Johnson City lost an old friend a few weeks ago. T.P.I was a staple street riding spot in the Tri-cities scene and will be truly missed.
To most people who drove by that abadoned factory, it was an eyesore; with its rusted fencing, faded green sheet metal siding. However, along the side of that siding was an asphalt twinkie, and thats what bmx riders saw. Over the years that siding got pushed in at spots, tire graffiti was added here and there, and that twinkie became a hip.
Recent additions came courtesy of Jake Hunter and Randy Mobley, 2 rails and a sub-box. Im no construction worker, but i imagine breaking asphalt and installing rails isnt easy. It's a damn shame death came so soon after these were added, the options there were really abundant. Nothings forever though....after years of bmx service the property has been sold and is currently being transformed into what will probably be another strip mall where retired bingo moms go window shopping for handbags. It makes ya think, you know those times when you say "ill come back to it"..or "its not going anywhere" sometimes the spots do go somewhere overnight. Looking back on it, i dont remember who found it. Im gonna go out on a limb and say Mark Roberts around 1999.
The dozer is the "Grim Reaper" of bmx, and it always taketh away. T.P.I's number came up. Rest in Peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment