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Promotors & Organizers

BEMBOOM H. (Holland)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

European Challenge Cup / E.C.C. events - Slagharen , Holland

Mr. H. Bemboom (owner PP Slagharen) and Mr. G. Does (BMX organisation)

Organisation: Ponypark Slagharen with owner/director Mr. H. Bemboom taking care of all facilities and promoter/organiser Mr. Gerrit Does taking care of the sport technical part of the organisation as well as marketing, publicity, public relations (TV) and so on.

COSTE D. (France)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Among others responsible for the organisation of:
  • Indoor BMX de Bercy - Palais Omni Sport - Paris, France

Mr. Didier Coste was responsible within the Lariviere Organisation ("Chef Redaction" of the Edition Lariviere group)

DOES Gerrit (Holland)

Gerrit-Does-left-and-Louis-Vrijdag-rightSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

As you can read from the History of BMX, Gerrit Does discovered BMX in the USA in 1974 and imported the sport in Europe, more specific Holland in the first place.

Louis Vrijdag has been instrumental getting the sport organised in Holland together with Gerrit Does in the early days.

Gerrit Does has been instrumental getting an international organisation of the the ground called the I.BMX.F. , now integrated into the UCI. Louis Vrijdag was instrumental integrating I.BMX.F. into the UCI which took about 6 years to realise all together.

History of BMX (1978 - 1979)

Year 1978.

1978 - Europeans discover BMX in the USA.

The ABA makes the decision to expand nationally. First ABA national race held in Azusa, California. First large pro purse ($1,000.00) offered at a major race by the ABA.

Kyle Flemmingbecame ABA's first number 1 Amature. Kyle was riding for DG at the time. A couple of years later, Kyle was killed in a car-train accident going with 3 others to a BMX race. I will come back to this tragic event later on.

Again, this was the year I got involved in BMX seriously. I organized the official introduction of the sport of BMX during the international moto-cross event at Valkenswaard in March 1978. A group of about 10 riders did give a demonstration of BMX racing. An unofficial BMX organization was founded (not registered/recognized by the official authorities) on May 16th. 1978 by yours truly, called: "Eerste Nationale Fietscross Organisatie" (1st National BMX Organization).

Around this time, I contacted the municipality of Eindhoven with the request to put at our disposal a piece of land on which a track could be build. In the meantime, I got in contact with Louis Vrijdag (whom I knew from the moto-cross sport), at the time he was working for the municipality of Eindhoven, who also learned about this BMX activity because of his job. Louis and I found eachother and understood each other well and this cooperation led to the foundation of the S.F.N. "Stichting Fietscross Nederland" later on this year. 

KULIGOWSKI Alain (France)

1984 alain kuligowskiSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Together with René Nicolas, Alain Kuligowski introduced and started organising BMX in France.

Among others responsible for the organisation of:

  • Indoor BMX de Bercy - Palais Omni Sport - Paris, France

In the beginning, Mr. Alain Kuligowski was responsible within the Lariviere Organisation. Later on this was taken over by Mr. Didier Coste (both men were "Chef Redaction" of the Edition Lariviere group).

 

 

MASSE Mr. (France)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Indoor de TOURS - Tours, France

Mrs. Morain and Masse (original founders), Mr. Perraquin

The fundament for this prestigious event was laid down by 5 clubs from the region d'Indre-et-Loire. In 1984 the Rochecorbon BMX clubs organised the first event with 200 entree and around 2000 spectators.

In February 1986 four clubs organised the French National Indoor Championship Superclass. Main sponsor was Credit Agricole 'd Indre-et-Loire.

The 3rd Indoor de Tours was organised in March of 1987 and for the first time foreign riders were allowed to compete. A new concept was introduced, "Le Trophée des As". In this open class riders of 16 year and older were able to compete against each other.

In 1989, the 5th indoor in Tours had grown to almost 800 entries and more then 6000 spectators came to watch the racing. It was for the first time also that the original BMX organisation AFB, worked together with the French cycling federation, the FFC.

The 6th Indoor de Tours in 1990 did hold the 1st. leg of the I.BMX.F. European Championship Superclass and also included the 3rd. round for the French National Indoor Championship title. Around 1300 entries and 7000 spectators.

Up and till this year (2001), this prestigious event has been organised 17 times now. This is truly unique for Europe. This top event with an average even now of over 1000 entries, draws a lot of interest from outside BMX people. On Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, many people from the city of TOURS come to the hall to see spectacular BMX racing.

It is very special that an organisation last this long.

It has everything to do with the enthusiasm and love for the sport put into this by the original founders of the organisation Mr. Morain and Masse and also by the present president of the organising committee Mr. Perraquin and his staff.

All 3 organisations and named organisers are true Hall of Fame members and unique in their kind. Proud to have them as nominees.

