Tim Judge

Infobox Cyclist
ridername = Tim Judge


image_size =
image_caption =
fullname = Timothy Judge
nickname = "Da Judge"
dateofbirth = birth date and age |1964|7|8
height = height|m=1.8
weight = convert|74.84|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
country = USA
currentteam = Retired
discipline = Bicycle Motocross (BMX)
role = Racer
ridertype = Off Road
protourrank =
europetourrank =
amateuryears = 1976
1976-1977
1977-1980
1980-1981
1981-1983
amateurteams = Wheeler-Dealer Bicycles
MCS
Thruster
Mongoose
Hutch
proyears = 1983-1985
proteams = Hutch
majorwins =
updated = July 6, 2008

Timothy Judge (b. July 8, 1964 in Miami, Florida U.S.) is a former American "Old School" professional Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1979-1985. When he was a young racer his given name was used in the diminutive "Timmy". His nickname was "Da Judge" a play on a on the 1970's catch phrase "Here come da judge" first popularized on the 1968-1973 comedy Variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In which included in its cast comedian David "Pigmeat" Markham. Included in some episodes was a popular skit that depicted Pigmeat Markham as a judge complete in black robes and scholastic mortarboard. When he was about to enter the "courtroom" a bailiff announced "Heyeah Heyeah (here) come da judge" as he entered a chorus repeated "here comes da judge" with Markham often cake walking to the bench. The show was off the air for about six years when Tim Judge first came to national BMX attention, but due to the show's popularity and his name lending itself to be associated the pharase "Here comes Da Judge" was quickly associated with him.

He was greatly renown for his pioneering jumping ability and his innovative jumps including reputedly being the first to do a "One Footer." It is jump in which you launch your bicycle to a high altitude then take on foot off a pedal; the further off the better with three feet or so being the most spectacular. Then before landing quickly place your foot back on the pedal. That jump in turn lead to the one foot "Table Top" a jump in which while in the air you lay the frame of your parallel with the ground like a standard "Table Top" but in addition you remove the foot closes to the ground from the pedal while doing so. You then quickly bring your bicycle back up right and your foot placed back on the pedal before landing. [http://users.pandora.be/jjrbmx/hutch/TimJudge84.jpgJudge doing a one foot Table Top.]

Racing career

Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.----Started Racing: 1975 at 11 years old at the South Florida Kartway BMX track. He had first saw an television commercial for races there and asked his father to take him."Super BMX" May 1981 Vol.8 No.5 pg.24]

First race bicycle: Huffy.

First race result: First place in 11 year old class.

Sanctioning Body:

First win (local): See "First race result"

First sponsor: 1976 Wheeler-Dealer Bicycles of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

First national win:

Turned Professional: Mid 1983

First Professional race result: Second in "A" pro at the American Bicycle Association (ABA) Summernationals in Elkhart, Indiana on August 14, 1983. He also got second in Pro Cruiser. ["Bicycles and Dirt" December 1983 Vol.2 No.3 pg.33]

First Professional win:

First Junior Pro* win:

First Senior Pro** win: In "A" Pro at the National Bicycle League (NBL) National No.6 in Homestead, Florida on February 9, 1985. He won USD$900 (USD$1,720 in 2007 [http://www.aier.org/research/col.php Cost of Living calculator] ). He also came in first in Pro Cruiser winning USD$400 (USD$765 in 2007) ["BMX Plus!" June 1985 Vol.8 No.6 pg.72 race results (top)]

Retired: November 1985. He would later become a champion Jet Ski racer.

Height & weight at height of his career (1984): Ht.:5'11 Wt.:165lbs.

*In the NBL it is B"/Superclass/"A" pro (beginning with 2000 season); in the ABA it is "A" pro.
**In the NBL it is "A" pro (Elite men); in the ABA it is "AA" pro.

Career factory and major bike shop sponsors

Note: This listing only denotes the racer's primary sponsors. At any given time a racer could have numerous ever changing co-sponsors. Primary sponsorships can be verified by BMX press coverage and sponsor's advertisements at the time in question. When possible exact dates are given.----

Amateur

*Wheeler-Dealer Bicycles: 1976
*MCS (Moto Cross Specialties) Bicycle Specialties: ["BMX Plus!" September 1988 Vol.11 No.9 pg.28] 1976-1977
*Thruster (Speed Unlimted,Inc.): 1977-1980
*Hot Inc: 1980-
*Thruster: -Late December 1980
*Mongoose (BMX Products): December 29, 1980-Late March 1981. Judge, who was racing sponsorless in a white Vera's Leathers T-shirt at the 1980 World Championships was picked up by Mongoose during the race before the mains after they were impressed by his performance during the qualifying motos they signed him up before he even raced the mains. ["BMX Plus!" April 1981 Vol.4 No.4 pg.52 (photo caption)]
*Hutch Hi-Performance BMX/Products: Late March 1981-Late November 1985 Tim would turn pro with this sponsor.

Professional

*Hutch Hi-Performance BMX/Products: Late March 1981-Late November 1985.

