BMX was already in full-swing in the UK by 1984 with Magazines, TV coverage and healthy National Series events – UKBMX & NBMXA happening all over the country. It also seemed like a new, fresh breed of racing talent was appearing at the Nationals and gaining recognition in the magazines. Specifically, one being, Nathan Lunn, who was first spotted in BMX Action Bike Magazine riding a Torker rocking a Van’s jersey and slip-on shoes. By the time the 84 UKBMX Nationals got underway, Nathan had been upgraded to the Torker Factory Team and was looking to put a serious threat on the number 1 plate in a very tough age…

Always good to see BMX’ers continue to do good after their BMX days. Simon Hayes, was around the start of BMX in the early 80s in the UK riding for Kuwahara and Hutch racing Kelloggs TV series in 84/85 and even becoming the European Champion in 1985 in Barcelona, Spain. Simon went on to follow his Dad’s footsteps working in TV as a Sound Engineer working on many well-known TV shows and Films over the years including, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Les Miserables, which even won an Oscar for as part of the Team. Simon has still not forgotten his roots, as he’s a regular at various…

One of the most iconic events during the 80s in the UK has to be the 1983 Halfords’ Indoor Open BMX Championships held at the NEC in Birmingham. With entries from the majority of the top riders in both UKBMX and NBMXA it was one of the few events that was not for National points yet all the big names lined up on the gate. Bob Haro was flown in from the US, there was TV, the main-stream media was present, which was another huge step forward for the sport in the UK at the time. Channel 4 had a weekly TV bike program at the time called, “On Your…

1982 National Nottingham 9 year olds age group. #3 Ben Swift (Torker) #20 John Greaves (Mongoose) and #6 Cliff Welley (Kuwahara) around the first turn. John Greaves went onto become National Champion the same year while Cliff Welley became number 1 the following year in 83 with John also winning the NBMXA British Championships at Derby in 83. Cliff retired at the end of the 84 season with John calling it quits in 85. Picture taken from BMX Action Bike Magazine Aug 82.

If you read and studied the UK magazines back in the early 80s, you will remember so many great rider’s names and iconic shots with guys like; Cav Strutt, Mike Chilvers and Mad Malc Stapleton. So many of these riders really didn’t stick around in the sport to maybe show there true potential. Cav Strutt ( pictured here ) always stood out in the mags, he was part of the Team Ace with Andy Ruffell, Pete Middleton and Nikki Matthews who we all know went on to winning ways and Factory stardom but Cav was gone from the sport maybe before his career really could have taken off.