These pics bring back tons of memories. That Hampton crew was always nice but not too happy when us Richmonders showed up.

Hey Justin, I was always happy when you guys showed up, but maybe that's because I didn't have to race you.

I agree more with Justin. Atleast the few months that our birthdays overlapped

Do you guys know who's in the lead in this photo (#34)? This was taken at 75-80 at a Wednesday night race. I'm on the left (26v). I remember he came up with Mike and Steve Rich and won our class (14x?), I came in second. Also in the photo is Dennis Gunnesever (46g), Derek Reese (Kuwahara) obscured behind me, Pete Zazanis next to Dennis in white helmet, and Scott Webb (MD local) further back in white helmet.

Larry Von Moss

Oh Man! Thanks for the pics and the memories! I was racing in the Easter VA BMX Association from 1981-1983. And my first race ever was at the Hampton Super track! What a track! Wide, smooth, and super fast. That start hill seemed 50 feet tall...... LOL. First race I hit that first sweeping turn in about 3rd place but slid out and went down. I didn't know what to expect (a neighbor brought a few of us) and my 39-18 gearing wasn't doing the job! The next time I came I had a new bike and 46-15 gearing! Man that track was fast! I remember some of those guys you talked about, especially that Kuzma guy. I was racing in the novice class. 13, 14, 15. I lived in VA Beach, so that was basically my home track. It was in the woods, right next to Oceana Naval Air Station. But we raced a different track every week; northside (Norfolk), VA Beach, and Portsmouth. And we came out to Hampton as much as possible. What good times.
Remember when they re-did turn 1 and put like an "S" jump right in the middle of it? Man, I hated that.....
Those were fun fun BMX times.
I just started riding again, and heck a National is about like every Sunday was at Hampton!
Wish I had my old bikes.....
Thanks for the pics!

I'm not 100% sure but almost certain that is John Forbes.

Hey John, here's a pic of me and Danny Nelson on that same jump (top pic) on a different day, maybe even couple years later.

okay, thanks popeye. doesn't really ring a bell with me unfortunately.

Great Pic Popeye. You always had a 'personal style' on your bikes..... Front brake, Tuffs on the front with Carslile Aggressor tire. Was this around the time you were debating filling your forks with something to make your front end a little heavier?? You always had some powerful biceps. Do you remember wondering that if you didn't start strengthening your triceps your arms would lock up in a folded position?

Click to view attachmentfirst turn hampton. Brian Boyle (94), Gary Hovan (3), Gerry Farmer (66), Darryl (23)

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First straight Hampton. Brian Boyle (2) leading Allan Bowden and others

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"S Turn" mentioned earlier. They put that cone their because we used straighten out the last part of the "s" and just wheelie (manual?) over it. hehehhe

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Me cutting low under Mike Rich in a Pro Am at Hampton. Mike had a stiff style of riding, but he looks pretty stylish here. I loved the double in the turn concept, and I really loved racing Mike when the opportunity came up.

Great pics Brian,
I forgot all about that Vector uniform till seeing the pics. Who was the guy behind you in the yellow shirt? Looks like Les Gordon style but he was older than you. Alan Hughes?

I like the last pic. I think everybody dove under Mike in that turn. I see Mike is on the Quad with graphite mags there. What is your foot doing behind you though. That's a serious one footed power wheelie. Is that Clyde Jefferson chasing you guys?

Thought I would add a better pic with Clayton Denny in it. We actually talked him into jumping with Carl for this.

Carl has an Ultimate jersey with Coastal pants on, but why is Clayton wearing the Conte's jersey? And Clayton is racing a Vector cruiser then too.

Popeye, I think the guy in the yellow is Allan Hughes. As far as the one footed wheelie, I prefer to think of it as a "baby nac-nac". Mike Rich's bike is the Quad, which my brother Dan later bought. I have a way better pic of Mike on that bike if I can find it. He's jumping the Quad over the "Quad" jump at Hampton....at least that is what I think we called the four little off set jumps on the second straight.

