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!
Statcounter
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Historic BMX Photo - World's First Ramp Flip EVER!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Voelker Sky High Cross-up Austin, Texas 1988
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.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
BMX Photo Shoot- Just a Cool Photo
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
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!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Powerlite BMX Rider
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
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!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Action Now Magazine The Action Sports Mag of the 80's
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.
PURCHASE a 100% Cotton Heavy-weight T-Shirt NOW!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Mike King Vintage Team Huffy BMX Team Photo Shoot
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.
ORDER A Hi-RESOLUTION PRINT ON 8x10
Denny Davidow BMX Wheelie Through Newport Beach
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
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Bill Walters Leathers Vintage BMX T-Shirt
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.
CLICK HERE to BUY a (BLACK) Bill Walters T-Shirt
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Vintage 1977 Redline BMX Ad- Stu Thomsen Powerslide
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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