Tommy Brackens
Encyclopedia
Tommy Lee Brackens is an American
former professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross (BMX)
racer. His prime competitive years were from 1980-1988.
His nickname was "The Human Dragster", so named for his adeptness at getting the "Holeshot
", or getting out in front literally at the drop of the starting gate and leading the other competitors down the first straight and into the first turn. The moniker was coined by Bob Hunt, an NBL announcer at the 1982 NBL Grand Nationals that Tommy raced in. Many racers received their monikers from the pithy play by play race announcers.
Tommy Brackens was a former motorcycle
motocross
(MX) racer that made the switch to BMX in 1977 (he would return to MX after his BMX career). Quiet, shy and highly likable he was believe to have all the talents to be truly a top level racer. If Mr. Brackens was likable he had a strong desire to be liked. One of his goals was to be voted as the fan favorite among kids as their favorite racer; "...to be the people's favorite is my goal." he said. That goal was fulfilled in 1987 When he won BMX Action's Number One Racer Award (NORA) Cup for that year.
Unfortunately his inconsistency prevented him from winning a national number one plate for any association amateur or professional. The closest was a National No. 2 with the NBL in 1986. He failed to transfer out of his semi (crashed) while only a few points behind the eventual No.1 for that year, Pete Loncarevich
(who was not doing well himself at the time and barely qualified for the main). However, he did win the 1986 IBMXF World Championship. 1986 was a good year by any measure.
National Bicycle League (NBL)
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
(NBA)
National Bicycle League
(NBL)
American Bicycle Association
(ABA)
United States Bicycle Motocross Association
(USBA)
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
Pro Series Championships and Invitationals
The 1984 European Challenge Cup was a comparatively small race (130 motos) that drew a select portion of racers, professionals and amateurs, Europeans and Americans held on June 10, 1984 in Slagharen, Holland. Though small, it was well received.
The Kellogg's Frosties BMX Championship held in Birmingham
, England
was a series of six races held on three days total (but stretched out over a week including off days) that was centered around the invited 12 top pros of the United States and 12 British pros and tailored for British television broadcast. There were also eight amateurs class races held but the race focus was meant for the pros.
The 1985 Paris Yoplait BMX Challenge was an invitational race sponsored and promoted by the Yoplait
Yogurt company in which American and English pros as well as French pros were brought together to compete in a single race. As is typical in Europe, the public had greater enthusiasm for BMX than the American public, in part because bicycle racing of any type was and is much more popular in Europe (and in Asia and South America as well) than in the United States. A staggering (by American standards) 18,000 spectators attended the sell out event and it was covered live on French television.
The Scorpion International Spring Classic was an invitational race held at Lowestoft
, a town in Suffolk
, East Anglia
, England
on May 4, 1986. Four American pros were invited: Eddy King
, Scott Clark
Travis Chipres and Tommy Brackens. They raced at least four respected English pros in the main including Tim March, Geth Shooter, Garry Llewellyn Jamie Vince and Charlie Reynolds. Other nationalities were invited but did not make the pro main. Brackens was pro champion.
GPV racing had been around since the late 1970s but achieved wide notoriety among BMXers beginning in early 1985. Many BMXers both retired and active, participated like Jeff Bottema, and Scot Breithaupt
among the retirees and Eddy King, Harry Leary
, Kevin Hull the active racers. Freestylist as well participated in the discipline like Dave Vanderspek, Eddie Fiola, Ceppie Maes and Rich Sigur. There were racers who participated which their specialty was downhill road racing like Dan Hanabrink as well. Most racers used converted pedalless BMX or Freestyle bicycles, often with the handlebars turned almost completely down. Often so was the bicycle frame with the bottom bracket pointing toward the racer's chest to lower the profile of the bike for greater stability. In later, fairings were added and also bicycles built specifically for downhill runs. They raced down courses (which were public roads) that were from 1.3 to seven miles long, hitting speeds of 50 to 90 mph. The outlaw aspect was that during the early days they would race down open to traffic roads which, while not illegal, was not sanctioned by a formal sanctioning body either, like the NBL sanctioning BMX races. At the beginning of the 1988 GPV season they started getting highway department permission to block off roads, therefore removing the outlaw characteristic of the activity. The sport is still around but the initial faddish aspect of it lasted from mid 1985 to approximately late 1989.
