Greg A. Hill

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Gregory Alan Hill (b. October 27, 1963 from Santa Ana, California USA) is a former "Old School" professional bicycle motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1989. He retired from the top competitive "AA" pro circuit after the 1998 season.

He was known to be very outspoken, a rider who had a bit of a temper on the track, and his nicknames were "The Machine" and "The Businessman", for his very serious, focused attitude toward racing^[1] even as a young 14 year old amateur, and also his willingness to speak his mind including being critical of sanctioning bodies and their policies and rules. "The Businessman" moniker in particular was coined by Bob Osborn, owner and editor of Bicycle Motocross Action magazine.^[2] Greg personally boycotted the ABA for almost a full season in 1980 beginning with the Winternationals and ending with the Vans 5000 Pro Spectacular. He later lead an informal pro boycott with numerous respected top pros against the ABA in 1983 over the meathod of how the ABA national number one was decided. Hill was also involved in a number of business ventures, such as motivational and how to books and video tapes; running a short lived BMX bicycle company, Greg Hill Products (GHP) during the 1980s which he later revived in the early 1990's and is still going strong, and teaching seminars instructing children on how to race. These are but a few examples of the drive to promote himself and BMX in the public eye.

He is the brother in law of Stu Thomsen, who married Hill's sister, Tanya, in 1979. Greg Hill's first son, Gregory Jonathan Hill, was born five hours after his father won the ESPN Pro Spectacular Series.^[3]

Contents 1 Racing career 1.1 Career factory and large bicycle shop sponsors 1.1.1 Amateur 1.1.2 Professional 1.2 Career bicycle motocross titles 1.2.1 Amateur 1.2.2 Professional 2 Notable accolades 3 Significant injuries 4 Peccadilloes 5 Post BMX career 6 BMX magazine covers 7 BMX magazine and general media interviews and articles 8 End Notes 9 External links

[edit] Racing career

Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.

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Started Racing: April 1974 At the urging of a friend,^[4]Tim Glagal, a then neighbor of his.^[5] He was 10 years old.

First race result: April 1974 5th Place 10 Novice.

First win (local): January 1975 11 Expert.

Sanctioning Body: National Bicycle Association (NBA)

First sponsor: Pedals Ready/GT Bike Shop* His father owned the bicycle shop. 1976.

First national win:

Turn professional: At the age of 14 on March 28, 1978 at the NBA Super Nationals.^[6]

First Professional win:

Retired from main competitive circuit: He retired from frontline Senior pro (AA) competition in 1998 at the age of 35. However, like it seems with the majority of BMX racers they can't stay away from it. After a four year lay off Greg Hill started racing in ABA's Vet pro class at the age of 40 in 2004.

Height & weight at the height of his career (1982-84): Ht:5'10" Wt:~170lbs.

*The founder of GT, Gary Turner, was making bicycle frames in his garage for the bike shop race team.

[edit] Career factory and large bicycle shop sponsors

Note: This listing only denotes the racer's primary sponsors. At any given time a racer could have numerous co-sponsors. Primary sponsorships can be verified by BMX press coverage at the time in question.

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[edit] Amateur

• Pedals Ready Pro Shop: Early 1976-
• Webco Inc., Pedal-cross Speciaties: July 1976

• FMF (Flying Machine Factory): July 1976-October 1977. FMF was owned and operated in part by Scot Breithaupt. He discontinued association with FMF in October of 1977 and created Scot Enterprises Racing (SER).

• SE Racing (formerly Scot Enterprises Racing Division, now called Sports Engineering, Inc.): October 1977-December 31, 1977.

• Schwinn Bicycle Company: January 1, 1978-November 1978. Mr Hill turned pro on with this sponsor.

[edit] Professional

• Schwinn Bicycle Company: May 1978-November 1978.

• Redline Engineering: November 1978-May 1980. Left under poor terms. Greg Hill maintained that Redline did not meet his salary requirements to renew the contract and Redline told him directly that he wasn't worth it. Redline maintained that Hill had a deal with GT Racing already set up building a frame* before he quit, implying that he was not bargaining in good faith. At this time Greg Hill was developing a reputation as someone who jumps from sponsor to sponsor at little provocation or reason.^[7]

*GT would be a co-sponsor when he raced with Shimano. The frame fork and handlebars were of GT manufacture while Shimano provided the major components such as the caliper brakes pedals, cranks, chainwheels, sprockets etc.

