Charles Townsend (BMX racer)
Encyclopedia
Charles Heath Townsend is an "Old School/Mid School" former professional Bicycle Motocross (BMX)
racer whose prime competitive years were from 1985 to 1996.
Nicknames: Various and many dating back to his days as a young amateur. Many railroad related: "Steam Engine Charlie", "Speeding Locomotive Charlie", "Choo-Choo Charlie", "Amtrak". Also "Black Magic" (which he had stenciled on the back of his racing pants in 1985), "Big Chuck", "The Fleein' Korean", "Chasemainian Devil".
----
*By this time Gary Turner (GT) Racing had brought Powerlite.
National Bicycle League (NBL)
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)
Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)
(NBA)
National Bicycle League
(NBL)
American Bicycle Association
(ABA)
United States Bicycle Motocross Association
(USBA)
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)*
Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)*
Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)*
Pro Series Championships
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
BMX Plus!:
Bicycles and Dirt:
Snap BMX Magazine & Transworld BMX:
Moto Mag:
NBA World & NBmx World (The official NBA/NBmxA membership publication):
Bicycles Today & BMX Today (The official NBL membership publication under one name change.
ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer (The official ABA membership publication under two name changes):
USBA Racer (The official USBA membership publication):
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
racer whose prime competitive years were from 1985 to 1996.
Nicknames: Various and many dating back to his days as a young amateur. Many railroad related: "Steam Engine Charlie", "Speeding Locomotive Charlie", "Choo-Choo Charlie", "Amtrak". Also "Black Magic" (which he had stenciled on the back of his racing pants in 1985), "Big Chuck", "The Fleein' Korean", "Chasemainian Devil".
Racing career
Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.----
| Milestone | Event Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Started Racing: | 1979/80 age 12 or 13. Townsend himself is rather vague on this point | |
| Sanctioning Body: | ||
| First race bike: | ||
| First race result: | Third place in Beginner class in Hellyer Park in San Jose, California San Jose, California San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay... . |
|
| First win (local): | ||
| First sponsor: | Woodside Bicycle Shop. | |
| First national win: | In 17 & Over Open at the 1985 American Bicycle Association American Bicycle Association The American Bicycle Association is a United States-based Bicycle Motocross 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... (ABA) Supernational in Pico Rivera, California Pico Rivera, California Pico Rivera is a city located in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city is situated approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, on the eastern edge of the Los Angeles basin, and on the southern edge of the area known as the San Gabriel Valley... on January 27, 1985. |
|
| Turned Professional: | December 28, 1986 at the National Bicycle League National Bicycle League The National Bicycle League is a United States based Bicycle Motocross sports sanctioning body originally based in Deerfield Beach, Florida but after several moves it was based in Hilliard, Ohio... (NBL) Christmas National at age 19. |
|
| First Professional race result: | First in "B" Pro on December 28, 1986 in Columbus, Ohio Columbus, Ohio Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city... at the National Bicycle League National Bicycle League The National Bicycle League is a United States based Bicycle Motocross sports sanctioning body originally based in Deerfield Beach, Florida but after several moves it was based in Hilliard, Ohio... (NBL)'s Christmas National. He won USD$600, the equivalent of USD$1,126.09 in 2007 (Cost of Living Calculator) He also took a sixth in Pro Award but he finished out of the money. |
|
| First Professional win: | See above. | |
| First Junior Men/Pro* race result: | See above. | |
| First Junior Men/Pro win: | See above. | |
| First Senior Pro** race result: | First in "AA" Pro at the American Bicycle Association American Bicycle Association The American Bicycle Association is a United States-based Bicycle Motocross 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... (ABA) Gilley's Nationals in Pasadena, Texas Pasadena, Texas Pasadena is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. It is the second-largest city in Harris County, 17th-largest in Texas, and 162nd largest in the United States. The area was founded in 1893 by John H. Burnett of Galveston.... on March 7, 1987. He won USD$535, the equivalent to USD$1,004.10 2007. After the ABA Scottsdale National, Charles Townsend called the ABA and moved himself up to "AA" pro. This was reminiscent of Brian Patterson Brian Patterson Brian Patterson is a former American "Old School" bicycle motocross racer.Brian Patterson is the younger of the most potent sibling combinations BMX has ever seen. With Brent the Brothers Patterson are the only brothers to both hold the National No.1 Pro title in any major BMX sanctioning body... asking permission from then ABA Vice President Gene Roden to move up to "AA" after one race in "A" pro in early 1982. |
|
| First Senior Pro win: | See above. | |
| Height and weight at height of his career: | Ht:6'2" Wt:~195 lbs. | |
| Retired: | 2002. He raced in the Veteran Pro class of the ABA and the NBL's Master class until 2004. | |
Amateur/Junior Men
- U.S. Boss Racing Products: January 1985-March 31, 1985
- Free Agent: March 31, 1985-December 27, 1985
- Hutch Hi-Performance BMX: December 28, 1985-December 31, 1986. He would turn pro with this sponsor.
