Back in the day of BMX Racing (photos)

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   No prob. Brian.  That was kewl that you and Van went to school together back in the day.  Van Argerious held the number 1 plate in Cal-4 back in the early-mid 80's back to back years.  And, Van beat alot of the guys back then that were chasing points.  To name afew, Ritchie Anderson, Jon, Anderson, Mike Salido, Sean Ho, Roy David, Stevie Hutchinson, Mark Perez, Tony Harmon, Bodie Cook, etc....... There were alot of NorCal racers that were really fast in Cal-4 back in the day.  From what I remember, Cal-4 was probably one of the harder districts to finish in the top 10 along with Cal 1,2,and 6.  Van was always a person I always looked up to just because he was so kewl to everyone.  

Ever heard of the race between Van and Pete Loncaravich ???  This happened at the Dia-Comp nationals in Devenshire, Northridge, Ca.  It was the semi's in 16 expert and they were taking 4 out of 8 racers to the mains.  Van and Pete got tangled up in the first corner and took the whole pack down.  Pete grapped Van's bike and vice versa.  Pete ended up finishing the race and qualified to the main with Van's Bike.  Pete went up to the official and told him that this isn't his bike.  I don't know what happened after that.  The officials didn't know what to do, so they ran a re-race between Van and Pete ONLY.  The problem was that both Pete and Van had number one plates and both were sponosred by Diamond Back.  Both of their bikes looked IDENTICAL right down to the gold factory emblems that the team riders had.  Van was co-sponsored by Diamond Back while Pete was full sponsored.  Pete Loncaravich ended up winning.  My father took a photo of the race, but im still trying to locate it at my parents home.   Here's two photos of Van.  One at Chandler Az. ( white helmet / blue and white uniform ) #1 and Lancaster before he got picked up from Odyessy.  

Edited by Serafin - August 08 2008 at 5:56pm

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Serafin Members Profile Find Members Posts Forum Novice Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Fremont, CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 72	Quote Reply Posted: August 08 2008 at 1:54am
	No prob. Brian. That was kewl that you and Van went to school together back in the day. Van Argerious held the number 1 plate in Cal-4 back in the early-mid 80's back to back years. And, Van beat alot of the guys back then that were chasing points. To name afew, Ritchie Anderson, Jon, Anderson, Mike Salido, Sean Ho, Roy David, Stevie Hutchinson, Mark Perez, Tony Harmon, Bodie Cook, etc....... There were alot of NorCal racers that were really fast in Cal-4 back in the day. From what I remember, Cal-4 was probably one of the harder districts to finish in the top 10 along with Cal 1,2,and 6. Van was always a person I always looked up to just because he was so kewl to everyone. Ever heard of the race between Van and Pete Loncaravich ??? This happened at the Dia-Comp nationals in Devenshire, Northridge, Ca. It was the semi's in 16 expert and they were taking 4 out of 8 racers to the mains. Van and Pete got tangled up in the first corner and took the whole pack down. Pete grapped Van's bike and vice versa. Pete ended up finishing the race and qualified to the main with Van's Bike. Pete went up to the official and told him that this isn't his bike. I don't know what happened after that. The officials didn't know what to do, so they ran a re-race between Van and Pete ONLY. The problem was that both Pete and Van had number one plates and both were sponosred by Diamond Back. Both of their bikes looked IDENTICAL right down to the gold factory emblems that the team riders had. Van was co-sponsored by Diamond Back while Pete was full sponsored. Pete Loncaravich ended up winning. My father took a photo of the race, but im still trying to locate it at my parents home. Here's two photos of Van. One at Chandler Az. ( white helmet / blue and white uniform ) #1 and Lancaster before he got picked up from Odyessy. Edited by Serafin - August 08 2008 at 5:56pm

Brian Members Profile Find Members Posts Forum Expert Joined: August 20 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 109	Quote Reply Posted: August 07 2008 at 9:05pm
	Wow, Van Argerious , That's a name I haven't heard in 20 years. Van & I went to school together & we use to race Baylands & the Pleasanton Fairgrounds. Roger, Thanks for starting this thread, Lots & lots of memory's. Edited by Brian - August 07 2008 at 9:09pm
	Brian

Serafin Members Profile Find Members Posts Forum Novice Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Fremont, CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 72	Quote Reply Posted: August 07 2008 at 11:55am
	Here's a photo (top photo) I found of ALAN PORTER Sr. (55) racing Van Argerious (56). It's good to see Alan and Johnny Porter with thier boys racing at Santa Clara.

