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University of BMX by Gerrit Does

History of BMX (1981)

ABA - USA, starts Leukemia " Race for Life" and raises over $ 223,000 in the fight against Leukemia. This program still runs today! ABA number one pro, Kevin McNeal, receives 1982 TransAM. Membership in March 1981 over 62,000 nationwide with 350 track facilities.

Switzerland. Early this year I did have my first contact on BMX with the importer of Murray bicycles in Switzerland, Mr. R.A. Huber. Only in 1982 serious action in Switzerland getting BMX off the ground by Mr. Franz Hattan.

The F.F.B. (Federation Francaise de Bicrossing) in France ceased to exist. Early 1981 at first two clubs, the BMX club of Beaune and Altkirch and later on Delle, formed a new organization called the A.F.B. - Association Francaise de Bicrossing. Very soon more bmx clubs would join the A.F.B. Its first president became Mr. Raymond Imbert (1981 - 1983). Ending 1981 the F.F.B. did have approx. 100 license holders.

BMX in Venezuela started in Caracas. Mr. Alfredo Matheus was the first president of the Venezuelan BMX Federation, the A.V.B. - Asociacion Venezolana de Bicicross. Mr. Matheus also is one of the founder members of  the I.BMX.F. later on in 1981. At the end of 1981 there were about 600 license holders and riders did compete in events in the USA (specially Florida) and Colombia. Also USA riders took part in events organized in Venezuela. Pioneers in developing BMX were Mr. Ruben GarcilasoMr. Alfredo Matheus and Mr. Solari. They were also the men that helped design most of the Venezuelan BMX tracks (early 1983 there were about 15 permanent tracks in Venezuela) and advised local clubs and associations to get organized.