Retro & Vintage BMX

Historic BMX Photo - World's First Ramp Flip EVER!

2010-01-17T14:41:00.000-08:00

Photo ©Brad Fanshaw

In 1984, I was living in Arizona and I would ride my Kawasaki Tecate 250 three-wheeler down by the Salt River. This is a place where every one would go to keep cool and hangout. Guys on motocross bikes, girls floating in tubes with coolers and beer. Anyway, one weekend I see this huge crowd watching some guy on a bmx bike. I ride over and see this guy is setting up plywood across the river rock and a big wood ramp.

I ask whats going on and I'm told they are going to jump into the river. Cool, I race back and grab my cameras from the truck and get right down in the river. There was some great cross-ups and jumps, but this guy; Jose' Yanez comes speeding down the ramp and pulls a full flip into the water!

After shooting a bunch of photos, I grab Jose and ask if he could do that ramp-to-ramp? He told me he thought so and I lined up the first ramp-to-ramp jump behind the ABA offices. Jose went on to perform at the ABA Grands and then went on tour with Barnum and Baily Circus.

Today, a flip is yawn, a regular trick, but you are seeing the grandfather of flips and the first ever photographed!

Woody Itson Hutch BMX Curb Endo Orange CA 1980s

2010-01-17T14:27:00.000-08:00

Photo © Brad Fanshaw

Woody Itson and I made our way to the highest hill we could find in Orange, Ca one night to shoot some pictures. In a parking lot high above the city lights we shot the classic Curb-Endo. The action is stopped by the flash and we still get some blurred lights from the long exposure.

Who wouldn't love to have Woody's Hutch in their collection?

Voelker Sky High Cross-up Austin, Texas 1988

2010-01-01T10:20:00.000-08:00

Photo ©Brad Fanshaw

The ramp in Austin was great on the river and made for the best photos. This is Dave Voelker high above the ramp at the 1988 Round 3 event for 2-Hip King of Vert. Voelker placed third in the expert category at this event, but ended his ride with a jump into the water.

BMX Photo Shoot- Just a Cool Photo

2009-12-27T13:09:00.000-08:00

PHOTO ©Brad Fanshaw

This photo was shot in a studio when I was shooting a bike frame advertisement. The illusion of the rider flying over the top of you was always cool.

2-Hip King of Street Wall Ride

2009-12-27T13:00:00.000-08:00

PHOTO ©Brad Fanshaw

This was shot at the 2-Hip K.O.S. near San Diego about 1986. Wilkerson piled a bunch of dirt against the back wall of the shopping center and everyone went crazy. Every major rider from the day was at the event and in true 80's fashion Vision Street Wear made the mark and outfitted the riders.

If anyone knows who this rider is I would love to identify him? I am guessing it could be Brian Blyther?
UPDATE: STRIKE at vintagebmx.com helped us identify the rider in the picture as Craig Campbell...thanks!

Powerlite BMX Rider

2009-12-21T19:26:00.000-08:00

Photo ©Brad Fanshaw

Talk about a photo that just screams fluid style, Kirk Crisco was really competitive. Kirk rode for Steve Rink at Powerlite and always had that laid back stance over the whoops.

Thanks to Shannon for the id on Kirk!

Ron Wilkerson at 2-Hip King of Street 1980's

2009-12-21T19:03:00.000-08:00

Photo ©Brad Fanshaw

Ron Wilkerson had been promoting his 2-hip King of Vert competitions with great success in the 1980's. This photo was taken at one of the first 2-hip King of Street comps near Del Mar, California.

Wilkerson and crew invaded a parking lot behind a grocery store. They rolled in a couple of junk cars, wood ramps and used the back of the store for wall rides. The photo is Ron stalling on the edge of a car before spinning and riding to the hood. This event was a scene!

King of VERT Event Sign...How Far the Sport Has Come!

2009-12-13T15:28:00.000-08:00

©Brad Fanshaw

I went to so many BMX and Freestyle events in the early days and most were at rural out-of-the-way locations. BMX tracks were out in the boonies and freestyle events were only sometimes held at areas.

Today, huge corporations like Mountain Dew and Gillette sponsor the events and they are held in nice stadiums and have TV coverage. Just 20 years ago events like Ron Wilkerson's 2-Hip King of Vert competitions were pretty low key. Just take a look at the event sign above and it gives you a clear ideas of how it was!

