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official HoF ‘zine

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4 gOrkitorial - The BMX Graveyard 6 Blood Brothers / Quotables 8 Retro - Here comes ‘da Fuzz 10 DirtyFest/DustyFest/DrunkFest 4 16 Mini Pull-out Poster for your ManCave 18 Thom Lund : LEGEND from FAT BMX 22 MidWest Vintage Show - INDIANA 30 1974 Gold Cup Finals TGIF from

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gOrkitorial gOrkitorial The BMX Graveyard

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here this day ...

Lately, there’s been a lot of cries and tears on social media that “BMX is dead.” Blah, blah, blah. In my 40+ years of working in the BMX industry, it’s not the first time I’ve heard that. (Not even the second.) My first industry job was working the shipping dept at CW Racing, in late ‘84. At that time, brands like Torker and JMC had just shut down, gone bankrupt or were sold at auction. That Torker auction must’ve been incredible. Roger Worsham had purchased a bunch of things, including the MAX heat-transfer table, and had even hired a sales dude named Rich, who’d worked at Torker and had bought an original airbrushed HARO drawing at that auction, which was used in a MAX ad. At that time, freestyle was on a high and some people were whispering “BMX is dead.” Just, nobody said it outloud. I was soon hired on at BMX ACTION magazine in the summer o’ 1985, at a time when advertising was on a

decline and all anybody talked about was freestyle. Bike shows were all about the latest freestyle gimmicks, like the ACS Rotor and way-too-many unnecessary bolt-on gizmos. I soon realized that people were starting to believe that “BMX is dead.” (mainly, referring to racing). But once you went to a track or a national, it was easy to see that racing WAS NOT, in the least, dying or going anywhere. In fact, I’d safely say that over the past 40+ years, for the most part just as many people discover BMX racing each year as those who leave the sport. While the graph line of BMX racers and membership of sanctioning bodies has more whoop-dee-doos than the third straight rhythm section here at Hardesty BMX, it generally equates to a straight line when you zoom out. (Fact: that line DID spike upwards significantly in 2020/2021 during Covid - but has since returned to

normalcy.) During my time at BMXA, many advertisers and BMX brands (Skyway and Diamondback, for instance) backed off, and then once it became “safe” again, they returned. In fact, HARO got into BMX racing for the very first time, right after I became editor. Much of my time during my nearly five years at BMXA was spent trying to convince industry-types that BMX racing was still alive and well. I found that the people who go around accusing our beloved sport of being on its deathbed are usually the ones who aren’t even at the races, or aren’t involved in the sport any longer. They tell everyone “BMX is dead ” without having been to their local track for decades or more. Hmmmm ..kinda like todays Keyboard warriors.

talking some MAJOR brands that have been leading our sport since nearly the beginning. And just because they’ve been overcooked and we stuck a fork in ‘em, those same outsiders will almost joyfully proclaim (again) that “BMX is dead.”

NO.

Those brands might be dead, or taking their last gasps. Sadly, those brands were eaten up by financial investors who couldn’t even tell you what the acronym BMX stood for. Once-thriving BMX brands who no longer had participating, PASSIONATE ownership or employees won’t last in this niche sport.

If you are a BMX brand who doesn’t care about the sport, then GOOD. Your sales deserve to die. The BMX family see’s that. They are loyal to those who are passionate about this thing called BMX. They easily Sadly, over this past year, we’ve spot those who are only in it for the seen more headstones added to money. Of course, it will fuel the the ol’ BMX Graveyard. flames of naysayers claiming “BMX Tombstsones that I never would’ve thought I’d ever see is dead.” But if you go to your local placed. GT, Haro, FreeAgent … track, attend the nearest National REDLINE! ( Diamondback, too or better yet - hit up any State race although they haven’t done much in the country, you’ll plainly see BMX for over a decade.) We’re that BMX is alive and well. With a whole new slew of young racers just discovering this awesome sport.

BMX is Alive, folks. Just as it always has. Just as it always will be. retro rag

Dennis Dain

Cliff Burton

P .K. the Ripper & Oates (not Hall)

Tommy Brackens & Eddie Murphy

Frank Post & Phil Lynott

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Robby Rupe & Bill Murray

The Fehd & The Hoff

Bill Morris

Dale Earnhardt

Victor Newmark &

Dave Grohl

™Just like racing BMX, you had to be smooth and confident.∫

–Wade Nomura, talking about his days as a Ralph Lauren runway model.

