Early BMX Tracks

A look back at a few early BMX tracks in Cali - circa 1970's...
Escape Country, Malibu Canyon, B.U.M.S., Redondo Beach.
A brief history of BMX tracks and old school BMX racing...

[@normannoriega9557]

Hello friends. Love the memorys back in the 70s. I was a big BMX RACER. I'm 57 now still got a beach courser. I race at BUMS track La marida track La habra track. Omg the movie on any Sunday I was jest a kid I cry at the end of the move . Wow I had every bike in the book stingrays Mongoose BMX and I even have that first year Yamaha bike that they came out with what the shocks in the front and shocks in the back I didn't I didn't like it because it bottomed out when I eat you race I didn't get no traction but anyways gentleman thank you for the video I loved it I brought me back some good memories. Then when I started riding Motocross I had a CR Honda and a RM Suzuki and I used to ride up and look at the Palm Beach track over there on the other side of St Thomas Bridge and Escape country thank you gentleman Good Times this was all in the 1970s

[@dronejunkie2951]

I remember Fats custom Chopper too

[@Santaheckler]

I started racing in early 80’s…best times of my life! Thanks for the memories!

[@Pigeonmaster-zt5ly]

Best times indeed....You can still see our BMX track that was built in 1980 from Google Space. It's in Selah, Washington. Yea-Those were the days...Today kids have phones and computers that they view-We had Bikes and we flew! We bent time and space and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

[@thevalleyjoe559]

I am proud to say I represented Cen Cal ABA, started out racing Big Wheels at. Plaza Park in Visalia... 2 weeks later I made my debut with a Western Auto bike with a paper number plate... That was the beginning of a 6 yr ride I will never forget... I became an Expert at 7 and took Overall winner 3 yrs in a row, raced in Paso Robles back then not many minorities participated due to the cost of the sport and it's commitment.. my best achievement was 2nd place at the 81 PepsiCo Winter Nationals... I could go on forever... But one thing I will never forget was a small sticker my. Mom (RIP) placed on my # plate that said "Think Fast Go FASTER"

[@rob4433]

Man, that's epic.. Great share

[@mikaelthomas6168]

I had an American-made chromoly mini torker with Bullseye hubs three-piece aluminum cranks that my dad had anodized gold. All Allen bolts and gold FMF bars

[@chrismoody1342]

This is the time frame that my younger brother was deep into BMX. He literally raced in a four state area and was hugely successful. I’m talking hundreds of trophy’s acquired before moving on to MX. So many good memories of the two of us racing our motorcycles and pushing each other faster and faster. I’m 66 now and still yearn to race MX.

[@tonyrollman3991]

That was really awesome,shaping the minds of America's youth !!!

[@PgTrAxX]

You mean all the world's youth 🙂👍

[@louc6635]

Yep, we started putting motorcycle handlebars on our bikes. Then it went to welding up our own mono shock setups. Some of us even used motorcycle chains. We just wanted to be the famous mx racers and have their bikes. I found an old pic recently of me jumping on a bmx bike in the early 70s. So cool

[@williamminyard8508]

my first race was at la mirada regional park. got first from the far lane in the final heat... 1978 i was 9 years old. straight to expert as it could be done. raced irvine, orange ymca, norco inthe years to come. the ymca by the age of 10or 11 was my home track. i wasnt sponsored but i had nice bikes. powerlite, pk ripper, torker, gt, cook bros. , free agent. i ran fast and hard but wasnt the best. i had a lot of fun and made a lot of friends and memories." Billy Minyard "

[@lorneholtzclaw4505]

A little later in time, about 1979-1982 I raced Redline Proline. Still can’t walk into a bike shop without thinking back to my first Redline. That part of growing up. Too bad you can’t relive our childhoods.

