We are fortunate today to be spending time with BMX Icon, Skip Hess, the creator of Mongoose bicycles and the revolutionary Motomag.
First of all Skip, I would like to welcome you to the Vintagebmx.com website. We are dedicated to the preservation and understanding of the “golden years of BMXâ€. On behalf of our entire membership, I want to thank you for taking time to reminisce with us. Our questions today came from members in the Vintage community.
:
1. From Bob Osborn: Tell Skip hello and ask him what he’s been doing the last fifteen years or so?
Skip: After the sale of BMX Products, Inc. to American Recreation Group in 1988, I marketed “Blue Max†bicycles to the mass market in a new company, “Hess Designsâ€. I had a non-compete agreement with American Recreation Group to not sell independent bicycle dealers. In 1992 I closed my “Hess Designs†office. The mass-market bicycle business is a “dog-eat-dog†affair where price the only concern. Over the years my personal life was handicapped with long hours & too many trips to Asia. I now do some consulting work from a home office for many of my bike business chums.
2. From Cash Matthews: Skip, what was your first exposure to BMX, and how did that motivate you to start a company shortly thereafter?
Skip: In the early days Motomag Wheels were my first products. I lived in Simi Valley at the time. Rick Toomey had assembled a team of BMX racers under the name of “Rick’s Bike Shopâ€. I soon found out that there was no bike shop. Rick came to me and requested Motomag Wheels for his team riders. This was my first exposure to organized BMX. Rick Toomey was a true pioneer and his racing team was had the premier racers: Tom Lund, John Pallfreyman, David Clinton, Marvin Church and other champions.
3. From Ken Pliska: What was the first product that you manufactured for the sport of BMX?
Skip: Motomag Wheels
4. From Greg Hill: Did Skip Jr. Race, and for how long?
Skip: I kept my son too busy to race, although I am sure he would have liked to. Skip was responsible for new product development, testing & quality control. That was a full plate of work.
5. From Dan Boone: Skip, when did you realize how big Mongoose was becoming? At your peak, how many bikes per year were being sold?
Skip: Mongoose Bikes were a California innovation & manufactured in our factories until “Schwinn†started selling Taiwan made bikes. This event changed the grass roots BMX manufacturing for the California makers: Mongoose, GT, Redline & many others that were forced to import bikes to stay competitive with “Schwinnâ€. BMX Products sold many components as well as complete 20, 24 & 26 inch wheeled bikes. I don’t have a true figure today.
6. From all the collectors on Vintage: Do you still own any BMX items? Whatever happened to the legendary Mongoose Monoshock?
Skip: I don’t possess any collector items today as had given them away previously. Mongoose Monoshock bikes were test & prototypes only & never sold by BMX Products.
7. Question from various members: How many sets of the early Motomags did you pour at home? What was the inspiration for the design? At what point did you begin with the Motomag II? How did you sell the original Motomags?
Skip: All Motomags were made in California. The early, centrifugal cast wheels were cast at Crager†car wheel’s factory. When I designed the wheel I was employed as a design engineer for “Superior Industriesâ€, a major automotive parts maker. Centrifugal cast wheels; even with three molds running, could not keep up with the rising demand. I then made several expensive high pressure die-cast molds & contracted a wheel chair maker’s foundry to cast the “Motomag ll†wheels. “Motomag ll†wheels were sold as: boxed pairs, on Mongoose bikes, and sold to Huffy, Murray, Schwinn & Raleigh companies. We sold several hundred thousand wheels over the years.
8: From Chuck Whitcomb aka Motomag: How did you come up with the original Mongoose frame design? Who came up with the designs for the decals?
Skip: The original 20†frame design was a joint effort influenced by: Chuck Smith, Hoppy Brooks, Rick Toomey’s team & myself. Chuck Smith designed the first graphics & later we had our own art department for decal, paint colors & packaging design.
9: From Joe, aka 76 Mongeese: How many 1975 Mongoose frames were built? The original frame had an extra gusset by the crank hanger why did that go away?
Skip: The 1975 frame tubing was fish-mouth cut by hand with tin snips! As I recall, we got up to about 60 frames per day in this low budget operation. The crank hanger gusset was readily eliminated, as it was unnecessary.
