I was not at the 81 NBL Grands at St. Louis, but its on Mark Lopez's DVD. I just checked it out (3 times). Steve Rich was in fact in the 16-24 cruiser main. Just to set the record straight, based on what I can tell from the video, he obviously hit the gate way too early and spun out (gate 5 from inside). He was going down the first straight in last over the first jump, passed somebody in the first turn, was in front of 3 people in the second straight, was passing people. Came out of the "european" well in 5th and in that straight heading back to the starting hill, he was taking a far inside line (I think) as he approached the camera. There was a lot of action with people (in places 2-4) hitting other people getting unbalanced going over the jump in the second to last straight. Going into the last turn he was in fact in second place (amazing riding in the Grands), but I think he slid out on the inside and didn't get up as I didn't see him cross the finish line. Jim Wallace (MCS) of St. Louis won the main (on his home track). Some guy with red pants took 2nd. People in the main as far as I could understand on the audio:

Steve Rich
Mike Wallace
Bahn (?)
Gray (? was in second until something happened)
Petisen (?)
Manuel Delaquer (?)
?
?

15 & under cruiser had these people:
Marty Luker (won)
Joe Robbins
Kent Gordy (I couldn't identify him. Did he ever wear a Kuwahara jersey BITD?)
Seiber
Seagall (did well)
White
?
?

By the way 26" cruisers rock.

Very nice. I will have to pick up those video he has for sale . Does he have all the mains on there or most.

If you're talking about Mark Lopez's videos, it's mentioned in some other threads here and at youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hEciDi3Cdk. His id here is Loper.

He was selling the 1981,82,83 NBL Grands. For example, I went over the 82 NBL Grands. It had 2 of my 3 motos, none of my quarters or semi, but had all the mains. I think they have all the mains: basically most of the race, except when somebody was changing the film or doing maintenance or perhaps going to the bathroom. If you went to nationals back then, then its worth it.

-

Ronnie,
I got the 82' South Park and 83' Nashville DVD's from Mark. The DVD's are well done and I highly recommend them. Just as Bob said, most of the mains are on the DVD's. I will watch them over the next couple days and let you know if your mottos are in there.

Take Care,
Craig

Thanks Craig, I didnt race Nashville Grands, But I did win all my motos in the 16x at Pittsburgh, I was way out front in the open motos too but ate it hard over the step jump, I was going so fAst I was trying too stay low and clipped it twice doing big endoes over it.Trashed my handlebars one moto. I make it to the final semi and get passed in the last turn to finish fifth.

Hey Popeye what is going on with the NBL. Uncle Bob left and it looks like alot of other tracks are too. Orlando,Boulder City have both switched and others are complaining and talking about doing the same. Fill me in whats going on. The new track in Va. would get alot more riders if they were ABA, being close to North Carolina. I am sure no one told them that though.You guys in Va. like your NBL better, than having more riders at your races. And I know why, most parents don't want more competetion. Its sad I wished the ABA had bought them out a few years ago so there would only be one BMX organization.

I don't know whats going on at other tracks. I think a lot of it really has to do with personality conflicts between track operators and parents of neighboring tracks. Or maybe just the old "we'll give you a big race if you switch" things that have always gone on.
Although I like NBL, I did really suggest that the new track look at the ABA first, because of the location closer to N.C.
I also invited all riders from Hampton to come to an ABA track (Comp. Park in Garner N.C.) for a race earlier this year. If they showed up, I would buy their ABA license for them and their first race was free, so basically if they showed up they got free race and license and BMXer sub. for a year. Only eight people took me up on the offer but I got a few key ones to check it out. Kelli Townsend brought Andrew and Thomas. Kris Creech and Patrick Stevenson. And Steve Blevins and his son also raced along with two other younger riders. I was hoping for about twenty but the weather was questionable so it scared a few from making the three hour drive.
Some Richmond officials are familiar with the ABA also and still talk about taking a look every year. With Woodbridge being a key NBL track and the discovery of the Lexington Horse Center as a really inexpensive cost facility for the NBL nationals. I'm sure NBL will be the dominate sanction in Va. for many years to come.