In mid 2000 he qualified for a ESPN X Games GPV race in Saint George, Utah event on a bike he purchased from a Target
discount store, beating custom bikes costing US$2,000 to $3,000. It was his very first GPV race since a 1990 race in Palm Springs, California
were he set the course record of 90 mph. Scott E. Burdick who made a fairing out of carboard, and still was able to reach speeds of more than 100 mph in the final straight away of the palm springs California tramway hill. You can find the race as seen on ESPN or on VHS video.
The company lasted two years from 1988 to 1990 sponsoring racers including Eric Carter along the way. The company went out of business due to competition from overseas. He worked for Huffy Service First a division of Huffy that assembled bicycles for department chain stores. He worked there from his time as part timer while he ran his own bicycle business. When his business folded in 1990, he worked at Huffy Service First full time up through the early 2000s. Brackens returned to his Motorcycle Motocross racing roots for a time, which he was involved in prior to his BMX career. Proving that BMXers typically like almost all type of racing, during his BMX career (and fittingly in light of his nickname) he has also dabbled in Outlaw Drag Racing, in which participants participate in illegal urban street racing. This was in addition to his GPV racing (as outlined above) which he still participated in through the first decade of the 2000s.
Bicycle Motocross News:
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
BMX Plus!:
Total BMX:
Bicycles and Dirt:
Bicross Magazine (French Publication):
NBA World & NBmxA World )The NBA/NBmxA official publication):
Bicycles Today & BMX Today (the NBL official publication under two names):
ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer (the ABA official publication under two name changes):
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...
former professional "Old School" 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. His prime competitive years were from 1980-1988.
His nickname was "The Human Dragster", so named for his adeptness at getting the "Holeshot
Holeshot
The holeshot is a term used primarily in motorcycle racing for the rider who is the first one through the first turn. In some cases a holeshot award will be given, which is a prize separate from winning the race...
", or getting out in front literally at the drop of the starting gate and leading the other competitors down the first straight and into the first turn. The moniker was coined by Bob Hunt, an NBL announcer at the 1982 NBL Grand Nationals that Tommy raced in. Many racers received their monikers from the pithy play by play race announcers.
Tommy Brackens was a former motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
(MX) racer that made the switch to BMX in 1977 (he would return to MX after his BMX career). Quiet, shy and highly likable he was believe to have all the talents to be truly a top level racer. If Mr. Brackens was likable he had a strong desire to be liked. One of his goals was to be voted as the fan favorite among kids as their favorite racer; "...to be the people's favorite is my goal." he said. That goal was fulfilled in 1987 When he won BMX Action's Number One Racer Award (NORA) Cup for that year.
Unfortunately his inconsistency prevented him from winning a national number one plate for any association amateur or professional. The closest was a National No. 2 with the NBL in 1986. He failed to transfer out of his semi (crashed) while only a few points behind the eventual No.1 for that year, Pete Loncarevich
Pete Loncarevich
Peter 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 not doing well himself at the time and barely qualified for the main). However, he did win the 1986 IBMXF World Championship. 1986 was a good year by any measure.
