were down south...

Jessica

I remember you and your brother Kirk. We raced in the same class for several years. You both were very fast! If I recall correctly, you both raced for CycleCraft in the mid 80's. What are you both up to these days?

We're doing well! Kirk lives in Jacksonville Beach & has an 11-year-old son who has raced go-karts since he was 5. He is in his first year of racing nationals & really doing well with it. I live part of the year in Jacksonville and part of the year in Costa Rica. I have four kids (11-year-old son, 7-year-old twin sons, & a 5-year-old daughter). It is kinda hard to get into any kind of racing/sports activity when we travel so much but I think we're going to spend more of this year in Florida so maybe the kids will find something that interests them!

Jessica

I have to give props and ultimate respect to the Florida racing scene in the 1980s and 1990s... during that time, it was harder to make the main in my cruiser class at a Florida state series race than it was to make the main at an NBL national... usually twice as many racers and they were fast, too! I rode for Kovachi Wheels in the 1990s and we would go down from Georgia when the state series would start and race every weekend... it was a blast... the weather was beautiful, the tracks were very good, and the comp was great... what more could you ask for?

I have a hundred good, funny stories from our road trips to Florida... Thanks Alice Bixler and the awesome Florida BMX association some really great racing!

Richard Vogt
bmxmountainbiker

OMG, I remember those days and nights in S. Fl. I spend every weekends racing at these tracks. I didn't realize it at that time but that was the good ol' days!!! Mike (crazy Crehan) told me about this site. I will try to post some pictures.
Bonnie

I used to live in St.Pete for many years and I was at the last race at boystown,several people made the trip down for that one.

Thats awesome!! I live around the corner from the Boystown site and pass it everyday on my way to work. There isn't a single time I have driven by and not thought of the track. It's amazing how time flies!

Welcome to the site Bonnie. Glad that you finally made it on here.

I used to race for Barry's. I drove by there about 3 months ago. I was in the area so I swung by the backside that backed up to the road. All I can say is WOW. It was weird, it took me back to some great memories, and at the same time it was really depressing. Grass is grown over pretty much all of the track, except you can still make out a little bit of the asphalt berms. It's overgrown with big trees, but you can also still make out a little bit of the old "canyon jump" and the starting hill. Looked alot smaller than I remembered it in my head though. Next time I swing by, I'll take some pictures, since I still live in Pompano Beach. I miss those Friday nights at Pompano...great times. I still speak to Chris Crow and Chris Kalbaugh on a regular basis if any of you remember them...they raced for Barry's as well. I'll post some pics-even though I've posted them before, since they're SO related to this thread.

WOS opening events- 1983


Pompano WOS- not sure who that is to my right if anyone knows???


Gettin a little "air" over the Canyon Jump at Pompano on a random Friday night...

Here's a few more...

Kendall WOS 1983....15 Cruisers


same race 15X



15 cruisers again



Anyone recognize themselves in these pics????

I was on my way back from the Keys today and stopped by the Homestead track site. The track is totally fenced in and overgrown. However, the concession stand/trophy room/registration building was completely in tact as well as the bleachers and lights. It was difficult to make out much of the track without getting out of the car and hopping the fence. The track is located directly behind what looks to be the City Of Homestead's auto repair shop (damaged police cars and what not) on the space where the huge parking area used to be. I was suprised to see that the land where the track is was fenced in and not built on at all. I am not sure who owns it and races certainly can no longer be held there but it would be cool to be allowed back in to check it out. It still amazes me how many tracks we had in South Florida back in the 80's and how little there are today. So many great riders and places to compete.....it was a great time.

Hey Snapper,

It's Ken Robison. I remember you BITD. My mom was clerk of course at Homestead forever and my brother Gary raced and announced.

I'm up in NC now and started racing again a couple of years ago. My daugther races and son messes around every now and then.

And get this, I'm the track president for Tanglewood BMX! YOu'd think I would have learned some lessons from our parents! LOL!!

I've heard "Snapper Green" announced before! You have one of those names that's hard to forget!

Before I moved to Coral Springs in late 90 from NY, I came down alot to that area when I would visit my Dad in Ft Lauderdale, and I would always bring my bike and hit the races. Pete Bruno used to take me to alot of races back then when I would visit in the late 80's or so.... I raced Pine Ridge, Homestead, Coral Springs, and Okeeheelee whenever I could back then..... used to travel a bit with Chris and Donny Fredericks too.... fun times!

I'm here in Jacksonville now... we're still racing up here! It used to be Ray Green BMX, but now it's just called Jax BMX. And the area is "the hood"..... The tracks pretty nice still!

Yo Ken! It's been awhile! Bonnie! It's nice to see you here!

Is that the same track that held an NBL national in 87?

