Interview: Scot Breithaupt "The OM of BMX"

Scot BreithauptScot Breithaupt is the undisputed founding father of BMX. He was responsible for running the first 'Official' BMX race in California way back in 1970. He's also the founder of the legendary, long time BMX manufacturer, SE Racing. Dubbed "The OM of BMX" in his racing days...even in the late 90's SE still had a cruiser named after him, the "OM Flyer". He is an ABA Hall of Famer, a living legend.

Below are captions and photos supplied by Scot Breithaupt (Posted: 11 August 2003). Click the "thumbs" to see larger images.

Part 4: Old-school BMX Photo Gallery

Official BUMS membership card for Saddleback BMX.. a track I built within the World Famous Saddleback Motorcycle Park 1974
1973... BUMS State Championships, Bob Hurricane Hannah and I battling it out.. I was lucky enough to pass Bob and win. He was a fierce competitor!
Murray/Matthews bike at BUMSII in Long Beach
My snack and sign-up shack at BUMSII, 1973...grasroots BMX at it's finest! Homebuilt fort when races were not going on!
This is the first of the Yamaha Gold Cup series in 1974. Held at Birmingham High School on the track field. The course was approx. 500 YARDS long (Gruling) !! I stuffed Kevin MacNeal in the 2nd turn and won going away. Fun until Mike Devitt protested and got me disqualified from my own event (I designed the portable course, promoted the event and rode a Yamaha Motobike to victory!) Someone in the advertising department had put "For ages 6-16" on the posters and there were 7 or 8 of us over 16 in the event.. but I won and Mikes rider got 2nd, so he got me tossed ! We became partners in other companies many years later and are to this day, best friends.
Motobike brochure with Toby Henderson in the lead, 1974.
Westminster Cal. track, 1975... winning the 16 over expert class on my trusty Murray with Matthews components.
Program cover for the 2nd Annual Yamaha Bicycle Gold Cup, 1975. It was a unique event, combining BMX races, hillclimb, downhill, drag race, and trails events. Like an ISDT motorcycle competition. Archie Watson won the overall. Amazing to watch guys going 55 to 60 MPH on the fireroad downhill. Held at Soledad Sands, a popular BMX venue.
Yamaha Motobike Mike
This was 1975 at an NBA National, I rode for Dan Gurney Bicycles and Bell helmets...
This is Bob Devitt (Mike's son) & I in an ad for Gurney, 1975
1975, Yamaha Gold Cup II, at the riders meeting, describing the various events
For event at the Fountian Valley Boy's Club, 1975, 100% trophies, everyone in the main event got a trophy! It was promoted by my company ; Scot Enterprises, which later created the racing division; S.E. Racing
The 1976 tour, in Minerva Ohio, at the Dusty Trails Motorcycle track. Bob Hadley (Who took this pic) and I designed a 1 mile long downhill course... scared the pants off many of the riders...pictured are: Mark Pippin, later a VP at Schwinn and now at Sram, then myself, the promoter Al and his wife, Byron Friday, PK, Perry Kramer, below to the right is Cash Matthews, Jeff Utterback, Randy Olsen (Panda), Flying Pat Ryan and Dan Loftus.. the little guys are the owners kids..
The display we built to promote the FMF line on tour in 1976.. People were blown away by the lightweight feature of the frame (3.5 pounds!)..We had a whole line of apparel too.
Stompin Stu, 1976 at Wienert Mountain NBA Nationals. He won the 16 over expert class, but Greg Hill at only 14 years old , won the trophy dash
This was another NBA National in Bakersfield, CAl, 1976. I won the 16 Over Class, beating Stu, Brent Patterson, Billy MacIntyre and others... a tough event!
Jeff Utterback on the cover of the 1976 FMF catalog !
Page 2 of the catalog...with BIO on company and myself
Our frames...
An original Bob Haro cartoon of me in action as 1976 National #1 !.. Bob was (is) an incredible artist
