Team Murray AWESOME!

Team Murray ad from the May 1984 issue of BMX Action. AWESOME!

BMX Action--January 1984 Part Three

And here is part three of the January 1984 issue of BMX Action. So much good content in this issue, a must download for everyone. Here is the direct link to the PDF file. http://oldschoolmags.com/mags/BMXA_8401.pdf

BMX Action--September 1983

Alright, it has been awhile since I have done one of these, and seeing as it is September, I thought the September 1983 issue of BMX Action would be a nice place to pick it back up. I had this issue from about the time in came in the mail, to the day it fell apart from being looked at so much. I rode with it in my back pocket over to my friends house, where we would pick over every detail. Even when were out riding, we would take a break and look through it again while sitting in the bottom of the ditch. One of my all time favorites for sure.

Another great first straight photo with Stu Thompson and Brian Patterson fighting for the lead into the first turn. Now if Stu wouldn't have blown out his back tire in the first turn, he probably would have held off Brian.

This photo is one of the all time best to come out of BMX Action. Scott Clark and R.L. Osborn buns up over a set of triples in Centennial Park. Nose down into the landed, best feeling ever!

http://edwardkoenning.blogspot.com/2011/01/bmx-action-september-1982-part-1.html
http://edwardkoenning.blogspot.com/2011/01/bmx-action-september-1982-part-2.html
http://edwardkoenning.blogspot.com/2011/02/bmx-action-september-1982-part-3.html

BMX Action -- November 1983

And another kick ass cover from BMX Action. Like seeing freestyle taking a cover shot considering how heavy this issue is with race coverage. And even that is fine by me, I like the fact that this is also a cruiser heavy issue.

Great coverage form the NBL War Of The Stars race in Conroe, Texas. The picture of Rob Fehd flying over a set of doubles is such a nice shot. This also happens to be the track that the McDonalds BMX commercial was filmed at.

Scott Clark leading the Pro cruiser class. Nice to see so much 24" race coverage. Pretty surprising to see the Gatorade sports bottle getting a nod though. I am guess sports bottles weren't the rage yet. Wait. Were they ever the rage?

There is one thing that is a guaranty with these older issues of BMX Action, Mike Buff would have some kind of stylish shot. And this opening spread to the CW racing 24" Pro Racer is another fine example of that. Airing it out over the Trick Team quarter pipe.

BMX Bandits
Etnies Men's Number MID Skate Shoe,Grey/Lime/White,8 M US

BMX Action--May 1982

Scott Clark leading into the first turn at the ABA Winter Nationals in Chandler Arizona. Speed on. Foot up. Makes a great picture of how fast these guys would power into turns. Who says you need clips?

Greg Hill out in the lead of the AA Pro Main. Was he still using those "rat trap" metal pedals at this time? I seem to recall that being a issue with Greg and him slipping pedals. Might have cost him a title at one time if I remember correctly.

Take a close look at some of the names in the results list. A few future big name pros in there. And why, when I look at that picture of Clint Miller, the only this I see is that front hub? What is that? A Sunlight?

Like the layout of this track. That inside turn step up drop thing need to come back. I bet that was messing with people at this race. That is a great black and white gate start picture, looks the Andy Patterson is getting the jump on everyone.

Mike Buff doing "The Flipper". Or as we liked to call it the front wheel kick turn. I had a wedge ramp in my yard growing up and can remember falling off the back of it a few times learning this trick.

The sequence that still comes up in conversations to this day. Mr. Mike Buff jumping off the roof of his brother's bike shop The Bicycle Source. Maybe Buff was the original "Rooftop". Not sure about that, I don't think Buff's mouth has ever gotten him in trouble before.

Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6" Display, Graphite - Latest Generation
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi [VHS]
Oury MTN Grip (Black)
Back in Black

BMX Plus November 1983

I can still recall finding this issue in our local grocery store and being blown away. BMX Plus had a way with trying to make their covers so over the top. And they managed a good one this time. David Ruz getting his hop on while his buddy puts his family jewels at risk. Great cover, great issue.

