SOMETHING DIFFERENT... A BMX VERT DISPLAY AT A MOTOR SHOW MAKES US HAPPY!
BMX originated in the late 1960s in Southern California, it began as kids started emulating motocross riders by racing their modified Schwinn Sting-Rays with knobby tyres and reinforced frames. By the early 1970s, BMX racing started to gain popularity and spread to Europe in the mid-1970s, particularly in the Netherlands and the UK, where it quickly gained traction. The 1980s saw BMX explode in popularity. Bikes became more specialized with better materials, designs, and components. BMX racing was featured in movies and on TV, bringing it into mainstream culture. With more and more riding, BMX Freestyle began to develop as riders started performing tricks and stunts in skateparks and on flat ground which gave birth to different styles like Flatland and Vert riding. The 1990s saw the rise of street and park riding, with riders using urban environments and skateparks to perform tricks and then in 1995 the X-Games included BMX, further cementing its place in extreme sports. These events showcased BMX to a wider audience and pushed the progression of the sport. BMX then kicked up a gear and debuted in the Olympics, in 1993 the International Olympic Committee recognized BMX racing as a sport and then fifteen years later, the exciting stuff was added in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. That brings us to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris where South African BMX pro Vincent Leygonie recently represented SA. The Krugersdorp athlete specialises in BMX Freestyle and is currently part of the Dragon Energy team. Leygonie is SA's first-ever BMX freestyle champion, and he placed 12th in the Olympic competition and racked up a personal best score. Amazing result for a first-time Olympic competitor! You can catch Vinny and the team in action at the annual ParkLines BMX Tournament, which is what you’ll see in the attached vid.
So why are we telling you about BMX on a car page? Well all the BMX riders we know are also into cars, but the main reason is that Vincent (instagram.com/vinl55) and fellow Dragon Energy teammates Matty G Duffy (instagram.com/mattygduffy) and Doran Mathewson (instagram.com/doris.bmx) put on an absolutely epic display BMX vert display at the recent Idle Auto Fest held at Monte Casino. While cars are what has always driven my passion, BMX is something I just love. I follow loads of local and international riders and my YouTube subscription includes loads of athletes and events too. Ryan Van Der Spuy from Locally Whipped was responsible for assembling the team and putting up the show ramps, and I’m so glad he did. The BMX shows were just mental, and you could immediately see the people in the crowds that haven’t seen this sport up close - jaws were dropping all around. If you want an awesome attraction at an event and you have the space, I highly recommend inviting the Dragon Energy crew along. Check out the pic gallery for all the awesome action at Idle Auto Fest - these guys entertained like no other and made this here photographer very happy. Catch a full album of pics over on the SXdrv Facebook page
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows off what these guys are cable of doing with a small BMX as their weapon of choice - what you see here is a lot of what you can see when the Dragon Energy team set up shop at events: 2024 Park Lines BMX Tournament Official Highlights - SA Champs | LWMAG
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Idle Auto Fest BMX Vert Dragon Energy Vincent Leygonie Matty G Duffy Doran Mathewson Ryan Van Der Spuy Locally Whipped Parklines Monte Casino JHB News