Chicago BMX, If you raced Itasca, Elk Grove, Lombard, Funway, etc, come on in! Options

[MikeCarruth]

Since joining VBMX, I have been looking forward to participating in a thread devoted to Old School Chicago BMX. Well, I just picked up a new scanner, with which to scan up a lot of my old photos and memorabilia, so I figured I'd go ahead and start one meself.

Please post your images, team affiliations, favorite rivalries, etc, etc.

Goodies to follow (as soon as I can get this scanner to work with Mac OS 10.5).

Looking forward to seeing a lot of the old faces!

Best,

M



This post has been edited by MikeCarruth: Mar 20 2008, 08:08 AM

[MikeCarruth]

Itasca manual starting gate, circa 1980 or 81. Note Mike "Advanced Trickery" Pierce on starter duty. To the far left, in the background, you can see the Advanced Trickery bus.

(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/itasca_gate.jpg)

Fast forward a few years and we have Bill Morici leading Mike Hibner at the Odium (probably 1983).

(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/bill_morici_odium.jpg)

BMX Underwriters takes Team Trophy in Naperville, 1983 (Left to right: Tony Falbo, Bill Schneider, Mike Carruth, Jerry Dunphy, Stu (forgot last name...sorry). Photo by Tristan Cavato)
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/bu_team_naperville.jpg)

Yours truly at the neighborhood track in Elmwood Park aboard my first OM<BR>
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/mike_at_epbmx.jpg)

Not racing related, but thought I'd toss in a couple from the BMXA show at Sundance in 1981 or 82
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/bmxa_sundance_rl.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/bmxa_sundance_buff.jpg)



More to come...

Comments?

[MikeCarruth]

The hyperfast Denny Owens (RIP) at the Springfield ABA nationals in 1982 (nice NBL patch, there D.O.).
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/denny_owens.jpg)

Owner and Team Manager of Advanced Trickery, Mike Pierce
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/mike_pierce.jpg)

Cruiser Class at Itasca in 1982 that's me (B-52, borrowed from Mongoose's Brett Allen, I believe), on an OM dressed up to look like a then-nonexistent, Redline 26" Cruiser.
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/itasca_cruisers.jpg)

More cruisers, this time, first turn action at Elk Grove. Rob Kelley did a wonderful job of escorting me off the berm.
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/elk_grove_first_turn.jpg)

Kevin Morici moonlighting for BMX Underwriters on our test of one of the Scorpion bikes. Location Elmwood Park "Bike Track."
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/kevin_morici.jpg)

[Guest200901]

Great Pics!

Denny Owens RIP? I must have missed that. What happened?

[MikeCarruth]

Great Pics!

Denny Owens RIP? I must have missed that. What happened?

I heard he was killed in some kind of accident. I believe it was also posted here. Any other news or sightings, please post.

[MikeCarruth]

Tristan Cavato tearin up the MOTOrola trails in Franklin Park
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/cavato_MOTOrola.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/cavato_MOTOrola2.jpg)

Another shot from Naperville. I like this shot because of the Green and Blue Zeronine pants, and because of that Mongoose Two-Four (check out how raked out that head tube is).
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/carruth_naperville.jpg)

The latter-day Itasca gate was great, once you got used to it. It weighed a ton, and took forever to drop...but minor slingshotting and other gate antics were rarely called. Here's me, in the middle (9) putting that theory to the test.
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/itasca_gate2.jpg)

Here's another gate shot, this time from the 1981 NBL National at Itasca. This was the first race I ever covered for a magazine (Super BMX). The photos turned out like dog doo-doo (wish we had Photoshop back then).
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/itasca_national_gate.jpg)



This post has been edited by MikeCarruth: Feb 2 2008, 03:52 PM

[MikeCarruth]

My mom with Donny Atherton at the Schaumburg Schwinn "Meet the Team" event after the Itasca National
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/donny_and_mom.jpg)

Russ Creech screeches in to the first turn at the 1982 Itasca national
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/russ_creech.jpg)

Los Tres Amigos: Me, Bill Morici and Kevin Morici in the hotel room at the 1980 Jag World Championships (I think it was 80...check the shirt. Anyone?). My wife just asked if I had a deflated basketball on my head. Obviously she is not hip to the SE fashion vibe, circa 81 (wish I had a "wing thing" to taunt her with).
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/mike_bill_kevin.jpg)