10. From Cash: The NBA Tour that came through Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1975 (Jim Emerson) was showcasing the Mongoose frame to people and shops they came in contact with. What agreement did you have with the tour at that point to market the frames?
Skip: Jim Emerson was a true friend & pioneering BMX dealer. In those early days, the NBA (Ernie Alexander) was the first & only race promoter & organizer. I believe that without Ernie, BMX would have remained only as a back-yard pastime. Because of my belief, BMX Products strongly supported the NBA in promoting racing events including, but not limited to, the huge, annual “Mongoose Grand Nationalsâ€
11: From George Atkinson: Was there a Mongoose bike in 74 or 75 that predated Mongoose? Was there a bike simply called BMX Products Inc? If so, how many of these were made?
Skip: No, BMX Products, Inc. was our corporate name & never a bike label.
12. From Mike Rush and Spike: What was your relationship with Rick Twomey? Was Rick involved with the first Motomags or frame design?
Skip:
13. From Ken Aman: Skip, do you still have your Pantera?
Skip: No Ken, I sold my prize Pantera in 1986.
14. From Scott @ Kappa BMX: Did BMX Products own the “BMX†trademark at one time?
Skip: No, we never owned the BMX trademark. I attempted to register the mark, but it was used overwhelmingly & I did not have the necessary finances to challenge the masses using it.
15. Quick Word Association: (respond however you would like here, Skip. One-word responses will work or you can elaborate.
John George- A true race champion & trusted BMX Products employee.
Ernie Alexander-The “Father†of BMX racing.
Scot Breithaupt- A friend, racer, creator, & businessman that has had some troubled times.
Linn Kasten- A manufacturing specialist.
Tinker Juarez- A pioneer racer of slight stature and monster heart.
Chuck Robinson- I helped this struggling friend often & miss him.
Bob Osborn- His magazine, fine photos, good advertising, and insight was the biggest single force in expanding the sport of BMX.
Yarnell- The big, downhill BMX track that took guts to ride.
David Clinton- The first big race champion. David was strong & fast!
Russ Okawa- Early race team organizer training John George & others. Later, Russ was a trusted BMX Products department manager for all of our years. Today, Russ works for Skip ll at Giant USA.
16. From Pat Quinn: In your opinion, who was the greatest BMX racer from your era?
Skip: Pat, there were so many great racers in the early years. I hope that most of them were Mongooose factory team riders.
17. From Billy Bryson: Are you still in contact with any members of the Mongoose Factory Teams? If so, who? Did one version of the Mongoose Team stand out more than any of the others?
Skip: Once in a while I run into past team guys. I really like it when we had 20, 24 & 26 inch wheeled bikes racing. The bigger, older guys stormed on the bigger & longer frames.
18. From Jason Leikam: Who were the team managers of the Mongoose team from its beginning until 1985?
Skip: Russ Okawa
19. From Various Members: Please discuss the relationship between racecars and the name Mongoose for BMX bikes. What relationship existed and do you still have a relationship today in the car world.
Skip: I was/is an avid drag racer for most of my life as was/is GT’s Gary Turner. It seems that drag racing is an incurable disease. Tom McEwen, the Mongoose drag racer was a drag racing friend. Today I help out longtime friends, Mallicoat Brothers with their 200+ mph AA/GS drag car that competes at the Goodguy Events.
20. From Zman99: What’s the story of the Moosegoose? Who designed it? Was it supposed to be a race bike for big dudes, a cruiser alternative, or a street thrasher? Did enough of them get sold to consider it a success?
Skip: The term moose generally means huge. The Moosegoose frame was first designed & built for Mongoose team rider Danny Oakley. Danny was over 6 feet tall and needed a taller, bigger frame. As the sport of BMX evolved, older, bigger guys continued to race & Moosegoose frames were the hot ticket.
21: From John Sandberg: What were the relationships like between the other industry “big guns†like Kasten, Rich Hutchins, Schwinn, etc? Were they your respected rivals, bitter enemies, or something other?
Skip: I can’t recall any enemies. All of us were respected rivals.
22. From Mike Salyers: What kind of frame did Roland Veicht ride? He was huge!
Skip: Sorry, I don’t remember.