Professional/Elite Men
- Hutch Hi-Performance BMX: December 28, 1985-December 31, 1986.
- Cyclecraft: January 1, 1987-March 21, 1987.
- CW (Custom Works) Racing: March 21, 1987-November 27, 1987. "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. This is in contrast with JMCJMC BicyclesJMC, or Jim Melton Cyclery was a bicycle company in the 1970s and 1980s. It started as a bicycle shop in 1969. It began manufacturing bicycle components in 1974, mostly to make a bicycle look more like a motocross motorcycle, including fenders and false fuel tanks. In 1977 JMC began manufacturing...
(Jim Melton Cyclery) which did start out as a bicycle shop and then began manufacturing its own BMX components including entire bicycles.
- Revcore: November 28, 1987-November 26, 1988. Revcore was owned and operated by Roger Worsham who also owned CW Racing, It was a separate product line much like Shadow Racing was in 1983. Townsend's last race for them was the Friday night November 27 Honda Super Cup, one day prior to the start of the 1987 ABA Grand National, where Townsend switch over to Revcore and captured ABA No.1 pro for that year. By 1989 Roger Worsham would divest himself of both Custom Works and Revcore.
- Diamond Back (Centurion): November 27, 1988-December 31, 1989. At the end of the 1989 season Diamond Back decided to let the entire team go except for Matt HadanMatt HadanMatthew Merle Hadan is an American professional "Old/Mid School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years are from 1985-1995. Nicknamed early in his career "The Master" and later "The Diesel"....
, a pro. Harry LearyHarry LearyHarry Clarence Leary Jr. was a "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer....
decided to retire. Charles Townsend was sponsorless for three months until April 1990.
- Powerlite Industries*: Mid April 1990-November 1991.
- Robinson Racing Products: November 1991-December 1998. After seven years Robinson dropped Townsend after the 1998 racing season.
- Troy Lee Designs/Jones Soda: April 1999-March 2000. Charles didn't have a primary sponsor for approximately 15 months between Robinson Racing and Airborne Direct. Troy Lee Designs and Jones Soda were many co-sponsors that helped support him on the national race circuit while he searched for a main, primary sponsor.
- Airborne Direct: March 28, 2000-December 2000
- Kona/Rocket Cash.Com: December 20, 2000-
- Phantom Bikes: January 2003-December 2003
- Advent: January 2004-
*By this time Gary Turner (GT) Racing had brought Powerlite.
Amateur/Junior Men
National Bicycle Association (NBA)National Bicycle League (NBL)
- 1985 18 & Over Expert Grandnational Champion
- 1986 18 & Over Expert National No.1
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
- None
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
- 1986 17 & Over Expert and 18-24 Cruiser World Champion
Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)
- None
Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)
Professional/Elite Men
National Bicycle AssociationNational Bicycle Association
The National Bicycle Association , later known as the National Bicycle Motocross Association was an United States based Bicycle Motocross sports sanctioning body originally based in Soledad, California that was created by Ernie Alexander in 1973 and ceased operations as an independent body in 1981...
(NBA)
- None
National Bicycle League
National Bicycle League
The National Bicycle League is a United States based Bicycle Motocross sports sanctioning body originally based in Deerfield Beach, Florida but after several moves it was based in Hilliard, Ohio...
(NBL)
American Bicycle Association
American Bicycle Association
The American Bicycle Association is a United States-based Bicycle Motocross 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...