Career bicycle motocross titles

Note: Listed are District, State/Provincial/Department, Regional, National, and International titles in "italics". "Defunct" refers to the fact of that sanctioning body in question no longer existing at the start of the racer's career or at that stage of his/her career. Depending on point totals of individual racers, winners of Grand Nationals do not necessarily win National titles. Series and one off Championships are also listed in block.----

Amateur

National Bicycle Association (NBA)
*NoneNational Bicycle League (NBL)
*1976 11-12 "D" Expert Winternational BMX Series Champion
*"1976 11-12 "D" Expert National No.1"
*"1977 12 Expert National No.1"
*"1978 13 Expert National No.1"
*1980 15 & Up Schwinn Orange Bowl Classic Champion
*"1980 Jag Overall World Champion"American Bicycle Association (ABA)
*"1982 17 Expert & 15-25 Cruiser North Central Gold Cup Champion"
*"1982 15-25 Cruiser Northeastern Gold Cup Champion"
*"1982 Florida District-1 (FLA-1) Amateur & Cruiser No.1" International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
*"1983 18-24 Cruiser World Champion"

Professional

National Bicycle Association (NBA)
*NoneNational Bicycle League (NBL)
*NoneAmerican Bicycle Association (ABA)
*NoneUnited States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
*NoneInternational Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
*NonePro Series Championships and Invitationals

Notable accolades

*Named one of "1984's Hottest Rookie Pros" by "BMX Action" Magazine. ["BMX Action" October 1984 Vol.9 No.10 pg.75]
*Named #40 of the 100 greatest BMXers in December 1993 issue of American BMXer.

BMX product lines

*"Timmy Judge Replica" Frame for Thruster in 1979.:Product analysis::"Bicycle Motocross Action" December 1979 Vol.4 No.5 pg.90
*"Da Judge" Frame and Fork series for Hutch in April 1983:product analysis::"BMX Action" April 1985 Vol.10 No.4 pg.38
*"Judge II" frame and fork from Hutchins Performance Products in July 1990.:product analysis::"BMX Plus!" October 1990 Vol.13 No.10 pg.40

ignificant injuries

*On June 6, 1981 Judge suffered a major automobile accident when the Volkswagen he was driving struck a an opposite coming car head on. He was propelled through the windshield. He suffered torn ligaments in his right leg and had to have stitches in his face and shoulder. It was reported that he could be laid up for a year recuperating ["BMX Plus!" September 1981 Vol.4 No.9 pg.17] but his first race back was the NBL "Miami Connection" National in Miami, Florida on June 28, 1981. ["Super BMX" October 1981 Vol.8 No.10 pg.43]
*Injured right hand at the invitational 1985 Kellogg's Frosties BMX Championships in Birmingham, England on May 25, 1985. The injury occurred in the third moto of the first round. He had crashed on a set of double jumps, but that was not what caused the injury. After he landed British pro racer Jamie Vance, after jumping the doubles himself, landed on Judge's hand, dislocating his middle finger and perhaps breaking the knuckle. Prior to having it examined Judge tried to race with his injured hand but it progressively got more swollen and painful. Two days later he dropped out of the competition and sought proper medical attention. After being treated by English paramedics and doctors he flew back home to be attended by his personal doctor. ["Super BMX & Freestyle" October 1985 Vol.12 No.10 pg.28]

Peccadilloes

Post BMX career

BMX magazine covers

"Bicycle Motocross News:"
*None"Minicycle/BMX Action" & "Super BMX:"
*"Super BMX" April 1981 Vol.8 No.4 In top corner insert. Main image is Bobby Encinas.
*"Super BMX" September 1982 Vol.9 No.9
*"Super BMX" July 1985 Vol.12 No.7 "Bicycle Motocross Action" & "Go"
*BMXA October 1979 Vol.4 Nol.10 "BMX Plus!:"
*October 1980 Vol.3 No.10
*December 1983 Vol.6 No.11* In inset with Stu Thomsen, Greg Hill, Nelson Chanady and others at beginning of national banner presentation at the start of a race. Brian Patterson is the main image.
*September 1984 Vol.7 No.9 in circular insert with Brian Patterson as main image.
*November 1985 Vol.8 No.11 in main image jumping with Motorcycle Motorcross (MX) racer Johnny O'Mara. In top insert freestyler Eddie Fiola, in bottom left insert O'Mara again, in bottom right inser Freestyler Mike Dominquez.

*Due to a change in ownership, "BMX Plus!" did not publish a May 1983 issue.
"Total BMX:"

"Bicycles and Dirt" (ABA Publication):
*October 1982 Vol.1 No.2 (55) ahead of Eddy King (9) and unknown (175).
*August 1984 Vol.2 No.9 with freestyler Woody Itson in main image. In insert Bart McDaniel (17), Eric Rupe (33) and Harry Leary (Diamondback).

"Bicross Magazine" (French publication):
*Août (August) 1984 No.23
*1985"NBA World" & "NBmxA World" (The official NBA/NBmxA publication):

"Bicycles Today" & "BMX Today" (The official NBL publication under two names)"

"ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer" (The official ABA publication under three names):

"USBA Racer" (The official USBA membership publication):

BMX press magazine interviews and articles

*"Here Comes The Judge"Super BMX" May 1981 Vol.8 No.5 pg.24
*"Timmy Judge" "BMX Action" September 1983 Vol.8 No.9 pg.64
*"United they conquer: The Rise and Rise of Team Hutch" "BMX Action Bike" December 1983 Iss.14 pg.50 Article about the the Hutch BMX team as a group and as individuals.
*"Racing Tips From 'Tabletop' Tim Judge" "Bicycles and Dirt" August 1984 Vol.2 No.9 pg.14
*"1984's Hottest Rookie Pros" "BMX Action" October 1984 Vol.9 No.10 pg.75
*"Moto-Notes: Chewin' The Fat With Timmy Judge" "BMX Action" December 1984 Vol.9 No.12 pg.72
*"Da Judge" "Super BMX & Freestyle" July 1985 Vol.12 No.7 pg.42

Miscellaneous & Trivia

End Notes

External links

* [http://www.ababmx.com/ The American Bicycle Association (ABA) Website.]
* [http://www.nbl.org/ The National Bicycle League (NBL) Website.]