Michigan 80's racing, stories, people and pics Options

[Tom Erickson]

Well I am from Minnesota originally but call Michigan home now. Every time I go to a track peolpe ask me about this track and that track which tells me that SE Michigan had a huge BMX community BITD. Who are the riders, where were the tracks, who is still racing.

Deanna can help I'm sure.

All I remember was 1982 Great Lakes National as an A Pro and getting totally Moto'd. Ted Carl and I traveled the 12 hours on Friday and drained all of my energy. Waterford was great then and is even better now.

Tell your stories, post pictures if you've got em. Maybe this thread will get to 100 pages too.

Sorry to my old friends in Minnesota but these guys in Michigan used to race as much as we did with more tracks.

[ September 22, 2006, 09:46 PM: Message edited by: Tom E ]

[jakerooni]

My first ever experience with BMX was way back in the early to mid 80's I met a kid that raced. He told me to show up and watch sometime. There was this track in Grand Blanc on Dort HWY near Maple road. (It's a mini-storage now) I went and watched. It was probably the coolest thing I ever saw. I didn't own a bike at the time so I never got to ride it. But I used to go and watch all the time for a couple of summers. I never knew what that track was called. Or what sanction it was. I would love to know more about that track if anyone has any info on it.

[REDRIPPER]

I raced at a track near Plainwell which was 15 miles north of Kalamazoo. I raced there between 77-80. It was a great place to race,even got a chance to run with Stu.

[Randy]

quote:

---

I never knew what that track was called.

---

Stadium BMX, ABA, I believe this correct.

Ya know, just 10 minutes before logging in tonight I thought to myself, I should start another Michigan thread, them Minnesota guys have a thread a mile long...

I'll pull out the photos soon, for now lets compile the track master list, add what I missed.

Traverse City
Traverse City indoors
Charlevoix
Petoskey
Kaleva
Ludington
Cadillac
Oscoda
Escanaba
Marquette
Dafter
Newberry
Sault Ontario
Rudyard
Mio
Lansing, Jack Pine
Battle Creek
Benton Harbor
Muskegon
Wyoming
Kalamzoo, Nettle Downs
Plainwell
Hillsdale
Saginaw
New Baltimore
Bogie Downs/Bogie East
Waterford
Woodhaven

28 and counting....

[Keep_It_Warm]

I raced from 1981 - 1984. Local to southeast Michigan only. Bogie Downs, Bogie East, Mt. Grampion, Waterford, Endless Summer.

My favorite track (maybe because it was the closest track for my parents to take us to) was Bogie East. I also enjoyed Endless Summer, but I can never remember for the life of me where that track was located. I want to say it was in Fraser or Roseville off Utica Road? Maybe Masonic?

I remember not liking Mt. Grampion at all. Only raced there a handfull of times.

My family has misplaced all photographs from that time period, so I have nothing to post, but I hope this thread takes off. Randy and Deanna have a wealth of information and pictures to share.

Tom

[hemidart1]

me racing at Kinross:
(IMG:http://images.vintagebmx.com/web_pages/hemidart1/me2.jpg)

Charlevoix:
(IMG:http://images.vintagebmx.com/web_pages/hemidart1/al5.jpg)

some more Kinross:
(IMG:http://images.vintagebmx.com/web_pages/hemidart1/small.jpg)

The boys at Dafter:
(IMG:http://images.vintagebmx.com/web_pages/hemidart1/al4.jpg)


I'll scan more this week. I've got tons more

Al.

[Deanna]

adding to the track list:

Stadium BMX in Inkster (ABA Track). This was an old furniture store we raced around twice for a longer track.

Crossroads indoor (ABA Track) and outdoor (NBL Track). Does anyone remember their outdoor track on the other side of US23? An Nbl national was held there back in the 80's. The outdoor track is now a miniature golf course and strip mall.

Endless Summer (ABA Track). I remember spending time there watching the RC cars race and riding in the skatepark.

USA BMX (ABA Track). It was at the corner of Dequinder and I696. It's turned into a industrial park now with a Bob Evans in front. I spent a lot of money playing their video games. Fun place to race and hang out.

Challenge Indoor down at exit 1 at the Michigan/Ohio border. The Wahl's used to run it and it was ABA.

[Randy]

Me caring the flag @ Bogie Downs, 1-81

(IMG:http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid91/p683b0c39a94f4961fd8f0d5b2b973e9a/fa6163c7.jpg)

More flag waving, Stadium BMX, 2-82

(IMG:http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid91/p96a3144d4c284a5cc4e80071953e44c4/fa61632a.jpg)

David Fisher [who I wished was here] #68 and I #2 up in da UP/Marquette, 9-83

(IMG:http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid118/p8778536ca6a08ab71e77b1033aed7c54/f88ec722.jpg)

Ludington, 1982

(IMG:http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/p4ce1f893f55d2df9afaa7f67b07097eb/f0400087.jpg)

[ September 23, 2006, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: Randy ]

[Randy]

What would a Michigan thread be if not to show off snowbank endos?

(IMG:http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid155/pebe441818f5f9b77e769f0edd873b5f6/f56853fd.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid155/p008a68f590b9612c5e6bea44ccb700f8/f5685402.jpg)

[REDRIPPER]

OMG I forgot about snowbank endos. Plant front wheel in snowbank and flip over handle bars,WHAT A BLAST.My freind broke a kneecap when he planted his front end into what he thought was a snowbank and it turned out to be a snow covered dirt pile.OWWWW