Shawn Texas
Encyclopedia
Shawn Patrick Texas was an American professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross (BMX)
racer whose prime competitive years were from (1983–1987)
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.
Sanctioning Body:
First race result: Third place.
First win (local):
First race bicycle:
Home sanctioning body district(s):
First sponsor: Bicycles N' Stuff 1979.
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
. 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.
First Professional win: In "A" Pro at the American Bicycle Association
(ABA) Supernationals in Lake Elsinore, California
on January 23, 1983. He won USD$450, the equivalent to USD$929.37 in 2007 (Cost of Living Calculator)
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 USD$250 (USD$532.90 in 2007) 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.
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
First Senior Men Pro win: In "AA" pro at the ABA Fall Nationals in Bargaintown, New Jersey on August 28, 1983. He won USD$320, the equivalent to USD$660.88 in 2007.
Retired:
Height & weight at height of her career (1986): Ht:6'2" Wt:195 lbs.
National Bicycle League (NBL)
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)*
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)*
Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)*
*See note in professional section
(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)*
*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
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):
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 (1983–1987)
Racing career milestones
----Started Racing: Early August 1977 at 13 years of age. His friend took him to a local track in Lakeside, California
Lakeside, California
Lakeside is a Census Designated Place in San Diego County, California. The population was 20,648 at the 2010 census, up from 19,560 as of the 2000 census.- History :...
. 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.
Sanctioning Body:
First race result: Third place.
First win (local):
First race bicycle:
Home sanctioning body district(s):
First sponsor: Bicycles N' Stuff 1979.
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
Rancho San Diego, California
Rancho San Diego is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The population was 21,208 at the 2010 census, up from 20,155 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rancho San Diego is located at ....
. 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
Harry Leary
Harry Clarence Leary Jr. was a "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer....
, who won the event, and Clint Miller
Clint Miller
Clint Miller 1 is a former American "Old School" professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1976-1984....
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.
First Professional win: In "A" 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) Supernationals in Lake Elsinore, California
Lake Elsinore, California
For the lake see Lake Elsinore.Lake Elsinore or LE is a city in western Riverside County, California. The population was 51,821 at the 2010 census...
on January 23, 1983. He won USD$450, the equivalent to USD$929.37 in 2007 (Cost of Living Calculator)
First Junior Men Pro* race result: Second Place in "A" Pro at the ABA Fall Nationals in Lancaster, California
Lancaster, California
Lancaster is a charter city in northern Los Angeles County, in the high desert, near the Kern County line. Lancaster currently ranks as the 30th largest city in California, and the 148th largest city in the United States. Lancaster is the principal city within the Antelope Valley...
on October 17, 1982. He won USD$250 (USD$532.90 in 2007) 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.
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
Longmont, Colorado
Longmont is a Home Rule Municipality in Boulder and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Longmont is located in Northern Colorado. Longmont is the 13th most populous city in the State of Colorado. The word "Longmont" comes from Longs Peak, a prominent mountain named for explorer Stephen H....
on July 4, 1983
First Senior Men Pro win: In "AA" pro at the ABA Fall Nationals in Bargaintown, New Jersey on August 28, 1983. He won USD$320, the equivalent to USD$660.88 in 2007.
Retired:
Height & weight at height of her career (1986): Ht:6'2" Wt:195 lbs.
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, TennesseeNashville, TennesseeNashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. Pro Neck dropped its race team at the end of the 1984 season. - 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. 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
- 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". Like fellow pro racers Eric RupeEric RupeEric Fitzgerald Rupe is an "Old School" American professional bicycle motocross racer. His prime competitive years were from 1978 to 1990....
and Mike MirandaMike Miranda (BMX rider)Michael Felty formerly Miguel Juan Miranda is a former American "Old School" professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1981-1986. His previous surname which he is still widely and most familiarly known by, "Miranda", was his stepfather's name...
, Shawn Texas is a born again Christian. 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. 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.- 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.
- Eagle Snacks: February 21, 1987-December 1987. Texas joined the Eagle Snacks team the day of the NBL North Carolina National. Texas was let go by Eagle snacks because, according to the team manager Mark Fouler "...it was too expensive.." and they went with an all amateur team. The parting was on mutual good terms. 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.
- AXO/Ralph's Bicycles: August 1989-Early 1990
- Race Tech Products: Mid 1990-1994
- Roost America: 1994
- Power Source: 1998
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 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)
- 1986 Pro Cruiser Murray World Cup V Champion
- 1987 Pro Cruiser Grandnational Champion
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)
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)
- 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†
- 1986 Orange YMCA BMX Pro Series Champion
BMX product lines
- 1989 White Bear Shawn Texas T-Bone Pro Special Limited Edition Frame and fork set
- Product evaluation:
Significant injuries
- Rebroke finger at the ABA GT Supernationals on January 29, 1984 in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He went over a berm at high speed.
Miscellaneous
- Shawn Texas received a one-month suspension from racing at the 1984 NBL 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...
