| Date: October 7th 2000 Place: San Francisco Looking at the course was like looking at a photo from 1988. Close to 70 riders in the contest. | |
| Kevin McAvoy, www.ridebmx.com, 2000: The course highlights consisted of a large dumpster (complete with spine built into the closed end so you could ride into the dumpster and transfer out !), an old school sub-box (transition one side, wedge on the other), a picnic table, and a 1981 Firebird, among other things. The car was destroyed within minutes of being brought to the course, but continued to take a beating for the rest of the day. The atmosphere couldn't have been better: it was basically just a big session. Everyone could ride, registered or not, until the course was cleared for the Am qualifiers. 40 Ams went at it for a fat load of prizes, and everybody was supported during their runs .90% of the "spectators" were riders themselves. The Pros then took to the course and things got crazy, although it felt more like a demo than a contest .you could tell they were really enjoying themselves. There was a lot of work and money put into this event, but it was worth it. Everyone was having a great time, and it was obvious. www.henrywagner.org: On Saturday October 7th, 2000 I headed up to San Francisco for the latest installment of the traveling circus known as Ron Wilkerson's 2-HIP Meet The Street. The qualification round was already in full effect when I arrived, camera in hand, to capture all the action. The course was set up on a stretch of paved ground in the panhandle of Golden Gate Park. There were assorted launch ramps, two quarter pipes side by side with a grind pipe connecting them, and a few special street-riding props; a picnic table setup with small launch ramps facing it at both ends, a large dumpster, with one end open and a ramp inside, a shopping cart, a launch ramp setup in front of a giant eucalyptus tree, and the crowd favorite, an old Pontiac Firebird that was already looking like Charles Jefferson's car after Jeff Spicoli got through with it in Fast Times At Ridgemont High. Jeff would have been hard pressed to say, "don't worry, I can fix it," no matter how righteous the tool set. The prelims saw most riders lofting big air off the main launch ramp, and the occasional rider heading for the tree. In between runs riders would jump on the course for a few minutes, resulting in a great chaotic feel. It was more entertaining standing by the car, watching young angst filled grommets attempting sprocket grinds, and pre teens using their scooters as weapons of destructions. When the grinds wouldn't work people simply threw their bikes at the car, hoping to break something. All of this brought back fond memories of the night my fellow Rad Boyz and I found an old abandon car in the warehouse district of New Hyde Park, and proceeded to ride all over it until the cops chased us away. Sadly, we were not able to do as much damage. Part of me wished I had my old HARO Master so I could show these kids a thing or two. A signature of any Wilkerson event is the music. Two turntables were setup and a fierce set of old school classics were mixed by the wax masters. How I have lived without regular doses of Quiet Riot's "Where Not Gonna Take It" (my favorite song in grade school), or NWA's "Straight Outta Compton" is a mystery. Thrown in for fun was James Brown's "Sex Machine," assorted "AC/DC" classics, and some speed metal (though sadly no Minor Threat). I realize now that all good music ceased in the 90s, and my 1000+ CD collection is pathetic. The pros hit everything on the course with reckless abandon. Huge airs on the launch ramp (360 tailwhips, decade airs, and I caught one backflip). The quarter pipe saw a couple 540s, and plenty of street grinding action. Again most of the action was at the car, as a group of us conspired to turn it over so the kids could go to work on the underside. Mr. 2-HIP himself stopped us, claiming the car needed to be returned to its rightful owner after the contest. Fight da' man! REALLY GREAT CLASS 1-Jay Miron $1000 2-Troy McMurray $700 3-Ryan O'Connell $450 4.Mike Krnaich $300 5.Rob Darden $200 6.Robert Jensen $150 7.George Hoernig $100 8.Cameron Birdwell $100 9.Sean Parker 10.Sean Emery 11.Drew Arroyo 12.Oscar Gonzalez GREAT CLASS 1.Zac Costa 2.Joel Hulsey 3.Tim Bosstock 4.Kurtis Elwell 5.Brian Benson 6.Andre Murillo 7.Chris Hald 8.Jake Honesto 9.Dennis Dowling 10.Shea Nyquist 11.Ryan Hernandez 12.Richard Warner |
www.youtube.com/user/mauricemeyer, april 2011: Bluetorch 2-Hip Meet The Street BMX Contest 2000 |