Pete Loncarevich
Encyclopedia
Peter Loncarevich is a former Bicycle Motocross (BMX)
racer. Loncarevich was an "Old School" professional BMX racer whose prime competitive years were from 1980 to 1994.
Nickname: "Pistol Pete" Loncarevich. He received the moniker the way many racers did with the announcer choosing one for him. In 1984 at an American Bicycle Association
national, Merl Mennenga, the founder and then President of the ABA, who often also announced "play by play" for the audience at ABA nationals called him "The Pistol" for his penchant in getting the "holeshot
" out of the starting gate like a bullet out of a gun. It was also a simultaneous allusion to Loncarevich's similar sounding name to former professional National Basketball Association
(NBA) Guard Pete Maravich
who had the moniker of "Pistol Pete".
Side Note: "CW" never stood for "Coast Wheels" as it is widely thought. Coast Wheels was a bike shop that Roger Worsham owned. Custom Works was a completely different and independent company. This is in contrast with JMC
(Jim Melton Cyclery) which did start out as a bicycle shop and then began manufacturing its own BMX components including entire bicycles.
Bicycle Motocross League (BMXL)
National Bicycle League (NBL)
United Bicycle Racers (UBR)
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
†Shared with 13 Expert Kelly McDougall
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
United States Cycling Federation (USCF)*
(NBA)
Bicycle Motocross League (BMXL)
National Bicycle League
(NBL)
United Bicycle Racers (UBR)
American Bicycle Association
(ABA)
United States Bicycle Motocross Association
(USBA)
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
Pro Series Championships and Invitationals
The 1986 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. As with the 1985 addition, which Tommy Brackens
won, it was a hit in France with tickets sold out two months in advance.
band singing and playing guitar
in Orange County, California
. Due to racing commitments he had to leave it but he still played during his leisure time. By most accounts he was very good.
(BJJ) and other martial arts. He is now a 2nd degree black belt in BJJ under Joe Moreira
. He has won a couple of titles including coming in first in the Black Belt Senior 1 Male Lightweight class at the 2006 Pan American Championship held by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation under the Brazilian Condeferation (CBJJ). Pete Loncarevich now teaches BJJ out of Central Point, Oregon
.
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 official NBA/NBmxA membership publication):
Bicycles Today & BMX Today (The official NBL membership publication with one name change):
ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer (The official ABA membership publication with two name changes):
USBA Racer (The official USBA membership publication):
*After the ABA acquired the USBA the ABA printed USBA Racer within American BMXer beginning with the May 1986 issue.
USBA Racer (as an independent publication):
(MTB) late in his BMX career. In 1994 Loncarevich moved on in such a manner to MTB after essentially winning everything there was to win in BMX and getting bored as this 1998 Dirtrag.com interview excerpt illustrates:
He went on to have a career almost as successful racing mountain bikes as he did racing BMX, earning several titles starting in 1992. His main MTB discipline is in the Downhill category.
----
Started Racing: 1994
Sub Discipline: Downhill
First race result:
Sanctioning Body:
Retired:
(UCI)
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. Loncarevich was an "Old School" professional BMX racer whose prime competitive years were from 1980 to 1994.
Nickname: "Pistol Pete" Loncarevich. He received the moniker the way many racers did with the announcer choosing one for him. In 1984 at an 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...
national, Merl Mennenga, the founder and then President of the ABA, who often also announced "play by play" for the audience at ABA nationals called him "The Pistol" for his penchant in 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...
" out of the starting gate like a bullet out of a gun. It was also a simultaneous allusion to Loncarevich's similar sounding name to former professional National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) Guard Pete Maravich
Pete Maravich
Peter "Pistol Pete" Press Maravich was an American professional basketball player. Born and raised in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University and played for three NBA teams until injuries induced him to retire in 1980...
who had the moniker of "Pistol Pete".
