CHULA VISTA, Calif. (BRAIN) — The BMX Hall of Fame will induct five individuals at a ceremony planned for Saturday, Sept. 27 under the Olympic Flame at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California.
The Hall began accepting public nominations last October and a group of 400 selected BMX community members voted on the final five inductees in five distinct categories. Todd Kingsbury also is receiving a special recognition. The inductees:
Tracer Finn, Pioneer. Finn, sponsored by Factory CW for much of his career, was known for his jumping skills and for his hometown: Las Vegas, Nev., where his family performed a Vaudeville-style piano act. Finn followed his racing career by promoting and running mountain bike races, doing Police Athletic League events, organizing BMX skate park programs, mentoring BMX riders, and owning his own bike shop that supported a race team. For four years, Finn was team manager for the Specialized BMX program - which included team riders T.J. Lavin and Christophe Leveque.
John Ker, Industry. Photographer John Ker began freelancing for BMX Plus! in 1979. He still works for BMX Plus! owner Hi-Torque Publications to this day.
Charles Townsend, Racer. Townsend has a 15-year pro career and racked up 32 wins, 297 mains and 138 podiums between 1987 and 2001. He was the first of three riders to ever earn the ABA No.1 Pro plate in his rookie year. He also won the IBMXF World Championships in 1989, and was voted BMX Plus!’ Racer of the Year. His sponsors included Hutch, CW, Revcore, Diamondback, and Powerlite and Townsend even a signature frame — the Amtrac, put out in the mid-90’s while racing for Robinson.
Martin Aparijo, Freestyler. Longtime GT-sponsored freestyler Martin Aparijo was one of the first riders to specialize in flatland, and is credited for creating tricks such as “The Cherry Picker,” “The Lawnmower,” and “The Grasshopper.” He won the AFA Masters Finals Championship in 1987. He is perhaps best known for his work in the movie “RAD” — where he not appeared as himself in a cameo, but also did most of the stunt-doubling for the female lead character. Aparijo can also be spotted acting and performing stunts in the Kevin Bacon fixie film, "Quicksilver."
Deanna Edwards-Jamieson, Woman. Michigan’s Deanna Edwards raced her way to the top of the sport from 1980 to 1988, and then returned to BMX racing as an adult in the 2000’s. During the 80’s, she won the Jag World Championships and Murray World Cups, followed up by six-straight NBL No.1 rankings and Grands wins; she became one of two factory females on the GT squad. In her return to the sport, she captured wins and titles at the UCI World Championships, USA Cycling National Championship and a NAG No.1 plate in the ABA after winning the Grands’ 36-40 ladies cruiser class.
Todd Kingsbury, Special Recognition. In the early 1980s, Todd Kingsbury was one of the top racers in Michigan when he was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 12. Supporters organized a “Race for Life” at his home track, Waterford Oaks BMX.
More than 130 track participated in the RFL campaign that year, raising more than $223,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Race for Life is a tradition that still stands today and ABA and USA BMX members have helped raise more than $3.6 million. Kingsbury passed away on September 13th, 1981 and was laid to rest in his BMX uniform.
Tickets for the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony can be purchased on Eventbrite.
