Shawn Texas

Last updated
Shawn Texas
Personal information
Full nameShawn Patrick Texas
Nickname"Big"
Born (1963-09-08) September 8, 1963 (age 55)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Height1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight90.7 kg (200 lb)
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineBicycle Motocross (BMX)
RoleRacer
Rider typeOff Road
Amateur team(s)
1979Bicycles N Stuff
1979-1980Hidden Valley Schwinn
1980-1982Cal Bike
Professional team(s)
1982-1983O'Neal
1983Gruenert Design Racing
1983-1984Pro Neck
1985Basset Racing
1985-1986CW Racing
1986MBK
1987-1988Eagle Snacks
1988-1989White Bear
1989Boss Racing Products
1989-1990AXO/Ralph's Bicycles
1990-1994Race Tech Products
1994Roost America
1998Power Source

Shawn Patrick Texas (born September 8, 1963 in Los Angeles, California United States) was an American professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from (1983–1987)

BMX cycle sport

BMX, an abbreviation for bicycle motocross or bike motocross, is a cycle sport performed on BMX bikes, either in competitive BMX racing or freestyle BMX, or else in general on- or off-road recreation. BMX began when young cyclists appropriated motocross tracks for fun, racing and stunts, eventually evolving specialized BMX bikes and competitions.

Contents

Racing career milestones

Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.

Started Racing: Early August 1977 at 13 years of age. His friend took him to a local track in Lakeside, California. He didn't have his own race bike, so he raced his friends. He got his own bike for his 14th birthday on September 8, 1977. [1]

Lakeside, California Census designated place in California, United States

Lakeside is a census designated place (CDP) in San Diego County, California. The population was 20,648 at the 2010 census, up from 19,560 as of the 2000 census.

Sanctioning Body: ()

First race result: Third place. [1]

First win (local):

First race bicycle:

Home sanctioning body district(s):

First sponsor: Bicycles N' Stuff 1979. [2]

First national win:

Turned Professional: Mid 1982 at 18 years of age.

First Professional race result: Third in Pro class at the World Wide BMX Association (WWBMXA) Supernationals on June 6, 1982 in Rancho San Diego, California. [3] The WWBMXA didn't have a two tier Senior/Junior pro class like the NBL or the ABA. As a result he raced at least two Senior pros; Harry Leary, who won the event, and Clint Miller who came in second. However, Texas was still considered a junior pro in the ABA and the NBL and raced that class at those events.

Rancho San Diego, California Census designated place in California, United States

Rancho San Diego is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Diego County, California. The population was 21,208 at the 2010 census, up from 20,155 at the 2000 census. The area was developed as subdivisions beginning in the 1970s.

Harry Clarence Leary Jr. was a "Old School" professional bicycle motocross (BMX) racer.

Clint Miller 1 is a former American "Old School" professional Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1976-1984. A popular nickname given to him was "Miller Time", particular after a win. "Miller Time" was a play on his name that happened to invoke a popular 1970's advertising campaign slogan by the makers of Miller Beer, the Miller Brewing Company to indicate to the consumer that after a hard task at work or play that it was "Miller Time", a "..time to relax.."

First Professional win: In "A" Pro at the American Bicycle Association (ABA) Supernationals in Lake Elsinore, California on January 23, 1983. He won US$450, [4] the equivalent to US$929.37 in 2007 (Cost of Living Calculator)

American Bicycle Association

The American Bicycle Association (ABA) is a US-based BMX sports governing body in Gilbert, Arizona created by Merl Mennenga and Gene Roden in 1977. It is the largest sanctioning body in the United States concerning BMX. It has tracks in Canada and Mexico as well as in the USA. It was and is known for its efficiency in running events known as Nationals, where BMX racers from around the country race in competition for points and in the case of Professionals, money, to determine who will earn the right to run a National No."1" plate in the several divisions the following year. The other leading sanctioning body, the National Bicycle League (NBL) also holds Nationals as do several smaller regional governing bodies.

Lake Elsinore, California City in California, United States

Lake Elsinore is a city in western Riverside County, California, United States. Established as a city in 1888, it is on the shore of Lake Elsinore, a natural freshwater lake about 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) in size. The city has grown from a small resort town in the late 19th century and early 20th century to a population of well above 60,000 as of 2016.

First Junior Men Pro* race result: Second Place in "A" Pro at the ABA Fall Nationals in Lancaster, California on October 17, 1982. He won US$250 (US$532.90 in 2007) [5] Technically speaking it could be said his first junior pro race result was at the WWBMXA Supernationals in June 1982 but the WWBMXA did not have a two tier pro system unlike the NBL and the ABA. At least two top level senior pro racers raced in Texas's class but the majority of the racers in that class were junior pros.

Lancaster, California City in California, United States

Lancaster is a charter city in northern Los Angeles County, in the Antelope Valley of the western Mojave Desert in Southern California. As of 2013, Lancaster was the 31st largest city in California. Lancaster is part of a twin city complex with its southern neighbor Palmdale and together they are the principal cities within the Antelope Valley region.

