BMX Plus February 1983 Part 2 -- Ads

Tapping back into the February 1983 issue of BMX Plus (see last post). This time for a couple of those great advertisements that graced the pages at the time. First is the Haro BMX ad for number plates, and then the second is the Shimano ad for their DX line of products. These are both gold! 

BMX Plus February 1983

 

There have been so many memorable magazine covers from the likes of BMX Plus and BMX Action, but there was always one from BMX Plus that stood out to me. And remembering the first time seeing this as a twelve-year-old at my friend Adam's house. WOW! Bob Haro, playing peek-a-boo on that chrome Haro Master, riding in some futuristic world, this cover was it!  And at the time when Star Wars Return of The Jedi were coming out with other 1983 classics like War Games and Krull, this was the perfect cover for the time. And forget about all of us needing those Graphite Skyway Tuff Wheels after seeing those gold hubs! 

It was always nice to see a little more freestyle making it to the pages of magazines during this time. I can still remember trying these bar hops in our gravel driveway out in the country. Hahaha! And I'm still looking through a few old boxes of stuff hoping to find my copy of Bob Haro's Freestyle Moves book. But it looks like that might be lost along with all of those copies of that Atari Video games.

Now, there is so much to unpack here. When I was doing these post regularly, I would not normally do a post of three pictures from a "bike test", but this one was too good to pass up. And as a huge bike and automotive nerd, the history of the Steyr-Daimler-Puch brand is something that is an all-day research fest and a possible call to one James May from The Grand Tour.

Now mixed into all of the "rich" Daimler-Puch" history, there was an agreement with a New Jersey frame builder named Speed Unlimited. These American produced frames to the naked eye look to be just a normal run of frames from this era of BMX, but upon closer look, they have a list of amazing frame building features. Ovalized top and down tubes, gussets at the seat and chain stays, plate gussets with logo embossed into them, and tubular brake mounts. Nicely produced frames, and I would love to see one of these in person.

Nelson Canada and D.D. Leona battling it out in a tough 17x main from the Huffy/ABA Grand Nationals. Looks like D.D. Leona took the win, and a very fast Steve Veltman took the Amateur and Cruiser Titles. 

RAD Gallery BMX Plus April 1986

Pulled from the April 1986 issue of BMX Plus. A RAD Gallery that featured Haro Bikes Team Riders, Brian Blyther and Tony Murray. The second page might have had Ron Wilkerson also, but I will need to add that one later. The picture of Tony Murray blasting over that blue Haro Team quarter is bonkers. Looks like he is still rocking the Vector bars also. 

Ron Wilkerson No Hander

At some point in the history of BMX Plus magazine their full-page pictures and the majority of their bike test articles where shot at Ron Wilkerson's Enchanted Ramp. The location was a hot bed of talent and always produced prime photos. Attached is a picture of Ron from a Haro Team Master test article from an issue that the date of its release escapes me. 

 

Bob Haro Endo

Bob Haro endo in front of the famous LA transitions. So much rad stuff has been shot there, like this excellent Etnies Chase Hawk video.

Dino DeLuca--AFA Huntington Beach 1985

View more old school videos at JefcoFreestyle YouTube Page

Skyway Advertisment--BMX Action January 1984

Great Skyway Recreation advertisement that has one of the most kick ass Bob Haro pictures. I wanted all three of these bikes in that ad. Not to mention the green cables and blue Dia-Compe brake set up like Bob had.

Mike Dominquez Del Mar KOTS Round Two

Here is run one from Mike Dominquez. I hope to have run two up later today.

Mike Dominquez--Del Mar Skatepark 1984 from edward koenning on Vimeo.

Bob Haro Art -- OTB

Revisiting some more of the classic Bob Haro artwork. This one has to be one of my favorite drawings of his. Love the bit with the grip "popping" off. So classic. See more here Bob Haro art and drawings and here.

Assassins' Raid: Killing Admiral Yamamoto
Deadpool Classic, Vol. 1
Deadpool, Vol. 1: Secret Invasion

More Bob Haro Art

Haro 25/9 Conversion Kit In Silver
Haro Recycled Plastic BMX Bike Pedals - 9/16 Inch - Purple
Flick Trix Sunday 2nd Wave Fingerbike

Magazine Throwback Update

Some computer issues have left today's old school magazine post locked in limbo. Hopefully going to get it posted tomorrow. Until then, here is a kick ass picture of Bob Haro doing a kick turn.