Always did dig the Rad Gallery's in Plus. This issue was a VS. issue featuring "Dangerous Dave Gianunzio against Flying Fiola." I wonder who won? Eh, who cares. That rear tire grab photo is awesome.

Fiola and Gianunzio clocking air in the Rad Gallery.

Procraft Ultima 2400 bike test with MartiN Aparijo manning the ship. Somewhere during this bike test is where I was introduced to the I-Hop.

Good to see ESPN has had their hands embedded in BMX for so long. That shot of Richie Anderson and Bubba Hayes is just so "BMX". Fast and stylish, those guys ruled. Also have to give props to two top Pros running front brakes. I had one of my old bikes set up just like John Piant's bike. Chrome, red and black work so good on a bike.

Old School Snowboarding: The Very First Contest [VHS]
Diamondback Session 24 BMX Bike (24-Inch Wheels), Candy Black, 24-Inch
Mongoose Racer Boy's BMX Bike (12-Inch Wheels)
KMC Z610HX DropBuster BMX Bicycle Chain (1-Speed, 1/2 x 3/32-Inch, 112L, Silver)
The Complete Book of Bmx

BMX Action August 1982

Eddy Fiola on what was another of my all time favorite covers ever. Torker twin top tubes, Uni seat, gold Shimano DX pedals, graphite Tuff Wheels, all will be taking a back seat to Woody Itson looking cool in the background with his lady friend. Such a good picture in so many ways.

All right, I am not going to post a bunch of these pictures just to poke fun at everything in the background of them. So many of Bob Osborn's pictures have to be looked at in a whole. Not just the riding. What was captured is sometimes simple stunning. The surroundings, the people, the locations, all were a part of the photo as much as the bike riding. This shot from a NBL War of The Stars race is a prime example. So much in this photo stands out as being a part of racing from this time frame. Love it.

Fred Becker leaning out over the Cloverleaf bowl and Eddie Fiola doing a hip hanger. A while back I had posted something from this article. So many good pictures from this contest.

TRUST YOUR MONKEY! Sidehacks in the skatepark. So rad to see. Two note worthy guys the these, shots. Some flatlander named Martin Aparijo doing a front tire grad. And a 13 year old Mike Dominquz. Where have I heard that name before?
 

Scott Clark jumping the triple whoops. I don't know what it is about this spread. The fact that the jumps look like a blind person may have built them. Or the way Scott Clark looks like he has been packing on a few pounds.

Like many other kids who rode bikes around this time wanted to build my own ramp. When I finally got around to getting my mom and pops to give me the blessing, I should pops these ramp plans to what I wanted to build. After he was done laughing, he came up with something a little less bumpy. We built a wedge ramp. HA!   I wonder how many people had built a quarter like this? We had one in or neighborhood that was fun to ride but hitting that 10" of vert at the top took some getting use to.

BMX Action July 1982

I will just come out and say it, I freaking love this cover. Classic BMX shot from Bob Osborn. To bad the rest of the magazine was kind of weak. I can't knock it too hard, they where giving the Murray X20c six and half pages of coverage in this issue. The rest of the issue seemed to suffer from it. Old Bob must have really been trying to get all of Murray's advertising money. All in all though, rather bland issue.

I guess I still liked it due to the fact that I had one of those Murray bikes. And to tell the truth, it was a pretty cool bike. Nice little build for the price. Real Dia Compe brakes, nice Array rims, ACS hubs, Elina seat. Murray did a good job with the component specs. Helped also that they had it covered in stickers with all the cool key words. "Full Chrome Moly." "Track Certified." "Team" I would like to see the sales numbers of these bikes from 1982 and 1983. I am sure it was crazy high.

I wonder if that is the same bank from the cover shot? Nice little trick of camera angle. Even if it was, at 12 years old, I didn't really care. I just wanted one of those number plates.

Good old cruiser class. The 24's looked so big and clunky from around this time. It is really cool how the geometry has changed and that class has gotten so fast. Pro cruiser is scary to watch sometimes, guys are crazy fast on these bikes. Jeff Bottema;s green forks stood out real well at the race track, eh, they didn't need that color to stand out. They did that on their own.