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I would add Jimmy Cliff the “J” in DJ’s bike shop. He was always there to help the riders and never cared how it would benefit him. We closed his shop and painted all the team helmets in his store. Sorted and stored all of the team jerseys and product in his living room, and always helped a rider in need. Jimmy moved to Florida years ago and has since passed on, but I know that he will live on through the gratitude from all of his team riders!
…maybe next time I should proof read…”As a role model and a great person that has affected the lives of so many, I hope that people realize what is truly important in life, and that is LIFE.” is Talking about Chris. His hard work in volunteering and having a positive attitude racing is something that everyone can learn.
I check in from time to time on the NJ BMX scene to read about how my friends and home state are doing, and to hear news like this about a rider is sobering. A story of this type of accident inevitably brings me back to similar accidents, concussions, and the scare of never being the same. I ran open face helmets for a long time, and suffered my fair share of crashes and close calls. Most riders will make the switch from open to closed face helmets when something traumatic happens in the magnitude of Chris’ accident. You can only hope that it is not you on the receiving end of such a harsh and dramatic wake up call. The speeds and difficulty of the tracks converted most of the racers a few years ago, but there are still the select few that have not made the change. I can only hope that Chris’ accident was not in vain. As a role model and a great person that has affected the lives of so many, I hope that people realize what is truly important in life, and that is LIFE. Looking cool or having to take some time to adjust a different helmet could never compare to not being able to live your life fully, or at least suffering tremendous pain like Chris.
I have known Chris a long time and was excited when he became track director. His passion for BMX will always be there, and was evident when I talked to him about ways to help improve EHT. I just hope that he heals quickly and that all of the people that eh has touched learn from this accident and purchase a proper helmet. My dad once told me that you can cut expenses in almost everything if you need to, but the investment you place in your helmet can never equal the equipment that it is protecting!
Get well Chris!
Jessica,
You were right in the fact that the riders all did it for fun! It was basically a 14 and Over Open that was no-charge. We would get the vendors to donate some product, but other than that it was all about having fun with no pressure. Anyone could race…cruisers, girls, experts, novice, beginner, pro…anybody. It gave everyone a good chance to go out and have fun as well as bring some excitement to the local race. I remember guys coming from NY, CT, and DE to race that Royal Rumble. We would have 1/4’s every time, and in the end everyone had fun. I encourage you or someone to bring those back!
Doug Luden
This would be my first post on this website, so take it easy on me! The Heroes of the day is something that I remember vividly. In the early 80’s the large manufacturers created heroes from all over the classes. It was not just the pros that were gods. There was an add with Greg Hill and Geoff Scofield when Geoff was maybe 10 years old. The manufacturers built up all their riders as larger than life, and we loved it! I know that when I worked at Powerlite we tried to bring this back into the mix with promoting our younger riders. Running ads, creating signature bikes, and giving them the same kind of promotion as our top pros. There are a number of reasons why this doesn’t happen anymore. One reason is the fact that the large BMX companies are all but gone. Replaced by larger companies that now just own brands…think Pacific Cycles who owns Schwinn, GT, Mongoose, and killed Powerlite, Auburn and Robinson. They put their money into a few pros and call it a day. They are not investing in the future of the sport, but rather concerned about selling that $99 bike at Wal-Mart today! The other issue that was brought up was the fact that every kids that races can pretty much get National Number. The first year that I raced the nationals they gave National Number Plates to the Top 20 Experts only. That season I ended up National #21! Did it make me want to quit…no…instead I wanted it even more because it was prestigious. They try to make everyone happy, but in the long run have killed the prestige and removed the desire to try and obtain that elite status. I would rather work 5 years to get a top 20 National number in Expert than get my National #40 Novice plate in the first year. In the end heroes are just ordinary people doing extraordinary things. You or your very own son or daughter could be the next hero! So look to fill that void and and give it everything you have!