Serafin Members Profile Find Members Posts Forum Novice Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Fremont, CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 72	Quote Reply Posted: August 07 2008 at 11:38am
	Nah, that's Mike Salido (2). The other skyway rider ( lane 7 ) is Vern Lathan (5). Here are some photos of both Mike Salido and Vern Lathan: Mike Salido (2) and the skyway team: In the beginning of Mike Salido's (623); Ca-4 BMX days before he went on the play college football: The bottom photo is right after he got picked up from skyway ( photo taken at Red Devil ); sorry for the blurriness ) Vern Lahten getting some air at Sunol BMX: Vern Lathen and Steve Monroe messing around by the school at the Aptos Track. Edited by Serafin - August 07 2008 at 11:51am

mattyjo Members Profile Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Forum Expert Joined: January 08 2008 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 104	Quote Reply Posted: August 07 2008 at 8:14am
	hey in that last photo... on the right... is that andy p with his one footed start?
	i've been lousy at this sport for 4 decades!

Serafin Members Profile Find Members Posts Forum Novice Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Fremont, CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 72	Quote Reply Posted: August 06 2008 at 9:03pm
	RIGHT ON MATT !! At first, I thought that was Greg Grubbs !! Nice photos. Here are afew more: Brian Patterson (5), Bob Madrano (6), Denny Davidow (3), and Bart McDaniels (7) Bart McDaniels (7) and Brent Patterson (3): Jerry Arroyo at Red Devil in Union City: Tony Harmon bunnyhopping bikes and people at the Newark Days Parade. That's me on the rightside doing the kung-fu kick :) This was my very first race at Fremont BMX ( Baylands Raceway ) back in August 1979. I qualified in the first moto and won my 12 beginner main. 16 expert semi-finals at the worlds in Los Angeles. Edited by Serafin - October 25 2008 at 9:13pm

mattyjo Members Profile Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Forum Expert Joined: January 08 2008 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 104	Quote Reply Posted: August 06 2008 at 12:17pm
	ok... here are a few from my files. scotts valley/santa cruz- spring 1975. i'm the dorky one in in glasses. note wafflestomper boots and ubiquitous hole in knee of jeans. my buddy dave is running a littlejohn monshock. man he could boost MAJOR air on that thing. when he got his motmags that bike was a dream to ride on downhill courses- remember merritt college? spring 1983- winchester VA i think. thank goodness for sealed bearings... would they even run a race in such conditions these days? howard county, MD- winter of 1983 18 and over open main. i'm closest to the camera. the allens ran a great outdoor track at the howard county fairgrounds, and built indoor dirt tracks there for the winter season. man "the barn" was cold! silk longjohns were the key- anything else was too bulky. annandale VA- fall 1983 linda, my girlfriend at the time, throwing some style coming into the pits. hampton VA- state race, summer 1984 i'm the dorky one in glasses. i was riding for rockville BMX at this point. that's my buddy john with a slight lead. he rode for redline and they had some reps at the race. i helped him look good by taking out that other guy in the next corner, then john and i pantomimed an epic struggle with him just edging me at the line, LOL! fall 1983- waterholes also went the way of real downhill tracks i guess.
	i've been lousy at this sport for 4 decades!

Brian Members Profile Find Members Posts Forum Expert Joined: August 20 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 109	Quote Reply Posted: August 06 2008 at 9:18am
	Thanks Roger. These are great. I have got to find some of those number plates, I would run them in a heartbeat. ( I'll bet they weigh more than my bikes do.)
	Brian

Jason Members Profile Find Members Posts Forum Rookie Joined: August 15 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 5	Quote Reply Posted: August 06 2008 at 6:03am
	Awesome pictures!!! Definitely brings back some memories. I would love to see the Cow Palace pictures, that was the 3rd race I ever attended after going to a couple locals out at the old Napa track.
	Jason Pimentel Justin 6 rookie

Serafin Members Profile Find Members Posts Forum Novice Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Fremont, CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 72	Quote Reply Posted: August 06 2008 at 1:25am
	Shawna Cordova #31 at Atwater BMX Me ( Rogelio Serafin ) #26 at Sunol BMX And the infamous National NorCal Team Schwinn photo. Left to right: Ken Wadley, Rogelio Serafin, Rodney Cornist, Anthony Wadley, and Tony Harmon.