[@KosmicHRTRacingTeam]

Awesome!!! Grassroots of BMX. I have some great 80s memories racing Orange (YMCA) BMX, Irvine, Coal Canyon and many of the more local ABA nationals (Winter Nats, Grand Nats, Summer Nats, etc). Tons of talent back then in the area (Brian Lopes, Jeremy McGrath, Eric Carter, etc…). The irony was that i usually did better at the National races than at Orange because there was just so much talent there every single week. Of course this was the era where everyone that raced BMX also did a lot of dirt jumping and we rode our bikes everywhere. It was part of our daily routine.

[@michaelvitiello9960]

Pie plate racing. I love it!! Back in the day, that was what you did for your first bmx race, get the pie plate out with the marksalot and write your number. But back then, I would be damned if I was going to race with a pie plate on my bike. I already had my number plate, I brought with me a role of electrical tape, and formed my numbers out of it

[@sheidbrink]

So... no one noticed that at 5:16, #44 is none other than Bob Hannah. FYI, I was not at Scot's first race... but I was at the second B.U.M.S. race (with Hannah & Rick's Bike Shop team).

[@AaronKingslien]

It really is amazing to see the origin of a sport that has now shaped my life.

[@davidcassels7312]

1983 Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland. Had a fantastic table top. Big sweeping berms. Then in 84 Hurlford track opens. Cowabunga.

[@terdcutter3193]

My father sal zeuner was a dg factory rider in 78 79 rip I love you man.

[@mickroyster6442]

I had a little thing like this in the foothills of NC, in 1973. In the foothills, natural hills were the perfect height, and shape for that, so me, my friends Oliver Russels, and Kyle Hopper, got some people from our middle school, to race. My bike was a 1970 Schwinn Pea Picker, I got when I was 10, mowing lawns. I don't know how I did it (it was 45 years ago), but I made it so my front wheel would bounce upon impact, pushing the force on the back, making it easier to jump, and wheelie! Best years of my life!

[@walkerpeterson1149]

You bringing up Ron Mackler and palms park,I raced like 3_series, one two,raced out in the valley,palisades fairgrounds, soon after that I got my YZ 80,started racing at Indian dunes,escape country, trubuco canyon, you sure brought back that time in life,I felt on too of the world back,then.. Remember the Paulferman Bros, they used to kill it

[@dougrobison1209]

I raced in SoCal during the same era. Mostly at Covina and Monrovia. Corona and Ventura once in a while. Great memories!

[@P46345]

I was born in East L.A. in 1968, I bought my BMX bike from my friend in 6th grade, a Mongoose, had an ABA membership and raced at Monrovia. The only name I knew of any of these "pioneers" was Bob Osborn. I subscribed to Bicycle Moto X Action and I remember R.L Osborn and Mike Buff as well as the many factory riders like Stu Thompson, Bob Haro, Harry Leary, Tinker Juarez, Toby Henderson, etc.

[@gilbertmarin7965]

Wow, this brings back Great memories! I grew up in Redondo Beach and I raced at Dominguez track with Joey Duarte. He was the main rider and I was the monkey on his side hack. I remember that if you did not have a helmet they would give you an old football helmet to use. Good times!

[@josephwinkler4863]

This is so awesome this footage is amazing and brings back so many memories for me

[@borgdrone8369]

i have the best bike that ever came out of the 70s the 1976 cook bros racing with a euro BB.. way ahead of its time,,,

[@davecozzi9721]

My best friend had a Cook Bros. I had a Race Inc. It was lighter. I think Cook Bros. was the true inventor of the lay-back seat post though. Good times back then.

[@debilthomes501]

I remember Cooks Brothers! I made even have had one of their frames. I owned so many in those early days I forget.

[@kenbunker3837]

I had a Comet Bmx bike in 78, I raced at Cleveland Australia and still have my 2nd place trophy from 79

[@tonyw2136]

Funniest thing I forgot about growing up in the 70's we did everything in bluejeans

[@desert4wd]

That’s true. Talking “everything” sometimes it was just the jeans and no shirt and if you bit the dust you’d be good all the way up to your belt and the rest was all scraped up....hahahaha!

[@srpdesigns]

Yeah ...Bluejeans for everything!!!