BMX racing career milestones
----| Milestone | Event Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Started racing: | Early 1977 Age 11 at Elk's BMX Lodge in Santa Ana, California Santa Ana, California Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States.... . |
|
| 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). |
|
| Home sanctioning body district(s): | 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) California 3 (CA-3) (1980); (CA-14) (1982) |
|
| First race bike: | Schwinn Stingray | |
| First race result: | Second in 11 Novice. | |
| First win (local): | Probably in 11 Novice on April 17, 1977 at the Santa Ana Elks in Santa Ana, California. Records are spotty. | |
| First sponsor: | Cook Brothers 1977 | |
| First national win: | 1978 NBA Corona National 12 Expert. | |
| Turned Professional: | December 1982 at age 17. | |
| First Professional race result: | He raced in two local races without winning the mains. In his first pro race on the national level he got a second place in "A" pro on December 29 at the 1982 Jag World Championship (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) sanctioned). He won USD$500, the equivalent to USD$1,074.09 in 2007 dollars. (Cost of Living Calculator) Immediately after the pro main a representative from Diamondback told Loncarevich that his contract with Diamondback was terminated for him turning pro. |
|
| First Professional win: | In "B" Pro at the 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) War of the Stars (WOS) National in Northridge, California on May 14, 1983. He won USD$300, the equivalent to USD$624.40 in 2007 |
|
| 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: | Third place in "AA" pro at the ABA Spring Nationals in Fremont, California Fremont, California Fremont is a city in Alameda County, California. It was incorporated on January 23, 1956, from the merger of five smaller communities: Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs... on May 30, 1983. He won USD$300 or USD$624.40 in 2007 dollars. |
|
| First Senior Pro win: | In "AA" Pro at the 1983 ABA Wheaties Gold Cup 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... on October 9, 1983. He won USD$280, the equivalent of USD$582.77 in 2007 |
|
| Height and weight at height of his career: | Ht:6'1" Wt:~180-195 lbs. He underwent a substantial weight gain when he put on muscle during the 1985 and 1986 seasons | |
| Retired from Senior pro (A/AA)* circuit: | Unofficially in 1994, but like a lot of pros, they really retired only from the front line AA/A pro points chase circuit for the National no. 1 title. Racing never left his system. He came back to BMX by winning the ABA Masters class, the precursor to the Veteran Pro class, at the 1995 ABA Grand Nationals. He resumed 20" BMX racing on a competitive level in 2000 competing in the ABA's Masters/Veteran Pro class and in "A" pro. This was in addition to and simultaneous with his Mountain Bike (MTB) racing career where he won a Masters World Championship as well as multiple World Cup events. After another hiatus from racing, he competed in the 41-Over Expert class on March 26, 2010. | |
Amateur
- Cook Bros.: 1977
- S&S (Street & Strip) Performance Products: 1978
- TW Racing: December 1979-September 1980. Allegedly Peter Loncarevich's father's business partners who ran TW stole and absconded with USD$5,000 from his father and he subsequently stopped racing for them after they couldn't be found.
- Diamond Back (Centurion): September 1980-December 1982. Loncarevich would turn pro while with this sponsor.
Professional
- Diamond Back: September 1980-December 1982. Briefly with DB as a pro, about three days. DB and Loncarevich did not see eye to eye about Loncarevich turning pro at the time. DB did not think he was ready and wanted Loncarevich to help them win Team Trophy, a prestigious accolade for the best factory team of the year awarded by a sanctioning body depending on how well a team does as a group in Nationals throughout the season. They wanted Eddy King (who joined DB at the same time Loncarevich did but was two years older) to turn pro before Loncarevich and for Loncarevich to wait a year. After his second place result in "A" pro in his pro debute at the ABA Jag World Championship in 1982, Diamondback terminated his contract. The two parties went their separate ways. The termination motivated him to prove to himself he was a top pro and beat Harry LearyHarry LearyHarry Clarence Leary Jr. was a "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer....
and Eddy KingEddy KingEdward King is an "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1985....
, Diamondback's marque pros. - SE Racing (formerly Scot Enterprises Racing Division, now called Sports Engineering, Inc.): January 1983-Mid February 1983. Allegedly Scot Breithaupt, the owner of SE Racing and a BMX pioneer, wanted Loncarevich to drop the family BMX business, Loncarevich Racing Products, and race solely for SE Racing.
