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Bicycles and Dirt Magazine shoot with JMC's Darrall Young.

It was the early 1980's and Bicycles and Dirt Magazine was one of three leading publications covering everything BMX. The magazine was published by the American Bicycle Association and the editors were Brad Fanshaw and Denney Griffiths. This is a behind the scenes shot of a JMC, Darrall Young photo shoot. A wooden ramp was hauled out to a local park in Scottsdale, Arizona that had green grass, blue sky and a sloped landing area.

This shot shows the fluid riding skills of Young being photographed by Brad and Denney (Denney is in the foreground and Brad is laying under the ramp).

Eric Rupe- The Energizer Bunny of BMX!

Eric Rupe is one of the most dedicated bmx racers you will ever find. Rupe and his brother began racing in Southern California during the 1970's. A fixture of the bmx scene, Rupe was a Mongoose ambassador since his early career.

Known today as one of the top Veteran Pro racers he his fast and super friendly. The photo above shows Rupe lost somewhere in the 1980s and he had already been racing over ten years!
Rupe is decked out in the latest 80's bmx fashion with a Mongoose team jersey, Muscle Power patch and Oakley shades.

East Coast Old School BMX

East Coast BMX Action

In the 1970's BMX was not just happening on the West coast, sure the California guys would like you to believe that. This berm shot shows that BMX racing was hard-core in the Eastern side of the USA. Note that the number plates are the early type round and rectangular. The JT mouthguard was the hot set-up in New Jersey and Florida!

When Cruisers Ruled BMX!

Cruisers Were King In the 1980's

It was the 1980's and the cruiser class was huge and so were bright fluorescent colors. In this vintage picture we see Charles Townsend battling two other riders in some elbow-to-elbow racing. This is what BMX is all about; battling for position and spinning your sprocket off the bike.

Vintage Photo Week #2

Old School BMX Starting Gate 1977

It's 1977 at a Southern California BMX track, this could be Rancho, Corona or one of a dozen of the great downhills. Technology was catching up with BMX frames, but obviously not the gates. I remember racing these tracks and if you were lucky enough to grab the outside lines the gate flexed so much that one end dropped first. Look at the gate in the photo and you will see the starters side is up and the far ed is flexed out.
The starter would struggle to hold up the gate, but one-footed starts didn't put as much on these gates.

Mongoose ruled the days in 1977 and you can see that most of the kids on this gate had one of the nickel plated rigid frames. The one guy has a Kawasaki BMX bike and even the Kawasaki jersey, a young David Clinton?

Vintage Photo Week #1

This is really some old school BMX racing! Kevin Jackson rode for Schwinn in the 1970's and the guy's on that team also included Bob Hadley and Greg Hill. They rode Schwinn Scramblers but most were modified with some trick parts.

This photo is so 70's era BMX; Vans shoes, Bill Walters leathers, Bell Helmet, Jofa mouth guard and rat-trap pedals (KKT most likely). The other guys in this first turn roost have the cool Scott Goggles and face mask, Tuf-Neck jersey and each are riding some vintage hardware.

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