Brent Patterson (BMX rider)
Encyclopedia
Brent Hathaway Patterson (b. April 9, 1961 in Oakland, California
U.S.
. Moved to Hayward, California
when he was four months old.) is a former American "Old School" bicycle motocross (BMX)
racer.
Brent Patterson is the elder of what was the most potent sibling combinations that bicycle motocross has ever seen. With Brian
, the Brothers Patterson are the only brothers to both hold the National No.1 Pro title in any major BMX sanctioning body; Brent in 1980 and Brian in 1982 and 1983 in the American Bicycle Association
.
Started Racing: Early 1976 at 14 years old in Hayward, California. He was exposed to it through his friends in his neighborhood.
First race result: First Place in 14 "Expert". However, at the time classes were determined by size and weight and not proficiency. Brent Patterson, being big for his age was placed with the experts.
First local win: See above. It was the beginning of a three race winning streak.
Sanctioning body: None, unaffiliated track.
Home sanctioning body district(s): National Bicycle Association
(NBA) District "N" (Northern California);
First sponsor: Cyclepath 1976
First National win:
Turned Pro: Late 1977 aged 16.
First Pro race result**: First place at the National Bicycle Association
(NBA) Arizona State Fair race in Phoenix, Arizona
on November 6, 1977.
First Pro win**: See above.
Height & weight at height of his career (1981–1984): Ht:6'1" Wt:~200 lbs.
Retired from the senior pro* circuit: Mid 1986, 25 years old. As is usual, many former top pro BMXers do not retire completely but race for fun or if there is a particularly large pro purse, such as the 1987 NBL World Cup. Brian and Brent occasionally raced in several large races for both reasons in 1987, but their days of seriously contending for No.1 racer title in any sanctioning body were over. Brent retired fully from BMX after not making the main at the World Cup and concentrated on Motorcycle Motocross. Patterson Racing Products went out of business in the summer of 1986 due to production problems.
National Bicycle League (NBL)
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
Independent race series and Invitationals
The California Cup was a non sanctioned series of three qualifying races held at three tracks (for a total of nine separate races) in three different regions of Northern California. Then the finals were held. The series was sponsored and promoted by BX-Weekly Magazine, a BMX newspaper and Rick Ankron & Rick Varner owners of (R&R) Racing Products. The finals were held at the famous Corona Raceway in Corona, California
on September 5, 1976. Side note: Brent's brother Brian Patterson
came in second in 11 Boys behind Eddy King
.
(NBA)
National Bicycle League
(NBL)
American Bicycle Association
(ABA)
United Bicycle Racers
(UBR)
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
Other Titles
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
BMX Plus!:
Total BMX:
Bicycles and Dirt:
Snap BMX Magazine & Transworld BMX:
NBA World & NBmxA World (The NBA/NBmxA official membership publication):
Bicycles Today & BMX Today (The NBL official membership publication under one name change):
ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer (The ABA official membership publication under two name changes):
USBA Racer (The official USBA membership publication):
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Moved to Hayward, California
Hayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
when he was four months old.) is a former American "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.
Brent Patterson is the elder of what was the most potent sibling combinations that bicycle motocross has ever seen. With Brian
Brian Patterson
Brian 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...
, the Brothers Patterson are the only brothers to both hold the National No.1 Pro title in any major BMX sanctioning body; Brent in 1980 and Brian in 1982 and 1983 in 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...
.
Racing career milestone
----Started Racing: Early 1976 at 14 years old in Hayward, California. He was exposed to it through his friends in his neighborhood.
First race result: First Place in 14 "Expert". However, at the time classes were determined by size and weight and not proficiency. Brent Patterson, being big for his age was placed with the experts.
First local win: See above. It was the beginning of a three race winning streak.
Sanctioning body: None, unaffiliated track.
Home sanctioning body district(s): 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) District "N" (Northern California);
First sponsor: Cyclepath 1976
First National win:
Turned Pro: Late 1977 aged 16.
First Pro race result**: First place 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) Arizona State Fair race in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
on November 6, 1977.
First Pro win**: See above.
Height & weight at height of his career (1981–1984): Ht:6'1" Wt:~200 lbs.
Retired from the senior pro* circuit: Mid 1986, 25 years old. As is usual, many former top pro BMXers do not retire completely but race for fun or if there is a particularly large pro purse, such as the 1987 NBL World Cup. Brian and Brent occasionally raced in several large races for both reasons in 1987, but their days of seriously contending for No.1 racer title in any sanctioning body were over. Brent retired fully from BMX after not making the main at the World Cup and concentrated on Motorcycle Motocross. Patterson Racing Products went out of business in the summer of 1986 due to production problems.
Amateur
- Cyclepath: 1976
- AAA Restaurant Fire Control/Champion: 1976
- Speedo Racing Products: October 1976-October 1977.
