bmxultra.com:
How did you first get started racing BMX?
Deanna: After hanging out watching the boys at the local
trails I convinced my mom and dad to get me a BMX Bike for my
birthday. When I headed out to the trails the boys weren’t
going to let me ride until I hit this small pit jump that looked
huge at the time. They wanted me to fail and I just went for it.
One of the fathers that helped out building the trails saw a potential
and the family started taking me to the races with them. I was
hooked immediately.
bmxultra.com: When and where was it?
Deanna: Bogie Downs was the name of the facility. It
was a Polo Barn that was converted to a BMX Track. I started racing
on February 15th 1980. I took a 2nd place to national ranked girl
from Michigan. She was fast and it was my goal to beat her someday.
bmxultra.com: Did you ever get the opportunity to beat
her?
Deanna: Yes I did, many times over. The rematch that
comes to mind was the following summer. I finally had a good bike,
which was a GT. I don’t believe she ever beat me again.
bmxultra.com: How long did it take for you to start
racing at national events?
Deanna: I was racing at national events within 6 months.
bmxultra.com: Was it a difficult transition going from
racing local events to racing nationals back in the 80's?
Deanna: Not at all, I was fortunate to have some fast
nationally ranked local riders so I had good practice mixing it
up with them on the local level prior to hitting a national 6
months later.
bmxultra.com: How many girls would have been in your
class at Nationals back then?
Deanna: We always had semis. Many times we had quarters.
Almost all west coast nationals drew big rider counts even in
the girl’s classes.
bmxultra.com: How long did it take for you to start making
the podium at Nationals?
Deanna: I really hate to admit that my first national
I took first. 3 months into racing I won the Silverdome IBMXF
International race. This was the race leading up to the IBMXF
Worlds in Indy. I really don’t know how I did it. I really
don’t like to think that I have natural ability. I think
more than anything those days of proving the boys wrong at the
local jumping spot molded who I became in the sport.
bmxultra.com: What are the biggest differences between racing
then and now?
Deanna: The jumps, the little amount of peddling we do
on today’s tracks always surprises me. Places like Desoto,
Texas when Lee Lewis lost his chain in his semi, pumped the whole
track and still came in first without ever taking a pedal the
whole track! I also notice there is much more follow the leader
in turns. I love to go inside on someone and run him or her up
the turn. Old School Roots for sure.
bmxultra.com:
You had some big named sponsors back in those days…what
kind of deals were thrown around then and how do they compare
with now?
Deanna: It was truly a dream come true
when Gary Scofield the team manager at the time for GT called
my dad. There was an endless supply of money back then. With being
awarded the number one team in the ABA, GT was given 5 airline
tickets per national to fly some of the riders to. GT always picked
up the rest of the airline tickets for the remaining riders on
the team. We were given an allowance for food; I believe it was
$75.00 per day. The funny thing is we never bought our own food
so us kids had a ton of fun playing video games on the company.
Food was purchased with the Team Managers Company American Express
Card or some of the older riders on the team would hook up with
some local hottie that would bring us a cooler of food and drinks.
Product, Entry Fee’s, Hotel and Rental Cars were also part
of the deal.
As far as the deals thrown around now I don’t think they
compare. I hear from many people that they are barely scraping
by. I think more than anything the difference is back in the 80’s
you would have 10 or more riders in the pro ranks getting everything
paid for now you only see a few that are making a living at this
sport. It’s a shame there is not as much money in the sport
now.
bmxultra.com: Do you think there was something that BMX
was doing right to attract sponsors and money back then that we
aren't doing now?
Deanna: This was the time before the influence of cable
and video games. I honestly believe that Bob Osborn the editor
of BMX Action hit the nail on the head when he said that video
games killed off BMX in the 80’s. Today there are so many
choices for a kid. We really have to preach BMX Racing to the
masses. Hopefully the Olympics will differentiate BMX from Freestyle
or Dirt Jumping. I still can’t believe that kids of today
believe BMX is Freestyle or Dirt Jumping. That would have never
happened in the 70’s or 80’s.
bmxultra.com: What were your highest national and international
rankings?