Me being goofy on the 1976 FMF Tour.... Notice long 70's hair
One of my original SE logo ideas...Close to final design..
Even closer design... I made about 35 to 40 logos before deciding on the infamous "Bubble Logo"...
SE Racing The "Bubble Logo" that became our headbadge and clothing logo..
This was the cover of our 1977 Tour Program. The picture was taken at Yarnell Downhill track. Bob Hadley, Byron Friday & Bryan Curnell were hot on my tail.
This is the inside cartoon, a Bob Haro original of my team, Stu, Greg, Jeff, Shaun, and myself. I love this shot….
The schedule of our 1977 US Tour
Stompin Stu on his way to another victory for SE on a PK Ripper... We won the first 3 NBA Nationals Trophy Dashes that year..1978.. Stu, PK and Rod Beckering at only 14 !!
Derek Brown - SE team rider Derek Brown, the rider I named the DB-IV after... he was National #4 that year.. 1978. He rode for us out of a shop called Colorado Competitors, in Englewood Colo., then became full factory.He was fearless and strong as an ox! His parents, Doug and Gwen Brown became good friends. Went on to be a top Motocross star!
The OM Flyer with a 35 MM film camera duct taped to it for the opening jump sequence of the movie "On Any Sunday II"
1979, 2nd or 3rd annual ABA -SE Racing Narler Nationals flyer to promote event..It was the first ever televised BMX race.. held in the Anahiem Convention Center, next to Disneyand!
Scot and crew on an Australian TV showKids TV show in Aussie. Denny Davidow, the host, OM Scot, and Bobby Encinas
Quad with ribbons and trophy: This was a publicity shot of my Quadangle that I won the Austrailian Gran Prix Trophy Dash with in 1980. The silver cup was for the American team victory, clinched by my win. I still have the ribbons in a framed display at home. It was a special moment for me to come out of retirement and smoke the top Pros in the World.
The OM and Harry LearyHarry Leary & I at Kings BMX in Modesto , Cal.
The Bearded OM in 1980…
First turn at a Belgium track, I competed against the 20" bikes on my OM Flyer in the "Open Class"… I was lucky enough to win …RL Osborn, Mike Buff and I were on tour teaching BMX Racing clinics and doing Freestyle shows. It was great fun, and events were excellent. My friend, Gerritt Does put the whole deal together. He is the OM of European BMX… Their "Founding Father"
This is the cover of the first catalog for SE that also was a newspaper. It started out as "BMX Innovations" and later became the "BMX Bugle". It was a great sales tool.
Inside articles and product releases.
More BMX Innovations News
My Johar poster, shot at the ABA SE Narler Nationals, in the Anahiem Convention Center, 1980.
This was my office at SE in 1980-81.. Messy, busy and lots of fun!
The Bell Helmet brochure from 1981.. I was their spokesman…
These were ads for one of my sponsors, Johar. They made pads, grips and even posters… They had a series that included Bob Haro, Mike Buff, Eric Kocen, and myself…1981-82
This was a jump in the second turn at Kings BMX in Modesto.. The head in the bottom of the shot is Sandy Finkleman, Owner of Wheels and Things , and Team Manager of Diamond Back at the time; 1982
Just me being goofy for an ad shoot with Johar/Rad Pads…
A Free Pass that was distributed in bikes shops and 7-11's to promote the Palm Springs GPV and Freestyle Finals I produced in 1987. It was an awesome event… 85+ MPH on bmx bikes down the side of the mountain. We also had a great freestyle event with Josh White winning the pro class, and Matt Hoffman won the Am class. I also televised it for ESPN and Nickelodeon… Vision Streetwear sponsored the event with my company (SE)
A canid shot from 1998 at Rancho BMX, my local track.

Part 1: How did BMX begin
Part 2: The History of SE Racing
Part 3: About the OM
Part 4: The old-school photo gallery

 

Last updated: Thursday, 2 April, 2009 7:33 AM