- LRP (Loncarevich Racing Products): Mid February 1983-November 1983. LRP was a company he and his father started that sold BMX accessories like titanium seatpost and pedal cages and a small clothing line.
- Shadow Racing: November 1983-Mid December 1983. Shadow Racing was owned by the same person who owned CW, Roger Worsham. It made its own line of BMX bicycles and components. Loncarevich would later move over to CW.
- CW (Custom Works) Racing: Mid December 1983-April 1, 1986. Although Mr. Loncarevich had a contract to race for CW until April 1986, he showed up and raced in the November 1985 ABA Grand Nationals in a Haro uniform. He had previously signed contract with Haro to race for them after Haro offered more money and CW didn't match the offer. Roger Worsham threatened to sue Loncarevich for breach of contractBreach of contractBreach of contract is a legal cause of action in which a binding agreement or bargained-for exchange is not honored by one or more of the parties to the contract by non-performance or interference with the other party's performance....
. Worsham apparently went so far as to file a restraining order to prevent Loncarevich from moving to Haro prematurely. The court turned down the request. Roger Worsham appealed the decision but dropped the case after, according to Loncarevich, it was clear he wasn't going to become ABA No.1 pro for 1985. As it is with most disputes of this kind it was over salary. Loncarevich felt that he should have gotten a large monetary raise in lieu of winning the ABA number one pro for 1985. Haro Designs did offer a raise increase to his salary. As Peter said. "When you're an athlete, you have to get what you can while you can, because next year you might have a terrible season. So I went with Haro Designs." This is particularly true in the sport of BMX racing in which there isn't the infrastructure for a pension plan for retired Pros or a minimum salary requirement and no effective professional racer's union (although they have been efforts to organize such going back to 1976 in the National Bicycle AssociationNational Bicycle AssociationThe 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)). Things are very much like what professional baseball players faced 120 years ago, except there is no formal or informal collusion to prevent racers from going from one sponsor to another if he doesn't like the terms. One irony in Loncarevich signing with CW in the first place: Apparently CW made it a clause of sponsorship for the Loncarevich family to shut down their business, Loncarevich Racing Products. That was the very same condition that allegedly made Pete Loncarevich leave SE Racing.
Side Note: "CW" never stood for "Coast Wheels" as it is widely thought. Coast Wheels was a bike shop that Roger Worsham owned. Custom Works was a completely different and independent company. This is in contrast with JMC
JMC Bicycles
JMC, or Jim Melton Cyclery was a bicycle company in the 1970s and 1980s. It started as a bicycle shop in 1969. It began manufacturing bicycle components in 1974, mostly to make a bicycle look more like a motocross motorcycle, including fenders and false fuel tanks. In 1977 JMC began manufacturing...
(Jim Melton Cyclery) which did start out as a bicycle shop and then began manufacturing its own BMX components including entire bicycles.
- Haro Designs/Bicycles: April 1, 1986-May 1989. Apparently Haro Designs allegedly lured Mr. Loncarevich under the false pretense of a co-sponsorship offer when they fully intended to offer Peter a full factory contract. Left Haro after extended and fruitless contract negotiations.
- Vans (Van Doren Rubber Co.): May 1989-November 1989
- Vans/MCS (Moto Cross Specialties) Bicycle Specialties: November 1989-July 1990. Vans and MCS joined forces. MCS supplied the racing bicycles.
- Vans/Diamondback: July 1990-May 1992. MCS dropped Loncarevich and all other riders except Terry TenetteTerry TenetteTerry Tenette is a professional "Old/Mid School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1989 to 1998....
, but Vans kept him and he picked up Diamondback as a second primary sponsor. - Vans/Hawk Racing: May 1992-Mid November 1992. Peter was still sponsored by Vans and was still his main sponsor sending him around the racing circuit, but Hawk Racing supplied the bike. Vans was and is a tennis shoe and skateboard/BMX apparel maker.
- GHP (Greg Hill Products)/Pro Forx: Mid November 1992-May 1993. GHP would discontinue making frame and fork sets in mid 1993 causing GHP sponsored racers to find other sponsors.
- ParkPre Bicycles (Integra Precision Corporation): 1993-1995
- Retired from competition 1996 through 1999.