Ron Wilton BMX Action Trick Team Big Air Ramp Ride

2009-12-13T14:37:00.001-08:00

Photo ©Brad Fanshaw

Eddie Fiola was one of the Southern California riders that emerged as a freestyle leader in the 1980's. He gained fame riding the skateparks that dotted So. Cal in the day and quickly earned a reputation as "King of the Skateparks".

Fiola rode with guys like Bob Morales, Bob Haro, Fred Blood, Woody Itson and Mike Dominguez. It was guys like these that set the early trends and styles of riding. Never a big flatland rider Fiola looked at home in the sky defying gravity.

But for many the power of Bicycle Motocross Action and Go magazine that featured riders from the BMXA Trick Team made them huge stars at the time. This photo shows Ron Wilton high above the ramp with just the black sky and a ring of stadium lights. Wilton was part of the BMXA Trick team with Mike Buff and R.L. Osborn.

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Action Now Magazine The Action Sports Mag of the 80's

2009-12-13T14:08:00.000-08:00

Action Now Magazine was so ahead of its time, published in the 1980's it was one of the best action sports publications ever. The reason it was so great was the talented staff of writers and photographers who sought the trends and emerging sports. Combine the sports of the day, that were just getting legs with music and culture and you have ACTION NOW!

If you can get back issue of this mag grab them you will find early roots action of BMX, freestyle, skateboarding, snowboarding, rollerblade and surfing. Coverage of So.Cal music culture as well.

Grab a reprint of the shirts and you will have part of the Southern California action sports culture.

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Mike King Vintage Team Huffy BMX Team Photo Shoot

2009-12-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

PHOTO © Brad Fanshaw

It was big news when Huffy got back into bmx racing in the mid 1980's and the team was a powerhouse! They signed Stu Thomsen, Mike King and Shawn Carmody, a team that was ready to dominate bmx racing.

I was able to gather the guys for a quick photoshoot to promote Huffy BMX during the ABA Mile High Nationals outside of Denver, Colorado. Since we were at an event we didn't have much time and we had nothing but a dirt lot to ride. Other than the static team shots with team manager Bob Hadley I was able to get some berm busting action of Mike King.

The photo is another from the fill-flash motion blur era of photography, a killer shot! This is certainly a team that is vintage bmx and deserves to be part of the bmxretro blog.

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Denny Davidow BMX Wheelie Through Newport Beach

2009-12-07T20:14:00.000-08:00

Photo © Brad Fanshaw

This is one of my favorite pictures, Denny Davidow and I were doing photos for a Free Agent bike test. It was about 1983 and we had been at some riding places in Costa Mesa and Denny was busting berms and jumping his brains out. Denny was a great rider to work with because he was easy going and would always push it for the lens. Over the years Davidow had ridden for bmx teams like Bassett, Skyway and now Free Agent. I remember that he was one of the unsung riders of the 70's and 80's, this is a guy who on any day could give Stu, the Patterson's and even Ronnie Anderson a run for the money.

We were having a great day and I had shot a bunch of photos, but it was time for some tacos. Denny and I headed to Newport Beach where he knew of a great place to eat. While sitting beach side this girl goes skating by in this hardly there swimsuit. Denny asks, "Did you see that?". How couldn't I, she was in that suit and just skating back and fourth. She skates by again and from the rear the suit was even less!

Just then, I spotted the sign- "Far Out Bikinis". I jumped up and shouted to Denny, "Grab your bike and I'll get my camera!" He looked at me like I was nuts, because he had no idea what I was doing. When she came skating by again, I stopped her and asked if she would like to be in a photo, no need to ask twice. Denny came by doing the one-handed wheelie and it is now vintage retro bmx history.

Purchase a hi-resolution copy of this photo on an 8x10

Ron Wilkerson's 2-Hip King of Vert 1988 Austin, Texas

2009-11-28T00:03:00.000-08:00

PHOTO ©Brad Fanshaw 1988-2009

I don't know who the rider, but this is Austin, Texas 1988. What I like is the ramp built lakeside and the laid back casual ramp session attitude. The guy riding is "hanging-it-out" while everyone is just hanging out.

The rider is sharp and crisp while the ramp and spectators are in soft focus. This photos shouts early BMX vert competition.

