FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

Craig and Isaac chat with Bill Batchelor about his old school photo collection he took in LA during the peak of the Freestyle movement - at 14 years old.

Just so I can watch and get stoked whenever I need it. Also went with a crusty VHS tape so it had the proper feel.

Shot locally and released in 1986, the movie Rad tells the story of Cru, a young man with a dream of making it big as a BMX racer by racing the “Helltrack” and winning the grand prize of $100,000 (and a sweet Corvette).

Name: Jason Van Buskirk
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Started riding BMX in: 1979
Number of bikes in the collection: 30+

Dutch roots by any chance?
Jason Van Buskirk: Yes, my Heritage is Dutch, however, I am born and raised in the U.S.

Is your focus on BMX bikes from the period you raced in mainly?
Jason van Buskirk: Yes, I tend to collect bikes from the late '70s To mid '80s... Probably 1987 being the latest. I do have a couple '90s bikes, but that's not the era I enjoy collecting the most.

Name: Tommy Yaley
Hometown: Mtn View. California
Started riding BMX in: 1974ish
Number of bikes in the collection: 9

Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Tommy Yaley: About 7 years ago I decided I wanted to re-create the 1st Gen proline I had when I was a kid. I sold a bunch of my music gear collection and then, like everyone else, it took off from there. Just one more bike...

Mours saint Eusèbe (26) . Deuxième Championnat d'Europe de BMX en France aprèsDijon en 83.

In 1972, Gary Turner, a professional drag racer and experienced welder, started out making a BMX bike out of chrome-moly tubing for his son Craig to race at the BMX tracks. Craig's bike gets noticed and Gary starts to supply the frames to other kids and building his reputation one frame at a time. Gary Turner BMX was born.

Name: Timmy Williams
Hometown: Keyport, NJ
Started riding BMX in: Early ‘70s. Raced from 1982-1985, sponsored by bike shop in South Jersey called Beacon.
Number of bikes in the collection: Now, 30 completes. Once had over 45. I LOVE the odd/ rare BMX frames and parts, so that’s why my collection is different than some others.

Where does your love for BMX bikes come from?
Timmy Williams: When I was a kid, growing up in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, they built a BMX track a half mile from my house (It’s still there). I would ride by there on my bike to check it out and soon I asked for

Name: Jeff Utterback
Started riding in: 1969-1970 after seeing On Any Sunday with my friend Mike Brinkley. His father raced scrambles. We put motorcycle handle bars on our bikes around that time. Went to my first race in 1973 at BUMS. Started racing regularly in 1974.

Teams represented: Vans Bike and Key in Long Beach Ca. Dan Gurney, Yamaha (Raced a Moto Bike for a few weeks waiting for our Race inc. frames), FMF, Scot Enterprises, SE Racing, GJS So Cal. Almost rode for R&R (after Dan Gurney) and Race Inc.(after SE Racing). Bill asked me and offered to pay me a little something. Never went past the first meeting.)

What was the first bike you used to ride Bicycle Motocross at BUMS?
Jeff Utterback: Schwinn Jr. StingRay

In 1973, what were people using at the first few races you entered?
Jeff Utterback: Modified Schwinns for the most part. My Dad met Marvin Church Sr. and started modifying my frames with his as inspiration. The first he did was a Schwinn girls frame with more ground clearance and a straight top tube.

You've seen the BMX bike development firsthand. What kind of full suspension bikes did you get to ride?

Name: Òscar Pallarès (aka Òscar Quatredosdos)
Hometown: Alella (Barcelona, Spain)
Started riding BMX in: 1985
Number of bikes in the collection: Around 50

Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Òscar Pallarès: It was in 2010. I decided I wanted to find a Monty 109, which had been my first BMX bike back in 1985. Montys were made in Barcelona and, at that moment, were the most competitive