BMX Vs. Cars (Part One)

Ryan Fudger

• January 07 2009
• 7,981 views
• 51 comments

I got a little overwhelmed here, so I figured it’d be better to break this up… Please look for part two of this in the next week or so…including answers from Scotty Cranmer, Pat “Big Daddy” Laughlin, Jim Bauer, Josh Heino, James Foster, Morgan Wade, and more.

I’ve always had this fleeting thought that the type of person that commits their life to riding a BMX bike must have some sort of infatuation with one or more of the following things: fun, going fast, jumping, being slightly out of control, or being completely out of control. BMX gives us that and more, and some people eventually find those things in more than just BMX. In come those evil, soul sucking, life controlling, and bank account withdrawing machines known as automobiles. You drive to work so you can work to pay for your car. Hell forsakes them. But more than a few people within the BMX world have found a second passion within cars, so take a look at what some of the pros and industry people alike are rolling around in. Gallery of photos is down low, duder.

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Tom Stober

First off, what sort of car(s) do you have?
I have two VW MK2 Golfs.

What made that car appealing to you?
Style, handling, and bikes fit in easy. For my Rallye, the heritage of the car was appealing.

The typical situation is: kid rides bikes, kid gets car, kid quits riding bikes…Why didn’t this happen to you?
Because the feeling I get from riding is totally unique—nothing can replace that.

What sort of stuff are you into with the car? Drag racing, road racing, wrapping it around a pole, etc.?
Tinkering and back-road driving.

What all have you done to the car?
Absolutely everything, including flying to Germany and shipping it back to the U.S.

Who has the best car in BMX?
For my taste…me, ha-ha. I always hear things about Scotty’s cars. Now Dave and Josh have Subies. I like rally cars and older VWs.

Who has the fastest?
From what I hear, Scotty.

Any future plans or goals?
To just start enjoying it and to stop spending money and working on it.

Any shout-outs/thanks/call outs for people?
Achim Kujawski, Scott Norton, Bopper! Ray Bonnett, Mike Beier, and Kevin Cleary.

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Eric Pritchett – Volume/Demolition Sales

First off, what sort of car do you have?
Lotus Elise.

What made that car appealing to you?
Lightweight, simple, handles like no other.

The typical situation is: kid rides bikes, kid gets car, kid quits riding bikes…Why didn’t this happen to you?
Mine went more like: kid rides bikes, kid gets car, kid quits riding bikes, kid gets job at bike company, and kid starts riding bikes again.

What sort of stuff are you into with the car? Drag racing, road racing, wrapping it around a pole, etc.?
Making it lighter and driving it wherever and whenever I can.

What all have you done to the car?
Lightweight exhaust, intake, black aluminum wheels, Toyo R888 tires, ground wire kit, and a few carbon fiber bits.

Who has the best car in BMX?
Cars are like women, it’s all subjective. That being said, mine is the best.

Who has the fastest?
Around a corner… me.

Any future plans or goals?
Carbon fiber seats and a supercharger.

Any shout-outs/thanks/call outs for people?
Thanks to Brian Castillo for keeping me employed in order to make my car payments.

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Gary Young

First off, what sort of car(s) do you have?
I drive a 1999 BMW M coupe.

What made that car appealing to you?
I have always loved the curves on that car, and the stock suspension is dialed so it can handle the turns really well.

The typical situation is: kid rides bikes, kid gets car, kid quits riding bikes…Why didn’t this happen to you?
Bikes are just more fun to me… BMX is much less expensive, too.

What sort of stuff are you into with the car? Drag racing, road racing, wrapping it around a pole, etc.?
Straight lines don’t really do much for me, so I am all about the track days.

What all have you done to the car?
It is pretty dialed stock, so all I have done is turn the key.

Who has the best car in BMX?
I am completely biased, but I like mine.

Who has the fastest?
Probably Scotty.

Any future plans or goals?
Possibly super charge my car one day but I am in no hurry… As long as my track times stay better than Ryan’s, ha-ha.

Any shoutouts/thanks/call outs for people?
I want to thank Simo and Heikki for helping me with the car. Jim Bauer for taking me to Willow Springs and Ryan for coming out to the track, too. Morgan should come out to willow springs with his car, too.

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Anthony Napolitan

First off, what sort of car(s) do you have?
Well I own a 2003 MK4 Jazz Blue 20th AE VW 1.8T GTI and my daily driver is a 2008 MK5 black on black VW 2.5L Jetta

What made that car appealing to you?
For as long as I can remember, the owners of Section 8 Skatepark both drove a MK4 Body style, either a 1.8T or a VR6. When I first saw the car, I was super stoked on it…probably because I really looked up to both of them. From that point on I got sucked into the world of VWs. The thing that I like most about the GTI is that it’s a hatchback and it looks super stealth!