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Webco BMX Magnesium Wheels 1970s

2009-11-27T23:52:00.001-08:00

It was either 1975 or 1976 when Webco BMX released these Magnesium wheels. BMX Products had released the first BMX mag; "Motomags", other companies all began to make cast aluminum wheels for bikes. There was Lester, MotoPro and others, but only Webco was making magnesium.

I had no idea what magnesium was, what I did know was that Wheels-N-Things had a set and they were super light. Sandy Finkleman at Wheels-N-Things said they were cool so nuf said.

Problem was I could not afford Motomags so these were out of the question.

Still would like a pair of these wheels,, got a pair to sell or trade?

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David Clinton Skyway Tuff Wheels 1977 BMX AD

2009-11-27T23:35:00.000-08:00

David Clinton was one of the first BMX heros; along with guys like Jeff Bottema, Coy Hudson, Thom Lund and Scot Breithaupt. I rode sidehack with Scot at Rancho San Diego and when these guys raced, I was in awe.

I do remember the first time I ever saw a Skyway Tuff Wheel, they were a creme color and the guys from L.A. had them. They showed up at our local San Diego track and had these alien wheels, they were so cool. They flexed like crazy (remember they were prototypes) and we all wanted a pair.

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Toby Henderson SE BMX Team Photo Shoot 1985

2009-11-27T23:12:00.000-08:00

PHOTO ©Brad Fanshaw 1985-2009

I am fairly sure that it was 1985 that this photo was taken of Toby Henderson. He was riding for SE BMX and I met him at a riding place somewhere in the San Fernando valley. The dirt lot was one of those cool riding places that used to exist in Southern, California. They were everywhere, now it is houses and strip malls in their place.

This shot was one of those speed blurs that I was really into, a flash and slow shutter speed. Toby was short on time and I was far from Newport Beach, so I only left with a couple rolls of film. This was one of my favorite shots, The Coca-Cola Cowboy just looked like he was bursting from the photo.

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Matt Hoffman Riding Vision 2-hip King of Vert 1980s

2009-11-27T22:46:00.000-08:00

ALL PHOTOS ©Brad Fanshaw 1985-2009

Matt Hoffman redefined Vert riding in the 1980's, in these photos, that have never before been published, Hoffman is just 15 years old. He was already competing in the Pro ranks and pulling big air like this!

This 2-Hip King of Vert competition sponsored by Vision Street Wear in Michigan was small by today's standards. The ramp was small and had just a parking lot for the spectators. That didn't stop the riders from pushing the limit.

Hoffman was quiet and always waiting to pull a new trick. He would watch the other riders and hold back for a while. Then after sizing everyone up he would drop in and pull one of these big airs or some crazy trick no one had ever seen.

These were the early days of BMX Vert riding and it was great watching it get started.

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MATT ON RAMP 8x10 PRINT

Vintage Team Huffy Race Photo of Shawn Carmody

2009-11-27T22:31:00.000-08:00

PHOTO ©Brad Fanshaw 1985-2009

In the mid 1980's Stu rode Pro for Huffy BMX bikes. The powerhouse team included Mike King and Shawn Carmody. The team was a powerhouse for a couple of years before Huffy disbanded the effort.

Here is a shot of Shawn commanding the corner at an ABA National.

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Bill Walters Leathers Vintage BMX T-Shirt

2009-11-26T00:03:00.000-08:00

In the early days of BMX all the top riders had a pair of Bill Walters leathers. You just felt faster if you had a pair! The leathers may be gone, but you can still own; one of these vintage look t-shirts!

All t-shirts are high-quality heavy weight shirts and 100% cotton.

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Vintage 1977 Redline BMX Ad- Stu Thomsen Powerslide

2009-11-25T22:27:00.000-08:00

It was 1977 and the sport of BMX (bicycle moto-cross) was just in the start-up phase. The sport had grown from back lot jumping on Schwinn Sting-Ray bicycles to organized racing. At this point it was primarily a West Coast phenomenom.

Lynn Kastan was a pioneer who saw a need for true racing frame sets. First came the 6061 tubular chromemoly forks, then the now famous square tail frames and by the time of this ad the Pro-Line V-bars!

The rider who carried the Red Line flag; Stompin' Stu Thomsen.

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