(ABA)
- 1987 Honda Supercup Champion. He also won a Honda XR-250R motorcycle as a prize.
- 1987 National No.1 Pro. He won a Honda pickup truck as a prize.
- 1990 Pro U.S. Open East Champion
- 1990 National No.3 Pro
United States Bicycle Motocross Association
United States Bicycle Motocross Association
The United States Bicycle Association was a short lived Bicycle Motocross national sanctioning body based in Tempe, Arizona. It was founded in March 1984 by five former members of the American Bicycle Association : Rich Mann, Dave Cook, Geoff Sims, Steve Schaefer and Rod Keeling, who became the...
(USBA)
- None
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)*
- 1989 Pro World Champion
Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)*
- None
Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)*
Pro Series Championships
Notable accolades
- Named one of the new BMX Action's "Terrible Ten" top amateurs and future professionals for 1986.
- Named BMX Action's Pro Rookie of the Year for 1987.
- Named BMX Plus! 1988 "Racer of the Year" with 20.74% (1,930) of the vote out of 9,305 cast. He won a Suzuki RM125 motocross motorcycle.
Significant injuries
- Cracked TibiaTibiaThe tibia , shinbone, or shankbone is the larger and stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates , and connects the knee with the ankle bones....
and dislocated knee at ABA Lone Star National in Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, TexasFort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
on July 2, 1988 on the back straightaway in the third and last pro main. Laid up for about five weeks until the International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF) World Championships in Santiago, ChileSantiago, ChileSantiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
on August 14. This was his very first BMX related injury. What precipitated the accident was his front wheel coming off in mid race at a jump. He did along with Pete LoncarevichPete LoncarevichPeter Loncarevich is a former Bicycle Motocross racer. Loncarevich was an "Old School" professional BMX racer whose prime competitive years were from 1980 to 1994....
who was nursing broken ribs, roll off the gate at the NBL Waterford Oaks, Michigan race in a pro formaPro formaThe term pro forma is a term applied to practices or documents that are done as a pure formality, perfunctory, or seek to satisfy the minimum requirements or to conform to a convention or doctrine...
act to achieve the prerequisite number of NBL races participated in a season to be eligible to race in the NBL Grand Nationals and become national number one pro pending the results of the Grand Nationals.
- Broke ankle at NBL Grand National in September 1988.
- Separated shoulder at the 1992 ABA National in Topeka, KansasTopeka, KansasTopeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
on May 10. The rumored prognosisPrognosisPrognosis is a medical term to describe the likely outcome of an illness.When applied to large statistical populations, prognostic estimates can be very accurate: for example the statement "45% of patients with severe septic shock will die within 28 days" can be made with some confidence, because...
was an eight to ten week lay off but he was racing two weeks later at the ABA Summer Nationals in Sunol, CaliforniaSunol, CaliforniaSunol is an unincorporated census-designated place in Alameda County, California, United States. The population was 913 at the 2010 census....
on May 23. Racing in pain, he did not make the mains on Saturday but did get a third on Sunday in "AA" pro.
- Broke thumb in early 1996.
- Broke hand in Mid January 2004 during practice.
Miscellaneous and Trivia
- Named number five on the list of the "Dirtiest Riders in BMX" in the June 1992 issue of BMX Plus!
BMX magazine covers
Bicycle Motocross News:- None
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
- September 1988 Vol.15 No.9 with Gary EllisGary EllisGary Leo Ellis Jr. was an American "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer.Ellis was one of the last of the "Old School" BMX racers whose careers started in the 1970s to early 1980s. His prime competitive years were from 1982-1996.Nickname: "The Lumberjack"...
and Greg HillGreg A. HillGregory Alan Hill is a former "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1989...
(SBMXF) In insert freestyler Matt HoffmanMat HoffmanMat Hoffman is an American BMX rider considered one of the best vert-ramp riders in the history of the sport. He is nicknamed "The Condor" and owns the BMX Freestyle brand Hoffman BMX Bikes, based out of Oklahoma City, OK.-Bio:...
.