Good job once again Popeye,yeah Virginia should stay with the NBL as its mostly an eastcoast sanction.But Richmond and Dinwidde would do better ABA. I could be wrong. Hampton would benfit too.The riders should race both, which as you know is hard to convince people.Still race the NBL national circuit though.Tell Andrew I said he better triple at the Grands.

I can't evaluate the situation about sanctioning preferences these days. I think its good to have competing organizations. Logically it sounds better to have one organization, just as it might sound better to have one political party with no opposition or to have a king with no gridlock, but we know in real life, when people have no competition that they don't work hard.

BITD we started with ABA, since Rockville and several local tracks were ABA. ABA is based on the west coast. NBL is based on the east coast. The NBL WOS series was just better/feasible for East Coast riders. Without a full-factory sponsorship nobody from the East Coast can go to hardly any races west of the Mississippi. Let's also face it that I was mainly a cruiser rider and NBL embraced cruiser classes more than ABA. Maybe it was frustration that the ABA local points were hotly contested. These days I think its kind of pathetic how they divided up so many age classes to the point where you have only 3-5 people in your class on any day. On the other hand I want to make tangible incremental success. Of course only a few people can go to the Olympics, but where can we find intermediate steps. Local ABA racing was very strongly centered around 20" racing. I just felt much better on a cruiser, even though not a whole lot of people were doing it from the start, and NBL was more cruiser friendly, so I just followed the flow of NBL.

It was wonderful seeing so many familiar names. I would enjoy hearing from you guys.

Oh my is that you Ellie Stack. If so good to hear from you, Popeye will be thrilled. Thank you for your many hours,years, of dedication to the sport we all have loved so much. Hampton always seemed to have the best people runnin it. No question you are one of the best we ever had. You did alot for alot of people and kept things going and a true Professional way with class.Thanks again and hope everything is going well for you. Your friend, Ronnie Jessup

Thanks for your kind words Ronnie. I don't know how I happened to find this site, but I'm so glad I did. I do hope to have more contact with all of you now that I've put my toe back in the BMX pond.

I'm still trying to get familiar with this site. Are you in CA? Do tell me more about you and what you are doing.

I'm living in Norfolk, VA, working for a government contractor in Hampton, VA

Wonderful to hear from you -- hope to hear more from you again. Sincerely, Eleanor

Wow it is you,wonderful. Yes I found the site from putting in my name. I currently live in South Lake Tahoe with my son Cody 16. I play professional poker for a living. I raced again from 99-03. I won a Nat.1 in the old guys cruiser class and ABA so called World Title during those years. I was involved in a car crash not my fault, breaking my back in 05. I am all healed up now and getting ready to start racing again. Its so hard to get in shape these days and it is no fun when your not in shape. Its amazing I can still jump at 44 like I did when was 16. Just wish I wouldn,t get tired. Have you spoke to Popeye, I know he would love to hear from you. Everytime someone would do something wrong at the track, or make a mistake, or groups of people would have big disagreements, first thing out of Popeyes mouth would be,You know if Ellie was still in charge we wouldn,t have these problems. I would laugh, cause it was funny but true. Ellie it is great to hear from you. There isa a big race tonite in Hampton you should go. I know people would love to see you. Bye for now, Ron.

Hey Popeye how did you forget me. Thats me on my brothers Robinsons frame with #2. What a team huh? To bad we lost that day. If you remember Jeff and Clayton actually raced for Contes or some bike shop in NN and they beat us.

Dang ronnie, Sorry about that. The picture was blurry and I just didn't recognize you there. I know I didn't help the team much that day cause I have another picture of me sliding on my butt going into the first turn and getting passed by a couple Colley Ave. riders.

HELLO ELLIE! Welcome to the site!
Ronnie is so right, I am thrilled that your here.

That is so true. I brought up your name today talking with Kelli Townsend about some things going on in the state now. A lot of things in BMX have gotten better, but some things just never change.

Ellie. I was at the Christmas Classic this past year helping build the track. (It was being held in Va.) Me, Tom Ritzenthaler and Bob Tedesco were eating lunch when your name came up. Bob wanted to know if I had heard from you lately. I told him no but I had your, apparently, old address and phone number memorized. Bob pulled out his phone and tried to call that number right then but no-one answered the phone and it had no voicemail.
Joel Clark says hello also.