First Junior Men Pro win: See "First Professional win"

First Senior Men Pro** race result: Did not make main at the 1983 Mile High Nationals in Longmont, Colorado on July 4, 1983 [6]

Longmont, Colorado Home Rule Municipality in Colorado, United States

Longmont is a Home Rule Municipality in Boulder and Weld counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. Longmont is located northeast of the county seat of Boulder and 33 miles (53 km) north-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.

First Senior Men Pro win: In "AA" pro at the ABA Fall Nationals in Bargaintown, New Jersey on August 28, 1983. He won US$320, [7] the equivalent to US$660.88 in 2007.

Retired:

Height & weight at height of her career (1986): Ht:6'2" Wt:195 lbs.

Career factory and major bike shop sponsors

Note: This listing only denotes the racer's primary sponsors. At any given time a racer could have numerous ever changing co-sponsors. Primary sponsorships can be verified by BMX press coverage and sponsor's advertisements at the time in question. When possible exact dates are used.

Amateur

  • Bicycles N' Stuff: 1979.
  • Hidden Valley Schwinn: 1979-1980
  • Cal Bike: 1980-Early 1982

Professional

  • O'Neal: 1982-May 1983
  • Gruenert Design Racing: May 1983-September 1, 1983
  • Pro Neck: September 1, 1983-December 1984. He signed with Pro Neck right after winning the B Pro Main at the 1983 NBL Grand Nationals in Nashville, Tennessee. [8] Pro Neck dropped its race team at the end of the 1984 season. [9]
  • Bassett Racing: Early April 1985-Early July 1985. Texas would be unsponsored for almost the entire summer of 1985 after Bassett went out of business.
  • CW (Custom Works) Racing: October 1985-September 21, 1986. Texas was dropped from CW Racing after the weekend of the ABA Freedomnationls. According to BMX Plus!, CW claimed that Texas's racing was not up to par. Note: at the time there was no written contract between Texas and CW Racing. [10] BMX Action reported that Shawn Texas received a letter from CW telling him that among the reasons he was let go was that he didn't wear his cosponsor's goggles and Texas was dissatisfied with CW's products. Texas confirmed the letter but contested the reasons:

    "I didn't wear my goggles in Oregon because I didn't have any. I wore them on tour after Roger (Worsham) said something about it...Man, I did everything he ever told me to do!"

He continued:

"I was NEVER dissatisfied with their products. I told Rog that I'd like a frame with a little bit steeper head tube, and he said, 'fine.' Everything was cool. I wanted them to make my own frame with my signature on it because they could sell a bunch of 'em and I'd get my name on something. But Rog says he doesn't want to put anybody's name on products after what happened with Pete (Loncarevich). I said, 'fine.' Next thing I know... I got this letter in the mail telling me I was off the team!"---BMX Action February 1987 [11]

After CW, with an exception of a brief sponsorship with MBK in France, Texas did not have a sponsor for an extended period of time before he was picked up by Eagle Snacks. In the meantime he had listed "Team Jesus" as his "sponsor". [12] Like fellow pro racers Eric Rupe and Mike Miranda, Shawn Texas is a born again Christian. [1] Side Note: "CW" never stood for "Coast Wheels" as it is widely thought. Coast Wheels was a bike shop that Roger Worsham owned. Custom Works was a completely different and independent company. [13] This is in contrast with JMC (Jim Melton Cyclery) which did start out as a bicycle shop and then began manufacturing its own BMX components including entire bicycles.
  • Motobecane (MBK): November 22–23, 1986. This was a one weekend sponsorship in France for the Bicross/Yop King of Bercy championship race in Bercy, France. It was not a permanent position nor was it meant to be. [14]
  • Eagle Snacks: February 21, 1987 [15] -December 1987. Texas joined the Eagle Snacks team the day of the NBL North Carolina National. [16] Texas was let go by Eagle snacks because, according to the team manager Mark Fouler "...it was too expensive.." [17] and they went with an all amateur team. The parting was on mutual good terms. [17] Texas was unsponsored for five months after he left Eagle Snacks.
  • White Bear: May 1988-March 1989
  • Boss Racing Products July 1989-August 1989 Texas was briefly on Boss after leaving White Bear. [18]
  • AXO/Ralph's Bicycles: August 1989-Early 1990
  • Race Tech Products: Mid 1990-1994
  • Roost America: 1994
  • Power Source: 1998

Career bicycle motocross titles

Note: Listed are District, State/Provincial/Department, Regional, National, and International titles in italics. "Defunct" refers to the fact of that sanctioning body in question no longer existing at the start of the racer's career or at that stage of his/her career. Depending on point totals of individual racers, winners of Grand Nationals do not necessarily win National titles. Series and one off Championships are also listed in block.