- Vans: January 2000-2001. Loncarevich raced in the Veteran Pro class for approximately a year before retiring from Professional BMX racing permanently.
- Retired from competition 2001 through 2009
- Redman Rockstar: January 2010–Present. Loncarevich returned to BMX competition after an approximate eight year hiatus.
Amateur
National Bicycle Association (NBA)- 1979 Jag 13 Expert and 11-13 Trophy Dash World Champion (Doubled) (NBA/NBL sanctioned)
- 1981 15 Expert, 15 & Over Open and Trophy Dash (Triple) Grandnational Champion. This was the last NBA National event before merging with the NBL.
Bicycle Motocross League (BMXL)
- 1978 National No.1 Amateur
National Bicycle League (NBL)
- 1980 California State No.1
- 1980 Jag 14 Expert World Champion (NBL sanctioned)
- 1981 15 Expert National No. 1
United Bicycle Racers (UBR)
- 1981 15 Expert Grandnational Champion
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
- 1980 California District 3 (Cal-3) No.1† and State No.1
- 1980 14 Expert and 14 year Old Trophy Dash Grandnational Champion
- 1982 California District 14 (Cal-14) No.1
†Shared with 13 Expert Kelly McDougall
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
- 1981 15 Expert International Champion
United States Cycling Federation (USCF)*
- 1981 Jag 15 Expert World Champion
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
Bicycle Motocross League (BMXL)
- 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)
- 1985 "A" Pro Grandnational Champion
- 1986 "A" Pro and Pro Award Grandnational Champion
- 1986, 1987 National No. 1 Pro
United Bicycle Racers (UBR)
- None
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)
- 1982 "A" Pro 2nd Place Jag World Champion (ABA sanctioned)
- 1983 "AA" Pro U.S. Gold Cup Champion.
- 1984 "AA" Pro U.S. Gold Cup Champion.
- 1984 National No. 1 Pro.
- 1986 Honda Supercup Champion. Prize: Honda Reflex Motorcycle.
- 1986 "AA" Pro Grandnational Champion
- 1986 National No. 1 Pro. Prize: 1986 GMC Chevrolet S-15 4X4 truck.
- 1988 Pro U.S. Gold Cup East Champion.
- 1989 Pro Cruiser Grandnational Chimpion
- 1991 Pro U.S. Gold Cup West Champion.
- 1991 "AA" Pro Grandnational Champion
- 1991 National No. 1 Pro. Loncarevich won a 1991 IsuzuIsuzu, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures...
mini pick-up truck. - 1992 "King of Los Angeles"* (KOLA) series (ABA sanctioned).
- 1992 Pro Supercup Champion. He won a USD$5,000 trip for two to TahitiTahitiTahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
. - 1992 "AA" Pro Grandnational Champion
- 1992 National No. 1 Pro. He won a red 1992 Izusu pickup truck.
- 1995 Veteran Pro Grandnational Champion
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 National No. 1 Pro
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
- 1987 20" Pro Vision Street Wear World Cup* Champion
- 1990 Pro World Champion
Pro Series Championships and Invitationals
- Bicross de Paris 1986 Challenge Yop Champion (King of Bercy 3)
The 1986 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. As with the 1985 addition, which Tommy Brackens
Tommy Brackens
Tommy Lee Brackens is an American former professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross racer...
won, it was a hit in France with tickets sold out two months in advance.
BMX related product lines
- 1984: The CW Racing "Pistol Pete" Pro Frame.
- Product evaluation:
- BMX Action August 1984 Vol.9 No.8 pg.50
- 1992: Applied Tectonics Inc. (ATi) "The Pistol Grip" handlebar hand grips.
- Product evaluation:
Notable accolades
- 1986 BMX Plus! Racer of the Year Award winner with 35.07% of the total 2,997 votes cast. Prize won: A 1986 Suzuki Quad sport four wheel drive All Terrain VehicleAll-terrain vehicleAn all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
(ATV), also known as a Quad Bike or Quad Cycle, essentially a motocross motorcycle with four wheels instead of just two. - 1987 BMX Plus! Racer of the Year Award winner with 36.92% of the total 2,925 votes cast. Prize won: A Suzuki RM125 motocross motorcycle.