- Patterson Racing Products: Early November 1977-1986. Brent and Brian would turn pro with Patterson Racing. Detailed below.
Professional
- Patterson Racing Products: Early November 1977-1986. This was the family owned BMX bicycle firm started by their father Vance Patterson in late 1977 after Speedo, who Vance Patterson had invested in, showed no signs of progress toward developing a BMX racing frame, the original reason why Vance Patterson invested in the first place. It was his and his brothers only factory sponsor in their Senior pro careers (discounting AAA Fire Control.). That Speedo team, despite getting offers from other firms to join their factory teams, they opted to stay together and the original Patterson team of Brian, Brent, Kevin Riding, John Crews, and Mike Koron was formed. Vance Patterson started Patterson racing also in part to fulfill his original intent with Speedo to come out with a BMX bicycle frame and signed up the ex Speedo Team and added Richie Anderson to it. Richie would virtually become part of the Patterson family and stay with Patterson for many years, much longer than the average stay a top amateur would stay with one team. In contrast, Richie Anderson would not stay long with any one sponsor after Patterson Racing.
Amateur
National Bicycle Association (NBA)- 1976 15 Expert Grand National Champion
- 1977 National No.2 (Pro/Am title)
National Bicycle League (NBL)
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
- None
Independent race series and Invitationals
- 1976 California Cup 15 year old class Champion
The California Cup was a non sanctioned series of three qualifying races held at three tracks (for a total of nine separate races) in three different regions of Northern California. Then the finals were held. The series was sponsored and promoted by BX-Weekly Magazine, a BMX newspaper and Rick Ankron & Rick Varner owners of (R&R) Racing Products. The finals were held at the famous Corona Raceway in Corona, California
Corona, California
Corona is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 152,374, up from 124,966 at the 2000 census...
on September 5, 1976. Side note: Brent's brother Brian Patterson
Brian Patterson
Brian 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...
came in second in 11 Boys behind Eddy King
Eddy King
Edward King is an "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1985....
.
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)
- 1977 National No.2 (Pro/Am title)
- 1978 16 Expert Grandnational Champion.
- In 1978 NBA professionals could still race the amateur 16 Expert class due to the still relatively small pro class.
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)
- 1981 Pro Cruiser Grandnational Champion
- 1982 Pro Cruiser and Pro Trophy Grandnational Champion (double)
- 1981, 1982, 1983 National No.1 Pro Cruiser
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)
- 1980 National No. 1 Pro
- 1982 Pro Cruiser Grandnational Champion
- Brent came in ABA No. 2 pro in 1982 when Brian became No. 1 pro for that year, the only sibling combination to do so.
United Bicycle Racers
United Bicycle Racers Association
The United Bicycle Racers was a short-lived Bicycle Motocross racing sanctioning body based in Modesto, California which was started by John Valdez, a bike shop owner, on his 18th birthday that lasted from 1977-1983. At its peak it had 34 tracks in California and Nevada...
(UBR)
- 1981 Open Expert and Pro Cruiser Grandnational Champion (double)
- 1981 National No. 1 Pro Cruiser
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
- 1982 Pro Cruiser Champion
Other Titles
- 1983 Jag Pro World Champion (Non sanctioned)
Notable accolades
- Named Rookie of the Year by Bicycle Motocross News for 1977. Also named number one of the five best riders in Northern CaliforniaNorthern CaliforniaNorthern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
- Brent won Bicycle Motocross Actions Number One Racer Award (NORA) for 1980.* He received 433 out of 1622 votes cast or 26.7% of the vote. He also won USD$500
- He was the first to win a National No.1 plate, amateur or professional, three consecutive times and to do so consecutively in any sanctioning body (Pro cruiser 1981,'82,'83 ABA).
- Brent Patterson is a 1988 ABA BMX Hall of fame inductee.
BMX Product lines
- 1978 Patterson Racing Products "Brent Patterson Frame"
- Product Evaluation:
Significant injuries
- Broke his ankle in a pickup football game in late 1978. It was a problem with Brent off and on compounded by his next major injury.
- Broke his leg in November 1979 racing Motorcycle Motocross qualifying for an amateur supercross event. His throttle stuck open and was launched more than thirty feet into the air at a jump. When he landed his leg snapped. He was laid up for four and a half months until April 1981. He was able to win the 1980 ABA no.1 pro title anyway.
- Injured shoulderShoulderThe human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
in late 1980 that kept him out of the 1980 NBA Grand National. - Injured kneeKneeThe knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
at a Howell, New Jersey NBL race on July 15, 1984. Laid up for approximately six weeks. Brother BrianBrian 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...
broke his arm at the same race. Brent Patterson's first race back was the 1984 NBL Grandnational on September 1, 1984.