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Chris Kuzma already stretching a lead by the first turn. Also in this pic Dan Boyle(53), Dana Meredith(5). Scott Mayhorn (2), Scott Booth (1VA grey shirt), Popeye (1VA white helmet). Popeye must have started backwards.

Nope, didn't start backwards. Since I had the #1 plate on I know exactly what happened. I won all three motos at the state final (I didn't have Kuzma or Bill Hermack in my moto) and then got third in the main behind Kuzma and Hermack. It was enough to win the championship by two points. Those motos were the last moto wins I had for SIX months. I just had this terrible run of bad races. Not to mention everyone else started getting wicked fast.
I love this picture Brian. This is obviously a novice/expert combined class. Mayhorn was running his National Pro frameset I believe. He was fast on that bike for sure. Dana was on the black Hutch we picked up from freewheelin in Va. Bch. and he was crazy (and scary) fast then. Scott Booth with the RATZ team jersey.and his plate was a #1 novice plate cause he never did race expert in his whole career. He left the 20" and just rode cruiser at the end of that year. He came back to racing and got National #1 30 and over novice around 1999 racing on our Coastal Racing Team. He only raced it for the team score cause he was still a top 10 cruiser rider.
What can I say about Kuzma. He was just nearly impossible to beat at Hampton unless it was a night race.

Hello All-

My home track was South Park Pa but I would travel to most of the NBL Nationals.
I remember racing a National in Hampton(beautiful track) and as soon as the race finished everyone scurried to the National in Raleigh-since it was on the same weekend. Does anyone remember this weekend?
Also, a BMXer named-all I can remember is Nelson-used to travel with our team-his home track was Hampton-in 1984 he was probably racing 11-12x. Does this name ring a bell?

Take Care,
Craig Allen

Craig, I believe you got the Raleigh thing backwards. That year there was two days in Raleigh and then one day at Hampton. I've got some photos of that and I believe you can find some video of it on youtube posted by Brad Dalbec of Thruster. That track was sooooo spungie and slow.

As far as a rider named "Nelson", it doesn't ring a bell. Was he Factory Hutch or Vector as in your screen name? Justin Shepard was factory CW around that time and John McNeil was Factory Hutch, but I wouldn't really call either of them Hampton locals. They were from Richmond and Justins dad actually ran an ABA track there.

I don't recall a rider named "Nelson" from Hampton back then either. There was three brothers from Richmond with the last name of Nelson though. Danny, Timmy and Jacob Nelson were all fast but Timmy was the one who stayed with it the longest, even becoming a pretty strong B-pro contender. His age around that time would be about right also. In the early 90's there was also a rider out of Richmond named Nelson Eby.
Wait a minute, a thought just popped into my head. I remember a rider named Nelson Scott or Scott Nelson (something about two first names) from the southside around that time also but he was 15 or 16 at that time.

Hello Brian,
My bad-your right. We all scurried from Raleigh to Hampton.
I believe by the Hampton race I had left Hutch and was racing Factory Vector. I thought "Nelson" possibly raced for CW-I'm really not to sure. I saw someone post something about a Danny Nelson on this thread. Was he a local rider?
You said the track was "Spungie" I do remember one of the tracks-not sure if it was Hampton or Raleigh being built with red clay-is this what you meant by "spungie".
Thanks for letting me know about Brad posting the Hampton video. I was at the Howell NJ race when Brad crashed-he's a great guy.
What age were you racing then?
If I remember correctly the Hampton-Raleigh weekend was 1984. I should have been racing 12x and had the National #9 plate that year.
I also wanted to commend Popeye. I think it's just fantastic how he has stayed so true to BMX over all these years. I read he still has the same van he had when racing in the 80's. Popeye I Thank You and keep up the great work.