Amateur

National Bicycle Association (NBA)

National Bicycle League (NBL)

  • 1983 "B" Pro Grandnational Champion

American Bicycle Association (ABA)

United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)

  • None

Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)*

  • None

International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)*

  • None

Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)*

  • None

*See note in professional section

Professional

National Bicycle Association (NBA)

  • None

National Bicycle League (NBL)

  • 1986 Pro Cruiser Murray World Cup V Champion
  • 1987 Pro Cruiser Grandnational Champion

American Bicycle Association (ABA)

United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)

  • 1984 7-UP World Championship Unlimited Pro Champion

International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)*

Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)*

  • None (FIAC did not have a strictly professional division during its existence) (defunct).

Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)*

*Note: Beginning in 1991 the IBMXF and FIAC had been holding joint World Championship events as a transitional phase in merging which began in earnest in 1993. Beginning with the 1996 season the IBMXF and FIAC completed the merger and both ceased to exist as independent entities being integrated into the UCI. Beginning with the 1997 World Championships held in Brighton, England the UCI would officially hold and sanction BMX World Championships and with it inherited all precedents, records, streaks, etc. from both the IBMXF and FIAC.
Pro Invitationals and Series Championships

  • 1984 Tijauna BMX Cup Championship Pro Champion†

†The Tijuana BMX Cup was a special promotional race that was held in Tijuana, Mexico. The race was heavily promoted by both individual promoters and the State Secretary of Tourism of Baja California. It featured a track designed by pro racer Eddy King. The raced was sanctioned by the International Cycling Organization (ICO) and the BMX Association (BMXA). The BMXA was an old but small and local BMX sanctioning body headquartered in San Diego, California. Both the ABA and the NBL had declined to sanction the event. Despite heavy promotion the event was poorly attended including by most top name pros. Shawn Texas, Eddy King, Donny Atherton, Rod Beckering, Toby Henderson and Denny Davidow were the only recognizable names to race in the pro classes. [19]

  • 1986 Orange YMCA BMX Pro Series Champion

The YMCA BMX Pro Series Championship was a private four race pro series held at the Orange YMCA BMX race track in Orange, California on four consecutive Wednesdays in February and March 1986. It was sponsored by MRC, Mike Redman Concepts. It was highly successful and well attended by many top ranked pros despite the relatively low prize purse of US$150 ($281.52 in 2007 Cost of Living Calculator) plus 100 percent payback with a US$200 (US$375.36 2007) bonus for the top three series finishers. It did however, have an unusually low entrance fee of $10 ($18.77 2007) for the pros per race. [20]

Notable accolades

BMX product lines

Product evaluation:

Significant injuries

Racing habits and traits

Miscellaneous

Post BMX career

BMX press magazine interviews and articles

BMX magazine covers

Note: (defunct) denotes that the magazine was out of business before the career of the racer started.

Bicycle Motocross News:

Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:

Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:

BMX Plus!:

Total BMX:

Bicycles and Dirt:

Snap BMX Magazine & Transworld BMX:

BMX World:

Moto Mag:

NBA World & NBmxA (The official NBA/NBmxA publication):

Bicycles Today & BMX Today (The official publication of the NBL under two different names):

ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer (The official publication of the ABA under three different names):

USBA Racer (The official USBA publication):

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 BMX Plus! October 1986 Vol.9 No.10 pg.46
  2. BMX Plus! October 1986 Vol.9 No.10 pg.48
  3. BMX Plus! September 1982 Vol.5 No.9 pg.24
  4. BMX Plus! April 1983 Vol.6 No.4 pg.30
  5. BMX Plus! January 1983 Vol.6 No.1 pg.31 (results)
  6. Bicycles and Dirt October 1983 Vol.2 No.1 pg.13
  7. BMX Plus! January 1984 Vol.7 No.1 pg.12
  8. BMX Action January 1984 Vol.9 No.1 pg.10
  9. BMX Action May 1985 Vol.10 No.5 pg.40
  10. BMX Plus! January 1987 Vol.10 No.1 pg.68
  11. BMX Action February 1987 Vol.12 No.2 pg.18
  12. BMX Plus! April 1987 Vol.10 No.4 pg.59 (Example in AA pro results)
  13. History of CW page Archived 2006-05-22 at the Wayback Machine
  14. BMX Action April 1987 Vol.12 No.4 pg.13
  15. Super BMX & Freestyle June 1987 Vol.14 No.6 pg.14
  16. BMX Action June 1987 Vol.12 N.6 pg.48
  17. 1 2 BMX Action April 1988 Vol.13 No.4 pg.15
  18. BMX Plus! April 1990 Vol.13 No.4 pg.12
  19. BMX Plus! September 1984 Vol.7 No.9 pg.58
  20. BMX Plus! June 1986 Vol.9 No.6 pg.11
  21. BMX Plus! March 1989 Vol.12 No.3 pg.62 (advertisement)
  22. ABA Action March 1983 Vol.7 No.2 pg.29
  23. BMX Action September 1984 Vol. 9 No. 9 pg. 53 & 55
  24. BMX Plus! September 1984 Vol. 7 No. 9 pg. 55
  25. 1 2 American BMXer April 1987 Vol. 9 No. 3 pg. 33

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