Randy on the rocks. Randy Tischmann finds out that the grip tape on his "Trigon" is not all that.
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/randy_tisch01.jpg)

Not long after the above photo was taken, I headed West to join BMX Plus! as Associate Editor. Here is one of my first check stubs. I would have done it for free (and practically did, as you can see).
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/hitorque_low_wage.jpg)

[Jsea73]

Not long after the above photo was taken, I headed West to join BMX Plus! as Associate Editor. Here is one of my first check stubs. I would have done it for free (and practically did, as you can see).
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/hitorque_low_wage.jpg) [/quote]



Does anyone know who FICA is ?, and why am I paying that fool my money too,

This post has been edited by LOUISVILLEBMX: Feb 2 2008, 04:54 PM

[Jsea73]

Oh and by the way Mike Great pics,,,

[Deanna]

Those are some great pictures Mike. My sister told me to tell you hello. The pictures you posted bring back so many memories to all of us. I wasn't a local at any of the tracks but sure raced them enough at nationals throughout the years.

Hope you are doing well!

[B. Apold]

Great Pics!

Denny Owens RIP? I must have missed that. What happened?

I read this last year on the Illinois thread and knowone could really say what happened.. What a damn shame!!!!! He was sooooooooo nice!

[B. Apold]

I raced Itasca a few times. Great pics!

[MikeCarruth]

Some of my mobiles from BITD

1982-1984: 1972 Malibu Station Wagon, dubbed "The Transport." The bike on top of the car, by the way is a "challenger 24" made in Canada.
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/transport1.jpg)

1988-1989: My late-term Cali ride
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/bmx_ads.jpg)

[cornfed]

Wow! Very cool! I remember my dad and I talking to you @ Michigan City indoors, among other places. Those pictures are great.

Man, Russ Creech was fast. I remember he crashed and lost his spleen or something @ Detweiler (I think) and I never saw him again after that. I think he quit soon after. I think he was receiving support from Daimondback at the time, maybe?

Well, I'm settled into my new house; I have no excuse for scanniong my pictures... I'm going right now to see if I can dig them up...

Keep posting if you have 'em!

[MikeCarruth]

Awesome! Thanks for replying. What's your name...I'm sure I'd remember you.

Looking forward to seeing you pics!


M

[cornfed]

Ahhhh....I've got a stack of pictures here and my scanner isn't working right... This will take time...

I used to ride for this team:

(IMG:http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/john_n_/johnsbikeclothes005.jpg)

(IMG:http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/john_n_/johnsbikeclothes003.jpg)


I'm working on the scanner...

[dsmith]

i know you got some pics pf south shore bmx. post em!
its right by chicago....
thanks for all them pics they are awsome!
[attachment=1776:ssbmsm.jpg]

[MikeCarruth]

Hey Damon!

I think I only have one or two South Shore photos left, but I will post them!

Glad to see you in this thread!

Best,

M

[MikeCarruth]

Here is a biz card that the OM left for me at the Sturmey Archer booth at the 1982 Chicago Bike Show. Always one of my favorite bits of memorabilia.
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/om_note.jpg) (IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/sei_card.jpg)

And an Itasca BMX patch (fairly soiled...I think I got Phil lube on it at one point)
(IMG:http://www.fiodan.com/vintage/itasca_patch.jpg)

[larryS]

Mike,

Cool picture's. Any others of Itasca & Elk Grove tracks would be cool. Any pic's of Schaumburg Schwinn and Sundance riders would also be cool.

As far as Russ Creech goes, he suffered a serious back injury that required major surgery. I think he flew out to the Mayo (sp?) Clinic for that. He stopped racing after that. I thing he was National #6 sixteen expert in the NBL at that time. He's doing well now and lives out in West Chicago. Diamond Back was cool enouh to give hime one of their first mountain bikes when he stopped racing. He had a co-factory deal going with them at the time. I'll make sure he get's the picture you posted.

Sadly Denny Owens passsed away after a one car accident a few years back. I think it happened out in the Barrington area.

I still keep in touch with Darren Latuszek (from Team Schaumburg Schwinn & Sundance). I've tried to get him and Russ to come on here but their hands are pretty full.

I was on Team Schaumburg with Darren and Russ. We all grew up blocks from each other and went to the same high school.

Thanks,

Larry