Take Care,
Craig Allen





Hello Brian,
My bad-your right. We all scurried from Raleigh to Hampton.
I believe by the Hampton race I had left Hutch and was racing Factory Vector. I thought "Nelson" possibly raced for CW-I'm really not to sure. I saw someone post something about a Danny Nelson on this thread. Was he a local rider?
You said the track was "Spungie" I do remember one of the tracks-not sure if it was Hampton or Raleigh being built with red clay-is this what you meant by "spungie".
Thanks for letting me know about Brad posting the Hampton video. I was at the Howell NJ race when Brad crashed-he's a great guy.
What age were you racing then?
If I remember correctly the Hampton-Raleigh weekend was 1984. I should have been racing 12x and had the National #9 plate that year.
I also wanted to commend Popeye. I think it's just fantastic how he has stayed so true to BMX over all these years. I read he still has the same van he had when racing in the 80's. Popeye I Thank You and keep up the great work.


Take Care,
Craig Allen

Thanks Popeye-
The names you mentioned do ring a bell. Unless he comes to this site he might just have to remain a mystery.

Since your so diverse in Va tracks I was wondering if you have any recommendations for me.
I now live in Northern Va-when I first moved here, Starlit had just shut down. Since than I have only be able to find one track in the area, it's just outside Manassas Va in the Prince William sports complex.
Do you know of any other tracks in this area? It's to bad Starlit shut down so many years ago-from what I understand they had some decent riders BITD.


Take Care,
C.Allen

Ok, My brain is working better today. The rider I was thinking of was Neil Scott not Nelson. So I'm still in the dark there.
The Raleigh / Hampton race was Memorial day weekend 1983.
On the tracks near Northern Va, Woodbridge (NOVA BMX, Prince William sports complex) is your closest track, and the nicest facility in Va. Now within two hour drive from there is Winchester Va., Hagerstown MD., Riverside in Cumberland MD., Chesapeake BMX in Severn MD., Chaptico near Budds Creek Md. and Richmond and Dinwiddie Va. You should find some time to go to Woodbridge this weekend (say Sat. about noon) cause they are having a NBL National there and you might see some old faces from back-in-the-day.

Here is a pic of Dennis Dayrit and John "Monty" Montieth jumping at the Lake Fairfax track in about 1986. That is a world #1 plate on Dennis's bike.

Popeye, was Dennis Dayrit a Hampton Local?? He may have come along after I left the scene. I do remember a younger guy with dark skin from the Va Beach area that used to race the Hampton locals, but his name escapes me...could this be the same guy? I do see a familiar orange wheeled chevy van in the background.

Also, do you remember a bike frame called "Bullet" that Ronnie Jessup rode? I remember him telling me that the manufacturer gave the frame to him and said "you can't break it if you try" and Ronnie tried his best jumping the 3rd turn berm but (to my knowlege) never broke it. Was that made in VA?

PS--The old CycleCraft facility (Martinos) is about 5 minutes from my house here in TN. I guess they made Vectors here at some point as well. Sometimes I will see old beater CycleCrafts riding around here, but never a Vector (which I would have to buy on the spot) Small world.

No Dennis was a northern Va. rider. He quit racing shortly after winning the worlds in Whistler Canada. He then moved to Va. Beach to attend high school for the wrestling team they had down here and started racing again at Hampton in the early 2000's till he died.
I think the rider you are thinking about was Brian Cabio.

If I remember correctly that Bullet frame was basically a heat treated CW frame or at least the same geometry. I think he broke that in less than three weeks then went back to the Diamondback.

popeye, you are correct. I was thinking of Brian Cabio. I continue to be impressed by your memory. i cant remember what I ate for lunch. What were we talking about?

If you are at the Woodbridge National, keep your eyes peeled for Billy Feamster. He mentioned a couple months ago that he was going to "make a comeback" at that race.

Many Thanks Popeye. I had know idea Woodbridge was considered such a great track.
Thank you for letting me know about the National there this weekend. I absolutely will be there. Are you or any of the Hampton guys racing this National.