™Screw these goofy-azz alien-lookin' bikes. Give me midschool or give me death!∫

–Nicholas Novak Pelamati, in a FB post

™I don' t think he' s human, he' s still racing endurance MTB races all over the world!∫ –Mike Albright, talkin’ Tinker.

™Yarnell was so raw. There was minimal thought to track maintenance and no thought to watering it. It was basically a structured fire road.∫ –Dennis Dain, talking about his Roots.

™I' m still waiting for that last growth spurt.∫

–Eric Rupe, recalling lining up in the gate against a “grown man” named Kevin McNeal.

™Asphalt ruined BMX.∫ –William Knutson, stating the obvious.

SALUTE: On January 18, 2026, the BMX World - especially in Illinois, lost a Legend ... Sundance owner Jim McMahon. His contributions and support for the sport will long live on. retro rag

photo by gOrk

da’ Fuzz

rag BMX Hall of Famer Tim “FUZZY” Hall - while leading an A-pro moto at the Winternationals in Chandler, AZ. 1990

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Cruiser crazies on classics.

June 5-7, 2026

Kevin Cleveland, not on a Redline.

Temecula, ca

Good ol’ fashioned Berm Warfare! It was great seein’ inside dive-bombers and feet-out action in every turn. DirtyFest is BMX racing how it was meant to be. story by gOrk / pics by iPhone

It’s nearly impossible to say no to

DirtyFest promoter Mike Miranda. That was obvious when you got to the DirtyFest venue and saw tent after tent of manufacturers (modern and old school) set up around the EC-built down hill course. There was Skyway, JT Racing, Torker, SE, Yoshimura, HotShoppe ... and TONS of others! pparently, I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t say No to Hollywood. This was my first DirtyFest - and I wasn’t the only virgin DirtyFest’er there. The 2026 event had a record turnout. So much so that they were forced to open up additional overflow parking.

Miranda had arranged a space for a BMX Hall of Fame display; and as luck would have it - we were set up right across from Rob Lane’s new Redline Rig. Throughout the entire weekend, an array of BMX pioneers were hangin’ around Rob’s ultimate RL tribute. Even Linn Kastan made a rare appearance! The HoF & Museum space highlighted Stu’s prized possessions - his MX-60 equipped monoshock and his Yamaha Gold Cup 1st place trophy from 1974. Rick Gayton, Dennis Dain and Mark Darcy helped complete the booth.

DirtyFest is held at the KOA Campgrounds back section, which has a fulltime mountain bike park called

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ASBA

VINTAGE BIKE SHOW

Mark Darcy and

his ASBA crew put on yet another stellar old school bike show, which brought out some serious collectors and insane bikes. When the first bike you walk up to is a fully restored. ultra-rare Super Baja 500 GT monoshock, it was obvious immediately that these SoCal collectors aren’t playin’ around. For me, I was pumped to see a Redline Platinum series complete (one of only 100 made). I hated that funky suspension bike, but still gotta admire it’s rarity. Congrats to all the winners at DirtyFest. Like all shows, the ASBA judging crew had their work cut out for them in picking the best bikes.

The DJ class was havin’ a blast.

Florida State Hall of Famer Bonnie Hutelin and her daughter hittin’ it on the Hack. For never hackin’ before, she’s got the lean.

o-city MTB Trails. Hall of Famer Eric Carter maintains these trails year-round, and has put together a pretty killer old-school downhill track. To really achieve NBA-real ness, they could throw in a few more dirt clods or ruts in the turns. Overall though, it’s AWESOME! Practice ran all day on Friday, motos ran on Saturday and then semi’s and mains on Sunday. riday night hosted the flatland freestyle jam on the KOA’s basketball court, which was a blast - and full of former friends catchin’ up. aturday night is the Party Night, I was told. We were due to announce the Great-8’s for the first time, in between the Moms-on-Scooters race and the Pit Bike Spectacular. Everyone there was having a great time, whether they were racing, spectating or getting tackled by some idiot in a dinosaur suit (yeah Reilly1, we know who that was). n Sunday, I was finally able to get away from the HoF booth and made it up to the starting hill to witness some good ol’ fashioned, elbows-out / balls-out racing ... (well, except for in the ladies class.) o best sum up DirtyFest 4, re-read our headline. It’s not called DirtyFest for nothin’. Around 2pm, winds start rollin’ in and

O T

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Nick nack, paddy wack, HACK ATTACK! Did Team Torker meet their match at DirtyFest? Seems unusual to see Dave Ramey & Nate Lowe in second.