Deanna: NBL National Number One, World Champion and International
Champion. The most prestigious thing lately for me was being nominated
for the ABA Hall of Fame. Visit www.ababmx.com
and click on Hall of Fame. It’s amazing the history of the
riders that are already inducted. I hope to have enough votes
someday to make it in.
bmxultra.com: When you were out of the sport for so long
were you still keeping in touch with BMX friends and BMX in general?
Deanna: I kept in touch and still keep in touch with
many of my old teammates and friends. Geoff Scofield, Danny Nelson,
Charles Townsend and Gary Ellis to name a few. I would always
attend Waterford Oaks local national they have every year and
also when they hosted the UCI Worlds. It was always great to see
everyone and talk about the old times.
bmxultra.com: How are Danny, Charles and Geoff doing
these days?
Deanna: I really need to get in touch with Danny and
Charles. It's been around a year since I last talked to them.
Both were doing well at the time. Charles son was racing and I
should call him to see how he is doing. I have spoken with the
Scofields quite a bit over the past year. It's great to reconnect
with people that were so important to you during your childhood.
Some of my other teammates Rob Fehd, Dean LaBerge and Kevin Hull
are all doing great. I hope Kevin will make another comeback soon.
It seems he's really wanting to ride again.
bmxultra.com: Ok, so after an 18 year break, how did
you find yourself racing again?
Deanna: My son started a few years back. As you know
kids don’t listen to their parents when you try to help
them out on the track. He finally said “Mom why don’t
you get out there and show me.” So I called my old friend
Bill Ryan over at Supercross. Bill used to take care of me when
I was a kid riding for GT. He was our support person on the inside
at GT. Bill sent me out a bike right away and I’ve been
addicted to the sport since. Thanks Bill, your support to your
riders and the sport do not go unnoticed!
bmxultra.com: How much longer do you think you can race
BMX?
Deanna: I don’t really see myself quitting but
I do intend to cut back next year. BMX is great exercise and having
goals in the sport just drives you more. I have met many old friends
and so many new friends that it would be hard to quit again. I’ve
really missed the sport and am thankful to so many people that
helped me out with product and countless questions and support
when I got back into the sport 1-1/2 years ago. I would really
like to see the women’s cruiser classes get more competitive
like the men’s cruiser classes but I guess there is not
that many moms that want to get out there and ride.
bmxultra.com: Do you think that you might inspire some
of your former rivals to hop back on a cruiser, like maybe Cheri
Elliot?
Deanna: So much of my competition went on to successful
Mountain Bike careers. I chose the college path which is a choice
I don’t regret. I think the competition I raced against
really got their fill of racing on the Mountain Bike tour where
I really missed the sport during the college years and never got
my fill of competition. Cheri as I have heard had a career ending
injury racing Mountain Bikes. I don’t think you will see
the two of us racing again any time soon.
bmxultra.com: What are your current goals?
Deanna: NAG #1 ABA. It’s the only goal I have had
this year and I want the title that slipped away so many times
as a kid. I am determined NOT to be the bridesmaid again this
year. It kills me seeing all the pennants with the names of the
former number ones hanging up at the ABA Grand’s.
bmxultra.com: What do you do for training?
Deanna: I have to say I never trained as a kid but I
have really been hitting the training hard since the middle of
summer. Sprints 3 days per week, elliptical and weights 2-3 days
per week and plyometrics. I don’t really know what I’m
doing I’ve heard that I’m over training because I
don’t really take a day off. I’m staying with Kenth
Fallen our pro on Supercross and his fiancé Laura this
weekend for the ABA Fall Nationals and that is something that
Kenth is going to help me with so I can fine tune my game for
the ABA Grand’s in 4 weeks. I’m sure that Sammy Cools
our other pro will have something to say. I’m going to pick
her brain a bit and find out what her brother Ken has her doing.