[@louc6635]

Yep but they really did save your skin sometimes

[@BadbreathBarfly]

Wow, I can’t believe after all these years Bob Osborn still remembered me. I am “that little kid named CRITTER of the Arvada Street Gang “ @ 7:50. I was only 7 years old, but I remember I made a good impression with him cause I showed up at the dirt lot in Entradaro Park with two shovels and a garden hoe. Those were good times to be a kid. No stress, no smartphones and rainbows weren’t gay. Mr. Osborn, I hope you’re doing well. Where is R. L. Osborn? C. Reiman ... Still living on Arvada

[@interested891]

I grew up riding/racing in other places. But then I moved to Redondo Beach then to Entradero Ave. and I'd always go shoot hoops at that park.

[@nicholasrush3311]

Is watching on any Sunday is a spiritual and life changing experience for any bike rider I recommend it for everybody it really did bring me back to the time when I was riding on my dad's gas tank as he was Taking his victory lap

[@mouser4290]

Thank you starting these events I had so much fun doing this races when I was young.

[@yellowveedub]

I started racing bmx in 1981. When bmx was fun

[@thornyturtleranch6152]

I think it was always fun. I raced in that time too, maybe 1982. Won 1st place on my 1st novice race. Raced maybe half dozen times. Not sure my mom really loved the bike in the truck race nights. I guess my step dad did go once or twice, maybe every race, cant really remember.

[@nakitojimo2001]

Word. I started in 1984 but not for long because someone stole my BMX in an arcade centre parking LOL

[@rob4433]

Soooo, anyone agree with me that modern BMX racing is NOT how the sport was ever intended to be. Bicycle moto X - now they clip in, run smooth tires and race on tarmac.. They killed it. Bring these tracks back man!!!

[@hamjohn8737]

I'll Cheers to that.....at Brookshire BMX outside of Houston, the first jump was over a pretty wide creek. Why'd they get rid of that kind of fun???

[@rob4433]

@@hamjohn8737 that sounds epic! Just tried to find some pics on the Internet, no luck. Any about that you know of?

[@darrenrogers5735]

You make a very good point. It would we cool to have old school type racks, but with bigger more challenging jumps without all the silky smooth manicured surface, use platform pedals and just go for it!

[@jonise2524]

Nothing was intended to be the way it is now, and I mean all , just like breakdance and bmx or everything else

[@mikejenkins1055]

🎉

[@jeffhelm7581]

Pretty good video...... my pops had a 1976 Kawasaki KE175 Enduro and got me a replica bmx bike. That baby had full suspension! Got busted jumping parking cars down the street. From there it was a Webco. After having that welded a few times I stepped up to a GT from Hacienda Bikes in 1982. I raced at the MalibuGrand Prixs, Azusa Canyon, Orange, Prado and one downxj. South OC (forgot the name as I only raced a few times) Rowland Heights was perfect for BMX. Anyone else have Z Rims ?

[@tonyengland9744]

This is great early history. Thanks a lot.

[@lakeforestparkshredder3018]

JMC factory rider right here🏁🤘🏻

[@rob4433]

Darryl Young JMC.. Now that was a beautiful bike my man

[@hushmoney2058]

@@rob4433 True But the 79 JMC Long with the Bigger Oval Down Tube was Perfection ...Plus I didn't want some Dude's Name on My Bike ....

[@bennyblanko3]

I broke a few of those old stingray frames at the headset landing big jumps before the webco's and 2-brothers and stronger stuff came out. We were always looking for the good forged goosnecks (stems) that didn't snap or let the bars move. We all wanted motorcycles, but were poor kids, taking the scraps of others. I remember the Fountain Valley track, and escape country - where I held a hang glider for the 1st time at about 12 years old or so (57 now). Does anyone remember those bikes with front motorcycle forks, and rear lay down coil shocks, and fake plastic gas tanks that looked like motorcycle?