23. Comment from Jeff Utterback: “Please tell Skip hello and I’ll see him at all the Goodguys races next year!
Skip: Yeh, Jeff, Gary Turner, you & I are drag racing diseased.
24. From Cash Matthews: Skip, have you kept mementos, photos, awards, etc from your BMX career? Do any of those mementos mean more than the other? Do you remember a decal that said; “Motomags Are trick�
Skip: It seems that all that stuff has disappeared.
25. From Steve: What is the gold plating on the Mongoose Goldstem and can they be replated? Also, Can a cracked Motomag be rewelded?
Skip: The Goldstems were brass plated & then clear coated. Yes, they can be redone. As for a cracked casting, I don’t recommend welding repairs, although it has been done!
26: From Ramon: I heard a rumor that he was going to make a bike named, “The Snake†after McEwens rival Don “The Snake†Prudhomme. True or False?
Skip: Definitely false.
27: From Chuck Whitcomb: What was the paint/candy finish on the Team Goose frames during the 70's? What method was used to create the anodized look of the burgundy and blue Team frames.
Skip: The candy look was originally transparent powder coat over chrome plating.
28: From Joe Dunn: Skip, which model Mongoose was used in Karate Kid? Did you give the movie crew the bike directly? Were Mongoose bikes used in other movies?
Skip: We donated many, many bike to the movie studios for use as movie props & for use on quiz programs. I don’t recall all of the events.
29: From Numerous Members: Please describe the story behind each of the various brands such as DeCoster, Jag, Racer-X, Moto Trac, Blue Max, and the Raleigh/Rampar made by BMX Products. Did Toby Henderson and Jeff Bottema ride Raleigh badged Mongoose frames?
Skip: As an effort to expand sales, BMX Products made all of the above & other private label frames. The history of each is too long for this format. As for Toby & Jeff, I am not sure.
30. From BrianB: Did Mongoose pay out a lot of contingency money to non-sponsored riders during the program that they had? Rumor was that a few big name riders rode Mongoose bicycles for that program. Also, what kind of salaries/benefits did factory riders get back in the day?
Skip: Non sponsored riders were often provided equipment, but not salaried. Factory riders were offered expense & salaries. How much….I would have to ask Russ!
31: Glenn Casey: When did Mongoose go International? Down here in Australia, our Quicksilvers were designed from the original Mongoose frames. What was the deal between BMX Products and Competition Developments? Other than the US, what other countries imported BMX Products?
Skip: BMX Products sold to several warehouse distributors in Australia. We also sponsored some local racers there. We sent Kenny Nockman there for an extended stay. BMX Products was the largest USA bicycle exporter. We sold all over the world. Major markets included: Australia, New Zealand, Japan (we had our own facilities there), South Africa, UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands & Canada.
32. From KEV: What are your memories of the Mongoose/Ammaco set up over here in the UK?
Skip: My friend & customer Malcolm Jarvis, Ammaco CEO performed a great job promoting & selling Mongoose in the UK. I have fond memories of my visits to Ammaco.
33. From George Atkinson: Do you still own the rights to the name, “BMX Products� Would you ever consider partnering with Skyway wheels to allow them to make “moto-tuffs†sort of a tribute to the motomag by making black nylon motomag looking tuff wheels?
Skip: All of the many patents & trademarks were transferred to American Recreation Group when BMX Products assets were sold in 1985. Skyway was a respected competitor.
34. From Various Members: Have you seen the new Mongoose Tribute bike, and if so, what if your opinion?
Skip: I haven’t observed this unit yet!
35: Final Question From Cash Matthews/Matt Raymer: Skip, who were your two favorite BMX riders from Shawnee, Oklahoma?
Skip: Cash & Matt were the pioneer, factory die-hard racers that put Mongoose on the map in the panhandle. I am forever grateful! Who else is from Shawnee?
Thank you Skip Hess for sharing your thoughts with our community.
Cash Matthews, on behalf of all the members of Vintagebmx.com
**Note**
This interview is the sole property of VintageBMX.com. The use or copying of it in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
[ January 05, 2006, 08:04 AM: Message edited by: Hal ]