Name: Pat A Lar
Hometown: Brighton, UK
Started riding BMX in: 1990
Number of bikes in the collection: I’ve 2 & 3/4 complete and a couple of framesets at the moment but that is always changing. I’ve downsized a bit as I prefer Quality over Quantity.
What was the first project bike that got you into collecting BMX bikes?
Pat A Lar: First Old School bike I built was a 1983 Torker Magnum. I bought it locally and did the usual newbie mistakes by having it rechromed, covering it in reissue parts and it was all over in a couple of weeks. This was a significant point for me as I soon realised that there was so much more to the history
Redline are pleased to share access to a limited quantity of Vintage-Custom and Classic Flyte Tech seats from our friends at Fortyonethirty. The custom colors are available in limited numbers as a one-off project and complement many Freestyle bikes from the 1980s era, including Redline and Haro. The seats are available at the link below through Sunday evening, and your purchase will ship no later than Monday 18th, with tracking provided. The fortyonethirty store will close on Monday 18th December and reopen Wednesday 27th December.
USE CODE ONEFT to activate a 10% discount from one purchase
Name: Woody Itson
Hometown: Keller, TX
Started riding BMX in: The 70’s
Number of bikes in the collection: I have 15 complete bikes and some frames and parts that may or may not ever turn into anything
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Woody Itson: I didn’t actually decide to collect any BMX stuff to be honest. In fact there was one point where all I had was the one bike that I was riding and some miscellaneous parts and uniforms in a box.
Name: Michael Gamstetter
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio, USA
Started riding BMX in: 1978
Number of bikes in the collection: Currently, 5. At one time, 20+.
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Michael Gamstetter: Yes, it was around 1996 or 1997. It was a random thought that popped into my head while I was working. I thought it would be cool to find an old JMC or Torker, a pair of Oakley II grips in the box and a set of Reedy pedals (I eventually had all those.)
Stuart King // On Location // Backyard // 1995 by Snakebite BMX
Name: Grant Stone
Hometown: Newbury, Berkshire, U.K.
Started riding BMX in: 1980
Number of bikes in the collection: 8
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Grant Stone: I’ve never really stopped riding BMX, so I have always had a current BMX in my possession. But I guess I started buying old school stuff about 9 years ago when I had the idea of replicating my Skyway TA that I sold in 1988 and regretted ever since.
At this moment, do you wish you had started collecting earlier?
Name: GAry Sansom
Hometown: Lewiston ID...
Started riding BMX in: 1969
Number of bikes in the collection: Over 600..200 plus completes and 400 plus framesets
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
GAry Sansom: Hmm... a couple times.. I rode all thru the 70's..and 80's.. when I moved to Portland in 1996, I was down to 5 bikes..then I found ebay..
At this moment, do you wish you had started collecting earlier?
GAry Sansom: Yes..they were so inexpensive in the early 90's.
Do you feel there is a need for BMX products to survive for history's sake?
GAry Sansom: For sure..part of the reason I started collecting.
What's one of your oldest BMX products in your collection?
Gary Sansom: My 1981 Kuwahara.. Skyway forks..Redline squareback
When you started riding what bike was the dream bike for you?
Gary Sansom: SE Quad angle..I recall seeing one in the shop.. 1980 or so.
Congratulations, Andy Ruffell! Inducted into The British BMX Hall Of Fame Class of 2023. By British BMX Hall of Fame.
Name: Rainer Schadowski
Hometown: Karlsruhe, Germany
Started riding BMX in: 1980
Number of bikes in the collection: Currently 61 and counting
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Rainer Schadowski: It evolved from my habit keeping bikes and gear I had raced and never sold. Then my Dad added more bikes and gear he got from retired racers and all of a sudden it was a collection. That was in the mid to late 90s.
Managed to get my hands on this awesome 1987 Haro Sport Frame!