Mike Poulson
Encyclopedia
Michael Poulson is an American
"Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross (BMX)
racer whose prime competitive years were from 1981-1987.
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Started racing: Early 1978. As it often happens, a friend got him interested in racing.
Sanctioning body:
First race result: First place at a Layton, Utah
track in 12 year old class. He was actually 13 years old but according to the rules of that track you raced the age class of the age you where on October 1 during the season, therefore he was 12 on October 1, 1977 and raced in the 12 year old class accordingly even after turning thirteen on January 4, 1978Originally from the August 14, 2006 Ogden Standard-Examiner.
First win (local): See above.
Home sanctioning body district(s): National Bicycle Association
(NBA) District "P" (Colorado, Wyoming and Utah);
First sponsor: Bingham Schwinn Cyclery
First national race result: The 1979 Corona Mini-National. Finished near the bottom of the 14 Open main with a sixth place. Signed up for Expert event though he was a novice. Did not make Expert main.
First national win: The February 10, 1980 American Bicycle Association
(ABA) Winter Nationals at Chandler, Arizona
in 15 Expert.
Turned professional: September 1983 Age 17.
First Professional race result: First in "B" Pro at the National Bicycle League
(NBL) Celebrity Race For Childhelp USA/International in Azusa, California
on January 22, 1984. He also got a second place in Pro Open. This was a charity event. The purse was only USD$40 (USD$79.19 in 2007 Cost of Living Calculator) and 100% payback for the top pro finishers.
Note: This race is not to be confused with the NBL Azuza National held on March 3, 1984 at the same facility which counted in the pros standings toward the National No.1 Plate.
First Professional win: See above
First Senior Pro* race result: Fourth in "AA" pro at the ABA Spring National in San Francisco, California
on March 11, 1984. He won USD$160 the equivalent to USD$316.77 in 2007.
First Senior Pro win: In "A" pro at the NBL National in Brookville, Ohio
on May 26, 1984 He won USD$800, or USD$1,583.83 in 2007.
Retired: 1988. After many injuries and the grind of racing on every weekend for over a decade and just not having a winning attitude he quietly quit after a stint as a teaching pro at the Woodward BMX camp in Woodward, Pennsylvania
.
Height & weight at height of career (1985): Ht:5'11" Wt:~175 lbs.
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National Bicycle League (NBL)
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
(NBA)
National Bicycle League
(NBL)
American Bicycle Association
(ABA)
United States Bicycle Motocross Association
(USBA)
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
Due to the dirth of professional participation in general and American involvement in the competition in particular there was no Professional class in the IBMXF World Championships held in Suzuka, Japan. Indeed, Mike Poulson was the only pro of any nation to participate. Instead a select number of older amateur experts from numerous nations were slated to race him. He won.
Pro Series Championships
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
BMX Plus!:
Bicycles and Dirt:
Total BMX:
NBA World & NBmxA World (The official NBA/NBmxA membership publication):
Bicycles Today & BMX Today (The official NBL membership publication under two names):
ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer (The official ABA membership publication under three names):
USBA Racer (The official USBA membership publication):
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
"Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross (BMX)
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 1981-1987.
Racing career milestones
Note: Professional first are for the national level of competition unless otherwise indicated.----
Started racing: Early 1978. As it often happens, a friend got him interested in racing.
Sanctioning body:
First race result: First place at a Layton, Utah
Layton, Utah
-External links:*...
track in 12 year old class. He was actually 13 years old but according to the rules of that track you raced the age class of the age you where on October 1 during the season, therefore he was 12 on October 1, 1977 and raced in the 12 year old class accordingly even after turning thirteen on January 4, 1978Originally from the August 14, 2006 Ogden Standard-Examiner.
First win (local): See above.
Home sanctioning body district(s): National Bicycle Association
National 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) District "P" (Colorado, Wyoming and Utah);
First sponsor: Bingham Schwinn Cyclery
First national race result: The 1979 Corona Mini-National. Finished near the bottom of the 14 Open main with a sixth place. Signed up for Expert event though he was a novice. Did not make Expert main.