Team Haro:Freestyle BMX [VHS]
Haro Recycled Plastic BMX Bike Pedals - 9/16 Inch - Blue
Haro 25/9 Conversion Kit In Silver

Bob Haro Art Revisited

Haro 25/9 Conversion Kit In Silver
Haro Recycled Plastic BMX Bike Pedals - 9/16 Inch - Blue
Starry Night over the Rhone, c.1888 Poster Print by Vincent van Gogh, 36x24

Bob Haro by James Cassimus

This is from the November 1982 issue of BMX Plus.

BMX Plus Subscription

Rad TV The Sequel (VHS) BMX PLUS
Haro Recycled Plastic BMX Bike Pedals - 9/16 Inch - White

Old School Ads -- May 1982

This is from BMX Action May 1982. Who didn't have a pair of OP corduroy shorts?

Ocean Pacific Sportswear Watch - The Blues Men's Watch OP0040
EA Cord Shorts - Men Organic Corduroy Shorts ea01
Mens Ocean Pacific OP Aloha Surfing Boardshorts (Size: M)

Freestyle Pros of 1983

After having really good response from the BMX Action post on Monday, I decided to upload a little more of it's contents. Seeing as it is such a good issue, I might as well get some the the freestyle guys covered.

Somewhere in Joe Kid on a Sting Ray Gork was talking about how the Haro team was the business guys, and BMX Action were the preps, and MF were the working guys. I think I liked the BMX Action team better as the surfer dudes. Nice tie Bob.

Eddie Fiola and Bob Morales. I always wanted one of those MF team jerseys. I still to this day think about that awesome cover shot of Fiola riding the Vans half pipe. So rad!

Pat Romano and Mike Buff. Fixed gear dorks take note. It has been around for ever. And what do you know? Buff jumping over a car. No big surprise there. Buff rules.

RL Osborn and Bob Haro. They would put the formed team mates right next to each other. These guys were smooth.

And last but not least, Ron Wilton. I guess this is the point where that kick turn became known as the Wilton.

Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6" Display, Graphite - Latest Generation
Freestyle Unisex 779024 Shark Classic Silver Nylon Strap Watch
Timex Men's T45581 Expedition E-Instruments Tide Temperature and Compass Watch

Bob Haro BMX Art

Bob Haro talks about his art at the BMX Masters in Cologne.

Eben Krackau Can-Can

Eben riding his backyard halfpipe sometime around '88 or '89.

Bob Haro Art.

View more here. http://oldschoolmags.com/Bob_Haro_Art.html

Bicycle Motocross Action--October 1979

Tim Judge on the cover of Bicycle Motocross Action. The "on the cover" description read "doing the one-footer that he made famous...or made him famous, one or the other." Not sure about all of that, I was always under the impression it was more for the "Leary" he had done. Either way, there must be a reason for Tim Judge to have gotten so much coverage in his time. He is a ruler for sure.

I actually started to post this for that sick picture of Bob Haro airing the crap out of that 26" beach cruiser. Then the more I looked at the Webco add on the other page, the more I liked it. Clean, simple and to the point.

A gooseneck shootout was a common thing back in these days. Cool to see the changing styles and the evolution of the stem design. And of course there is Schwinn bringing up the rear and sticking with the single clamp design. And not to forget the clean look of those Tuff Neck stems. No wonder they were so popular. And I am not going to touch that Speedo fork ad. Too easy.

Some big time pros line up in the starting gate at the ABA Summer Nationals in Amarillo. I think the ABA needs to make the one-footed gate start a rule. That would go over real well with the racers.

Nice to look at some of the really old flat tracks these guys used to race on. Looking at that crash picture will Greg Hill taking the digger, it looks like they are racing in a gravel pit. Man I bet those were fun times.

Say what you will about BMX from this time period. A sport once trying to be so much like motocross, with the uniforms, the racing battles, and all the hype. It still just boiled down to riding a silly little kids bike on a track and having fun. Thanks to all of these guys for laying the ground work for what we have now.