Associated learning page: https://sites.google.com/view/lititzbmxinventorylist/learning-resources/quizzes/1980-bmx-history-quiz
Source: BMX Action, December 1986, pp. 36–37
Transcription basis: Supplied two-page magazine spread
Archive package version: 1.0
Prepared: July 19, 2026
Original headings, quotations, names, colloquial wording, capitalization, and visible punctuation are preserved as closely as the supplied image permits. Editorial navigation headings are placed in brackets only where useful to separate captions from the running text.
THE YEAR OF STU THOMSEN, THE KEVIN McNEAL CONTROVERSY, JASON JENSON, LOWER FINGER BRAKE LEVERS, AND SKATEPARK DISCOVERIES.
There’s probably one name that has been drilled into your head by now. Stu Thomsen. He’s wailed from the very beginning—ever since the first Yamaha Gold Cup. Because of that, it was pretty hard finding JUST ONE year to name after him.
We called Stu up and asked what he thought was his best year. What he would call the Year of Stu. He thought about it for a few seconds and answered, “From 1977 to 1982.” That’s probably true.
But we decided that since Stu won his first NORA Cup, got his first BMX ACTION cover, dominated BMX a little bit more than most years, won the ABA No. 1 pro title and the Cal Custom Van that went with it, and the No. 1 NBL plate, then 1980 must’ve been his year.
He ruled. What more can we say?
Jason Jenson photograph caption:
“The unforgettable Juicy Jaws, a.k.a Jason Jenson. It’s safe to assume that J.J. has probably tripled more than anyone in the sport.”
“In a time when the public images of many of the idols of our younger generation are dope-oriented, unwholesome, and sometimes freakish . . . Stu Thomsen has set an example that is clean, healthy, honest, and competitive.”
Bob Osborn
BMX ACTION, March 1980.
BMX Action Trick Team photograph caption:
“Little did they know what it’d start. Haro, R.L., and ‘The Beast.’ The original BMX ACTION Trick Team.”
Eddy King photograph caption:
“Eddy King has virtually been on top since he first started racing in 1976. Around this time (his 15-year-old era), Eddy flat hauled buns and blew the drawers off most everyone. Photo by Oz.”
Kevin McNeal’s all-out, what’s-a-brake?, kamikaze-style of taking turns made him BMX’s first bad guy. During this time, McNeal “took out” Stu in Texas, “munched” Schwinn’s Ted Guilmette in Vegas, and “bonzai-ed” into Brent Patterson in Elkhart. Kevin was a busy guy in ’80.
The ABA ended up suspending “The Corona Kid” from the next two nationals after Brent’s up-close encounter, and threatened if it happened again . . . six months. To break the suspense (I know you’re all dying to know), Kevin wound up cleaning up his act.
Not since Stevie Skibel has one kid (one LITTLE kid) done so much in BMX. He not only would tear up the track totally untouched, but his between-motos antics can never be forgotten! Remember the time in Grass Valley when he was playing with lizards? And that one race, in . . . where was it? Elkhart, Indiana—he had a buncha caterpillars crawlin’ all over him. Or how ’bout that time he pinned down Cathy Hanna and gave her a big smooch on the lips? He was the envy of everyone after that!
On and off the track, ol’ Juicy Jaws made footprints—size 4 1/2 footprints, to be exact.
Scot Breithaupt photograph caption:
“This is Scot Breithaupt. This is at Corona. This is during a race. This is on a 26 incher. This certain 26’er that Scot is styling on is the prototype O.M. Flyer. This is rad. This is a prime example of why the O.M. is legendary.”
Richie Anderson photograph caption:
“Richie ‘The Avalanche’ Anderson, always the guy to beat.”
Steve Giberson photograph caption:
“The bike made for a moose. Blithely sailing in the air like a Boeing 747 is resident editorial type at the time, Steve ‘Gibey’ Giberson. Mongoose’s ‘made-for-big-guys’ Moosegoose was pretty unique, in more ways than one.”
Brake levers, even though they may seem very infinitesimal, have gone through a variety of changes. Originally, everyone used the typical, bone stock, Dia-Compe lever, which were probably stolen off of their dad’s ten-speed. Around 1978, the “in” brake lever was one that was slightly bent and parallel to the bend of the handlebar.
Rollin’ around 1979, the levers got a new bend. Now they were totally underneath the grip, and there would usually only be enough room for two fingers on it. Can you guess who was on the scene to save all the BMX’ers from going through five levers until they got the right bend? Sure ’nough . . . Bob Haro.
The Haro lever was the major “brake-through.” It was an instant hit for the first year and a half. It was trick looking with those two finger slots and cool color combos when you mixed and matched. Hip and ahead of its time. Everyone dug on ’em, until they found out that it flexed a lot and limited stopping power.
Stu was officially the first person to ever do a drop-in, but Tinker was the first guy to ever do a real air, three feet out. Although most of his style consisted of jumping bowl-to-bowl, he still blew minds! This was at a time when skateboards had died, and all over the U.S. there were closed up, fenced-in, not-torn-down-yet skateparks. BMX’ers found ways to get in!
Soon, a whole new breed of cat would appear—pure concrete aerialists! Watch out for Watson . . .
“Cook Bros. does not condone stunt riding with BMX equipment. Our effort is in racing, not ‘circus acts.’ Furthermore, we feel these stunts should not be exposed to the young riding public.”
Craig and Gary Cook
Cook Bros. Racing
BMX ACTION, July 1980.
What they didn’t know then, huh?