Stu Thomsen
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Stuart Thomsen |
| Nickname | "Stompin' Stu", "The Man" |
| Date of birth | May 20, 1958 (age 48) |
| Country |  United States |
| Height | 1.867 m (6'1.5" Imperial) |
| Weight | 90.72 kg (200lbs. Imperial) |
| Team information | |
| Current team | Retired |
| Discipline | Bicycle Motocross (BMX) |
| Role | Rider |
| Rider type | Off Road |
| Amateur team(s) | |
| 1974 1975 1975-1976 1976 1976-1977 |
Newport Design & Manufacturing, Inc. Dirtmaster Racing Products Webco Inc. D.G. Performance Specialties FMF |
| Professional team(s) | |
| 1976-1977 1977-1979 1980-1983 1984-1986 1987 |
FMF SE Racing Redline Engineering Huffy Corporation Stu Thomsen's Family Cycle Center |
| Infobox last updated on: | |
| March 15, 2007 | |
Stuart Thomsen (b. May 20, 1958 in Santa Ana, California) was an American bicycle motocross (BMX) racer.
Stu Thomsen was one of the first of the "Old School" of famous professional BMX racers that gained fame in the early days of the sport beginning in 1974. His prime competitive years were from 1976-1985. Stu Thomsen can be rightly called the Babe Ruth of BMX for his prolific and domination of BMX during its early days from the mid 1970's into the mid 1980's. Even today, many of the current sports superstars are compared to him as a standard of achievement.
His nicknames were "The Man" and "Stompin Stu", in part due to his size at 6 feet 1.5 inches and 200lbs.
Contents |
[edit] Racing career
Note: Professional first are at the national level unless otherwise indicated
Started Racing: Late 1973, 15 years old.
First local race result: Fifth place at Scot Breithaupt's Bicycle United Motocross Society (B.U.M.S.) track in Long Beach, California[1]
First local win:
Sanctioning body: The proto governing body Bicycle United Motocross Society (B.U.M.S.)
First Sponsor: Newport Design & Manufacturing, Inc.
First National win: Yamaha Bicycle Gold Cup a.k.a the Bicycle Motocross Championship of California State on September 14, 1974 as an Expert, age 16* He won a Yamaha Moto-Bike winning one of the three qualifiers and for winning the final event a Yamaha motorcycle.
Turned Professional: 1977 Age 19
First Pro race:
First Pro win:
Height & Weight at the height of his career (1977-1982) 6' 1.5" 200lbs.
Retired from Senior pro (NBL-"A"/ABA-"AA"): July 1987 Aged 29. Couldn't find a factory sponsorship for the expensive national circuit which even with the resources of his bikeshop Stu Thomsen's Family Cycle Center.[2][3] However, he did race in large races that was both close to his Yorba Linda home and had large purses. For example he did race at least once in 1988 at the ABA Winter Nationals at Chandler, Arizona with a 4th and 7th in Pro Cruiser at the two races over that weekend. This is in addition to him racing locally close to his home. He raced in the 1990 ABA Fall Nationals and made the Pro Open Main in the Sunday race, coming in sixth. He also raced the 1991 ABA Fall Nationals as well along with fellow "retired" pros Eric Rupe and Harry Leary but did not make any of the Mains. Most recently he raced the amateur 41-45 cruiser at the 2001 ABA Grand Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma and won.
*Classifications at the time were determined by size and weight and not age and proficiency, so his age in this case is irrelevant. The Yamaha Bicycle Gold Cup was the first "National" to be held in BMX.
[edit] Career factory and major 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.
[edit] Amateur
- Newport Design & Manufacturing, Inc.: -July 1974
- Dirtmaster Racing Products: July 1974-August 1975.
- Webco Inc.: August 1975-Late April 1976. Webco disbanded its team in March of 1976.[4]
- D.G. Performance Specialties (The initials stood for Dan Hangsleben, Gary Harlow[5]): Late April 1976-October 1976. Stu was kicked off the DG Team for bad mouthing and abusing his DG issue bicycle after a poor showing after a race. Chuck Robinson, DG team manager, heard Thomsen's out burst. Apparently according to Jeff Bottema, Thomsen's teammate at the time, it was not the first time and Mr. Robinson acted punitively at this at least second alleged occasion[6] In an June 1978 interview in Bicycle Motocross Action, Stu said about the incident:"....I stayed with them (DG) for another year and then got ejected from the team somehow...I don't even understand that."[7]
- Flying Machine Factory (FMF): October 1976-Mid 1977. Stu would turn pro with this sponsor.