Take Care,
C.Allen

Wow! It has really been cool to find this website and then this discussion about the old Hampton days especially... What a treat to see some old pics of me as well! Popeye your memory is amazing...almost scary. I remember racing Brian Boyle as well... I just turned Snoopy ( aka James Williams) onto this thread. Hes mad there are no pics of him. Always told him I was the fastest, ha ha.

Thanks to popeye and Brian for hashing all this old stuff up. I am actually still racing. On and off over the years..Now racing ABA at New Orleans... live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast...never thought I'd end up here..ground zero for hurricane Katrina... I have two kids that race and Im considering trying to get a track started in Long Beach, Ms. I think I could get the interest going but Im too busy right now to run the thing. It was also cool to see Popeyes list of what happened to who... for the record, believe it or not, I found Jesus and am a Church planter, now Pastoring "the WAY Church" in long Beach, Ms. ( 2theway.com ) How did you end up in Tenn. Brian? Popeye are you still at the Shipyard? Be Blessed!

Scott Mayhorn

Brian-
Did you also race Factory Vector? If so what years?

Craig Allen

Craig, I was a "support team" guy, through a local distributer in tidewater Va. It was good fun, and I liked how Betty Martino would have us all send in race reports each month so she could send out a news letter with every support rider and the factory teams results for the month. Good people.

Scott Mayhorn, its great to hear you are doing well, and still racing. I raced a season back in '98 on the 24" and had a blast. Tried to turn my kids onto it, but with no luck...they are into traditional sports. They each raced a few times, but really didn't care for it.

As far as coming to Tennessee, I came here for college in 87 and other than 2 years in Charleston SC Ive been here ever since. I love it. In fact my brother, Dan, moved here a few years ago and my parents moved here a couple years ago.

Hey Brian. Are you still racing now? If you ever get around Memphis, chk out Southhaven Ms., great track and better program. They avg about 15-18 motos... lot of old guys on cruisers. Sometimes two gates! The New Orleans/ Gretna Track is an awesome place. They also run between 15-25 motos.. also two gates of 35 and over... lots of little kids. My kids are just getting into it really...they love it... it is a blessing. Do you live near Knoxville? My oldest daughter is a student at UT. Do you ever make it back to Hampton? Hear its pretty cool now...Was looking at the old pics popeye poste, one had the old lake in it...remember Jerry Farmer crashing into the lake in one of our motos! ha ha... wonder what ever happened to him. Last I heard I think he followed a girl up to the Northeast, boston or something, havent heard from him since... Take care.

Scott

Hey Brian,
I would love to find one of those newsletters.
I bet we passed out Vector stickers together from under the Vector tent at one of the Nationals some point a long the line.

I went to the Freedom National and saw someone passing out Hampton BMX flyers.
Popeye-Did any of the Hampton guys make it up here this past weekend.

Take Care,
Craig Allen

Did any you Vector guys know Chad Ohlmstead? He was from NC, think he rode for Vector for short time.

Scott, I am about 90 miles east of Knoxville. An area known as "Tri Cities" which includes Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol (NASCAR). Glad to hear you raised your daughter right and she became a VOL! My oldest dreams of playing baseball at UT and rarely misses a home football game.

No, I don't race anymore. I did mostly ABA Nationals when I was racing because I prefer the transfer system. I do have a couple of FreeAgents (20&24) and occassionally get them out. Morristown is about 40 minutes from my house and until they fenced in the outdoor track I used to love going there for a quick session. I never miss the indoor Nationals there, but only as a spectator. Maybe I'll race it next Thanksgiving. We should hook up there for a little old school rivalry. Billy Feamster is trying to make a little comeback.

I also ride a little (read very little) on my Azonic DS (4x?) mountain bike. The local college (ETSU) has a mountain bike team and they maintain awesome 4x, downhill and XC mountain bike trails. I had some hillarious get offs racing there a few years back.