Racing career milestones
----| Milestone | Event Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Started Racing: | August 11, 1978 at 17 years old. Anthony Sewell Anthony Sewell Anthony Sewell was a professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1978 to 1984. He was nicknamed "The Panther". He got the moniker jumping curbs in his neighborhood and neighborhood kids likened his jumping to that of a cat. This was soon converted to... , who would later become pro BMXer himself (approximately a year or so before Tommy) introduced him to the sport. As did Turnell Henry and another friend named James Stalworth. |
|
| Sanctioning Body: | 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) |
|
| First race bike: | Redline. | |
| First race result: | Second in 16 novice at the Valley Youth Center in Van Nuys, California on August 11, 1978. | |
| First win (local): | ||
| First sponsor: | City of Bicycles. | |
| First national win: | ||
| Turned Professional: | December 1980 age 20. He did it for both monetary reasons and the fact he was 19 years old in the 16 Expert class. | |
| First Professional race result: | Second in "A" Pro Money on January 18, 1981 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) Northwest National in Seattle, Washington Seattle, Washington Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country... . It was the very first national in which the new ABA junior "A" pro class was run. He also was second in "A" Pro Trophy. Brackens would be one of the first later to be well known pros to graduate from the new junior pro "A" class which was instituted by the ABA. |
|
| First Professional win: | In "A" Pro at the ABA Coliseum Classic III national in Detroit, Michigan Detroit, Michigan Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River... on February 1, 1981 |
|
| First Junior Men/Pro* race result: | See "First professional race result". | |
| First Junior Men/Pro win: | See "First Professional win" | |
| First Senior Pro** race result: | First Place in Pro Class at the 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) Winternationals in Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada Las 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... in February 1981. Unlike the NBA's rivals the ABA and NBL, the NBA did not initiate a second tier, junior pro division for the 1981 racing season. When Brackens turned pro and competed in the pro class in the NBA he raced seasoned veteran professionals like Stu Thomsen Stu Thomsen Stuart 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... , Scott Clark Scott Clark (BMX rider) Scott Clark is an "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1978 to 1985.... and Kevin McNeal and others of that quality who also raced in the senior pro divisions of the ABA and NBL. Therefore Brackens was in effect racing senior pro. |
|
| First Senior Pro win: | See above. | |
| Height and weight at height of his career (1983–1987): | Ht: 5'10" (1.78m) Wt:~174-180 lbs (79.4-81.63 kg) |
|
| Retired: | 1990; in part to devote more time to his bicycle frame and fork company Brackens Racing Products. | |
Amateur
- The Pedal Shop: Early 1980-Mid 1980
- Jag BMX: Mid 1980-December 1980. Would turn pro and be briefly with this sponsor as a pro. Left under bad circumstances. Jag wanted Tommy to stay an amateur for one more year, but Tommy wanted to be a pro immediately.
Professional
- Jag BMX: Mid 1980-December 1980.
- Powerlite Racing: April 18, 1981-September 1983. Left because by September 1983 he was the only member of the Powerlite team and he needed the secureness of being on a true team. Otherwise he left Powerlite on good terms.
- Torker BMX Products: October 1, 1983-November 1984 TorkerTorkerTorker is a brand of bicycles and unicycles currently owned by Seattle Bike Supply, headquartered in Kent, Washington.-History:The Torker name was created by Johnson Engineering in Fullerton, CA in 1977 for a BMX bike frame....
literally went out of business while the racing team was racing on the East Coast. He didn't have a clue until people came up to him with the news.
- GT (Gary Turner) Racing: November 1984-December 31, 1986 On the return flight west after Torker folded Richard Long, the owner of GT, offered Mr. Brackens a spot on his team, which he accepted. At the end of his contract he turned down offer from GT to stay on a paired down team because his salary would had been reduced. GT offered to compensate by increasing contingency awards (a contingency is a monetary award for coming in first place at any given race as an incentive). Tommy did not accept. According to the September 1999 issue of Snap magazine, it didn't sit well and it left a "bad taste" that freestylers Eddie FiolaEddie FiolaEdward Lynn Fiola in Bellflower, California, USA was a professional freestyle BMX rider in the 1980s and a film stuntman....
and racer 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"...
was being paid more and he was offered less than they were being paid. Teammate Gary Ellis remained under those terms.
- KHS (Kung Hsue She): May 1987-August 1987.
- World Class Racing/KHS: August 1987-July 1988. World Class Products, Inc. is the product of the merger between Jag BMX and DG Performance Bicycles in the spring of 1982. KHS was still a co-sponsor when World Class Products was Tommy Bracken's main sponsor
- Brackens Racing: July 1988-1990 This was a Tommy Brackens owned BMX company that made frames and forks. It was prosperous enough to factory sponsor Eric CarterEric CarterEric Robert Carter is a former American professional "Old/Mid School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1983 to 1998...
at the beginning of his pro career.
Amateur
National Bicycle Association (NBA)- 1980 winner of the amateur Race of Champions (ROC) at the 1980 Grand Nationals winning a $3,000 Fisher stereo system Amateurs can win expensive prizes without jeopardizing their amateur status as they would be if they won the cash equivalent.
