My bmx story
The 4 Life Story
The 4 life thing/brand started as a BMX Team name that my boys helped come up with. Since before the boys could talk and since toddlers every night at I bedtime I would tell them I love them and we would do 4 fingers and and L! IE;love you, 4 life!
We do same thing at a drop off to school or when one of us leaves. Til this day it’s a must for both of them and they remind me if I forget!!
The 1990's
I am a 90s BMXer. I started riding and building trails in the early 90s in the South suburbs of Chicago. I started racing in 1992 at the age of 12. I started in NBL and nationally but also tons of ABA locally and Grands in the year after. I had some success and moved to expert before I turned 14 but a couple broken collarbone injuries in the middle of racing seasons and at NBL grands practice halted my career or advancement as well as affordability. But I still had tons of fun, rode with tons of childhood friends and made a lot of lifetime friendships from BMX. Some of these friends were involved with BMX for decades after I slowed down at 16-17, including some pro’s at some point and some still involved in BMX today. Someone could have bought me some racing pants, lol.
2000's to Current
After BMX I got heavy into fitness and weight training as well as cars and Harley’s/motorcycles. But I recently got my two boys involved in the sport, starting with beginner leagues(thanks to Mike Carruth and all you do). The boys are now 5 and 7 with the just turned 5 year old raced his first USA BMX race in January of 2023. I got the itch and bought or built a couple bikes for them and myself over the past couple years and signed myself back up to race which has gotten a little serious in the past 6 months or so. My 7 year old is 4-5 wins from Intermediate and I am not far win wise from being back in the Expert class(41-45) as well as cruiser minus another collar bone injury.
What BMX Brings
Staying in shape has definitely helped me feel good on the track but the opportunity to do the sport with my kids and still be able to compete at my age in my 40s is an amazing thing/feeling! We are creating great memories! The boys completely love it and my wife even very much enjoys the sport and being at the track. We are meeting new friends and connecting with old ones. Overall BMX is bringing so much joy to our lives and hopefully providing longevity to my own. This is a sport I would recommend to almost anyone! -4LifeBMX
BMX Friendships
Life Long Friendships
There are random and groups of people that I rode or raced with whether in the area still or moved to various areas of the country that I always stay in contact with. Some we message each other weekly or daily and some it's Facebook. But one of the coolest things was a Cruise that Mighty Moses Tillmon(former pro and first to triple at Grands) set up in 2019 which was a reunion of friends mostly from our Chicago area BMXers to celebrate a friend with a health condition, that got us into the sport or helped almost every one of us along the way. Many who attended or couldn't attend I still kept in contact with and others, we now talk more often. One of my closest ones since he was 8 years old Thomas "Pee Wee" Kamberos, have been friends for 30 years has since passed away. I am very happy I played a large part in him coming on the cruise and thankful that he did.
BMX Family
Mighty Moe's Cruise was such an awesome event to attend and be a part of. Check it out in any of the future years to come as he has opened it to the entire BMX Communities with great guests and speakers. Group Shot on the Hellipad of a Royal Carribean Ship, Mighty Moe's Cruise 2019. A group of mostly Midwest riders from the 1980's to some currently.
Southside BMXers
These guys I have known since I was 12, 13 or younger and spent 1000's of hours with traveling or riding with many of them from trails to tracks It is cool to still talk these guys often. I wish I could share some of my current BMX experiences with my guy Tommy Kamberos, RIP my brother.
New/Old Friendships
This is a friend Jared of mine that I went to high school with(very far from Rockford BMX). We were never close but knew each other to now run into and race each other in an unexpecting place over 20 years later is great. We talk all the time. Shake and bake!!!! lol
New/Old Friendships
Tommy M and I have been friends since kids, grew up in the same neighborhood. We have been super close for probably 25 years. He moved to Naples, FL over 15 years ago and we visit yearly and talk almost daily. We were visiting in 2016-2017 and seen the Naples BMX track. I insisted he check it out with his young boy and shared with him my experience of the sport that I was super involved in just prior to him and I being close. He ended up getting very into the BMX scene with his son and Kevin is now 12 Expert and a much different young man than he would be without BMX. A couple years ago I got to ride the Naples track with them in 98 degree heat!!!
New BMX Spawn
Tommy's son Kevin, now 14 Expert. Hopefully his BMX career, focus and friendships continue. Hopefully the boys and I can spend some time with him racing soon..
Sportsmanship
My Dominic at 4 years old after graduating his beginner league! No training wheels for this dude!!!
Sportsmanship/New Friends
The 2 boys learning how to congratulate each other after winning and losing against each other in a bunch of races.