Steve Veltman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Stephen James Veltman |
| Nickname | "Spiderman", "V"-Dog", "Primetime" |
| Date of birth | August 4, 1969 (age 37) |
| Country |  United States |
| Height | 1.83 m (6'0" Imperial) |
| Weight | ~84.82-90.72 kg (~187-200lbs. Imperial) |
| Team information | |
| Current team | Retired |
| Discipline | Bicycle Motocross (BMX) |
| Role | Rider |
| Rider type | Off Road |
| Amateur team(s) | |
| 1981-1985 1987-1988 1988-1989 |
Hutch Hi-Performance BMX/Products McDonald's U.S. Boss Racing Products |
| Professional team(s) | |
| 1990 1990-1991 1991-1992 1992 1993-1996 1997 1998 1999 2000-2001 2004 |
U.S. Boss Racing Products L&S Racing Vans ODI U.S. Boss Racing Products Torker Next Haro Designs/Bicycles Magna GT Bicycles |
| Infobox last updated on: | |
| March 17, 2007 | |
Stephen James Veltman (b. August 4, 1969 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;[1] later raised in Conroe, Texas USA) is a former American "Old School/Mid School" professional Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1981-1983 and 1989 to 1998. His nickname during the time he first achieved fame as a 12 and 13 year old was "Spiderman" due to the posture he hand as he speed jumped his bicycle over moguls. He would be tucked all the way back over and just above the rear wheel. His right elbow would be down while his left up as opposed to having them near perfectly level. This along with his red and white Hutch uniform and helmet with mirrored lensed goggles gave an impression of the comic book superhero Spiderman swinging on his web.[2] His later moniker "V"-Dog" came into being concurrently with him joining the Vans Racing Team in April of 1991.[3] He was also known as "Primetime".
Contents |
[edit] Racing career
Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.
Started Racing: Mid 1979. Similar to what Brian Patterson did during the 1979 and part of the 1980 season, Steve Veltman took a year off from BMX after the 1985 season. He resumed local racing in early 1987. His first national back was the ABA Big "T" Nationals in Fort Worth, Texas winning 17 & Over Open on May 9, 1987 and 17 & over Expert on May 10, 1987.[4]
Sanctioning Body:
First race result:
First win (local):
First sponsor: Hutch Hi-Performance BMX/Products in 1981.
First national race result: Did not make main in the 1980 American Bicycle Association (ABA) Gnarler Nationals in Anaheim, California.
First national win: August 2, 1981 at the ABA Waterford, Michigan Nationals in 11 Expert.[5]
Turned professional: January 1990 at 20 years of age.
First Professional race result: Eighth place (last) in "A" pro at the 1990 ABA Silver Dollar Nationals (Day 1) in Reno, Nevada. He won US$60.[6]
First Professional win: In Pro Open at the 1990 ABA Silver Dollar Nationals (Day 1) in January 1990. He won US$460.[6]
First Senior Pro win: See Above.
Retired: 2004. However, after a two year layoff he raced Vet pro at the ABA Grand National in the Race of Champions pre race On November 25, 2006 and came in third.
Height & weight at height of career (1989-1993): Ht:6'0" Wt:~187-200lbs.
*In the NBL "B" Pro/Super Class/"A" pro depending on the era; in the ABA "A" pro.
**In the NBL "A" Pro/"Elite Men"; in the ABA "AA" pro.
[edit] Career factory and major bike 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.
[edit] Amateur
- Hutch Hi-Performance BMX/Products: November 27, 1981-December 1985. Richard Hutchins, the owner of Hutch Hi-Performance, first saw Steve (after Steve's father Jim Veltman pointed him out) at an 1981 ABA National in Ohio. He won his class.[7] Mr. Hutchins next saw him at the 1981 ABA Grand National pre-race. He showed enough talent to give him a uniform to wear at the Grand Nationals proper the next two days. After Steve placed fourth in 12 Expert,[8] he gave him a formal and full sponsorship immediately afterword.[9] Steve Veltman took a year hiatus from the National BMX racing circuit after the 1985 season due to burn out laking the will to win and craving the desire to do other things. He returned in mid 1987 after that desire to complete returned[10]
- McDonald's: Mid 1987-Mid October 1988. McDonald's like competitor Hardee's fielded a BMX team but the McDonald's team lasted two years compared to the one the Hardee's team lasted. However, it shut down in October of 1988.