National Bicycle League (NBL)
- 1980 16 Expert Grandnational Champion
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
- 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)
- 1984 National No.3 Pro
- 1986 National No.2 Pro
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)
- 1986 "A" Pro and Pro Open Race of Champions Champion (Double)
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
- 1986 Pro European Champion
- 1986 Pro World Champion
Pro Series Championships and Invitationals
- 1984 European Challenge Cup Champion
The 1984 European Challenge Cup was a comparatively small race (130 motos) that drew a select portion of racers, professionals and amateurs, Europeans and Americans held on June 10, 1984 in Slagharen, Holland. Though small, it was well received.
- 1985 Kellog's Frosties BMX Champion.
The Kellogg's Frosties BMX Championship held in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was a series of six races held on three days total (but stretched out over a week including off days) that was centered around the invited 12 top pros of the United States and 12 British pros and tailored for British television broadcast. There were also eight amateurs class races held but the race focus was meant for the pros.
- Bicross de Paris 1985 Challenge Yoplait Champion (King of Bercy 2)
The 1985 Paris Yoplait BMX Challenge was an invitational race sponsored and promoted by the Yoplait
Yoplait
Yoplait is a brand of yogurt produced by a company owned by two French holdings, SODIAAL and PAI Partners.-History:In 1964, 100,000 French farmers merged their regional dairy cooperatives to sell nationally. In 1965, two co-ops, "Yola" and "Coplait", merged, becoming "Yoplait"...
Yogurt company in which American and English pros as well as French pros were brought together to compete in a single race. As is typical in Europe, the public had greater enthusiasm for BMX than the American public, in part because bicycle racing of any type was and is much more popular in Europe (and in Asia and South America as well) than in the United States. A staggering (by American standards) 18,000 spectators attended the sell out event and it was covered live on French television.
- 1986 Scorpion International Spring Classic Champion.
The Scorpion International Spring Classic was an invitational race held at Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
, a town in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on May 4, 1986. Four American pros were invited: Eddy King
Eddy King
Edward King is an "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1985....
, Scott Clark
Scott Clark (BMX rider)
Scott Clark is an "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1978 to 1985....
Travis Chipres and Tommy Brackens. They raced at least four respected English pros in the main including Tim March, Geth Shooter, Garry Llewellyn Jamie Vince and Charlie Reynolds. Other nationalities were invited but did not make the pro main. Brackens was pro champion.
Notable accolades
- Winner of the National Bicycle Association's "Most Improved Rider" Award in 1981.
- Winner of BMX Action's 1987 Number One Racer Award (NORA) Cup with 17.91% of the vote (total cast unknown)
- He is a 1991 ABA BMX Hall of Fame Inductee.
Miscellaneous
He was the 1986 winner of the "King of the Mountain" outlaw Gravity Powered Vehicle (GPV) Championship.* This win was the beginning of a career in GPV racings. His enthusiasm was reflected in this quote:"That, by far...and I'm serious, meant more to me than winning ANY BMX race I've ever won! THAT was intense."----BMX Action March 1987
GPV racing had been around since the late 1970s but achieved wide notoriety among BMXers beginning in early 1985. Many BMXers both retired and active, participated like Jeff Bottema, and Scot Breithaupt
Scot Breithaupt
Scot Alexander Breithaupt is an entrepreneur, "Old School" former professional Motorcycle MX and Bicycle Motocross racer and a founding father of BMX in 1970 whose prime competitive years were from 1970 to 1984...
among the retirees and Eddy King, Harry Leary
Harry Leary
Harry Clarence Leary Jr. was a "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer....
, Kevin Hull the active racers. Freestylist as well participated in the discipline like Dave Vanderspek, Eddie Fiola, Ceppie Maes and Rich Sigur. There were racers who participated which their specialty was downhill road racing like Dan Hanabrink as well. Most racers used converted pedalless BMX or Freestyle bicycles, often with the handlebars turned almost completely down. Often so was the bicycle frame with the bottom bracket pointing toward the racer's chest to lower the profile of the bike for greater stability. In later, fairings were added and also bicycles built specifically for downhill runs. They raced down courses (which were public roads) that were from 1.3 to seven miles long, hitting speeds of 50 to 90 mph. The outlaw aspect was that during the early days they would race down open to traffic roads which, while not illegal, was not sanctioned by a formal sanctioning body either, like the NBL sanctioning BMX races. At the beginning of the 1988 GPV season they started getting highway department permission to block off roads, therefore removing the outlaw characteristic of the activity. The sport is still around but the initial faddish aspect of it lasted from mid 1985 to approximately late 1989.
