Associated learning page: https://sites.google.com/view/lititzbmxinventorylist/learning-resources/quizzes/1984-bmx-history-quiz
Source: BMX Action, December 1986 retrospective sequence
Printed pages: 50–51
Transcription basis: Supplied complete 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.
I think it’s safe to say that this was the worst year for BMX. Not because the racing lacked and no one was any good—that wasn’t the case. The quantity of riders lacked, not the quality.
People will testify that the decline was because of freestyle. Maybe. A lot of things happened in the freestyle world in 1984. The Potts Mod came out, FREESTYLIN’ magazine made its debut, and most of the smart manufacturers started making freestyle bikes. The June 1984 issue of BMX ACTION had a special section on freestyle, introducing all of the above, and sending a new wave across America. Yup. Freestyle had arrived.
The King of Skateparks series was going full-bore. Matter of fact, going to one of the events was one of the most happening places to be or things to do in ’84.
Eddie Fiola was the current King, but some young punk by the name of Mike Dominguez was moving up. And we do mean UP. Those two battled it out bigtime.
Hugo Gonzales was going crazy, doing something more insane at every contest, and a new guy named Dave Vanderspek from San Francisco was introduced. Brian Blyther and Brian Deam were making their presence known. Even with a cast on his arm at one of the K.O.S. events, Blyther was airin’! Rich Sigur looked hot, too. Possibly that October ’83 cover did it . . .
Mike Buff was out for a quarter of the year with a broken ankle. Everyone missed him.
“There are a few people in the industry who think freestyle can surpass BMX racing in popularity. Will it? It’s too soon to tell, but one thing’s for sure. It’s gonna jam!”
BMX ACTION, June 1984
Some other San Francisco hot dogs were also moving up in the freestyle world. I said hot dogs—not Curb Dogs. Ron Wilkerson and Rich Avella of the 2-Hip Trick Team had just hooked up a deal with GT when BMX ACTION showed how ’dem Nor. Cal. boys do it (Aug. ’84).
Nothing feels better than being mobbed by multitudes of fans. Can you believe that all these kids are going berzerk over a sweaty and smelly glove?
The pride of CW Racing, “Pistol Pete” Loncarevich. In August 1984, Pete was quoted as saying, “I can dominate in the pro class if I just keep on it hard. I might not win every time, but I’ll beat them more than they’ll beat me.” Four months later, Pete won No. 1 ABA.
Like I said earlier, the racing never lacked. Greg Hill was still at the top of the pile. He won his second NORA Cup in a row, this being his first one with GHP. Everyone still loved him, even without a GT jersey.
Toby Henderson joined SE. Shawn Texas, a HUGE up-and-comer who had his ups-and-downs, joined Pro Neck. After jammin’ for some time under the colors of Profile, Eric Rupe hopped back over to Mongoose. Rupe ended up being NBL No. 1 pro for 1984, beating out Greg Hill by 31 points.
Raleigh had their HUGE team going . . . a little late in the game, but welcomed with open arms none-the-less. Torker even tried for the ol’ comeback scene, getting some pretty hefty names such as Mike Miranda, Tommy Brackens, and Richie Anderson.
CW’s Pete Loncarevich finally decided between being a hot BMX racer or a bass-player in a rock-a-billy band. You know which one he picked, don’tcha?
Enter Ronnie Anderson. After switching around back and forth with sponsors, Ronnie finally came out from behind his little brother’s shadow and into the light. He signed with Zeronine and began to look like a force to be reckoned with.
If only we knew what we were in for!
His time was coming. Torker’s Tommy Brackens, was off and on in ’84. At the end of the year, he was off Torker and on GT.
Closing in on nine feet. Mike Dominguez, in his early days—back when he was getting “small” airs.
The hot ticket in 1984 was to have a white frame and fork. Chrome was dead. White was rad.
Also hot on the market were CW Phaze One frames. The VERY unique lightning bolt down tube got everyone’s attention.
Dyno pants, partially due to the freestyle craze, caught on in a big way, giving the now legendary Haro pants a run for the money. We think it was a toss-up. Dyno got the freestyle end of it, Haro took racing.
In the past, the only grip you ever thought of putting on the tips of your bars were Oakleys. Well, for a little while, Grab-On’s were hot, but face the facts . . . Oakley OWNED the grip industry. But here came A’ME with every type of grip under the sun, used by every BMX’er in the universe. No one can deny that A’ME grips were cool for a change!
Toby Henderson went over to SE.
Check out these experts! That’s Richie Anderson (Patterson) steppin’ off ever so gracefully, and Travis Chipres (Robinson) is also in there, havin’ lunch. Photo by Oz.