- 1988 BMX Action Number One Racer Award (NORA) winner. No vote totals or breakdown given.
- 1992 BMX Plus! Racer of the Year Award winner. No percentage or total vote given. Prize won: An Ovation Celebrity Deluxe Guitar. Very appropriate given his RockabillyRockabillyRockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
hobby.
- In 1992 American BMXer, the ABA's in-house tabloid newspaper formerly called ABA Action and now known as BMXer named Loncarevich the greatest Racer of all time. He was also named Golden Crank "Pro of the Year" in the First Annual Reader's Choice Award for 1992 with 23% of the vote.
- Named the 1993 ABA BMXer Golden Crank "Racer of the Year"
- 1993 BMX Plus! Racer of the Year Award winner. No percentage or total vote given. Apparently no prize was given.
- Pete Loncarevich is a 1997 ABA BMX Hall of Fame Inductee.
- His four ABA "No. 1 pro" titles are only matched by 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"...
.
Significant BMX related injuries
- Broken arm at a race in New Jersey in 1980.
- Injured knee at 1981 Jag World Championships in a collision with teammate Eddy King in Trophy Dash. Required surgery and was laid up for six months.
- Broke collar bone on October 25, 1987 at the ABA Western Regional Gold Cup in Reno, NevadaReno, NevadaReno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, five weeks before 1987 ABA Grand national. Was told he would be out three months by doctors, but Peter did not want to miss the Grands. He contacted a renowned sports medicine doctor that involved a 12 hour a day at a cost of $1000 per diem in an effort to retain. He attempted to race and made it as far as the semi finals, but did not transfer to the main. - Broke two ribs while training on his bike on July 4, 1988 while visiting his cousin in Ohio. Laid up approximately a month. His first race back was the 1988 US Gold Cup Championships East event held in MississippiMississippiMississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. - Sprained ankle playing basketball between the two weeks of January 24 and January 27, 1990 missing the ABA Lonestar Nationals held on the weekend of January 27.
Racing habits and traits
- He had a reputation as being a cocky and braggadocios amateur having a bad attitude. He supposed to have mellowed after he became a pro because he was consciously representing the company's products that were sponsoring him, also he was simply a bit more mature.
Music
During his amateur BMX career he was a member of a RockabillyRockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
band singing and playing guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. Due to racing commitments he had to leave it but he still played during his leisure time. By most accounts he was very good.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
In his early twenties he began studying Brazilian Jiu-JitsuBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
(BJJ) and other martial arts. He is now a 2nd degree black belt in BJJ under Joe Moreira
Joe Moreira
Jose Carlos Moreira is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and a former mixed martial artist.-Early life and career:Joe was born inside a taxicab in front of a Rio de Janeiro hospital...
. He has won a couple of titles including coming in first in the Black Belt Senior 1 Male Lightweight class at the 2006 Pan American Championship held by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation under the Brazilian Condeferation (CBJJ). Pete Loncarevich now teaches BJJ out of Central Point, Oregon
Central Point, Oregon
Central Point is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. The population was 17,165 as of July 1, 2009 The city shares its southern border with Medford and is a part of the Medford metropolitan area...
.
BMX magazine covers
Bicycle Motocross News:- None
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
- May 1984 Vol.11 No.5. (SBMX)
- February 1985 Vol.12 No.2. Also posing in centerfold with actress Debbie Sue Voorhees. (SBMX&F)
- September 1985 Vol.10 No.9 with Greg HillGreg A. HillGregory Alan Hill is a former "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1989...
and Harry LearyHarry LearyHarry Clarence Leary Jr. was a "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer....
. (BMXA) - December 1985 Vol.12 No.12 in insert with unidentified racer. Main image Ron Wilkerson. (SBMX&F)
- March 1986 Vol.13 No.3 (SBMX&F)
- November 1988 Vol.15 No.11 with teammate 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...
in insert. In separate inserts 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...
; Jeff Donnell & Charlie Davidson; freestyler Eddie FiolaEddie FiolaEdward Lynn Fiola in Bellflower, California, USA was a professional freestyle BMX rider in the 1980s and a film stuntman....
