Published source transcription — Eric Rupe
Preserved from the supplied Lititz BMX profile text. This transcription records publication wording and does not convert every statement into an independently verified fact.
Rider Profile: Eric Rupe
Born: 14 June, 1963 - Reseda, CA
Middle Name: Fitzgerald
Nickname: “Big Daddy”
Married: 2 June, 1983 - Kathryn
Kids: Three boys
1988 ABA Hall of Fame Inductee
First Race Bike: Schwinn Sting-Ray
First Sponsor: Canyon Cyclery - 1976
Started Racing: Age 11 at the Soledad Sands, CA Motorcycle Motocross (MX) Track: Eric and Robby (brother) wanted to race motorcycles there like their Uncle Bill. Their father didn’t want them getting hurt on their motorcycles so suggested that the brothers ride their bicycles there. - He got 6th place
It took him more than a year to earn a trophy - 2nd Place in January, 1976
He got his first 1st place in February, 1976.
Turned Pro: Age 14 (1977)
Height & Weight-ish during prime racing years: 5” 6’ - 148 lbs
- 1977: Eric Rupe was a stunt double in the TV Show “Loser Takes All”
Sampling of Major Wins:
- 1983: NBL National No. 1 Pro
- 1984: NBL National No. 1 Pro
- 1985: Winner of the BMX Plus! Racer of the Year Award - the first ever BMX Plus! Racer of the Year award.
- 1986: Pro Cruiser Grandnational Champion
- 1987: NBL & ABA National No. 1 Pro Cruiser
- 1988: NBL & ABA National No. 1 Pro Cruiser
- 1989: NBL Pro Cruiser Grandnational Champion
- 1991 Pro Cruiser Grandnational Champion
- 1995 National No.1 Vet Pro
- 1996: NBL Legends Grandnational Champion
- 1995, ‘96, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99, 2000, ‘01 ABA National No.1 Pro Veteran Cruiser
- 2000: NBL National No.1 Masters Pro
- 2000: NBL “A” Pro National No.1
- 2002: NBL “A” Pro Cruiser Grandnational Champion
- 2002: NBL “A” Pro Cruiser National No.1
- 2003: Veteran Pro Grandnational Champion
- 2004 NBL Master Elite Grandnational Champion
- 2004: NBL National No.1 Masters Pro
- 2005: UCI - 40 - 44 Cruiser World Champion
- 2006: UCI - 40 - 44 Cruiser World Champion
- 2007: UCI - 40 - 44 Cruiser World Champion
- 2008: USA Cycling 45 and Over Men Cruiser National Champion
- 2009: USA Cycling 45 and Over Men Cruiser National Champion
Eric rode for Mongoose during four different stints: 1981 - 1983, 1984 - 1990, 1997 - 2007, He is currently riding for them.
Four Fun Facts From Copilot:
Eric “Big Daddy” Rupe is a BMX legend with a career spanning decades. Here are four fun facts about him:
- He got his nickname in 1988 – An announcer at a Rockford ABA race coined the phrase “Big Daddy coming out on fire!” when Rupe won a Senior pro race. The name stuck.
- He’s been racing for over 50 years – Rupe started BMX racing in 1974 at age 11 and has remained active in the sport ever since.
- He was one of the first BMX racers to become a family man – He had his first child in 1984, reinforcing his clean-cut, family-oriented image.
- He once got to shop for BMX gear like a superstar – When he first joined Mongoose, he was allowed to grab whatever he wanted from their warehouse using a grocery store shopping cart—no questions asked.