[@wrigman]

My friends and I did the same thing you did at the same time as you. We made tracks in any vacant field in Anaheim with our stingrays with 10 speed seats and our old dirt bike handle bars. We never knew about escape country BMX track. The first BMX track we knew of was Coal Canyon BMX track in Yorba Linda. One of the guys that was part of our gang was Jerry Welchel. He went on to racing trucks and buggy’s. We had a blast!

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

I was just thinking about how when I was riding BMX bikes in early 80s it was more like a mini motocross track. Today it’s all about pumping around the track.

[@archiecunningham3734]

My time was the late 70s my place was the neighborhoods and deserts of Las Vegas. My best bike was a torker. Great times

[@deadname...]

I raced for Dr spokes, a bike store sponsored by Torker, early 80s, yup good times.

[@rob4433]

That was my first proper bmx.. Torker 280X. First race was at Woodham Warriors back in 85. Rode bikes all my life, loved racing and never knew about the local track until I was 15

[@debilthomes501]

I raced for Torker in NorCal. Steve Johnson and I spent a lot of time together as he was getting his business going.

[@vinniemartin3682]

Mine was a Torker and Tuff wheels buddy had the Mongoose and Moto mags, we built our own sting ray side hacks with coat hangers and gas welding great times .

[@35sixer]

So cool, I remember my dad making me a set of suspension forks for my Stingray, then came the alloy age and my FMF Team Replica in 76-77 (delivered news papers to pay for it). Legend City and Castle view BMX tracks in Phoenix is where I raced. Special times.

[@davecozzi9721]

I got a Race Inc. when it first came out. Must have been mid to late 70's. Had to do a lot of yard work and chores to get that thing. I used to race at Roadrunner Park, home track, and Chandler, when someone would take me. Phoenix, AZ!

[@rico8089]

@Chaz z That alloy FMF would be worth $$$ now. I have my 1978 blue ano Race Inc on display in the living room, reminds me of good days as a kid.

[@demonweber666]

I started riding in the 70s, in the Chicago area we had construction sites, wood ramps or Motocross/off-road tracks. Started on an Evil Knievel bike from Montgomery Wards. Then i pulled a lawnmower around town to buy a Rampar R10, and my friends had Mongoose,Ashtabula,Powerlite,Cook Bros and Roger Decoster. Then it was Thruster,Torker,JMC,CW,Race Inc,and SE. By the mid 80s, EVERYONE had a bike and EVERYONE raced, all over the Midwest. Still riding today!!!

[@dethcult]

Remember Itasca?

[@demonweber666]

@@dethcult Of course! I think there were 30 tracks within 60 miles around Chicago

[@dethcult]

@@demonweber666 I raced there and Elk Grove, Lombard. Grew up in Schaumburg. Rode a white Kuwahara pre ET! I was friends with many who raced with Sundance Cycle. Had such a crush on Dylan McMahon!

[@demonweber666]

@@dethcult I'm from the south burbs.Raced Springfield, Peoria, Kankakee,Bourbonais,Manteno, Lombard,Itasca,Elk Grove, The Odeum indoor track, Rockford,Elkhorn, and all the Indiana tracks. I was on a team with Mighty Mo' Tillman att Paramount Schwinn. Still riding today at 54! I've got my Elf, same as in my profile pic.Great memories, the heyday of BMX is n my opinion

[@dethcult]

@@demonweber666 very cool! Just turned 55 myself and I have a Redline Proline from maybe 84? I am still riding. I even raced about 6 years back at Elgin. Don't know if that track is still in operation. I forgot about the Odeum in Villa Park. Great memories! Some of the best days of my life were spent on a bike in the dirt!

[@mtbalpinecounty]

Best damm stuff of my old history! Great find! I'm an oldie like you guys from the SF Bay area..💪

[@davidm4160]

I remember the early seventies, the bikes would bend or break just thinking about the jumps we would take.

[@metalpunk1234]

I had no idea they'd break after a stunt jump but throughout the years the frames of the BMX bikes had improved drastically to prevent breakage I think.

[@interested891]

I remember that. Everything always loose and slipping and bending and breaking. Trying to shimmy stuff in between the stem and the handlebars so they wouldn't slip.