. (SBMXF)
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
- July 1988 Vol.13 No.7 (BMXA)
- December 1991 Vol.3 Iss.2 In inset Keith Treanor. (Go)
BMX Plus!:
- April 1984 Vol.7 No.4 in inset. In separate insets D.D. Leone, freestyler Mike Dominguez; 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....
. - July 1984 Vol.7 No.7 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...
with 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...
in third. In insets Mercury Morgan (top "rip"), freestyler Mike Dominguez (circle). - December 1984 Vol.7 No.12 (73) in insert ahead of 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...
(13) (bottom center) In other inserts Eric RupeEric RupeEric Fitzgerald Rupe is an "Old School" American professional bicycle motocross racer. His prime competitive years were from 1978 to 1990....
(22) & Clearance Perry (20) (top center); freestylers Mike Dominguez (top left); Woody Itson (top right); Rick Avella (bottom left); Ron Wilkerson with Shawn Buckley clowning around. - May 1985 Vol.8 No.5 in insert with 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"...
, Tommy BrackensTommy BrackensTommy Lee Brackens is an American former professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross racer...
, Ronnie Anderson & Eddy KingEddy KingEdward King is an "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1985....
; 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; Martin Aparijo insert; and Chris Meier as main image. - August 1985 Vol.8 No.8 with Mike Miranda, 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....
, Harry LearyHarry LearyHarry Clarence Leary Jr. was a "Old School" professional bicycle motocross racer....
, Robert Fehd & Billy GriggsBilly GriggsWilliam Luther Griggs is an American "Old School/Mid School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1985 to 1996....
in separate inserts and together on a starting line in the top insert. - December 1985 Vol.8 No.12 with 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) and Tommy BrackensTommy BrackensTommy Lee Brackens is an American former professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross racer...
(3). Also Dizz Hicks and Brian Scura (building quarter pipe) in separate inserts. - February 1986 Vol.9 No.2 behind of Mike Miranda. Inset Sidehackers Perez & Garrido.
- March 1986 Vol.9 No.3 in top insert (1) ahead of Frank PostFrank PostFranklin Post was an American professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1978-1981. Early in his career his nickname was "CW Post", a play on his surname of Post which happened to be the same as a famous breakfast cereal manufacturer, C. W. Post...
(18) Ronnie Anderson (3) Eddy KingEddy KingEdward King is an "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1985....
(7) Don Johle (10) and Brian Patterson (6) in bottom right insert skateboarder Lester Kasai and in bottom left insert freestyler Mike Dominguez. In main image both Dominguez and Kasai. - October 1986 Vol.9 No.10 in bottom insert (3) ahead of Eric RupeEric RupeEric Fitzgerald Rupe is an "Old School" American professional bicycle motocross racer. His prime competitive years were from 1978 to 1990....
(2), Eddy King (6); in upper insert left to right is Robby Rupe, Scott Towne, Billy GriggsBilly GriggsWilliam Luther Griggs is an American "Old School/Mid School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1985 to 1996....
, Dave Cullinan & Tim Ebbett. Main image Todd Anderson. - February 1987 Vol.10 No.2. (2) in insert behind Mike Miranda (5) and beside Eddy King (6). In separate insert top freestyler Martin Aparijo frame standing on MX motorcycle. Main Image: Freestyler Rich Sigur
- April 1987 Vol.10 No.4 In bottom insert (2) with Rick Palmer (13 in green) & Ken Aman (13 in blue) in top insert freestyler Tod Anderson. Main image freestyler Tim Rogers.
- June 1987 Vol.10 No.6 ahead of 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 insert. In cartoon caricature at bottom Ron Anderson. Main image: freestyler Tim Rodgers. - October 1991 Vol.14 No.10 with 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"...
, Todd Corbitt & 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...
. - July 1992 Vol.15 No.7 (1) in left center insert ahead of 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)and two unidentifies (4) & (13). In right center insert unidentifieds; in bottom insert unidentifieds; in top insert 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:... - December 1992 Vol.15 No.12 in top insert in a dead tie with 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) in center and Charles Townsend (3) in background. In right center 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"...
circa 1984; in bottom left insert unidentified BMXer and MXer. Main image freestylers Brian Blyther & Ron Wilkerson in 1986. - March 1994 Vol.17 No.3 Fifth from right (head obscured) on the starting gate with fellow pros on his left side Brian Lopes (5), Mike King, 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...