We have great Pro’s on our team that are always an inspiration
and a big help to me as I really don’t know about training
for BMX. I know I’m doing the right things I’m just
not sure how many and how often.
bmxultra.com: What do you think the future will bring
for BMX?
Deanna: I hope with BMX now being an Olympic sport we
will see more new riders chasing the Olympic dream racing BMX.
It really all depends on how we market it and if we can get the
backing from the manufactures and outside sponsors. I know the
two marketing heads Shannon Gillette of the ABA and Kevin O’Brien
of the NBL are working hard to do just that. Let’s just
hope we can bring BMX back to where it was.
bmxultra.com:
Are there any female riders in the ABA hall of fame yet?
Deanna: Cheri Elliott is and as far as I’m concerned
there isn’t a female more deserving. She was beatable. I
beat her on many occasion as did Julee Lindsay and a few others
but she was the first to capture all the title and win on a consistant
basis. As much as I hate talking about my competition she was
the person that pushed the limits of females in BMX. She was the
first to beat the boys at a national. Today they have the girls
racing the mixed open, which isn’t against the experts.
I believe if the girls raced expert open it would really push
them. Now we have all the younger to middle age girls killing
the beginners/Novices, what does that prove? Cheri Elliott set
the bar for all females in racing. I believe we can all learn
by what she accomplished.
bmxultra.com: What would it mean to you to be one of
the first females in the hall of fame?
Deanna: The hardest thing for me to accept is that I
belonged on the nominee list. I couldn’t believe when Bill
Curtin and Shannon Gillette asked for my bio for the hall of fame.
I really hope someday to get in and people find my accomplishments
and the way I have conducted myself through the years to be Hall
of Fame worthy. It would truly be a dream come true. After winning
the ABA title in November I have won all that BMX has to offer.
I came back after an 18 year break and for the first time since
being asked for my bio, I feel I truly belong on this list. Whether
I get in is up to the people when they vote yearly, I have my
fingers crossed.
bmxultra.com: What lead to you finishing up with racing?
Deanna: I guess I just wanted to be a normal kid. Racing
every weekend in a different state or country took its toll on
me. Geoff Scofield the Team Managers son decided to quit the sport
also so we were left with a new Team Manager and he wanted to
take the team in a different direction. I also believe that the
ABA and NBL changed their rules on having to carry a female on
the team sheets. That pretty much ruined my chances of signing
with GT again.
bmxultra.com: What do you do now?
Deanna: I am currently employed as a Sales Engineer working
the automotive market in Detroit. I sell fluid control and fluid
power products that are used on everything from Welding Robots
to Automatic Car Wash Equipment.
bmxultra.com: What are your favorite BMX websites?
Deanna: www.supercrossbmx.com www.vintagebmx.com www.bmxultra.com
www.bmxmania.com along with the USA sanction websites www.ababmx.com
and www.nbl.org
bmxultra.com: We heard you are also a MySpace junkie...is
that true?
Deanna: Who told you that? That’s kind of funny.
I try not to be addicted but it’s a great outlet to keep
in touch with many friends within the sport. I really enjoy leaving
comments and messages for friends. Along with making new friends.
If you are not already on my friend’s list shoot me a request.
I always accept the BMXers!
bmxultra.com: What do you look for in a website?
Deanna: I really like message boards where you see comments
from everyone. I really like to read other people’s opinions
on a topic. You can always find me on the Vintage BMX message
board. Reading that board got me hooked back into racing. You
can never learn enough from the people that post. I really enjoy
the training topics the Greg Romero and Greg Hill give advice
on.
News and Interviews of top riders is something else I like. The more news the better as far as I’m concerned.
bmxultra.com: You are an active member of VintageBMX's
forums, what's the appeal there? Do you think good can come from
people discussing BMX on forums?
Deanna: Originally the appeal was to reconnect with old
friends. I still thought about BMX and it was good to chat with
people that had the same interest I did.
I truly believe that the sanctions are concerned with what people say on this message board. Some of it is funny to read but more often than not you get some good debate that leads to reaction from the US sanctions. If we force change or get sanctions thinking about what people want by our discussions than there is good things that happen on message boards.
bmxultra.com: What music do you listen to?
