Hi Gerrit,

My name is Matt Pingel from Germany. Now this is a real pleasure to hear from the "European Godfather of BMX". Man, You`ve changed the life of so many kids in Europe, including mine! Since the early 80`s to this day BMX has ruled my life. I`ve done a lot for BMX Freestyle in the 80`s and 90`s, being the first editor of BMX Freestyle Magazine in Germany to founding the first ever BMX clothing company "BOOST" to being a pro BMX Freestyler, to doing a BMX show company that did even the GT BMX Shows at the Eurobike (including stars like Dave Mirra, Brain Blyther, Dave Volker ... ) . I`ve also been a strong part of Fat BMX when it was a Xerox magazine. And still supporting it.

OK, I found that particular "bicycle speedway" or "BMX" shot somewhere on the internet and I thought I`d post it to Bart. Sorry, I have no idea where it comes from. It only says: Australia. But boy, I guess since there was bicycles, there was guys riding them off road and doing stunts. Be it building tracks or not. Downhill MTB might not have started by Gary Fisher and the lot, maybe it`s been way way before. The riders from early 20th centuy might be dead now, but....

I`ve got an article from TOUR magazine from the 80`s and there is an article of "hellriders on bicycles from th 1930`s" where riders perform loops in giant metal built loops and riders jumping from giant ramps on fixed gear 28 incher bikes ?  I`ve seen that Flatland rider video in the 1930`s doing trackstands an all kinds of balance moves on such a huge bike.

Now big daddy tell me where does BMX and BMX Freestyle come from?

In the beginning there was a bike. Two wheels a steal frame and no gear. And from that point on riders begun to perform stunts or tried to race each other. In my opinion the BMX started in the 1930`s. Tell me if I`m wrong. But progression made its way. And now we`re here, 2010. The BMX tracks are crazy, the BMX freestyle has gone crazy, the BMX flatland has gone crazy. And now even the fixie bikers are getting into freestyling.

Pesonally I `m a biker and I never gave a shit about whell sizes. I love stunts, I love racing ( in fact I raced road bikes as well in my teens ) I love bikes, so what! BMX old school wise I`ve given most of my memorablia , parts, frames, clothes to Dieter Schadowski at BMX museun. He is a true BMX hero, at the age of 70 now !!!

Same as you I`m an old schooler but who was the first to ride a bike through a puddle of mud and to do the first jump or raced the first backjard comp might be beyond our expectations. Anyway, BMX is there in all aspects. And this is good.
Long live BMX,

Matt Pingel

www.matt-pingel.com

www.matt-holiday.com