The typical situation is: kid rides bikes, kid gets car, kid quits riding bikes…Why didn’t this happen to you?
This didn’t happen to me because I rode bikes, worked a job to get a Dodge Colt hatchback that was yellow so that I could get back and forth to ride wherever I wanted to. Then I bought a Cavalier once the Colt died, so I could travel a bit farther than the Colt could. Then I sort of became alright on a bike and won some contests, too, later that year acquire my dream car (Jazz Blue 20th AE). I didn’t quit riding because I love riding my bike.

What sort of stuff are you into with the car? Drag racing, road racing, wrapping it around a pole, etc.?
I’ve never drag raced. I really enjoy taking it home to Ohio and street racing; all the local car guys that think their car is awesome. There are so many kids that sit in parking lots with neon lights under their car and their hoods popped with nothing to show for. You can pull up to any intersection and a Civic with an exhaust will pull up and rev their engine at you.

What all have you done to the car?
Engine: GT2871r .64af turbo, Unitronic software, Delphi 42lb injectors, 255 Walbro inline fuel pump, 3” VR6 MAF, Kinetic MBC, Samco Hoses, GHL 3” TB, Injen CAI, Forge 007 DV, Dieselgeek Race shifter, N75j valve, Greddy type 31 FMIC, Neuspeed rear sway, FK silverline plus coilovers, Turn2 dogbone mounts, H&R Trak 15mm spacers, Greddy Turbo Timer and companion, Porsche brakes w/drilled and slotted rotors

Cosmetics: 19in IForged Retros, Philips Ultinon 6000k HIDs, PIAA LED city lights, VDO boost gauge/a-pillar pod, monster mats, 30 percent tint, euro switch, OEM bmp grille, Badgeless, Hella r/s/s/r, sleepy Boser hood, shaved antenna, BMP Roof, Hella mk5 Headlights, shaved hatch, shaved side markers, shaved antenna, Hella MK5 glass headlight fit for MK4

Who has the best car in BMX?
I have no idea?! I heard Fudger has a pretty sick car, but I heard it doesn’t run [Note: True…about it never running]. Stober has a Rallye! Scotty had a Skyline! It’s all in the air.

Who has the fastest?
I don’t know. We should have a race with everyone in it. How much fun would that be?

Any future plans or goals?
I plan on changing my injectors and software to the 630cc. I had some bigger plans involving a GT30r, but I’m going to put those on hold for a while.

Any shout outs/thanks/call outs for people?
I’d like to thank Shaun Jordan for helping me locate my dream car, Steev Luckett for doing all the body work and taking it for paint while I travel the world, John@20squaredtuning for fixing things when they break—ha! My mom’s boyfriend Rob for doing the same (MacGyver), James Foster for helping me out here and there with electrical things, and anyone else who has helped me out… Thanks!

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Ralph Sinisi

First off, what sort of car(s) do you have?
1991 Mitsubishi Eclipse.

What made that car appealing to you?
All wheel drive turbo for cheap. Hatchback for two bikes without taking them apart.

The typical situation is: kid rides bikes, kid gets car, kid quits riding bikes…Why didn’t this happen to you?
The one gets you to spots all over the place to ride that are too far to pedal. I also hate waiting for trains.

What sort of stuff are you into with the car? Drag racing, road racing, wrapping it around a pole, etc.?
Pretty much getting from spot to spot or to work safely and quickly. It is not a crazy race car, but is real fun to hook a turn and get on and off the highway.

What all have you done to the car?
Omar hooked it up so it is running 20 pounds of boost to the turbo. Besides that, just fuel injectors and a couple of other little bolt on things. Omar is about to put on a new suspension since it is shot.

Who has the best car in BMX?
I would say Tom Stober’s Rallye Golf. There are only a few of them in the country and it is sick. Then probably George D’s Scirocco.  Lugo probably has the cleanest car in BMX. Steve Stash takes him out in the golf 3 class with his Turbo VR6. All my Turbo Dodges are dope also.

Who has the fastest?
Shit. Maybe Omar? Actually Dominic Biro’s Focus racecar would probably whoop him up.

Any future plans or goals?
Ride tonight before it starts to snow, and then drive around in the snow with the all-wheel drive blue bullet.

Any shout-outs/thanks/call outs for people?
Thanks to Omar for his Diamond Star knowledge. Thanks to Dom for hookin’ up the silver normally aspirated beast with a place to live. Same goes to Steve Stash for makin’ the Benz minty knew inside. Barry gets no love since he broke the charger shift linkage.
Par and Vic for the German beasts.