Deanna: Artic Monkeys, Robbie Williams and anything that
gets me going during a work out or a national main.
bmxultra.com: What do you think of Neil Young?
Deanna: This has to be a trick question to the Brits.
Seeing I’m married to one I asked about Neil Young and I
was told he was a wanker. So I guess I don’t like him. LOL!
bmxultra.com: What is you favorite thing about racing
BMX?
Deanna: If I tell you my favorite thing you also have
to hear me ramble about my least favorite thing. Favorite would
be just riding the track and hanging out with my friends. I love
to jump so the feeling of being airborne while launching a big
set of doubles.
Least favorite thing is being up for the title at the ABA Grand’s
and Clayton John the President of the ABA going over his score
card of who has to do what and who has to beat who while your
nervous as hell sitting in the gate. The ABA Grand’s are
a pressure cooker and I’m hoping to deal with the pressure
better than I did as a kid. The Worlds were always nerve wracking
too but something about the ABA Grand’s and Clayton’s
voice going over the point situation to this day makes me nervous.
The funny thing is while I was retired for 18 years from the sport
I was always on edge over Thanksgiving Holiday and I think it
was nightmares of failures from past ABA Grand’s.
bmxultra.com: What’s your favorite event?
Deanna: ABA and NBL Grand’s. I’m really looking
forward to competing in Victoria BC at the Worlds this year. My
class has finally been added as a Challenge Class. I would like
to win the World’s again as an adult.
bmxultra.com: What’s your favorite track?
Deanna: Back in the day it was Devonshire Downs, South
Park and the OrangeY Track in California. Today it would be the
NBL Grand’s Track in Kentucky and Evansville, Indiana. It’s
amazing the speed you carry in the downhill section of that track.
It’s like a toboggan run going warp speed around the turns.
bmxultra.com: Who are your favorite male and female riders?
Deanna: I truly have so many. If I had to narrow it down
it would be Sammy Cools and Arielle Martin for the Women Pro’s.
Aaron Johnson and Kenth Fallen for the AA Pro’s and Todd
Parry for Vet. I’m still the founding fan of the “Todd
Parry Fan Club” and he’s going to take the ABA Vet
title this year, I just know it! Gooooo TP!
My husband being British is a huge fan of Shanaze Reade and Dale
Holmes.
bmxultra.com: What was it like to be the first female
to compete in the chest thumping BS stops?
Deanna: It’s actually funny I was not going to
compete in this race. I was finally talked into it by my teammate
Ken Pliska. I haven’t been on a 20” in 19 years so
it was a little weird hopping on one for this race. I’m
glad I was forced over to registration to sign up as I’m
sure my name would have shown up on the moto sheets even if I
didn’t sign myself up! Last year Todd Parry opted out of
the race, he was the defending champ from the year before. I was
going to ride his bike but it was a bit long and having just gotten
back into the sport I wasn’t ready to gate up with the Boys.
bmxultra.com: Did they treat you with respect because
you are a female or as a threat because you were just another
rider?
Deanna: I think they treated me with respect. I know
none of them wanted to be beat by a women. Last year many of the
old timers lined up on vintage bikes so there was a lot of “moto
fill” This year was another story as 4 out of the 6 that
were in my moto made the “A” main. I didn’t
have a prayer of making it but I did beat Elvis! ?
bmxultra.com: Do you think there's room for an open wheel
BS stops for the ladies of the sport?
Deanna: We are actually getting our own race for the
Christmas Classic! It isn’t open wheels which I think would
help the numbers and I also see the NBL is charging a $20 dollar
fee for this race which I think is not good as the numbers would
be many more. We may be lucky to hit the number of riders required
which are 8. I hope people race it but I think the fee may be
too much on an already expensive week of racing. I will be racing
20” and cruiser for the 2007 season so I expect to be ready
for Rockford’s BS open and not be on a borrowed bike for
the race.
bmxultra.com: What do you do when you aren't racing?