• Shimano Sales Corporation: May 1980-July 1980. Fellow pro racer Bobby Encinas had personally recruited Greg Hill onto the Shimano racing team.^[7]Shimano apparently ended direct sponsorship of Greg Hill by the time of the Lansing, Michigan American Bicycle Association (ABA) national in the summer of 1980.^[8]

• Bobby Encinas: July 1980-Mid December 1980. Apparently Bobby Encinas, who was in virtual semi-retirement by this time but making promotional tours and numerous interviews for television and magazines personally sponsored Greg Hill starting in July 1980. It was a strange situation to some observers.^[8] To add to the confusion Greg Hill still raced in Shimano livery.^[9]

• Mongoose (BMX Products): Mid December 1980-September 30, 1981. Left under bad circumstances. Greg Hill claimed that Mongoose did not send him to a cirtain number of nationals including foreign ones, that they promised they would. According to Greg, Mongoose only paid Mr. Hill's way to only six. Mongoose's side of the story is that they sent Greg to seventeen nationals, paying for entry fees, motel and hotel cost and air fair for the twelve of the seventeen nationals he was flown to. Further, a tour of England was discussed but declined due to it interfering with Mr. Hill's vacation.^[10]

• GT (Gary Turner) Racing: October 1, 1981-August 31, 1983. Left under bad circumstances under a contract dispute when he left GT Racing one week before the 1983 NBL Grand Nationals instead of at the end of the year to ride for his own company Greg Hill Products (GHP). Mr. Hill felt that GT was treating him poorly and he lacked motivation to win for them.^[11] However, Greg Hill would later sign with Robinson Racing, a bicycle company owned and operated by Richard Long, who also founded and owned GT Racing, indicating any problems between Mr. Hill and GT were patched up.

• GHP (Greg Hill Products): September 1, 1983-February 1986. This was a BMX bicycle company owned by Greg Hill from mid 1983 to July 1986 when it ceased operations (see Redline Engineering). Greg Hill briefly restarted it in 1992 and again in 2005.

• Redline Engineering: February 1986-October 17,^[12] 1986. Due to finanacial difficulties GHP could no longer field a factory team, not even Greg Hill himself who was paying his way to races from his own winnings and salary. As part of the deal with Redline, Greg Hill had to divest himself from GHP. GHP also could not use Greg Hill's name in any promotional advertising or any other association, which of course included the name of the company. His father ran the company under a new name for the remainder of its existence.^[13] This is the same terms that drove Pete Loncarevich from Scot Enterprises Racing (SER), when SE Racing wanted Pete Loncarevich's father to shut down Loncarevich Racing Products (LRP), which did not make bicycles or bicycle frames and forks, but other BMX accessories. Pete Loncarevich later had to accept these terms when he signed with Custom Works (CW). Companies do not want to potentially aid rivals in the same business as they are, and Greg Hill Products were clearly competitors that marketed its own line of complete bicycles and major components like frames, forks and handle bars. GHP was finally shut down in July of 1986 some six months after Greg Hill signed with Redline.^[14] He was able to revive Greg Hill Products in 1992 after going into semi-retirement from racing and devote more time to it.^[15]

Greg Hill briefly considered quiting racing after Redline dropped him until Robinson Racing signed him.^[12]

• Robinson Racing: November 1, 1986-December 1, 1991.

• Ironhorse:

• Answer:

• Balance:

• Redline Bicycles: September 1995^[16]-December 1998. This was the third association with Redline. He was also the team manager at this time. Greg Hill would return to Redline for a fourth time, this time in a non racing capacity in Late September 1999 driving the Redline factory truck nationals, and promoting his company Sinister Steering Systems.^[17]

• Kona BMX: August 1, 2000-December 21, 2000. Greg Hill declared his leaving of the BMX world in it's entirety after his stint with Kona.^[18]

• Haro Designs: 2004-

*Pros could race with the Expert amateurs at the time, there was a separate Pro class but not a separate Pro No.1 title.

