Enjoy the rad, really rad, really really rad radness of Mike D. riding my halfpipe back in the day.
35 years of covering the BMX scene: 1987 - 2022 FAT! ISSUE 00. The official start of FAT was in 1987. It's 2022 now. That makes it 35 years of covering the BMX scene trying to make it bigger and better for everyone to enjoy. Find the info on issue 00 below and then flip through every page by hitting the link at the very bottom. We're starting off with issue zero here which was fueled by the fact that a Dutch BMX magazine (Trickx) started putting more racing and international freestyle riders in their magazine instead of the Dutch riders.
That's actually where the name comes from: Freestylers Against Trickx (FAT). It wasn't a goal or plan to make a total of 34 issues but after issue 00 came out the Dutch scene wanted more. Anyway, the "Try-MAG!!!" is mostly in Dutch but that will change soon in the issues to come.
It all started in 1987 and we were young and stupid. There were no computers in sight and the internet had to be invented for most of us. Markers, scissors, photocopies, rulers, the typewriter, these were the things you had to slap a 'zine together.
Compared to now the quality was shit but at least you had something in your hands that you could relate to.
Issue 00 already had a free sticker page. It actually came with two free stickers; one of the Freestyle
1975 NBA BMX promo video with Love unlimited Orchestra soundtrack
Name: Kurt Stark
Hometown: Born in Hemet, USA. Currently in Colleyville, Texas
Have you ever raced BMX, if yes, when did you start: I started racing in 1995/1996
Number of bikes in the collection: 12 bikes total
You've been a Schwinn Stingray collector for the past years. What made you switch to actual BMX bikes?
Kurt Stark: I still collect Schwinn Stingrays but I have drastically switched over to BMX because there is a lot of new stuff to learn as well as to collect.
Are you interested in the story behind the bikes that you have in your possession?
Kurt Stark: I am. It is always a treat when you find a original owner bike because you get to hear
Name: Mike Allred
Hometown: Wichita KS, USA
Started riding BMX in: First race 1982
Number of bikes in the collection: 16
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Mike Allred: Yes, the first bike I wanted to find and restore was a 1981 Mongoose Minigoose like my first real race bike
You have quite some unique bikes in your collection. Do you search for uniqueness more than 'just another motomag'?
Mike Allred: Often I like to find bikes that the older riders had during my early days of racing since those are the bikes I can ride as an adult.
At this moment, do you wish you had started collecting earlier?
USA BMX welcomes the @bmxhof Class of 2022! These legends will be inducted into the BMX Hall of Fame, currently being built in Tulsa, Oklahoma!
The BMX Hall Of Fame Class of 2022:
Early Racer - Andy Patterson
Racer - Randy Stumpfhauser
Industry - Steve Van Doren
Woman - Tara Llanes
Early Freestyle - Kevin Jones
Freestyle - T.J. Lavin
RL & I heard your guys' suggestion to do commentary over old bmx videos from back in the day and we decided to do our first one with the classic from 1985, Rippin'.
Name: Ediz Tensi
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey
Started riding BMX in: 1981
Number of bikes in the collection: 25
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Ediz Tensi: It was about 10 years ago and I saw Akman Atilgan on Facebook sharing his BMX builds, who is now also my BMX business partner. He was a big influence to me and I decided to collect BMX bikes.
What kind of bikes do you focus on?
Ediz Tensi: There are not many old school BMX bikes in Turkey, therefore I am collecting whatever I can find. My main focus is freestyle BMX but I collect race bikes too and I enjoy finding different types of BMX.
Do you have a favourite BMX brand?
Name: Michael James
Hometown: Vancouver, WA. USA
Started riding BMX in: Started riding/Racing in 1976 in MT. Sterling KY.
Number of bikes in the collection: Over 50 bikes currently.
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Michael James: I had the last bike I competed on a 1987 GT pro freestyle tour, that was just how I rode it, all mismatched parts & such. Back then we concentrated on what worked & did not break. I saw a flier for an Old school BMX show at the Recyclery in Portland, Oregon. Took my '87 Kuwahara Bravo Pro frame with me to check it out. So cool to see all the old school rides! Talked to the curator of the event Paul & we became best friends. We started doing the show together & this year will be the 14th year!
A Tucson BMX rider remembers his role in ET as the 40th anniversary approaches.