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Seth Kimbrough

First off, what sort of car(s) do you have?
Well, I have a 1994 mustang GT that I have been working on for the past five years, a 1997 Acura Integra for road trips and what not, you know… it’s good on gas. Ha-haHaha! I have a few other cars, well… kind of, they are sitting behind my house on blocks, ha-hahaha! Corey just bought one from me for parts for his ’89 mustang, everyday more parts are gone off the one he got from me so it’s looking pretty rough at this point. It’s weird I think he comes over late at night cause I never see him out there, but I know he comes by cause more of the car is gone everyday! It’s just like half a car left now! And it’s on blocks! Ha-haHaha! You can ask Corey about that. Ha-haHaha!

What made that car appealing to you?
Well I wanted a ’94-’95 mustang for a long time; they were the last year of the 302, ha-hahaha! Yes, okay, I’m a Ford guy! Whatever shut up! Ha-haHaha!

The typical situation is: kid rides bikes, kid gets car, kid quits riding bikes…Why didn’t this happen to you?
Getting a car meant more spots to ride!

What sort of stuff are you into with the car? Drag racing, road racing, wrapping it around a pole, etc.?
Road racing I guess, but I’m more into just going out and having a good time on a curved road. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense! Ha!

What all have you done to the car?
Supercharger, cam, gears, headwork, suspension work, and a lot other little things here and there.

Who has the best car in BMX?
I don’t know! I can’t keep up with that! I got a life, man! Well not really, but still.

Who has the fastest?
Umm, ahhh, dunno!

Any future plans or goals?
For the ’94, a 331 stroker engine build. For the ones out back, the scrap yard.

Any shout-outs/thanks/call outs for people?
Doug at Bama Chips for tuning my car for me. Ummmmm! Oil, thanks for keeping my V8 putting out manly power! Gas, thanks for burning! I love you.

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Omar Elsebai—Animal Sales Manager

First off, what sort of car(s) do you have?
I Have 199 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX, a 1989 Nissan 240sx Coupe, a 1988 Camaro RS, and a 1990 Mercedes 560 SEC.

What made that car appealing to you?
The Eclipse is all-wheel drive, it’s turbo, and it can handle 500hp with stock internals.

The typical situation is: kid rides bikes, kid gets car, kid quits riding bikes…Why didn’t this happen to you?
It actually did happen. I broke and dislocated my ankle three days after I got my license and 16 weeks later I had found other things to do other then ride. Got a job at Animal and now I’m back in the game, and still into cars, ha-hahaha.

What sort of stuff are you into with the car? Drag racing, road racing, wrapping it around a pole, etc.?
I Drag race with the eclipse and I recently picked up that 240sx, so I’m slowing getting into the drifting thing.

What all have you done to the car?
2.3 stroker gt35r and much, much, much more!

Who has the best car in BMX?
I don’t really know, but I would consider Scotty Cranmer, he has two r33 skylines, and that car is a beast!

Who has the fastest?
Again I’m not too sure, but probably Scotty Cranmer.

Any future plans or goals?
Lots more cars and a lot more debt, ha-hahaha.

Any shout-outs/thanks/call outs for people?
Everyone I know…. Thanks, yo!

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Ryan Sher

First off, what sort of car(s) do you have?
1981 Pontiac Trans Am SE.

What made that car appealing to you?
When I was a little kid, I saw one drive by. I’m pretty sure the giant gold eagle blowing fire on the hood sold me. T-Tops are sweet, too.

The typical situation is: kid rides bikes, kid gets car, kid quits riding bikes…Why didn’t this happen to you?
My car just enabled me to ride more. I didn’t have to ride all the way across Phoenix to get to the trails. I could go to Union Hills, 16th street, and K.C. Badger’s trails all in the same day! But I also had a pretty crap car at first, so it wasn’t enough to cut into the riding time.

What sort of stuff are you into with the car? Drag racing, road racing, wrapping it around a pole, etc.?
I think all those things are against the law… My radar detector works amazingly well.

What all have you done to the car?
I put a C.B. radio with a big antenna in it, rigged up an iPod adaptor, and sometimes I change the oil. I also switched from regular gas to premium.

Who has the best car in BMX?
Fabio from Arizona. I sold him a Ford Esprit. It got moldy so we called it the Ford Fungus. That was about three year ago, and I think it’s still going.

Who has the fastest?
Between me and you? Well, mine actually runs, sooo…

Any future plans or goals?
I’ve never rolled a car…or done a wheelie in one.

Any shout-outs/thanks/call outs for people?
Thanks to Burt Reynolds, Jim Bauer for finding it, Ryan Fudger for driving a Geo Storm home for me so I could pick up the Trans Am, Fudger again for teaching me brake stands, and all the cops that let me go with a warning.