[edit] Career bicycle motocross titles

[edit] Amateur

National Bicycle Association (NBA)

• 1975/76 Local No.1 12 Expert

• 1976 National No.1 13 Expert

• 1977 National No.1 14 Expert*

• 1978 National No.1 15 Expert*

• 1979 National No.1 Expert*

• 1981 National No.1 16 Expert*

*Pros could and did race in the 16 Expert class during this era in the NBA even if there was a separate pro class and earn amateur titles as well.

National Bicycle League (NBL)

• None

American Bicycle Association (ABA)

• None

[edit] Professional

National Bicycle Association (NBA)

• None
• 1980 Race of Champions Pro winner.*^[19]

*This was not a national no.1 plate title but a special series of races.

National Bicycle League (NBL)

• 1983 ESPN Pro Spectacular Series No. 1 Champion (NBL sanctioned)

• 1985 NBL No.1 Pro & Pro Cruiser

• 1986 NBL No.1 Pro Cruiser

• 1988 NBL No.1 Pro

American Bicycle Association (ABA)

• None (best finishes 1979 & 1989 National No.2 pro)

• 1982 Jag Pro World Champion (ABA sanctioned)

United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)

• 1985 National No.1 Pro.

• 1985, 1986 National No.1 Pro Cruiser.

International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)

• 1981 Pro International Champion.

• 1982 Pro World Champion.

[edit] Notable accolades

• He is the youngest winner of a national level NBA trophy dash that involved pros (amateurs and pros could race in the same trophy dash race at the time) on March 28th, 1978 at the NBA Supernationals, defeating such veteran and older professional luminaries as Perry Kramer, Robby Rupe and Jeff Ruminer at the age of 14 years.^[20] It is a record that will never be broken since, beginning in 1980, an amateur has to be the age of 16 to turn pro by all sanctioning bodies, in addition that the NBA ceased existing as an independent sanctioning body at the end of the 1981 season with its merger with the NBL.

• He is the last Pro Class Grand National Champion of the National Bicycle Motocross Association (NBmxA) Grand National and the last winner of any NBmxA national, winning both the Pro Money and Senior Open classes of the 1981 NBmxA Grand National in Long Beach, California in December 1981. The NBmxA (nee National Bicycle Association) merged with the National Bicycle League (NBL) in January 1982. Scott Clark was the last NBmxA/NBA National Number One Pro in 1981.

He is a four time BMX Action Number One Racer Award (NORA) Cup winner:

• 1983 with 2586 votes out of 6761 cast or 38.25% of the Vote. He also received a check of US$500 from BMX Action magazine.*^[21]

• 1984 with 2237 votes out of 8922** cast or 25.1% of the Vote. His winnings were a Billiard Olympic 320 lbs. weight set and a Marcy Monster incline bench.^[22]

• 1985 with 1184 votes out of 4638** cast or 25.53% of the Vote. He won a Weider 310lbs. weight set and a Marcy Olympic weight bench.^[23]

• 1989 with 22% of the Vote (Number of individual and total votes cast not given).^[24]

• Greg Hill is a 1990 ABA Hall of Fame Inductee and is also a 2005 United States Bicycling Hall of Fame Inductee.

*In the March 1983 issue of BMX Action he is listed as the 1982 winner. The next year, 1984, the date of the winner was changed from the year the votes were casted and actually counted to when the winner was presented to the public, by this time in the March issue. This Wikipedia listing of Greg Hill's string of NORA wins reflects that, including his first win under the old system. Therefore under new system Greg Hill won his first NORA Cup in 1983, when his win was officially made to the public in the March 1983 BMX Action, not when the votes were counted in 1982.

**Tallied from the total votes the top ten Pros received.

[edit] Significant injuries

• Hyper-Extended his left knee in a collision with Tommy Brackens in an NBL national held in Memphis, Tennessee in March 1983. Laid up for approximately a month.^[25][26]
• Broken collar bone and torn ear in January 1984. Laid up for three months.
• Injury filled 1987. Contusion on leg. Laid up two months; injured shoulder in mid summer; Sprained ankle in August.
• Shoulder surgery in July of 1991. Laid up until early 1992

[edit] Peccadilloes

Very outspoken. By all accounts having an intense personality. Had a bit of a temper on the track which was an indication of his intensity. Could be abrupt with fans. Over the years it was often repeated by the BMX press that a "new" more mellow and relaxed Greg Hill has emerged. For instance the "Maturing Greg Hill" in the November 1983 issue of Super BMX only to have the old intensity display itself. It is also regarded widely that it is this intensity and seriousness he brought to racing is what kept him on or near the top so long.