In mid 2000 he qualified for a ESPN X Games GPV race in Saint George, Utah event on a bike he purchased from a Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
discount store, beating custom bikes costing US$2,000 to $3,000. It was his very first GPV race since a 1990 race in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
were he set the course record of 90 mph. Scott E. Burdick who made a fairing out of carboard, and still was able to reach speeds of more than 100 mph in the final straight away of the palm springs California tramway hill. You can find the race as seen on ESPN or on VHS video.
BMX related product lines
- 1988 KHS "Tommy Terminator" signature frame & fork set which was released in January 1988.
- Brackens started his own BMX frame and fork company like Greg HillGreg A. HillGregory Alan Hill is a former "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1989...
did in 1983 with Greg Hill Products (GHP) bearing his name: Brackens Racing Products. It was started in 1988 and sponsored during its short life raciers like Eric CarterEric CarterEric Robert Carter is a former American professional "Old/Mid School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1983 to 1998...
and Kevin Hull. Brackens Racing Products was sold to Power Source/Roost in late 1994.
Significant injuries
- Sprained wrist in Pompano Beach national in May 1983. Laid up for approximately one month.
- Injured leg when his handle bars stabbed him in a leg muscle in a crash during practice before the Friday Pre Race at the NBL, Lemoore, CaliforniaLemoore, CaliforniaLemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
Nationals in August 1987. He sat out the rest of the weekend missing both the Saturday and Sunday nationals.
Racing habits and traits
- Variables like track condition or delays could do psychological havoc to him at a race. Was said to lack the "killer instinct" that was necessary to truly dominate the top pro BMX class due to his easy going good natured personality.
- Like his friend and fellow racer Anthony SewellAnthony SewellAnthony Sewell was a professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1978 to 1984. He was nicknamed "The Panther". He got the moniker jumping curbs in his neighborhood and neighborhood kids likened his jumping to that of a cat. This was soon converted to...
, he was a power racer who lagged in the technical aspects of racing with his difficulties in negotiating turns (which made him relatively easy to pass if he wasn't too far ahead of the competition) and conversely lacking the skill to set someone up for a pass in those turns if he was behind; and speed jumping multiple moguls called whoop-de-doosBMXBicycle 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...
inefficiently which made him easier to pass (again if the competition wasn't to far behind to pass). In contrast racers like Richie AndersonRichie Anderson (BMX rider)Richard Anderson is a former American "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer whose prime competitive years were 1978-1986....
, Mike KingMike King (BMX racer)Michael Allen King is an "Old School/Mid School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1984 to 1998 and is also a former Mountain Bike racer who prime competitive years in that discipline were 1993 to 2004.- Biography :Mike King is the younger...
, Steve VeltmanSteve VeltmanStephen James Veltman is a former American "Old School/Mid School" professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1981–1983 and 1989 to 1998...
and even 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...
were known for their smooth speed jumping abilities. One of Richie Anderson's nicknames was "Mr. Smooth" due to this. The otherwise nicknameless Mike King was also occasionally referred to as "Mr. Smooth". This weakness in technique very likely hindered Brackens's ability to win a national title.
Post BMX career
He started his own BMX bicycle company Brackens Racing Products. This is ironic given the answer to a question in a BMX Plus! interview about owning his own company one day:BMXP!: What are your ambitions after racing? Have your own company, maybe?
Tommy: No! It's too much hassle having your own company!
----BMX Plus! April 1983 page 60.