[edit] Professional
- Flying Machine Factory (FMF): October 1976-Mid 1977. FMF was created in part by Scot Breithaupt, a pioneer of the sport. He will later split from FMF and start Scot Enterprises Racing (SER).
- SE (Formerly Scot Enterprises, now called Sports Engineering) Racing: Mid 1977-December 31, 1979.
- Redline Engineering: January 1, 1980-December 31, 1983.
- Huffy Corporation (Huffman Manufacturing Company): January 1, 1984-December 31, 1986.
- Stu Thomsen's Family Cycle Center: 1987-) This is a Bicycle shop was started and has been owned by Stu Thomsen since November 1984.
[edit] Career bicycle motocross titles
[edit] Amateur
- 1974 Yamaha Bicycle Gold Cup California State Expert Champion
National Bicycle Association (NBA)
- 1977 Western States Champion
National Bicycle League (NBL)
- None
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
- None
[edit] Professional
National Bicycle Association (NBA)
- 1977, 1978 National No. 1 Pro
- 1978 Jag Pro World Champion (NBA/NBL sanctioned)
National Bicycle League (NBL)
- 1981, 1982 National No. 1 Pro
- 1981 Knott's Berry Farm Pro Grand Champion (NBL, United Bicycle Racers (UBR) & World Wide Bicycle Motocross Association (WWBMXA) sanctioned.)
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
- 1979 National No. 1 Pro
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
- 1986 Pro Cruiser North American Continental Champion
Other Titles
- 1981 Jag Pro World Champion (No official BMX sanction). Sanctioned by the United States Cycling Federation, now know as USA Cycling. Various ABA and NBL track officials and scores aided.[8])
- 1983 Jag Pro Cruiser World Champion (Non-sanctioned)
Pro Series Championships and Invitationals
- 1984 Bicross International de Paris Bercy Champion (King of Bercy).
The International BMX Race of Bercy Paris was an invitational race sponsored by the Association Francaise de Bi-Crossing (AFB), the French BMX sanctioning body and was held in Bercy an eastern area in the city of Paris, France north of the river Seine. It was sponsored by the Yoplait Yogurt company. As such it was also known as the Bicross de Paris Challenge Yop Champion (The Paris Yoplait BMX Challenge) in which American and English pros as well as French pros were brought together to compete in a single race. As is typical in Europe, the public had greater enthusiasm for BMX than the American public, in part because bicycle racing of any type was and is much more popular in Europe (and in Asia and South America as well) than in the United States. In the 1984 addition 330 racers were invited to France including United States professionals like Pete Loncarevich, Harry Leary Rod Beckering, Mike Miranda and Greg Hill in addition to Stu Thomsen. As it would be with the 1985 addition, which Tommy Brackens won, it was a hit in France with tickets sold out three months in advance.[9]
[edit] Notable accolades
- He is one of the winners of the first nationally recognized BMX Championship (albeit a state Championship); the Bicycle Motocross Championship of California State a.k.a The Yamaha Bicycle Gold Cup along with David Clinton (Junior Champion) and Bobby Watts (Novice Champion).
- He was named Rider of the Year by Bicycle Motocross News for 1977. Also named by BMX News as number one top rider of Southern California for 1977.[10]
- He is a multiple winner of Bicycle Motocross Action magazine's Number One Racer Award (NORA) Cup:
- Stu Thomsen is a winner of Super BMX Racer of the Year Award for 1982 via a reader ship survey in the October 1982 issue of Super BMX.[13] No voter break down was given.
- He was the first pro to earn a National No.1 plate twice and to do so consecutively (1977,'78 NBA)
- He was the first pro to win the No.1 pro title with three different major sanctioning bodies (NBA, NBL, ABA).
- At least one book was published by him: "Stu Thomsen's Book of BMX" (1985)
- He was one of the founding members of the Professional Racing Organization (PRO).[14]
- He is a 1986 inductee of the ABA BMX Hall of Fame.
- He is also a 1998 inductee of the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame.
- Stu Thomsen is also credited with the first documented Aerial (180 degree turn in the air and returning in forward) in a skatepark in the late 1970's.
- Stu Thomsen was featured in the BMX documentary "Joe Kid on a Stingray" in 2005. The title of the film was taken from a comment he made during an interview.