It’s not like Todd Lyons could play for the NBA - but his 32” wheeled Colossal Ripper literally goes up to his armpits.

On a regular Saturday, you’d find Tulsa’s Dravin Groove flippin’ Psycho burgers at the Hardesty BMX track. ...but not this Saturday. Torker’s Groove (#11) was flippin’ out on the Retro vibe.

Jay Oakes with the Holeshot!

PIt Bikers RULE.

HALL OF FAMERS OUT IN FORCE

Everywhere you looked, there was a Hall of Famer, a former Champion, an old

school legend or BMX has-been. You seriously could not walk 10 feet before running into another BMX buddy from back in the day - or maybe a Legend in their own mind. Just like our BMX Hall of Fame ceremony, DirtyFest is def a big BMX family reunion.

RED BARON doin’ some hot laps on Stu’s mono.

TOMMY

with his GPV X-games gold medal.

STU

stompin’ the comp.

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fold

Normally, we hate AI images. ...but in this case, she does make Bryan Mikulich’s 1989 Izusu mini truck (complete w/ Puegot race bike) look better. Thanks ChatGPT.

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500? 600? Possibly 700 Vintage bikes, all in one place.

Where’s Wade?

The King holding court.

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Super sweet Technique.

Dialed Diamondback.

The Rich Sigur clone.

Event promoter Ed Nomdowski and Hollywood - the Life of any Party.

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TRAKER w/ Bottema forks.

SLINGSHOT w/ alloy Disc wheels.

Tricked-out TITAN.

A Rebel yell DB.

JIMMY WEINERT w/ Webco mags.

The yellow Webco BMX frames were introduced at this

event. Thanks to Webco’s Don Kemp, in collaboration with Rick’s bike shop. Owners Rick Twomey and wife Patti (who was one of their original BMX journalist writing stories about local races) made the morning of this race a yowza moment: 1. Debut of the new Webco frames! 2. Equipped with new Moto mags! 3. Debut of Rick’s team uniforms; with matching helmets, jerseys, pants, plates ‘n boots. Rick’s Ryder Eric Richter (aka Rocket Man) rode in the junior class, which meant he was one of the first Riders out on the track. Dude! Eric jumped out to the holeshot

in the first practice - he’s got a killer uniform and looks so factory European. The bright yellow Webco frame and the Moto mags. Then Eric topped off his Moto-Man look with a red dusk mask. His got long blonde hair flyin’ out the back of his helmet. This is one of those moments at the Yamaha Gold Cup series that was a total YOWZA! Total holy crap moment. To date, he was the coolest BMX racer we’d ever seen. Mind blown. Dave Clinton’s first practice hot lap would provide the next mind-blowing moment. It was like we were witnessing a super stylish European motocross racer with the speed of Speedy Gonzales. Geeeeezzzz!

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John George was up next, with his two speed clutch and banana seat - throwing some X-ups, cleanly clearing every obstacle and throwing in some massive style with his coaster wheelies (manuals). All of this so far and it’s ONLY practice!

LA COLISEUM / 1974 Sooo many tricked-out bikes. Perry the Pulverizer Kramer, aboard his Richie Lee-modified 8” Schwinn Diamond cranks (super stroker!). The LA Coliseum track was super long! In practice, you could tell who was fit and had proper conditioning. Some Riders doing full laps at 100% full speed / full send. Others seemingly pooping out halfway through a lap (at the 50 yard line). On this day, the introduction of the Moto Mags was something super special. A few of the racers at the Gold Cup had rims that were so

worn out from “coming up short on jumps.” At that time, most kids were broke, so they’d use a hammer to pound the rim back into shape/place.

memories from Byron Friday Johnny O’Mara’s rims had been dinged so many times and hammered back that there were several cracks in his rims. So, seeing these new mag wheels, we instantly knew that things we’re going to be a lot different from now on. We weren’t going to have to worry about trashing and fixing our wheels so frequently. I recall months before the Yamaha Gold Cup finals, we’d see Skip Hess at Simi Valley’s Muntz Cycle Park BMX track, talking to the kids and parents about their bikes - getting ideas of the problems that the riders had. The times I talked to Skip at Muntz cycle Park, I had significant modifications to my steering system (metal shop class, bicycle mods). One time, he had a gentleman with him who must have been an engineer, because they were having a deep discussion about product development and production methods. None of us had a clue of what’s to come.” --TGIF (Byron Friday) retro rag