The company lasted two years from 1988 to 1990 sponsoring racers including Eric Carter along the way. The company went out of business due to competition from overseas. He worked for Huffy Service First a division of Huffy that assembled bicycles for department chain stores. He worked there from his time as part timer while he ran his own bicycle business. When his business folded in 1990, he worked at Huffy Service First full time up through the early 2000s. Brackens returned to his Motorcycle Motocross racing roots for a time, which he was involved in prior to his BMX career. Proving that BMXers typically like almost all type of racing, during his BMX career (and fittingly in light of his nickname) he has also dabbled in Outlaw Drag Racing, in which participants participate in illegal urban street racing. This was in addition to his GPV racing (as outlined above) which he still participated in through the first decade of the 2000s.
BMX and general press magazine interviews and articles
- "Powerlite's Tommy Brackens: The Human Dragster Himself" Super BMX February 1983 Vol.10 No.2 pg.26
- "Tommy Brackens" BMX Action June 1983 Vol.8 No.6 pg.50
- "The New Torker" Super BMX November 1984 Vol.11 No.11 pg.22 Mini Bio with along with other Torker team mates.
- Mini interview during North Park NBL National BMX Action November 1984 Vol.9 No.11 pg.25
- "Four Taco Lunch And Conversation With Tommy Brackens" BMX Action May 1985 Vol.10 No.5 pg.86
- "How I won that Race" Super BMX & Freestyle May 1985 Vol.12 No.5 pg.59 Story written by Tommy Brackens
- Mini-interview BMX Action August 1985 Vol.10 No.8 pg.44 Gives play by play account of Pro Mains.
- "GT's Human Dragster" Super BMX & Freestyle September 1986 Vol.13 No.9 pg.62
- "A New World Champion" Super BMX & Freestyle December 1986 Vol.13 No.12 pg.32
- "Tommy Brackens: All In The Name Of Fun" BMX Action July 1986 Vol. No.7 pg.20
- "The 1986 IBMXF World Championship: I don't feel any different" BMX Plus! December 1986 Vol.9 No.12 pg.46 Story written by Tommy Brackens of how he won the 1986 World Championship.
- "Tom and Gary: Not to be confused with the cat and mouse" BMX Action February 1987 Vol.12 No.2 pg.64 Joint interview with Gary Ellis.
- "Tommy & Tuni: Ready for '88" BMX Action January 1988 Vol.13 No.1 pg.34 Joint article with Turnell Henry.
- "Flashback: Tommy Brackens" Snap BMX Magazine September 1999 Vol.7 Iss.6 No.35 pg.80 Retrospective of the racer.
BMX magazine covers
----Bicycle Motocross News:
- None
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
- July 1982 Vol.9 No.7 (SBMX)
- November 1984 Vol.11 No.11 (SBMX)
- October 1985 Vol.12 No.10. In insert freestyler Scotty Freeman. (SBMX&F)
- December 1986 Vo.13 No.12 (SBMX&F)
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
- None
BMX Plus!:
- April 1983 Vol.6 No.4
- May 1985 Vol.8 No.5 in insert 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....
(1), 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), Ronnie Anderson (13) & Eddy KingEddy KingEdward King is an "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1985....
(67); 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....
in circular insert; freestyler Martin Aparijo insert; and freestyler Chris Meier as main image. - December 1985 Vol.8 No.12 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....
(16) and 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"...
(9). Also Dizz Hicks and Brian Scura (building quarter pipe) in separate inserts. - September 1986 Vol.13 No.9 in photo composite behind Greg HillGreg A. HillGregory Alan Hill is a former "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1989...
, Eric RupeEric RupeEric Fitzgerald Rupe is an "Old School" American professional bicycle motocross racer. His prime competitive years were from 1978 to 1990....
, 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"...
(1) and unidentified (15). Freestyler Eddie Fiola "above" them. - July 1987 Vol.10 No.7 In rectangle insert (2) leading Shawn TexasShawn TexasShawn Patrick Texas was an American professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from -Racing career milestones:----...
(5) 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:
- None
Bicross Magazine (French Publication):
- Juin (June) 1983 Numéro 10 (No.10) (9) in fourth place behind 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...
(1) and ahead of Bob Woods (12) in fifth and behind two unidentifies in second and third.
NBA World & NBmxA World )The NBA/NBmxA official publication):
Bicycles Today & BMX Today (the NBL official publication under two names):
ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer (the ABA official publication under two name changes):
USBA Racer (The official USBA membership publication):