Comedian Daniel Tosh called out Cru Jones recently.
According to Tosh, “Cru Jones did not deserve to race Helltrack.”
Could one of BMX’s most beloved icons be…gasp… a cheat?
Comedian Daniel Tosh called out Cru Jones recently.
According to Tosh, “Cru Jones did not deserve to race Helltrack.”
Could one of BMX’s most beloved icons be…gasp… a cheat?
BMX racing needs a breath of fresh air and I think events like the upcoming Helltrack event being held at The Lumberyard bike park might be just the way to do that.
What is the Helltrack event you ask?
Well, according to the Helltrack website, it’s:
…a multi-lap obstacle race with 7 riders going head to head that combines indoor and outdoor features, a cereal bowl, pallets, bikes, beer, jumps, UCI Bro Barriers, Carnage, good times, and …race classes for everyone and for all types of bikes.
Sounds pretty freaking awesome to me!
A welcome departure from the standard, far-to-serious-for-its-own-good atmosphere that most big races have.
And unlike a UCI event, you probably wouldn’t be looked down if you raced in jeans (See: Cru Jones: the UCI doesn’t like your type).
Now, we just need to get an event at all the big indoor bike parks (like Ray’s MTB, Joyride 150, etc.) so more people can take part in the tomfoolery.
Can’t wait to see the video highlights of this event.
The movie Rad, a cult classic for BMXers of all stripes, was way ahead of it’s time in some ways.
(Watching the story of the small-town kid with dreams of racing in the big race is a rite of passage for most riders.)
Sure, the racing depicted was a bit wack but that sorta added to the movie’s charm.
Now looking back, it’s interesting to see how prophetic it was.
The giant start hill of Helltrack looks like it might have been the inspiration for the big starting hills of today’s SX tracks.
Mongoose bikes were “going to be in every department store across the nation” (can’t remember the exact line)….which seemed ridiculous at the time but now ,of course, you can visit any Wal-Mart and pick up a Mongoose bicycle.
And the way the big corporate interests would try to stamp down the energetic upstart/hometown kid, Cru Jones, from making a go of it.
Who could forget, Cru, the rider in the hockey helmet and jeans (before the big final, when he finally gets some proper racing duds) practicing and then racing against the “factory hot-shots”.
Now it seems like the UCI is ready to pull a similar move on riders that have the audacity to show up for a race in jeans.
According to the new UCI rule book:
The following items are not permitted for BMX pants:
– One piece skin suits
– Tight fitted pants that needs to be stretched in order to cover
the legs
– Lycra pants
– Track and Field pants /jogging pants
– Road/Track cycling pants
– Denim / Jeans
It just seems like a step too far.
Jeans have been part of the “first race day” uniform of just about every BMX racer (minus the hockey helmet) since the sport began.
Is nothing sacred anymore?
This year, with the RAD movie celebrating its 25th anniversary, complete with a big event in Cochrane, Alberta and word of a behind-the-scenes documentary in the works, it looks like the affection BMXers have for this movie is as strong as ever.
Now to add another log to the Helltrack fire, NYC dance group Holy Ghost is featuring a new interpretation of the infamous “bicycle boogie” scene in their video, “I wanted to tell her” (a remake of the Ministry song of the same name).
Check it out.
In a key plot point in the movie Rad, Cru Jones makes the life-changing decision to postpone taking his SATs to take part in the big race at Helltrack. He does it because he thinks he’s got a chance at winning against all the “factory hot shots”.
Did he make the right choice?
It seemed like the right idea at the time. Factory BMX racers seemed to have it all back in the 80s. Driving Porsches, international travel, BMX Action magazine covers…you name it. They were living the high life.
Winning the big race would be Cru’s ticket to living the dream.
But today? I’m not so sure skipping the SATs would’ve been the right choice.
Check out the check that Denzel Stein, Redline factory hotshot, is holding for a recent win…$1400.
Compare this with the check that Team Kachinsky (Brian Kachinsky, Corey Martinez, Sean Sexton and Will Stroud) is holding after a win at the recent Nike 6.0 contest…$14,000. (Sure it’s split 4 ways…but c’mon that’s a much sweeter payday.)
Today, he probably would’ve been wise to skip the race altogether and focus on perfecting his bicycle boogie skills.