[@brianpreston8483]

My first bike was a mongoose in 1979

[@lloydb248]

that is old school cool.. awesome share

[@mxoldtimer4braaappp858]

1970 - 1973 BMX at Chatsworth Park.. still racing motocross at 62

[@eddiebones20]

Did you ever race the Yarnell track in Sylmar?

[@mxoldtimer4braaappp858]

@@eddiebones20 ..No , but in 78 -79 use to ride my maico off roxford on a track ..houses there now.? Been in Oregon since 2000

[@eddiebones20]

@@mxoldtimer4braaappp858 I rode a 75 YZ80 in the hills above the hospital and top of Polk st before all the houses were built. Mitch Krebs was the fast guy in our area (on a 360 Yamaha). By 78-79 I was on a 78 YZ125 out of Palmdale, Indian Dunes on occasion. I dreamed of a Maico, still do.

[@tonymunoz127]

Mel Stoutsenberger..wow, we use to ride with you around Orcutt park. Had some great jump offs with you. Also on the fire roads above Chatsworth reservoir

[@debilthomes501]

Fireroads. That was the shit. Long downhill rides that would smoke your coaster brakes! We got there before mountain bikes. And I grew up in Marin where Mountain Biking started.

[@waynek3366]

I use to ride in The Dominguez Hills in 1976-1977 had a great time until development came in. On Any Sunday movie inspired me best movie ever.

[@thegrubbypirate2614]

LOVE IT. Great clip.

[@jacobjames1171]

You guys were pioneering the idea of the low seat height.

[@sinned96]

AWESOME SIDE HACKS

[@debilthomes501]

Yeah, seems sidekicks were just an early BMX thing. My friend Sean McLean made one and I was the monkey. We raced it a few times in NorCal.

[@drewbrutal1102]

i love hearing u say Gnarly,im from the East coast an i ride an race motoX an use that Word for alot most my life.its "Gnarly" hearing it from a Generation before me.im from the 80s.🤘

[@herbwhitmore4482]

Western sportsarama in the house 1976 77 17 and over class , I had a Gary turner frame #006 raced against Leo Green Harry leary tinker Juarez stu Thompson and others , good times I will never forget.

[@philbalon6992]

Hi Herbie !😎

[@terdcutter3193]

My father was sal zeuner dg factory rider from New Jersey.

[@matthawes4395]

Very very cool

[@arturopizzaro7839]

Thankyou. Lord for this. Thankyou. You guys. I loveyou

[@brianglade848]

Before Stompin Stu got bigger, he took a huffy and mangled it up with his bare hands in Long Beach, then he garbled out a yell that sounded like an ogre gargling beer foam

[@deadname...]

Holy shit, Stompin Stu was a early idol of mine, up there with Denny Owens, Frank Cesare and Jerry Dumpfy.

[@mygolfballsannoy]

Lived in so central LA.. we raced at encino velodrome..73 ish? 1x in van nuys somewhere

[@seanmiland]

nothing is cooler than the 1970's BMX and skate kids from California.

[@eddiebones20]

Great time to be alive. Free Range Kids

[@stevepadilla9729]

I raced escape country That was a fun track.

[@arturopizarro3777]

Legends bmx

[@sinhocorredor]

Top vídeo...

[@douglasbright134]

I started on a huffy mowed grass saved my money and bought a pk ripper

[@josephwinkler4863]

I had a PK Ripper in 1982 I bought the frame separate I remember they had it hanging on the wall and I would go into Rockdale BMX and drool over it until I saved enough money to buy it

[@thornyturtleranch6152]

How much did you spend on the pk ripper? I saved $476 for a redline, the deland fl, schwinn dealer tried talking me into a pk ripper. I had a friend with one. Then I moved to Portland and bought a hutch from bike gallery for $488.00

[@douglasbright134]

500 dollars in early 80s

[@thornyturtleranch6152]

Yeah when the schwinn guy was raving about them I wasnt so convinced, the aluminum was so different and the giant tig welds to me seemed really weird. I had been with guys jumping talking about forks and frames breaking. Or oh his mongoose is cracked or what ever. And so the PK ripper scared me at the time, but not justified. I really thought se was cool with baby blue and brown.

