1st ever Vintage Nationals & Bike Show

Filed under General on September 30, 2022 | Comment(s)

THE VIBE:

The new USA BMX HQ in Tulsa hosted their 1st ever Vintage Nationals & Bike Show recently, racing around a classic "Indy World Champs-like" course, with a rubber-band start, small hill, a flat concrete and asphalt course, scattered with old school wooden ramps. In all, there were ten classes - with many riders signing up for multiple bike divisions.

Mingling among the crowd were special guests - Hall of Famers Mike Dominguez and Harry Leary; both Diamondback legends. Scattered amongst the parking lot were tons of BMX icons and even some sweet classic BMX Vans - including Oklahoma's very own House of Wheels van, which is currently being restored by Kenneth O'Brien. Parked on the inside of turn two, the van doors were wide open with an impressive assortment of 8-tracks being cranked from the roof-mounted bullhorn speakers.

THE RACE:

The vintage vibe kicked off in staging, where the Ping-pong ball habitrail would provide lanes for each rider. Once lined up on the grassy knoll start hill, gate starter Scott Shope (the GM of this new HQ) would snap the rubberband and off they'd RIP.
Once riders blasted across the entrance road, they'd quickly hit the wooden first jump, launching themselves and their old, heavy bike up onto the concrete plaza, blasting the first flat sweeper with a left foot out. Upon exiting the turn, they'd careen into the Yamaha Gold Cup-inspired waterjump from 1974. 

RACE RESULTS:

20” pre-1976
1st    Brian Tabor (Pabst Blue Ribbon)
2nd   Rusty Roberts (Race Ready)
3rd    Chris Dolson

20” Suspension
1st    Mike Savage (Crit)
2nd   Dale Riley (Mayes Co. BMX)
3rd    Charlie Long (CBL)

20” 1976-1979
1st    Randy Pittaluga (Mongoose)
2nd   Cash Mathews (Mathews Motocross)   

20” 1980-1984
1st    Mike Savage (Crit)
2nd   Turbo Harry Leary (DB)
3rd    Dee Chips 

20” 1985-1989
1st    Brian Tabor (Pabst Blue Ribbon)
2nd   Dylan Dixon 
3rd    Dale Riley (Mayes Co. BMX)

20” 1990-2000
1st    Alec Bob (USA BMX Foundation)
2nd   Dylan Dixon 
3rd    Jason Crouch (Ssquared)

Cruiser pre-1985
1st    Brian Tabor (Pabst Blue Ribbon)
2nd   Jonothan Hoag (Daylight)
3rd    Tim Strange (Strange Motion)

Cruiser 1985-’92
1st   Tim Schaffer (Premiere Racing)
2nd  James Stone

Cruiser 1993-’00
1st    Dale Riley (Mayes Co.)
2nd   Adam Scott 
3rd   Jonathan Cornish

TROPHY DASH WINNER
1st   Alec Bob (USA BMX Foundation)

THE BIG SHOW:

Along with the racing action, there were over 180 vintage bikes on display for the Vintage Bike Show - with quite a few tents set up for the vintage BMX swap & sale. Among the most talked-about displays was the huge RV and trailer that pulled in from California. It was Redline's newest afficiando, Rob Lane, who brought his immaculate and pricey collection of 30-plus Redline's. Joining Mr. Lane, was another Mr. Don Lane, who also loves Redline's - and believe it or not, is un-related.
Next to all of the Redline's was the King of Torker's - Dave Ramey, who also owns an amazing collection of Supercross'es, and at the edge of the parking lot were the many Texans who'd drove up with trailers and trucks loaded with their most prized possessions. The legendry Lopez Bros. - owners of some of the most dialed in Cruisers known to mankind, were present and accounted for, as well as Rusty Roberts and Tim Schaffer with their impressive assortment of BMX history. 

Thanks to Oklahoma's M.O.T.O.S crew, judging commenced and with over 180 bikes to look over, it was a tough task to narrow down the ten winners. (Even longer to tally up the scores!). But in the end, the following collectors were announced and handed their killer gOrk-designed/MJT-made Awards:  

16" Pit Bike - DG pitbike / Tony Lopez

20” pre-1976 - Redline Monoshock / Rick Gayton-Rob Lane

20” 1976-1980 - Redline Proline / Rob Lane

20” 1981-1989 - Redline MX II / Rob Lane

20” 1990 & up - Kastan / Tim Schafer

Freestyle pre-1991 - Redline ProStyler's (tie) / Don Lane

Freestyle 1991-up - TNT "BoobieTrap" / Brian Tabor

Cruiser pre-1980 - Powerlite 24" / Tim Schafer

Cruiser 1980-1990 - Patterson 24" / Tony Lopez

Cruiser 1991-up - Supercross / Dave Ramey

BEST of SHOW - Diamondback Turbo / Harry Leary