- U.S. Boss Racing Products: October 1988-December 1989. Veltman turned pro very shortly after joining this sponsor.
[edit] Professional
- U.S. Boss Racing Products: November 1988-December 1989.
- L&S (Lucia & Son) Racing: January 1990-May 1991. L&S was started by the same person who previously owned U.S. Boss Racing Products, Carlo Lucia.[11]
- Vans (Van Doran Rubber Company): May 1991-March 1992.
- ODI (Ornate Design, Inc*): March 1992-December 1992.
- U.S. Boss Racing Products: January 1993-1996.
- Torker: 1997
- Next: August 1998-
- Haro Designs/Bicycles: 1999
- Magna: 2000-2001
- GT (Gary Turner) Bicycles: 2004
*This company first started out making Christmas ornaments but switched to making bicycle grips and later grips for power tools as well as BMX and skateboarding accessories.[12]
[edit] Career bicycle motocross titles
[edit] Amateur
National Bicycle Association (NBA)
- None
National Bicycle League (NBL)
- None
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
- 1980 Texas State Champion
- 1981 Texas District 3 (TX-3) No.1
- 1982 National No.1 Amateur
- 1982 National No.1 Cruiser
- 1982 13 Expert Jag World Champion (ABA sanctioned)
United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
- None
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
- 1982 12 Expert World Champion
- 1982 13 & Under Cruiser World Champion
- 1989 18 to 24 Cruiser World Champion.
Other Titles
- 1981 12 Expert Jag World Champion (USCF sanctioned)
[edit] Professional
National Bicycle Association (NBA)
- None
National Bicycle League (NBL)
- None
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
- 1993 National No.1 Pro.
United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
- None
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
- None
Pro Series Championships
[edit] Notable accolades
- He was the first ABA racer, amateur or professional, to take two ABA No.1 national titles in the same year. 1982 in Amateur 20" and Amateur Cruiser Class.
- He displayed something of an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age (13 years old at the time) by manufacturing and marketing "Rad Kaps", dice cubes converted into bicycle tire valve caps which sold briskly.[13]
- He became part of the venerable Wheaties advertising campaign on August 14, 1983 by being featured on the box of their cereal product, joining a long line of sports legends such as Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Babe Didrikson, Jackie Robinson, Wilt Chamberlain and Bruce Jenner.[14][15]
- Named the fourteenth of the 25 Hottest amateurs in BMX racing in a 1984 survey conducted by BMX Plus! for the opinions of four prominent figures in BMX: Two racers, Brent Patterson and Mike Poulson; and two team officials: Dr. Gary Scofield of GT, Howard Wharthon of Diamond Back.[16]
- Named one of BMX Action's "Terrible Ten" of top amateurs and future pros for 1988[17]
- Name by the ABA's BMXer magazine as the 1993 Golden Crank "Pro of the Year" Award.[18]
- He set the record for most pro wins in a season in the ABA at 14 in 1993 until John Purse broke it in 1998.
*Due to a change of ownership of BMX Plus! in 1983, no May issue was published that year.
[edit] Significant injuries
- Was laid up with mononucleosis for nearly two months after the 1988 ABA Grand Nationals. The 1989 ABA Winter Nationals held on February 18th and 19th in Chandler, Arizona was his first race back.[19]
- Broke Collar Bone at the 1992 ABA Mid America Nationals[20] Laid up two months.