Hey Ken....how are things? Yeah I am kinda surprised you are president up there. Remember all of those Homestead parent meetings they used to have? Did anyone ever agreee on anything???? Anyway, Im glad to hear you are well and the kids are racing. Gotta keep the tradition alive. I quit racing back in 91....I miss it from time to time but it's probably better I stay off of a bike lol.

I remember Chris and Donny very well. They also have a younger brother (Mike). Those guys were cool.... I raced Donny in cruiser BITD. The raqcing scene down here used to be huge. Seems like forever now...

Snapper,

I remember those parent meetings inmy living room. They haven't gotten much better in 20 years! The state association meetings were worse. I remember trying to convince ALice to do state qualifiers and she thought I was nuts. Now the Florida qualifiers outdraw nationals!

Ed.

Haven't seen you since Rockford. It's been a good year. Got back on the 20 for the first time since '87. Have a couple of wins in 41 nov! Building the program up at Tanglewood to hopefully get back on the national schedule. It's really an awesome track and facility! And NOT in the hood!

What's this I hear about Banzai?

I will represent for the South West Coast. I'm Howard Green and was a Cape Coral and Sarasota local. I was King Neptune one year. I raced from around 83 to 86. Some serious racing went down back then. I grew up with Eric "Big E" Bartoldous in the Cape and guys like Ronnie Walker in Sarasota to name few. When I was in Orlando it was fun hanging with Todd Corbit and the crew up there. The only person after those years I keep up with is Eric. I traveled all over Florida as most of us did and loved Boys Town and getting to see Vince Asbury and Tim Judge when I was just a novice. I got a factory ride from Bandito my last year of racing. That bike got stolen after I joined the Air Force and left it back home. I was winning or crashing and crashing most times! Getting a job is what ended it for me. I started racing less and less and couldnt devote the time anymore. I still ride bikes and skateboards like I did then just no racing. I have a 26" CW cruiser in a garage in New Jersey. A fixie here and a few mountain bikes.

My little brother James Green went on to turn Pro for a while until his back gave up on him.

Probably the best times of my life was BMX...

Honorable mention to Gary Slater!!!

Thanks for chiming in bro....good to have you aboard!

Hey Snapper,

I was talking to Homer at Coastal Saturday (yeah, he's still around. Vending at the races). Out of the blue he mentioned you and your dad. Funny, huh? He talked about Bob being upset with him for the Florida Coastal team you guys ran.

Ken

hey howard i know you ,its chuck carroll i sent you a message

Ken,

Please say hello for us the next time you see Homer. He was very good to me back then and I loved racing for him. Yeah, Bob was a little upset as I recall. We put together quite a team for the State Series back then. Somone had to take on the "BB Army" LOL. Bob was also very good to me BITD as well. I actually stopped by Knight Bikes a few weeks back and saw Ricky.

All you South Florida guys- we're having a VBMX get together on Saturday July 5th in Cooper City. It's at Jerry Hutcher's house and the last one was pretty cool...Greg Esser and Scott OM Breithaupt showed up. Who's gonna show up this year?
Seriously, it would be really cool to see some faces I haven't seen in years. It's a family friendly event, so bring the kids. Even wives are allowed.
Jerry has a pool in a fenced in yard so the kiddies can swim if they want. We're doing burgers and dogs, bring your beverages of choice. Here's a link to the topic with info/ directions:


http://www.vintagebmx.com/community/index....wtopic=27011370

Hope to see some of ya'll there- Pete

Friggin crazy to see all these names from the past! Snapper, do you remember me? We rode for Bob on B&B. I loved Boystown (my father actually was track director for a year or two) and my grandmother lived around the corner from Homestead Pioneer Park, so both I spent a lot of time at both tracks.

I saw Ken Robinson post on here as well. His little brother Gary and I were friends until I quit racing in '87-'88. I'm trying to pull out some old pictures to post. If you're on Facebook, hit me up.

Can anyone from FLA confirm this: did Shannon Williams pass away? I ran into him summer of 82 at few Nationals, we were 17x, he was always real fast and sometimes a bit out of control, good guy.

Absolutley Jeff! How are you man? What are you up to these days?

Wish you were in my neck of the woods,i live like an 1/8mile from the Oldsmar BMX track. After roadracing with AMA for nine years,it's so nice to have a track in less then five minutes from the house.,lol.

Hello everyone, I raced for Barry's around 1979 and 80 at Pompano and Coral Springs. Rode a "Tim Judge" Thruster. Great to see these posts and relive the good old days as a kid. I remember late nights and lots of trophies. Everyone take care and keep riding!

Forgot to mention spent most time at Boystown. Wondering what ever happen to Barry? We would ride to his shop and he would take us to the tracks and drop us at home. Good memories!