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
- August 1987 Vol.12 No.8 with Billy GriggsBilly GriggsWilliam Luther Griggs is an American "Old School/Mid School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1985 to 1996....
and Eddy KingEddy KingEdward King is an "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1985....
. (BMXA) - October 1991 Vol.2 Iss.12 In insert freestyler Jay Miron (Go).
BMX Plus!:
- August 1987 Vol.10 No.8 in bottom insert (CW) behind Gary EllisGary EllisGary Leo Ellis Jr. was an American "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer.Ellis was one of the last of the "Old School" BMX racers whose careers started in the 1970s to early 1980s. His prime competitive years were from 1982-1996.Nickname: "The Lumberjack"...
(6) and Greg HillGreg A. HillGregory Alan Hill is a former "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1989...
(3) and tied with unidentified (23). Top insert freestyler John Ludvigson; Main image: freestyler Matt HoffmanMat HoffmanMat Hoffman is an American BMX rider considered one of the best vert-ramp riders in the history of the sport. He is nicknamed "The Condor" and owns the BMX Freestyle brand Hoffman BMX Bikes, based out of Oklahoma City, OK.-Bio:...
. - March 1988 Vol.11 No.3 in bottom insert (15) ahead of Travis Chipres (8) and unidentified. In top insert freetyler Woody Itson, BMX Plus! tester Todd Britton, Harry LearyHarry LearyHarry Clarence Leary Jr. was a "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer....
and Kevin Hull. In circular insert Steve Broderson; main image freestyler Josh White. - April 1988 Vol.11 No.4 In bottom half of cover (1). In top half freestyler Ron Wilkerson.
- May 1989 Vol.12 No.5
- May 1992 Vol.15 No.5
- December 1992 Vol.15 No.12 (3) in top insert in a dead tie with Gary EllisGary EllisGary Leo Ellis Jr. was an American "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer.Ellis was one of the last of the "Old School" BMX racers whose careers started in the 1970s to early 1980s. His prime competitive years were from 1982-1996.Nickname: "The Lumberjack"...
(2) in center and Pete LoncarevichPete LoncarevichPeter Loncarevich is a former Bicycle Motocross racer. Loncarevich was an "Old School" professional BMX racer whose prime competitive years were from 1980 to 1994....
(1) in foreground. In right center insert Tim JudgeTim JudgeTimothy Judge is a former American "Old School" professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1979-1985. When he was a young racer his given name was used in the diminutive "Timmy"...
circa 1984; in bottom left insert unidentified BMXer and MXer. Main image freestylers Brian Blyther & Ron Wilkerson in 1986. - July 1993 Vol.16 No.7 in top insert behind John PurseJohn PurseJohn Eric Purse is a former American professional "Mid School" Bicycle Motocross racer...
(20). In bottom left insert Todd Corbitt. In lower right insert freestyle frames and forks. - February 1997 Vol.20 No.2 (10) in center insert in fourth place behind Randy StumpfhauserRandy StumpfhauserRandall Richard Stumpfhauser is an American professional "Mid School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years are from 1998 to the present...
(100) leading; Brian Foster (3) in second; Unidentified (16) in third. In bottom right insert Kiyomi WallerKiyomi WallerKiyomi Waller is an American professional "Old/Mid School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1989-1998....
(403); in top insert dirt jumper Matt Beringer. in bottom left insert various helmets.
Bicycles and Dirt:
- None
Snap BMX Magazine & Transworld BMX:
- None
Moto Mag:
- None
NBA World & NBmx World (The official NBA/NBmxA membership publication):
Bicycles Today & BMX Today (The official NBL membership publication under one name change.
ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer (The official ABA membership publication under two name changes):
- American BMXer March 1987 Vol.9 No.2 (15) behind Gary EllisGary EllisGary Leo Ellis Jr. was an American "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer.Ellis was one of the last of the "Old School" BMX racers whose careers started in the 1970s to early 1980s. His prime competitive years were from 1982-1996.Nickname: "The Lumberjack"...
(3) in first, ahead of obscured unidentified in third and Todd Slavik (4) in fourth place. - American BMXer September 1988 Vol.10 No.8
- American BMXer September 1990 Vol.12 No.8 ahead of Travis Chipres.
USBA Racer (The official USBA membership publication):