"And everybody sang, "I remember way back when"

Not much going on in the scene around the tri-cities these days. Bad weather, injuries, lack of motivation, all these things have made for a boring website lately. Fear not faithful followers, i have hundreds of photos from back in the day to entertain you for 35 seconds.
         Bmx has been going on in the tricities for a long time, before you and I knew what it was, there were scenes with characters living out the exact same lives we live. This collection of photos is a look into the scene i grew up with. The years between 1996 to 2002 were very important to the landscape you see today around these parts. There were no skateparks, no skate-caps, the famous kingsport "pals" rail was still standing. There was a thriving trail scene, 2 bmx tracks with a sponsored team. Knoxville had beautiful indoor park. Chances are, if you drive around anywhere and see a broken or missing rail, tire marks, or fresh paint, the scene from this day ruined it. Unfortunately, in most of these formidable years none of us could afford a camera, so here's a little peek into what i got.  Theres a story behind every photo and ill do my best to remember them. If the response to these post are positive, i can make more.

Chris Ball keeps it mellow these days at the parks, but there
was a time when he would huck it down rails without a
warm up run. We shot this photo for an old interview in
the worst bmx zine ever made "Kingsport blues.." Afterwards
I'm pretty sure we went and got hammered cause it was a Tuesday.

Ben Noe. Probably one of the most talented bike riders from this area.
We shot this in dead winter during a snow storm. I remember it like yesterday
Ben had taken zero pedals this day, he got out of the truck, pulled this first try and
did it 2 more times so i could the shot right. The year escapes me, but that bike weighs
close to 40 lbs. Take note kids. Ben pretty much lost interest and hung up his gloves when
he was still shredding.

Rock-and-Road bicycles was the Kingsport bmx shop we all came from
Don ( owner) built us a portable box ramp so we could travel around and do
demos for schools and churches. This particle show was for Sullivan Souths
high school home coming. We made a complete joke of it. I paid James Acosta 20
bucks to announce in a chef's hat. I wore a "romantic escapades" button up to
promote pornography. The riding wasn't a joke however, Jeff crawford here flipped his way
into the pants of some sophomore after this. Jeff ripped with us for many years, I've completely
lost contact and have no idea of his whereabouts.

Jerry Bowman... This photo is a little newer i guess, but still dated.
No story here, just a stylish 3.

Here we have a younger, baggier pant wearing Jake Hunter, and Jerry Bowman.

Why not throw in a couple of me (Jr-Henry)  This was our very first demo we ever
did. Matt Rowland, Mark Roberts, Chad Nelson, and myself rolled up to Miller Perry
elementary to huck unpractised moves over a sketchy at best box. I have an elbow pad because
the first hit of the day i went over the bars to flat since i pedaled wound out to clear a 10 foot gap.
this show was pretty fun, kids don't need much. They also didn't make fun of my reverse laid back seat post.

Here we have a young fearless 18/19 year old James Russell. If you rode the Ryan Nyquist
Haro supra, you had to throw the bars. This thing weighed about 41 pounds, which made dirt tricks very stable.
Even still, suicide barspins were scary, and i didn't play with those many years.  R.I.P- S.A.P trails

They had barely finished pouring the concrete in k-town before
Matt Rowland was getting inverted. This photo was taken during the filming
of kingsport Blues' first video titled "Half inch to Average." 



Along came the "angry Penguin"  This photo was taken during the last ever
A.P. demo we did for the Blue Plum demo. Theres a young clean cut Jeff Grindstaff
and Chris Ball here about to hit a box in 95 degree heat. Remember duff shoes?



Will Love had an interview coming out for Justin Holt's zine "Sent" that he
published in N.C.  We went out over a couple of days to shoot for it.  Curb cut tuck no hander popped
higher than no ones business.

Will- curb cut to flatty. i remember will crawling up to this and somehow
getting shot out of a canon.

Another photo used in the old "Sent" zine.  i was lying in the middle of the street during this,
hoping some methed-out kingsport local wouldn't drive over me.