National after he deliberately collided with Frank PostFrank PostFranklin Post was an American professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1978-1981. Early in his career his nickname was "CW Post", a play on his surname of Post which happened to be the same as a famous breakfast cereal manufacturer, C. W. Post...
after getting squeezed off the track at a step jump in the second straight. Texas, feeling that the action was deliberate on Post's part, cut across the infield and rammed Post perpendicular to him (called a "T-Bone" or "center punch") in the second turn. Mutual shouting and pushing ensued. The NBL track officials ruled that Frank Post would be disqualified for the day, receiving no money or points for that day for fighting physically with Texas (it is illegal to fight even in retaliation). The same for Texas in addition to the one-month suspension for instigating the altercation. According to BMX Plus! Frank Post admitted that he moved over on Texas in the second turn deliberately so he would have to worry about Texas diving in on the inside and up into Post, cutting him off as they went into turn three. - Shawn Texas received a suspension from racing for punching fellow racer Rick Palmer after a collision at the ABA's Gilley's Nationals on March 7, 1987 day 1. Rick Palmer tried to pass Texas in the second turn but was unsuccessful and both went down after Palmer collided with Texas. Texas was in third at the time in the third and final run of the "AA" pro mains and would have most likely won the entire event if he held his third position. In anger he punched Palmer in the chin who retaliated with a punch to Texas's lip. Clayton John, President of the ABA, suspended them both for one day, preventing them from racing the second day of the Gilley's National on Sunday. This incident and previous incidents of fighting in the pro ranks caused the ABA to initiate new rules. The first incident of fighting results in a one-day suspension and a warning, the second a four-month suspension automatically.
BMX press magazine interviews and articles
- "Shawn Texas" BMX Plus! September 1983 Vol.6 No.9 pg.36
- "Big Time Texas" Bicycles and Dirt February 1984 Vol.2 No.5 pg.29
- "Shawn Texas" BMX Action November 1984 Vol.9 No.11 pg.20. One of five impromptu interviews of pro racers at the 1984 NBL North Park Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
National including Greg Grubbs, Mike PoulsonMike PoulsonMichael Poulson is an American "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1981-1987.-Racing career milestones:...
, Tommy BrackensTommy BrackensTommy Lee Brackens is an American former professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross racer...
and John Crews. - "Shawn Texas" BMX Plus! October 1986 Vol.9 No.10 pg.46
- "Shawn Texas" BMX Action October 1986 Vol.11 No.10 pg.64
BMX magazine covers
----Bicycle Motocross News:
- None
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
- Super BMX & Freestyle August 1987 Vol.14 No.8 in right image and freestyler Chris Roth in left image. Cartoon character "Max to the Max" in top corner insert.
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
BMX Plus!:
- November 1984 Vol.7 No.11 (09) ahead of Greg HillGreg A. HillGregory Alan Hill is a former "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1989...
in second and John Crews (43) in third. In insets Mike Franze (bottom) and freestyler Eddie FiolaEddie FiolaEdward Lynn Fiola in Bellflower, California, USA was a professional freestyle BMX rider in the 1980s and a film stuntman....
(top) - August 1986 Vol.9 No.8 (falling) in insert slightly behind Scott ClarkScott Clark (BMX rider)Scott Clark is an "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1978 to 1985....
, ahead of 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 directly ahead of an unidentified racer. Main image freestyler Ron Wilkerson. - July 1987 Vol.10 No.7 In rectangle insert (5) behind Tommy BrackensTommy BrackensTommy Lee Brackens is an American former professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross racer...
(2) ahead of 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....
(15) Charles Townsend (9) and two unidentifieds (11) and (6). In triangle insert Harry LearyHarry LearyHarry Clarence Leary Jr. was a "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer....
(1) ahead of Scott Towne (70) and Robby Rupe. In top circle insert freestyler Mike Dominguez. 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:...
.
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):
- October 1983 Vol.6 No.10 (114)(54) in second place on the inside behind Robert Fehd (472) and the leading third placeTinker JuarezTinker JuarezDavid Juarez is a former professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross racer and current top mountain bike racer whose prime competitive years in BMX were from 1978 to 1984 and in mountain bike racing 1986 to the present. Since 1986, he has been a mountain bike racer and since late 2005, competing...
(54) on the inside. 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...
is in fourth directly behind Fehd. - November 1983 Vol.6 No.11
- November 1986 Vol.8 No.10 (10) ahead of Todd Slavik (31) in second, 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....
(2) in third, Eric RupeEric RupeEric Fitzgerald Rupe is an "Old School" American professional bicycle motocross racer. His prime competitive years were from 1978 to 1990....
in fourth, Eddy KingEddy KingEdward King is an "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1985....
(6) in fifth, Harry LearyHarry LearyHarry Clarence Leary Jr. was a "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer....
in sixth, unidentified racer (86) in seventh and Robert Fehd (3) in eighth.
USBA Racer (The official USBA publication):