MORAIN Mrs. (France)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Indoor de TOURS - Tours, France

Mrs. Morain and Masse (original founders), Mr. Perraquin

The fundament for this prestigious event was laid down by 5 clubs from the region d'Indre-et-Loire. In 1984 the Rochecorbon BMX clubs organised the first event with 200 entree and around 2000 spectators.

In February 1986 four clubs organised the French National Indoor Championship Superclass. Main sponsor was Credit Agricole 'd Indre-et-Loire.

The 3rd Indoor de Tours was organised in March of 1987 and for the first time foreign riders were allowed to compete. A new concept was introduced, "Le Trophée des As". In this open class riders of 16 year and older were able to compete against each other.

In 1989, the 5th indoor in Tours had grown to almost 800 entries and more then 6000 spectators came to watch the racing. It was for the first time also that the original BMX organisation AFB, worked together with the French cycling federation, the FFC.

The 6th Indoor de Tours in 1990 did hold the 1st. leg of the I.BMX.F. European Championship Superclass and also included the 3rd. round for the French National Indoor Championship title. Around 1300 entries and 7000 spectators.

Up and till this year (2001), this prestigious event has been organised 17 times now. This is truly unique for Europe. This top event with an average even now of over 1000 entries, draws a lot of interest from outside BMX people. On Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, many people from the city of TOURS come to the hall to see spectacular BMX racing.

It is very special that an organisation last this long.

It has everything to do with the enthusiasm and love for the sport put into this by the original founders of the organisation Mr. Morain and Masse and also by the present president of the organising committee Mr. Perraquin and his staff.

All 3 organisations and named organisers are true Hall of Fame members and unique in their kind. Proud to have them as nominees.

NICOLAS René (France)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Together with Alain Kuligowski, René Nicolas introduced and started organising BMX in France.

Up and till today René Nicolas is involved in BMX (works for FFC).

PERRAQUIN Mr. (France)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Indoor de TOURS - Tours, France

Mrs. Morain and Masse (original founders), Mr. Perraquin

The fundament for this prestigious event was laid down by 5 clubs from the region d'Indre-et-Loire. In 1984 the Rochecorbon BMX clubs organised the first event with 200 entree and around 2000 spectators.

In February 1986 four clubs organised the French National Indoor Championship Superclass. Main sponsor was Credit Agricole 'd Indre-et-Loire.

The 3rd Indoor de Tours was organised in March of 1987 and for the first time foreign riders were allowed to compete. A new concept was introduced, "Le Trophée des As". In this open class riders of 16 year and older were able to compete against each other.

In 1989, the 5th indoor in Tours had grown to almost 800 entries and more then 6000 spectators came to watch the racing. It was for the first time also that the original BMX organisation AFB, worked together with the French cycling federation, the FFC.

The 6th Indoor de Tours in 1990 did hold the 1st. leg of the I.BMX.F. European Championship Superclass and also included the 3rd. round for the French National Indoor Championship title. Around 1300 entries and 7000 spectators.

Up and till this year (2001), this prestigious event has been organised 17 times now. This is truly unique for Europe. This top event with an average even now of over 1000 entries, draws a lot of interest from outside BMX people. On Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, many people from the city of TOURS come to the hall to see spectacular BMX racing.

It is very special that an organisation last this long.

It has everything to do with the enthusiasm and love for the sport put into this by the original founders of the organisation Mr. Morain and Masse and also by the present president of the organising committee Mr. Perraquin and his staff.

All 3 organisations and named organisers are true Hall of Fame members and unique in their kind. Proud to have them as nominees.

VRIJDAG Louis (Holland)

Gerrit-Does-left-and-Louis-Vrijdag-rightSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

As you can read from the History of BMX, Gerrit Does discovered BMX in the USA in 1974 and imported the sport in Europe, more specific Holland in the first place.

Louis Vrijdag has been instrumental getting the sport organised in Holland together with Gerrit Does in the early days.

Gerrit Does has been instrumental getting an international organisation of the the ground called the I.BMX.F. , now integrated into the UCI. Louis Vrijdag was instrumental integrating I.BMX.F. into the UCI which took about 6 years to realise all together.

Gerrit has been involved in BMX up and till 1998 (since 1974 meaning 25 years of involvement) and Louis Vrijdag up and till 1999 (since 1978 meaning 21 years of involvement) working for the KNWU (National Cycling Fed.) and the UCI (president BMX committee UCI). Both men have been crucial for National and International developments up and till the '90s.

Louis-Vrijdag-left-and-Gerrit-Does-right-having-lunchFour still active manufacturers of BMX bikes and parts have been inducted into the European BMX Hall of Fames in the year 2003. All of them were pioneers in their fields in international European BMX. They were trend setters and instrumental in developing BMX equipment from the early days on up till now. They helped initiating the sport and its products within the European market and on.