- Was out with injuries for six months after the 1994 NBL Grandnationals beginning in September 1994 until the week of March 9, 1995 and returned to national competition for the ABA Winternationals in Scottsdale, Arizona on March 18, 1995.[21]
[edit] Peccadilloes
[edit] Post BMX career
Steve Veltman is currently a Personal Trainer in the San Diego, California area. He still occationally races BMX in ABA Veteran Pro class. He recently came in third place on Friday, November 24, 2006 during the ABA Grand National.[22]
[edit] BMX magazine covers
Bicycle Motocross News:
- None
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
- November 1990 Vol.2 Iss.1 ahead of Billy Griggs, Traves Chipres and Mike King. In insert John Paul Rogers (Go).
BMX Plus!:
- August 1990 Vol.13 No.8 behind Greg Hill & Brian Lopes
- October 1991 Vol.14 No.10 trailing Gary Ellis, Todd Corbitt & Pete Loncarevich.
Total BMX:
- March 1983. In insert Brian Patterson.
Bicycles and Dirt:
- March 1983 Vol.1 No.7 Inset: Gary Ellis and an unidentified racer.
Snap:
[edit] BMX press magazine interviews and articles
- "Steve Veltman: "V" is for Victory" Bicycle and Dirt March 1983 Vol.1 No.7 pg.41
- "Hutch's Steve Veltman: Interview with a National Champion"Super BMX May 1983 Vol.10 No.5 pg.56
- "Fast Talk: Steve Veltman" BMX Plus! May 1984 Vol.7 No.5 pg.71 Mini interview.
- "New Kids on the Block" Go September 1990 Vol.1 Iss.11 pg.52 A joint interview article with fellow rookie pros Kenny May and Matt Hadan.
- "Young Guns!!!" BMX Plus! October 1990 Vol.13 No.10 pg.64 Joint interview with fellow rookie pros Eric Carter, Tim Hall, Kenny May, and Matt Hadan.
- "Steve Veltman and the Art of Rolling" Go July 1991 Vol.2 Iss.9 pg.19 How to article on speed jumping.
- "Vans' Grand Slam! Taking a stand on BMX!" BMX Plus! April 1992 Vol.15 No.4 pg.35 Interviews with Steve Veltman and his teammates Terry Tenette, Pete Loncarevich and Racer/Team manager Everette Rosecrans.
[edit] Miscellaneous
[edit] End Notes
- ^ Expn.com site.
- ^ Go July 1991 Vol.2 Iss.9 pg.19
- ^ BMX Plus! August 1991 Vol.14 No.8 pg.4 Note: BMX Plus! counts the covers as pages.
- ^ Super BMX & Freestyle September 1987 Vol.14 No.9 pgs.42&44 (race results)
- ^ Super BMX Vol.10 No.5 pg.63
- ^ a b BMX Plus! May 1990 Vol.13 No.5 pg.20 race results.
- ^ Bicycle and Dirt March 1983 Vol.1 No.7 pg.42
- ^ Super BMX March 1982 Vol.9 No.3 pg.54 (results)
- ^ Super BMX May 1983 Vol.10 No.5 pg.56
- ^ Go July 1991 Vol.2 Iss.9 pg.22
- ^ Freestylin'/BMX Action December 1989 Vol.1 Iss.2 pg.17
- ^ BMX Plus! November 1986 Vol.9 No.11 pg.15
- ^ BMX Plus! May 1984 Vol.7 No.5 pg.71 Mini interview.
- ^ BMX Plus! August 1983 Vol.6 No.7* pg.78
- ^ 2006 ABA Hall of fame nomination.
- ^ BMX Plus! November 1984 Vol.7 No.11 pg.48
- ^ BMX Action October 1988 Vol.13 No.10 pg.22
- ^ Gork-graphics.com site
- ^ BMX Action June 1989 Vol.14 No.6 pg.20
- ^ BMX Plus! July 1992 Vol.15 No.7 pg.8
- ^ BMX Plus! July 1995 Vol.18 No.7 pg.32
- ^ Daleholmes.com article.