On other old school news, Charles "Peanut" Shortridge has to sit out of racing for a while because of his back and James "Snoopy" Williams showed up at the track tonight but was too late to see the Pro-am. Snoopy was visiting from Fl.

Hey Ronnie, I finally won that battle after three years of fighting. The experts signed up in the pro-am tonight got their money back and were no longer required to race in class to race the open. It didn't make the state commissioner and clerk too happy when I pulled the rule book out on them but they couldn't aruge with the black and white print. They had to repost mottos because every single one of them pulled out of expert class. Fair is fair and is the only way to build a program. Percy Owens won the race by the way. A lot of the usual heavy hitters were in Rockford, but we still had some really fast riders.

Ellie, hope your doing well and thanks for all you did for the Hampton BMX experience.
Ronnie--Pro poker? I am impressed. My son says if baseball doesn't work out for him he wants to be a pro poker player! How is the GHP treating you?

James, I like your statement "Fair is fair and is the only way to build a program". I can just see you, rule book in hand.

It is so good to hear from you. I am surprised at the responses I've received so quickly. I joined the forum not expecting anyone would remember or notice my name.

I would be happy to give you my current address and phone number for you to memorize (smile). My email address is elockington1@cox.net if you want to contact me.

Sincerely, Eleanor




Brian, Great forum you started. I have enjoyed reading the posts and looking at the photos. Brings back many wonderful memories. Eleanor

Ron, I checked the Hampton BMX website. Too late to attend the Saturday night race, but perhaps I'll get there another time.

Careful with the racing! You only have one spine. Hope to hear from you again - Eleanor

Way to go Popeye. Ellie we all hope you are gettin back into operations of BMX on a large scale. With Bob T. retiring I heard alot of bad things about NBL org. Even though I am out west I still like the NBL also, and I truly believe they need you right now. You took our organization from being run well to being run professionaly showing favortizim to none but the program. Once again you did an outstanding job, they need you. Popeye if you see Percy tell him I said hello. Brian everything is fine out here except my little buddy Andrew Townsend from Hampton is turning down a Factory ride to stay on a team that his dad started before passing away. It touched me some much that I too am calling Greg Hill today to let him know that I cant race for him, I feel its best to race with my best littlte buddys team. I,ve worked with Andrew since he was 5 hes now 13 and the coolest guy around. Greg is a good guy I am sure he will understand.

Ron, you really are getting back into racing in a big way, aren't you? I wish you the best and will follow your progress. Will you be racing mostly ABA? Does your son share your enthusiasm for the sport?

Hard to imagine NBL without Bob Tedesco. He brought BMX a long way. Some of the folks I work with had never seen a race until they watched the Olympic competition. They were surprised when I explained some of the things they did not understand about the art of racing. Little did they know what I did in my prior life.

It has been great talking with you this week-end. I have missed you guys. Eleanor

Cody raced when he was 4, hes a skateborder but says he wants to start racing. He was an honor roll student until this year, his grade fell so bad that I wanted to beat him, since the law frowns on that now, I made him go outside and play football with me. Thats how you have to legally punish kids these days I guess. Is abusing your kid in football still child abuse. Cause I just thought it was really good tackling. Anyway his grades have improved and hes no longer scarred of anybody on his football team.

Mike, I used to race against you and Pee Wee Cole every Sunday. I have great memories of Virginia Beach, Norfolk and my favorite, Churchland track.

Hey, nice to see those pics of the LEGENDARY Rich brothers.

I need to make some time to post some more to this thread.

Okay, I really don't know how I found this, but I take offense to being remembered (in the original post) for one bad day! My honor must be restored!

Thanks, Brian, for opening the thread. I remember my Hampton BMX days fondly and racing against all you all. As for most of us, the older I get, the better I was. I still have my GT Pro and my kids are riding it now. It is still a sweet ride.

I started racing again in college but this time on the road and mountain biking. Bumped into Justin Shepard once at a party at JMU. Small world. Moved to Colorado and raced there. Crossed paths with Kuzma a few times there and I raced against him a lot in Virginia on the road. He could sprint like he was shot out of a cannon. Last I saw him, he was selling off all his stuff and getting out of cycling. I still race (and crash) occasionally now that I am back in Richmond doing mostly cyclocross. I was known on the road and on the mountain not so much for spectacular finishes, but for spectacular crashes. Somethings never change.