*In the early years of the NORA cup the year the balloting was done and tallied was the year it was considered awarded. In 1984 it was switched to when the winner of the cup was presented to the public in BMX Action magazine (usually in the February or March issue) the following year it was considered awarded and not during the closing months of the previous year when the voting and tally takes place. This was done to give the rider (and the winners of No.1 bicycle and No.1 Factory Team) maximum publicity and advantage financially. Therefore under the new system Stu Thomsen was awarded NORA in 1980 and 1982.
[edit] BMX Related Product Lines
- The SE Racing STR-1 in 1977. After Stu Thomsen left SE Racing the frame was rechristened the Quadrangle.[15]
[edit] Notable injuries
- Bad ankle sprain prior to competing in the Yamaha Bicycle Gold cup in September 1974. Competed on it and won his expert class.
- Broken Collarbone resulting form football related Physical Education class at his high school in early 1975.[16] He returned to competition at the Western Sport-A-Rama track in Orange, California but promptly re-injured himself at that race fittingly on Friday, June 13, 1975.[17]
- Broke leg in January 1976 during a practice session.[18]
- Leg injury approximately May of 1976.[19] Returned to racing on June 27, 1976 for the NBA Springnational.
- Ankle injury in April of 1984. Tore two ligaments falling in practice at an Memphis, Tennessee NBL race. Laid up for approximately six weeks. Thomsen had a two national winning streak at the time and was showing signs of being dominant again after two off (for him) seasons. This injury hurt his 1984 season.[20]
- Shoulder injury and a broken collar bone during practice at a promotional mountain bike race in the Los Angeles Coliseum during half time at the Superbowl of Motocross motorcycle race on or around November 10, 1985. He was laid up for about six weeks.[21]
- He reinjured his shoulder in a fall at an ABA national in Bakersfield, California on April 6th. Had surgery on April 22nd and laid up for a further two months until late June 1986.[22]
[edit] Post BMX career
- Beginning in 1988 Stu Thomsen competed in mountain bike racing on the National Off Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) circuit as other BMX racers had done and would later do including Tinker Juarez, Cheri Elliott, Pete Loncarevich and Toby Henderson.
- Stuart Thomsen is a Sheriff's Deputy in Orange County, California, making him literally "The Man". He still races BMX and mountain bikes every once and a while.
[edit] Peccadilloes
- Rumors of impending retirement would repeatably emerge going virtually back to the beginning of his career:
Q: "What about rumors that you are getting ready to retire?"
A: "Just rumors. I may not race much anymore, but I will still like it very much."[23]
----Bicycle Motocross News August 1975
This was almost just two years after he began racing. The cause of this was probably because at 17 Stu Thomsen was one of the oldest racers in BMX at the time. During this era BMX racing was still regarded exclusively as a kid's sport and at best a training ground and stepping stone to racing standard Motorcycle Motocross when they reached adulthood. Of course as part of the first generation Stu Thomsen would remain one of the oldest riders through out his career. These persistent rumors-at times aided by his own statements-would regularly crop up as people wondered what is the outer age limit of a competitive racer in this new sport.
BMX Plus!: "When you were interviewed by BMX PLUS! last year you said you were going to retire at the end of 1979. In fact you said you were going to retire every year since 1976. Are you going to tell us the same thing this year?"
Thomsen: (Laughing) "I always say that. You know me."[24]
----BMX Plus! January 1981
The question of his retirement would repeatedly arise until he actually retired at the beginning of the 1987 racing season.
[edit] BMX Magazine covers
Bicycle Motocross News:
- August 1975 Vol.2 No.7 (artist rendering).
- April 1977 Vol.4 No.4
- October 1977 Vol.4 No.10
- December 1977 Vol.4 No.11 with Brent Patterson in fan fold cover.
- January/February 1978 Vol.5 No.1
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
- July 1979 Vol.6 No.7 (M/BMXA)
- December 1982 Vol.9 No.12 (SBMX)
- April 1983 Vol.10 No.4 posing with celebrity actress Debbie Lytton also poses with same actress in centerfold for his Number One Racer Award.(SBMX)
- December 1984 Vol.11 No.12 (SBMX)
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
- December 1980 Vol.5 No.12
- August 1981 Vol.6 No.8
- February 1982 Vol.7 No.2
- October 1982 Vol.7 No.10 with Andy Patterson and Jeff Ruminer.
- September 1983 Vol.8 No.9
- August 1985 Vol.10 No.8
BMX Plus!:
- January 1981 Vol.4 No.1
- August 1981 Vol.4 No.8
- April 1982 Vol.5 No.4
- December 1982 Vol.5 No.12 with Greg Hill.