(25), 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 to Loncarevich's right an unidentified racer. In top insert Haro Monocoque BMX racing bicycle.
Total BMX:
Bicycles and Dirt:
- January 1984 Vol.2 No.4 (A) with Clint MillerClint MillerClint Miller 1 is a former American "Old School" professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1976-1984....
just inside of the frame to the left.
Snap BMX Magazine & Transworld BMX:
NBA World & NBmxA World (The official NBA/NBmxA membership publication):
Bicycles Today & BMX Today (The official NBL membership publication with one name change):
ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer (The official ABA membership publication with two name changes):
USBA Racer (The official USBA membership publication):
- October 1986 (16) with two unidentified racers. This cover was page 55 within the October 1986 Vol.8 No.9 issue of the ABA's American BMXer. The USBA paper was incorporated into American BMXer after the ABA acquired* the USBA, so technically it is not a cover but probably would had been if the USBA was still an independent sanctioning body.
*After the ABA acquired the USBA the ABA printed USBA Racer within American BMXer beginning with the May 1986 issue.
USBA Racer (as an independent publication):
Post BMX Career
After BMX, Pete went on to have a major career in mountain biking, and after that, he, for a short time, was the team manager for the west coast Razor Scooter pro team, touring the world for such events as the Panasonic Core Tour, and various promotional demos.Mountain Bike (MTB) career
Like many of his fellow BMX top amateurs and pros, Pete Loncarevich tried his hand at mountain bike racingMountain bike racing
The Union Cycliste Internationale recognised the sport of mountain bike racing relatively late in 1990, when it sanctioned the world championships in Purgatory, Colorado. The first mountain biking world cup series took place in 1991. Its nine-race circuit covered two continents—Europe and North...
(MTB) late in his BMX career. In 1994 Loncarevich moved on in such a manner to MTB after essentially winning everything there was to win in BMX and getting bored as this 1998 Dirtrag.com interview excerpt illustrates:
Fraser: So how come you decided to switch to downhill mountain biking from BMX?
Pete: Ah, because I'd accomplished all the goals that I'd accomplished more than three times. So I was, like, you know, wasn't really accomplishing anything that I hadn't already accomplished so I wanted to move, you know? I didn't want to be just a BMX racer my whole life. So that's where I switched to downhill Mountain biking. It was new to me; it was like BMX when I first started.
Fraser: So you were basically bored riding BMX?
Pete: Exactly! ----dirtrag.com 1998
He went on to have a career almost as successful racing mountain bikes as he did racing BMX, earning several titles starting in 1992. His main MTB discipline is in the Downhill category.
----
Started Racing: 1994
Sub Discipline: Downhill
First race result:
Sanctioning Body:
Retired:
Professional
- Vans/Pro Forx: 1993-
- ParkPre Bicycles (Integra Precision Corporation): 1993-
- Vans (Van Doren Rubber Co.)/Iron Horse BicycleIron Horse BicyclesIron Horse Bicycles was a manufacturer of bicycles, in Islandia, New York, United States from 1987 to 2009. Its logo was a prancing horse on a mustard-color crest similar to the Ferrari logo...
Company: 1999- - ParkPre Bicycles: 2000-
Amateur
- No amateur status. Because of his previous status of being a professional in BMX racing, he was placed into the professional class of MTB immediately.
Professional
Union Cycliste InternationaleUnion Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
(UCI)
- 1996 Mountain Bike World Cup
- 1998 Masters World Downhill Championships Men's 30-39 Mont-Sainte-Anne, CAN 3rd. Men's Master US National Team included: Lou DeAngelis, Tommy Rogers, Mike Giem, Pete Loncarevich, Jimmy Deaton, Stephen Sturges, and Greg Herbold.
- 1999 Masters World Downhill Champion (4' 41.88" beating Pete Zablotny by over 10 seconds)