Deanna: Spend time with the family, work and frequent
as many pubs as I can!
bmxultra.com: What does your husband think of BMX racing?
Deanna: He actually pushed me to get back into racing
a few years back. I always feel guilty leaving for nationals,
expecially on the ABA side because my son doesn't go with me.
Generally upon landing at the race I call the hubby and just hearing
his voice tells me that all is well and that I have a job to do
and to hurry and get back home. I truly have a great family support
system. Afterall, how many men would let their wife fly all over
the country chasing the dream of a ABA Number One title?
bmxultra.com: Does BMX interrupt with your work and family
life much?
Deanna: Too much for my liking. At the beginning of the
year I was just miserable. I don't like being away from home but
I've had this monkey on my back to win the title that got away
as a kid. I sometimes just want things to get back to normal.
I love racing but hate the travel.
bmxultra.com: Can you think of any way to get more mums,
or females in general, racing BMX?
Deanna: I think bottom line to get any rider out there
riding you have to have a fun atmosphere locally. If there are
to many rules and people yelling over microphones your going to
really turn people off to riding. My class is a mixed bag with
different skill levels. Just because I'm hitting up and jumping
a section doesn't mean that everyone does. Have fun with it. I
personally love the challenge of hitting up a tough section. It's
great to see some of the X-racers in the cruiser classes. I hope
with adding my class as a challenge class for the worlds in Victoria
next year will show some increase in numbers.
bmxultra.com: Ok how about some quick answers to these
questions
Preferences
Indoor or outdoor? Outdoor! Expecially the fast downhill
tracks.
NBL tracks or ABA tracks? Tough one. I truly enjoy the
majority of the NBL tracks. For a mom I do have jumping skills
and that is generally what helps me break away in a race. The
ABA tracks challenge my manual skills something that I desperately
need to learn! For the most part I am comfortable in the air so
I have to choose the NBL tracks but that’s mainly because
of my comfort level. How is that for a politically correct answer?
Very well done, how about Olympics or Xgames? Olympics.
Xgames are a hybrid of BMX not what I would consider true BMX.
Clips or Platform pedals? Clips…. You wouldn’t
catch me saying that a few months back. Sorry to the old school
crew out there but I truly love the power behind riding clips.
Bill Ryan no doubt remembers the tough decision I made in switching
to clips. It tore me up but I wouldn’t go back at this point
unless it was mandatory.
Old school or new school? New, I love the tracks of today
and can honestly say I’m having more fun racing today because
the pressures of racing as a kid are behind me.
World title or ABA title? This interview was conducted
before and after the ABA Grands. Seeing I am answering this question
after the ABA Grands my next goal is a UCI world title. The ABA
Title is something that escaped me for so many years, for me it
was the toughest to accomplish. For whatever reason I knocked
off the world number one early in my career. I still can’t
believe I came back into the sport, set a goal to win the ABA
Title and did it. I worked hard and am thankful for the help and
support of my team and sponsors. Without the advise and support
I couldn’t have done it.
bmxultra.com:
Who are your current sponsors?
Deanna: Supercross BMX www.supercrossbmx.com, O'neal
Racing www.oneal.com, Paul Brakes www.paulcomp.com , SDG www.sdgusa.com,
Thomson www.lhthomson.com, Shimano www.shimano.com and HRP Number
Plates www.hrpdesigns.com
bmxultra.com: Is there anyone you would like to thank?
Deanna: The people who I work closest with. Bill Ryan
at Supercross, Chad Roberts over at Shimano, Stu at HRP. They
all have helped me out quite a bit when I got back into the sport.
I would also like to thank the support system at the nationals
for me. I know that sounds weird to have a support system at the
track but the riders and parents in my close knit group of friends
mean the world to me... you know who you are! Vintage BMX www.vintagebmx.com
the out pouring of support to get me back on the track racing
was great. I would never have been racing again if it wasn't for
the great site Bill/Hal and Rick built.