- September 1983 Vol.6 No.8* tied with Brent Patterson and with Clint Miller following.
- December 1983 Vol.6 No.11* In inset with Greg Hill, Nelson Chanady, Tim Judge and others at beginning of national banner presentation at the start of a race. Brian Patterson is the main image.
- June 1984 Vol.7 No.6 In insert. Main image Eric Rupe.
- July 1984 Vol.7 No.7 ahead of Pete Loncarevich with Brian Patterson in third. In insets Mercury Morgan (top "rip"), freestyler Mike Dominguez (circle).
- October 1984 Vol.7 No.10 in insert in third behind Ronnie Anderson and second place Mike Miranda. Main image freestyler Eddie Fiola.
*Due to a change of ownership, BMX Plus! did not publish a May 1983 issue.
- July 1984 Vol.7 No.7
- June 1987 Vol.10 No.6 in insert behind Pete Loncarevich. Main image: freestyler Tim Rogers. Ronnie Anderson in caricature at bottom.
Bicycles and Dirt:
- September 1983 Vol.1 No.12
[edit] BMX & General press magazine interviews & articles
- "BMX Tower of Power" Bicycle Motocross News August 1975 Vol.7 No. pg.20
- "Top Banana: Stompin Stu Thomsen" Bicycle Motocross Action June 1978 Vol.3 No.3 pg.9
- "Mr. BMX?"Action Now December 1981 Vol.8 No.5 pg.30
- "Top Pros Speak Out" BMX Action April 1982 Vol.7 No.4 pg.62 Joint interview with Brent Patterson, Greg Hill, Kevin McNeal, Eric Rupe, Harry Leary, and Scott Clark, speaking about various issues facing the racing world.
- "Call Him Mr. BMX" Super BMX August 1982 Vol.9 No.8 pg.38
- "Five Minutes with the Mighty One" Side Bar: BMX Action January 1984 Vol.9 No.1 pg.31
- "Stu Interview" BMX Action June 1984 Vol.9 No.6 pg.38
- "Stu: Still the one!" BMX Plus! June 1984 Vol.7 No.6 pg.39
- "Stompin' Stu" Super BMX December 1984 Vo1.11 No.12 pg.63
- "Gold Cup Controversy: Stu Vs. Ronnie" BMX Plus! February 1985 Vol.8 No.2 pg.45
- "Stu on Stu" Super BMX & Freestyle August 1986 Vol.13 No.8 pg.18
- "Stuart" Super BMX & Freestyle March 1987 Vol.14 No.3 pg.31
[edit] End Notes
- ^ Bicycle Motocross Action June 1978 Vol.3 No.3 pg.9
- ^ BMX Plus! June 1987 Vol.10 No.6 pg.35
- ^ BMX Action November 1987 Vol.12 No.11 pg.12(Dear Gork, 3-B)
- ^ Bicycle Motocross News May 1976 Vol.3 No.5 pg.9
- ^ BMX Plus! July 1988 Vol.11 No.7 pg.26
- ^ Bicycle Motocross Action June, 1977 Vol.2 No.2 pg.13
- ^ Bicycle Motocross Action June 1978 Vol.3 No.3 pg.9
- ^ Bicycle Motocross Action April 1982 Vol.7 No.4 pg.49.
- ^ BMX Action March 1989 Vol.14 No.3 pg.12
- ^ Bicycle Motocross News January/February 1978 Vol.4 No.l pg.12&13
- ^ Bicycle Motocross Action January 1980 Vol.5 No.1 pg.71.
- ^ Bicycle Motocross Action February 1982 Vol.7 No.2 pg.53.
- ^ Super BMX March 1983 Vol.10 No.3 pg.5
- ^ BMX Action December 1986 Vol.11 No.12 pg.30
- ^ sebmx.com site.
- ^ Bicycle Motocross News June 1975 Vol.2 No.5 pg.14
- ^ Bicycle Motocross News July 1975 Vol.2 No.6 pg.10
- ^ Bicycle Motocross News February 1976 Vol.3 No.2 pg.6
- ^ Bicycle Motocross News June 1976 Vol.3 No.6 No.19
- ^ BMX Action August 1984 Vol.9 No.8 pg.34
- ^ BMX Plus! February 1986 Vol.9 No.2 pg.74
- ^ Super BMX August 1986 Vol.13 No.8 pg.20
- ^ Bicycle Motocross News August 1975 Vol.2 No.7 pg.20
- ^ BMX Plus! January 1981 Vol.4 No.1 pg.26