First national win: The February 10, 1980 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) Winter Nationals at Chandler, Arizona
Chandler, Arizona
-Demographics:As of the Census of 2010, there were 236,123 people, 86,924 households, and 60,212 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 73.3% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American, 8.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 21.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 8.3%...
in 15 Expert.
Turned professional: September 1983 Age 17.
First Professional race result: First in "B" Pro 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) Celebrity Race For Childhelp USA/International in Azusa, California
Azusa, California
Azusa is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 46,361 at the 2010 census, up from 44,712 at the 2000 census. Though sometimes assumed to be a compaction of the phrase "everything from A to Z in the USA" from an old Jack Benny joke, the place name "Azusa"...
on January 22, 1984. He also got a second place in Pro Open. This was a charity event. The purse was only USD$40 (USD$79.19 in 2007 Cost of Living Calculator) and 100% payback for the top pro finishers.
Note: This race is not to be confused with the NBL Azuza National held on March 3, 1984 at the same facility which counted in the pros standings toward the National No.1 Plate.
First Professional win: See above
First Senior Pro* race result: Fourth in "AA" pro at the ABA Spring National in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
on March 11, 1984. He won USD$160 the equivalent to USD$316.77 in 2007.
First Senior Pro win: In "A" pro at the NBL National in Brookville, Ohio
Brookville, Ohio
Brookville is a small city in northwestern Montgomery County, Ohio, United States. The population was 5,884 at the 2010 census, an increase from 5,289 in 2000. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
on May 26, 1984 He won USD$800, or USD$1,583.83 in 2007.
Retired: 1988. After many injuries and the grind of racing on every weekend for over a decade and just not having a winning attitude he quietly quit after a stint as a teaching pro at the Woodward BMX camp in Woodward, Pennsylvania
Woodward, Pennsylvania
Woodward is a census-designated place in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Height & weight at height of career (1985): Ht:5'11" Wt:~175 lbs.
- In the NBL "A"/"Elite" pro; in the ABA "AA" pro.
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 given.----
Amateur
- Bingham Schwinn Cyclery: 1979-Early February 1980 (as primary sponsor).
- Pro Neck: February 11, 1980-February 17, 1980. He raced one weekend for them as promised at the NBA Winternationals in Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
on February 17 then accepted Schwinn's offer of sponsorship.
- Schwinn Bicycle Company: February 18, 1980-November 1986. Mike would turn Pro with this sponsor.
Professional
- Schwinn Bicycle Company: February 18, 1980-December 1986. Schwinn drops its racing team due to 80% of their 20" bicycle sales were freestyle bicycles and not racing machines After Schwinn dropped its racing team after the 1986 season he accepted a sales position at Schwinn Sales West in Southern California. As for racing, he was essentially in semi retirement, racing mostly on the east coast near Woodward BMX Racing and Freestyle Center in Woodward, PennsylvaniaWoodward, PennsylvaniaWoodward is a census-designated place in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
where he was a teaching professional teaching young aspiring BMX racers at the camp.
- Bingham's Schwinn Cyclery: January 1987-December 1987. His primary sponsor while he was a teaching pro after the Schwinn factory racing team was dropped. Bingham's was the same sponsor he started his career with.
Career bicycle motocross titles
Note: Listed are District, State/Provincial, 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.----
Amateur
National Bicycle Association (NBA)- None
National Bicycle League (NBL)
- 1980 Jag 15 Expert World Champion (NBL sanctioned)
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
- 1979, 1980 Utah District No.1
- 1980 15 Expert Grandnational Champion
United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
- None
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
- None
Professional
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)
- None
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)
- None
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)
- 1984 Celebrity race winner.
Due to the dirth of professional participation in general and American involvement in the competition in particular there was no Professional class in the IBMXF World Championships held in Suzuka, Japan. Indeed, Mike Poulson was the only pro of any nation to participate. Instead a select number of older amateur experts from numerous nations were slated to race him. He won.
Pro Series Championships
Notable accolades
- Named one of the "Terrible Ten", BMX Actions pick of fastest amateur racers in the world in 1983
- Named one of "1984's Hottest Rookie Pros" by BMX Action magazine.