This is in reference to a question I asked in a earlier post about a Hampton local named "Nelson".
I think you were right Popeye-His name must have been Timmy Nelson.
I found an old NBL rule book from 1984 and I was looking at who got National plates in my class that year-#12 was a guy named T.Nelson from Va-even though for some reason I always thought his name was Danny Nelson, this must be the "Nelson" I was talking about.
It's good to hear he went pro.
Thanks,
Craig Allen

Did the Hampton track have a small double in the middle of the first turn and an "S" turn in the second staight? If so, I think I raced this track once while traveling the east coast in the summer of 1984 or 85??? It was a cool track. I think it was Hampton but my memory is not too good.

Yes we had a double in the middle of the first turn, followed immediately by a S-turn. The track was like that for several years in the early to mid eighties.
More pictures to follow soon. Got some time off work next week.

Thanks Popeye,
I raced EVABMX (Every weekend) from 1982 (8yr old) -1985 (12yr old) and raced Hampton on occations. I remember the first time I saw the new track after racing the older style with the lake. WOW!!! It was very agressive and very fast. Took me a few races to figure out the new first turn double but I had to clear it to keep up. Racing at Hampton was like stepping up to the next level. You guys alway ran a top notch facility and had some very fast racers.

Any chance of finding some entire Hampton EVA races on video? Doubt yall would have many pictures of us young guys. Only name I recognise is Reid as he would come over and speak to us often.

Thanks,
Mike Whitfield
G&G Racing NBL# 140w

I don't remember anyone videoing any races back then. I do remember Nick Trombetta having some of his races recorded on 8mm film. Next time I talk to Peanut I'll see if he or someone he knew recorded some of the south-side races. If we find some maybe we can convert them and get them on YouTube.

i loved you guys but i liked going to richmond even better

John i thought me and you were tight, whats up with you all stylin and me lookin like its the first time i caught air. What no pics of me endowing while you backflip by.Thats me on the right,not even funny . You were super cool, and I loved going to Richmond and hitting those doubles with you.

Whats up Brian thanks for the famous thing, I am just glad that people remember me for what i loved to do.

And now I am truly amazed! Ronnie on Vintage! Welcome to the site.

Hey Popeye thanks for the greeting. However not surprised to see you here. I know you love your bmx,Thanks for the comments on MAJ. RICH and my mom, they deffiently brought BMX to hampton but it was you that kept it going year after year for the kids of that area to enjoy.GREAT JOB not to mention all the hours of work you put in to that track.We have had the best track directors,but you Popeye do the job every year. Now here is a secret about Popeye to the rest of you guys that ever raced Popeye and beat him. If you could not beat me than you never really beat popeye. You see Popeye can go as fast as i ever could anytime he wants to.When he tries from the start line to the finish, and is racing 3 classes at a local and I am racing just 1. It is a drag race to the finish everytime. So yeah Popeye is just being nice to you guys. You know its true Popeye. Anyway Popeye how about lets get some of these guys together and hit up a natoinal together. Well all meet in Hampton in go in your Van. Count me in as soon as we get 4 others. I will send some old pics and tell more about Va. racing history, and some of its legends soon. Great job by Brian Boyle also huh. I remember him and his bro Dan.

Ronnie! Long time no see!

Haaaha...hey you gotta remember who was snappin' those photos (my dad..._) of course he's gonna catch my trick! You were probably just faster than me and you'd already whipped some nasty style before the camera ever popped.

Welcome to this site - there are tons of memories floating around in these guys heads. Good fun.

Anyone plan on racing again. I am set to make my every decade return. I spoke with the legend himself Greg Hill this morning, and I will be racing both expert and cruiser class for GHP / BMXACTION online. I have some sick trails to train on, so I will put up some pics when my bikes arrive.C'mon guys dont talk about it get out and do it before it really is to late. Hope to see you guys at a race soon

Congratulations, Ronnie. I think Billy Feamster is going to hit a few races this year as well. Post up some info on where and when you will be racing.