[@livelocalmetalhardrockband7049]

Very cool

[@bartholomewceremony6981]

I remeber that name "romanoski" being put out on the loudspeaker from Linda Dorsey.

[@arturopizzaro7839]

The masters bmx old school. Original

[@hushmoney2058]

What was the Track in San Dimas called ? Had to be around 75 76 I got my First First Place Trophy on my Sting Ray ....

[@Gerk8]

BMX with sidecars? I never knew.

[@thomasshane7360]

Lived in Venice Beach. Raced palms park wrvey week Thursday night or Tuesday cant remember finally got a motorcycle my first race was hope town. I was hokked Tuesday night ascot Fridays indain dunes. Sunday Saddleback or Danza. Still riding at 64 04 kx 500😊

[@peterglitcheshd1761]

Sooooooooo cooooooool

[@paulhewson4600]

Story of my life in Florida,,,1973-78

[@6galaxy]

thanks

[@neuregel]

Was the bums track located in the field greenway that kinda runs along 7th Street

[@timnell207]

Some of these photos are still shots from the opening of On Any Sunday

[@jamesalderman4162]

So what's up with these bikes that have a "sidecar" built on? It that like a "tag team" event where the two team members take turns pedaling for longer endurance?

[@xmo552]

I was in Hollister, 2004, small world eh?

[@dronejunkie2951]

I remember those BMX days. 1973-74 I used to race at 190th / Flagler Redondo Beach. Age 14 Builds Bmx Stingrays and Mini Schwinn. I was on the cover last page First edition of Cycle News. This kid broke his Arm going off the Jump I forgot his name? he was on 8mm film too they took him to Southbay Hospital just a block away…After Yamaha gold cup in Van Nuys got burned out most of my friends moved and few passed away I stopped BMX back in 1976 decided a different life path invested on a Harley Davidson motorcycles at age 16

[@interested891]

That's the same track they're talking about in the Video. You can see the Vons sign and P.V. in the background. Now it's a dog park.

[@BradThePitts]

I live in Long Beach, does anyone know exactly where B.U.M.S. was, or BUMS #2 in Bixby?

[@interested891]

7th and Bellflower. Long gone now.

[@davemitchell6281]

Who had the Mag Scrambler?

[@thebikehippie6562]

I want a bike with a sidecar.. Those are sweet😀

[@tonyengland9744]

We called them side Hack's. OM se racing raced one forever.

[@neonin97]

ASCOT!

[@MrDjh66]

My friend Chris Simpson raced for jagg all over the place he is 55 now

[@ronbranum4134]

ok what the hell were those 3 wheeled things 😳

[@hairball1006]

Rubber band start was it in Texas in 75 76

[@markcumpson4682]

Remember trodondo off 190th

[@benbenetier3598]

I raced there a couple times back in the early 70s.

[@discmotoslots]

side-hack bikes!

[@danieljohnston1798]

Bob Hurricane Hannah #44 @ 5:18

[@duanemcdude7956]

I tried to race Bums on a Yamaha Moto Bike, it was too heavy and geared completely wrong changed the crank and sprocket and then it was too slow.......Plus I broke my Moto Bike in two.....Goodbye, BMX hello Motocross......Sadleback here I come! YZ100

[@hwn8088]

BMX in the 70s * 80s = wz the Shitt , RAW DOGS 🐕 🤣

[@normannoriega9557]

BUMS TRACK RULED.

[@ShepherdsChapelonYT]

Let's turn to God Theseasonorg explains the whole Bible God bless.

[@radicalhabitoldschoolbmxap6942]

Let The Rad Days Roll...

[@westward2020]

Rad

[@brianwilson131]

Lo6lll

[@killsalltires156]

This a old video. Wow!!

[@killsalltires156]

Haha no helmets. The good old days and they all still lived through it all!