Significant injuries
- Injured kneeKneeThe knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
on June 23, 1981 at a race five days before the ABA Great Salt Lake National in Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
. Told to stay off it he raced anyway and got a first in 15 & Over open. He went on to win the 15 & Over trophy dash.
- Broke collarbone on March 28, 1982 at the ABA Lone Star Nationals in San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, TexasSan Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
.
- Broke leg just above the ankle in July 1982 while recovering from the broken collar bone. He was testing a friend's home made mini-bike Poulson ran into a curb. He was laid up for almost six months total. His first race back was tha ABA East Coast nationals in North Bergen, New JerseyNorth Bergen, New JerseyNorth Bergen is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township had a total population of 60,773. Originally founded in 1843, the town was much diminished in territory by a series of secessions. Situated on the Hudson Palisades, it is one...
on October 3, 1982. In mid December 1983 he was scheduled to be laid up a further two months after having the metal plate holding his 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....
together removed. However, he raced the Azusa, CaliforniaAzusa, CaliforniaAzusa is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 46,361 at the 2010 census, up from 44,712 at the 2000 census. Though sometimes assumed to be a compaction of the phrase "everything from A to Z in the USA" from an old Jack Benny joke, the place name "Azusa"...
NBL Childhelp Celebrity Race approximately five weeks later on January 22, 1984. It was also his first pro race. - Hyper-extended three toes on his right foot testing a two speed shifting system at home shortly after the October 28, 1984 United States Bicycle Motocross AssociationUnited States Bicycle Motocross AssociationThe 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) Azusa, California National. He missed the following November 4 ABA Rockford, IllinoisRockford, IllinoisRockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
Fall Nationals.
- Dislocated shoulder at the January 9, 1985 ABA Pro Spectacular in Shreveport, LouisianaShreveport, LouisianaShreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
He injured himself on the Stu ThomsenStu ThomsenStuart L. Thomsen was an American bicycle motocross racer.Stu Thomsen was one of the first of the "Old School" of professional BMX racers who gained fame in the early days of the sport beginning in 1974. His prime competitive years were from 1976-1985...
designed first jump which was subsequently removed for the Cajun Nationals held on the 10th and 11th.
- Dislocated his right arm on or around September 7, 1985 a week after the NBL Grand Nationals while playing baseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. It seems that it was the third or fourth time it had happened and he schedule surgery for later in September. A week before that operation he dislocated his left arm playing footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
. He had operations on both arms and was laid up until March 1986.
Miscellaneous and Trivia
- He was featured in the book BMX Racing Fever (Galen Anderson, Learning Systems Associates 1981), a book geared to those just beginning in BMX racing.
- He appeared in an episode of the children's program Big Blue MarbleBig Blue MarbleBig Blue Marble was a half-hour children's television series that ran from 1974 to 1983 in syndication. Distinctive content included stories about children around the world and a pen-pal club that encouraged intercultural communication...
(Program #061) which depicted his competing in the 1981 ABA Winternational and then at his home in Layton, UtahLayton, Utah-External links:*...
. It aired in the Fall of 1981.
- He shares the same birthday and birthyear as fellow racer Brian PattersonBrian PattersonBrian 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...
: January 4, 1965
Post BMX career
He was offered a sales job by the Schwinn Bicycle Co. with a position in California but he did not take it. He did not want to move from his home state. He had potions with Bingham's Cyclery a local department store and eventually went into his father's lawn sprinkler business.BMX magazine covers
Bicycle Motocross News:- None
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
- June 1981 Vol.8 No.6 in upper right corner insert. Main image Eric Shimp. (SBMX)
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
- March 1985 Vol.10 No.3 (BMXA)
BMX Plus!:
- June 1982 Vol.5 No.6
Bicycles and Dirt:
- February 1983 Vol.1 No.6
Total BMX:
NBA World & NBmxA World (The official NBA/NBmxA membership publication):
Bicycles Today & BMX Today (The official NBL membership publication under two names):
ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer (The official ABA membership publication under three names):
USBA Racer (The official USBA membership publication):