RL Osborn -- Toyota Jump

Taker from the April 1983 issue of BMX Action. PDF files can be downloaded here: http://oldschoolmags.com/mags/BMXA_8304.pdf

Team Murray AWESOME!

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

Anthony Sewell No Hander

From the November 1983 issue of BMX Action.

Anthony Sewell BMX Legend

BMX Action -- September 1982 -- Part 1

Another Monday, and another magazine throwback. This issue had so much good content in it, that I will be doing this post in two parts. Hell, I might make it three. We will see. And there you have the rad cover of Toby Henderson shredding on his Hutch 24".

Murray sponsored the Knoxville race and dropped an impressive(for 1982) 18 grand in prize money on the Pros. Still, it seemed the World's Fair that was going on at the same time kept quite a few people from attending the race.

Great shots of Stu Thompson and Bubba Hayes. And you know when it rains at a Murray sponsored race and you have to remove a layer of mud from the track, they are going to have Murray lawnmowers there to help out. GO BRIGGS AND STRATTON!

RL and Buff performing their first show at the Knoxville race. Rad seeing those guys blast off the back of their kick turn ramp. I was always a little afraid to do that when I was younger and opted out by flying off the side of the ramp.

Jeff Bottema blasting his cruiser out of one of the many cool test places. This guy is a true legend of BMX and will be known for more than just his forks. Love that little bit about him almost stepping on a rattlesnake. Scare the crap out of anyone. 

Sunday Funday 2 BMX Bike Frame - 20.75 Inch - Watermelon Green
Sunday 3rd Wave BMX Bike Frame - 20.75 Inch - Black
Cult O.S. BMX Bike Frame - 21 Inch - Black

BMX Action--December 1981

One of my favorite BMX Action covers ever. Jeff Bottema at full speed bun buzzer on his new factory ride for Team Murray. This is such a good issue that I am going to have to break it down into two post. Also having a 132 pages makes it hard to fit into one post.

Powerlite was always known for all of their strange bends in their tubing. This 24" was no exception. One of the nicer looking cruiser at the time, it sure had a great parts spec also. Then there is that bend in the top tube. Sure made it stand out from all of the other cruisers.

Woody Itson showing that he can do more than ride flatland. Epic skate park shot of Woody in the Cloverleaf bowl. And a great strobe studio shot of Dave Marietti. These magazines were one of the reasons I got into photography. So many rad photos.

RL Osborn and Mike Buff taking a hack "full-toot" through a berm at Ascot. So rad seeing these guys ride one of these with just a coaster brake. I sure bet that was fun.

Great article on the 1981 Summer BMX Action Trick Team tour.

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 705 HD 720p 3LCD Home Theater Projector
Freestyle Unisex FS81285 Shark Buzz Polyurethane Strap Watch
Freestyle Men's FS81242 Shark x 2.0 Ana-Digi Polyurethane Strap Watch

Other links.

http://www.clickedbmx.com/2010/09/daily-turndown.html
http://www.clickedbmx.com/2010/09/ed-koenning-interview.html
http://sasquatchcanyon.blogspot.com/2010/07/doing-least-most.html
http://www.clickedbmx.com/2010/09/guest-blogging.html

Old School Ads Part 3

Jeff Bottema will always best be know for those forks and possible his relationship with Team Murray. I never even realized he was sponsored by Off Shore clothing. Great ad.

Away Off Shore: Nantucket Island and Its People
Bolle Kickback Sunglasses, Shiny Black with Polarized Off Shore Blue Lens
Competition Cams 312263 HE Camshaft For Ford

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.

Favorite magazine covers.

Here are a few of my favorite magazine covers from way back.