[edit] Post BMX career

In truth, he doesn't have a post BMX career per se. After a four year hiatus he found he could not stay away and began racing in the Veteran's Pro class of the ABA in 2004. His own BMX bicycle company, Greg Hill Products is doing quite well. He is still involved with teaching kids the secrets of BMX racing in Pro clinics he runs.

[edit] BMX magazine covers

Bicycle Motocross News:

• None

Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:

• August 1981 Vol.8 No.8 (SBMX)
• June 1982 Vol.9 No.6 (SBMX)
• January 1983 Vol.10 No.1 In inset amateur BMX racer Ron House posing with celebrity actress Justine Bateman.(SBMX)
• June 1984 Vol.11 No.6. Female clothing models in insert. (SBMX)
• June 1985 Vol.12 No.6 (SBMX&F)
• August 1986 Vol.13 No.8 (SBMX&F)
• March 1987 Vol.14 No.3 in bottom insert (16) ahead of Eddy King (6) in back. In right insert on ramp freestyler Joe Johnson. Main image freestyler Dennis McCoy.
• April 1988 Vol.15 No.4 with Ronnie Anderson in inset and unidentified in inset. (SBMX&F)
• September 1988 Vol.15 No.9 behind Gary Ellis and Charles Townsend. In inset freestyler Matt Hoffman.

Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:

• March 1982 Vol.7 No.3 with Bob Woods (BMXA) This was the last issue in which the logo spelled out "Bicycle Motocross Action".
• November 1982 Vol.7 No.11 (BMXA)
• March 1984 Vol.9 No.3 (BMXA)
• September 1985 Vol.10 No.9 with Pete Loncarevich and Harry Leary. (BMXA)
• April 1987 Vol.12 No.4 (BMXA)
• September 1988 Vol.13 No.9 with Rick Palmer, Mike King, & unidentified on the gate. (BMXA)
• January 1989 Vol.14 No.1 (BMXA) This was the last issue of BMX Action to have the classic iconic BMX Action logo.
• June 1990 Vol.1 No.8 with Brad Blanchard and Perry Mervar in separate insets (Go).

BMX Plus!

• November 1978 Vol.1 No.1 Premier Issue.
• October 1981 Vol.4 No.10
• March 1982 Vol.6 No.3
• December 1982 Vol.5 No.12 behind Stu Thomsen.
• December 1983 Vol.6 No.11* In inset with Stu Thomsen, Nelson Chanady, Tim Judge and others at beginning of national banner presentation at the start of a race. Brian Patterson is the main image.
• November 1984 Vol.7 No.11 behind Shawn Texas (09) and ahead of John Crews (43). In insets Mike Franze (bottom) and freestyler Eddie Fiola (top)
• September 1986 Vol.9 No.9 in photo composite ahead of Tommy Brackens Eric Rupe, Gary Ellis (1) and unidentified (15). Freestyler Eddie Fiola "above" them.
• August 1987 Vol.10 No.8 in bottom insert (3) slightly behind Gary Ellis (6) and ahead of Charles Townsend (CW) and ahead of unidentified (23). Top insert freestyler John Ludvigson; Main image: freestyler Matt Hoffman.
• May 1989 Vol.12 No.5 main image. In top insert is freestyler Woody Itson.

*Due to a change in ownership, BMX Plus! did not publish a May 1983 issue.

Action Now

• November 1981 Vol.8 No.4 Half face close up with Hill in Helmet and goggles.

BMX Action Bike

• April/May 1982 Iss.1 Premier Issue.
• August 1983 Iss.10
• February 1984 Iss.15

BiCross Magazine:

• December 1985 No.39

Bicycles and Dirt:

Snap:

Twenty BMX:

[edit] BMX magazine and general media interviews and articles

[edit] End Notes

[edit] External links

• 2004 Interview from Daleholmes.com
• November 18, 1998 BMX Ultra interview.
• Greg Hill Speed Seminar site.
• The American Bicycle Association (ABA) Website.
• The National Bicycle League (NBL) Website.