Other significant sibling combinations in BMX
- Ronnie & Richie Anderson
- MikeMike 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...
& Eddy KingEddy KingEdward King is an "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1985.... - EricEric RupeEric Fitzgerald Rupe is an "Old School" American professional bicycle motocross racer. His prime competitive years were from 1978 to 1990....
& Robby Rupe - Richard & Gary Houseman
- AlanAlan Foster (BMX racer)Alan David Foster was a professional American "Mid School" Bicycle Motocross racer and Dirt Jumper whose prime competitive years were from...
& Brian Foster
Post racing career
Like a lot of BMXers, both Brent and his brother Brian returned to the Motorcycle Motocross roots. Both of them did rather well, with Brent racing professionally. They also raced occasionally in large BMX races in the late 1980s. Brian raced in the ABA Veteran Pro class in the mid-1990sBMX and general press magazine interviews and articles
- "Speedo's No.1 Man: Brent Patterson" Bicycle Motocross Action August 1977 Vol.2 No.3 pg.10
- "Brent Patterson" BMX Plus! February 1981 Vol.4 No.2 pg.18
- "Interview: Brent Patterson and John Crews" Bicycle Motocross Action July 1981 Vol.6 No.7 pg.100 Joint interview with former (and future) teammate John Crews.
- "Brent on Psyching" BMX Action April 1982 Vol.7 No.4 pg.35 sidebar on maintaining your psychological edge at races.
- "Brent on Cruiser Racing" BMX Action April 1982 Vol.7 No.4 pg.37 sidebar about the new Cruiser classes.
- "Top Pros Speak Out" BMX Action April 1982 Vol.7 No.4 pg.62 Joint interview with 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...
, Greg HillGreg A. HillGregory Alan Hill is a former "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1989...
, Kevin McNeal, Eric RupeEric RupeEric Fitzgerald Rupe is an "Old School" American professional bicycle motocross racer. His prime competitive years were from 1978 to 1990....
, Harry LearyHarry LearyHarry Clarence Leary Jr. was a "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer....
, and 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....
, speaking about various issues facing the racing world. - "Brent & Brian Patterson" BMX Action July 1983 Vol.8 No.7 pg.48 Joint interview with his brother BrianBrian 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...
. - "Devonshire" BMX Action July 1984 Vol.9 No.7 pg.33. One of eight mini-interviews with other racers held during the 1984 Devonshire Downs NBL race.
- "Flashback" Snap BMX Magazine August 1999 Vol.6 Iss.6 No.34 pg.83 Duel retrospective of the Patterson brothers.
BMX Magazine covers
Bicycle Motocross News:- December 1977 Vol.4 No.11 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...
in inside of fan fold cover.
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
- December 1977 Vol.2 No.5 (BMXA)
- November/December 1978 Vol.3 No.2 (BMXA)
- February 1980 Vol.5 No.2 slightly behind Stanley Robinson. (BMXA)
- September 1980 Vol.5 No.9 (BMXA)
- June 1982 Vol.7 No.6 with Clint MillerClint MillerClint Miller 1 is a former American "Old School" professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1976-1984....
. (BMXA) - April 1983 Vol.8 No.4 ahead of Toby HendersonToby HendersonToby S. Henderson was a professional American "Old School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from He was given the nickname...
. (BMXA)
BMX Plus!:
- January 1982 Vol.5 No.1
- September 1983 Vol.6 No.8* tied with 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...
and with Clint MillerClint MillerClint Miller 1 is a former American "Old School" professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1976-1984....
following. - September 1984 Vol.7 No.9 main image. In circle insert Tim JudgeTim JudgeTimothy Judge is a former American "Old School" professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1979-1985. When he was a young racer his given name was used in the diminutive "Timmy"...
. - Due to a change of ownership, BMX Plus! did not publish a May 1983 issue.
Total BMX:
Bicycles and Dirt:
- May–June 1983 Vol.1 No.9 with his and Richie AndersonRichie Anderson (BMX rider)Richard Anderson is a former American "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer whose prime competitive years were 1978-1986....
's hands being jumped over by his brother 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...
.
Snap BMX Magazine & Transworld BMX:
- None
NBA World & NBmxA World (The NBA/NBmxA official membership publication):
Bicycles Today & BMX Today (The NBL official membership publication under one name change):
ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer (The ABA official membership publication under two name changes):
- April 1983 Vol.6 No.4 standing with 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...
, Robert Fehd, Debbie KalsowDebbie KalsowDebra Lynn Kalsow was an American amateur "Old School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1981-1985.-Racing career milestones:----Started racing: At age 11 in 1979...
and Greg HillGreg A. HillGregory Alan Hill is a former "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1989...
.
USBA Racer (The official USBA membership publication):