I teach high school in Richmond and have a photography business in the Outer Banks now.
I look forward to going back and reading the entire thread. Thanks again everyone for great memories. Next, I will dig out some of the old photos and scan them to post.

Dang Brian, see what you went and done. You got the famous Zanetti to jump on the board. Who will be next Mike Rich? Nick Trombetta? DANA MERIDITH? Oh my gosh the Humanity!
Welcome to the board Steve. You always were one of the fun guys.

Steve Zanetti...I should have posted that you were fast and a super nice guy, but it didn't seem quite as interesting as the multiple wreck lap in North Carolina. Sorry. I've got a pic of you with the GT from the first day you showed up at Hampton with it. I'll try to dig it up and post it for you to see.

I still ride occasionally. Mostly mountain bikes. The local college has a Mtn Bike team that maintains downhill and mountain cross (dual slalam?) courses. (I could tell you about my own multiple wreck runs).

Hope your doing well.

Hey Popeye and Ronnie, I just came across this thread. I had the opportunity to race with you guys for a couple of years while stationed in Virginia.

What a great BMX scene. Nothing but good times, except for me busting myself up too much on the track.

Hope you guys are doing great. Ronnie, I'm stationed in Fallon and go to Tahoe a bunch on the weekends. What a beautiful place to live. I talked with Ronnie Anderson who I know from my waaayyy back in the days racing and he told me Frank Post is in Reno working as a professional gambler. Do you ever run into him?

Popeye, I'm sure you're still hitting the track. I bought a pretty sweet Redline a couple of years ago but have never done anything on it. I'd love to race again, but....

Good luck to all and I hope you're doing great. Say hello to Kris Creech, Matt Cecil, Joel Clark, and anyone else you see for me. I wish them all the best.

Marco Giorgi

Whats up Marco!
Your in NV now? Last time we talked you were in La. or somewhere close to Dothan. You get around for sure. I don't see Matt very often but I will tell Kris and Joel next weekend at the state final in Woodbridge.

i hated when ronnie started wearing leathers and wearing an open face helmet. since ronnie was one of my favorite riders i only want to think of him with a bell full face helmet with jeans on. especially the time he had the iron maiden sticker on his visor but he tore the "I" off so it read RON MAIDEN that was so RAD!!!!

Hey, Popeye this is Howard Jefferson (Captain Crunch). See you are still riding and enjoying the sport you love. It is really nice to see the pics and post from the Hampton Super Track. Those were the good old days. I had alot fun out there with my kids and my brother (Clyde).

Hey, What's up Howard?
I see you found this place too. Homer Croom from Coastal asks about you often. Him and Frida are still at it vending all over. Brian Bailey raced his first race since '85 last night at Hampton. He pulled a second and looked real good doing it. He still has skills on the bike and picked up some new school skills also. His wife, 20 something year old son, sister Diana and his mom were there to watch. He asked about you and Clyde also.
Get a bike and come on back out here.

hey everybody i know this is a southeast va post but i know alot of you guys raced at richmond from time to time so check out my old school richmond bmx page. i would love for you guys to "like" it and post pics and videos from the old richmond track. www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Old-School-Richmond-VA-bmx/160672277290731

That Facebook page has some great pics.

Thanks for the post Randy. I'll see if I can contribute some in the near future.

Unfortunately I have some bad news to share with everyone.

Chris Kuzma died October 28th at his home in Colorado. Word going around in the cycling community here says that it was a heart attack. I don't know this for sure as I have not spoken to a family member. A link to his obituary is here: Christopher Kuzma
My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Sharon and his two sons, Zach and Sam. His boys also raced BMX.
Although I have not spoken with him in many years, His friendship and competitiveness were great highlights of my youth. He was a great racer in all forms of cycling and will be missed.

Sad news about Kuzma, indeed. I had heard about it through one of his classmates from high school. Great guy. RIP.

i just found this site a couple of days ago and had to post. My name is Scotty Garrett and I too raced in the same tracks back in the early 80s. I lived and breathed BMX back in the day. I lived in Cradock in Portsmouth Va. we would travel to all the tracks and man was it fun. I went back to my old neighborhood a couple of weeks ago on my BMX bike and rode for hours after being gone for 27 years. i am getting back into it at age 41!!!!!!!!