Eddy King

Cyclist infobox
ridername = Eddy King


image_size =
image_caption =
fullname = Edward King
nickname = "King Edward", "Eddy the King"
"Silver Bullet"
dateofbirth = birth date and age |1964|10|9
height = 1.651 m (5'5" Imperial)
weight = 65.8 kg (145lbs. Imperial)
country = USA
currentteam = Retired
discipline = Bicycle Motocross (BMX)
role = Racer
ridertype = Off Road
protourrank =
europetourrank =
amateuryears = 1975-1976
1976-1977
1977
1977-1978
1978-1980
1980-1983
amateurteams = S & W Bike Shop
The Bike Shop of El Cajon
D.G. Performance Specialties
Wheels N' Things/Rick & Rick Racing
Torker BMX Racing Products
Diamond Back
proyears = 1983-1989
proteams = DiamondBack
majorwins =
updated = August 15, 2008

Edward King (b. October 9, 1964 in the Philippines [ [http://www.os-db.net/Eddy%20King.html Eddy King August 1, 2008 interview] ] (in 1970 his family settled in Chula Vista, California ["Bicycle Motocross News" June 1977 Vol. No.6 pg.4] )) is an "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1985.

Eddy King is the elder of one of the most respected sibling combinations of Mike & Eddy King in BMX racing. Only the brother combinations of Ronnie & Richie Anderson and Brent & Brian Patterson were more successful. His best known nickname "King Edward" is an obvious play on his name feeding off of the cultural knowledge of famous British King Edwards. Other nicknames included "Silver Bullet" "Eddy the King" and "The Dynamic Duo" which he shared with Diamondback teammate Harry Leary. [ [http://www.os-db.net/Eddy%20King.html Eddy King August 1, 2008 interview] ]

Racing career

Note: Professional first are on the National level unless otherwise indicated.

----Started Racing: Friday January 15, 1975 ["BMX Plus!" 1988 Calendar. Month of January in day 15 box.] age 10. He noticed a flyer for a race tacked on the door of his local bicycle shop near his home in San Diego, California and went to the Sliver Wing Park track in San Diego, California to watch a few times. After that he decided to race."BMX Plus!" May 1982 Vol.5 No.5 pg.42]

First Race Bike: A purchase from K-mart in December 1974. It cost USD$29.95 [ [http://www.os-db.net/Eddy%20King.html Eddy King August 1, 2008 interview] ]

Sanctioning Body: San Diego BMX Association.

First race result: First Place 9 & 10 year old class. No proficiency divisions at the time.

First win (local): See above.

First sponsor: S & W Bike Shop in 1975. He was offered a sponsorship the second race he entered. [ [http://www.os-db.net/Eddy%20King.html Eddy King August 1, 2008 interview] ]

First national win:

Turned professional: First week of March 1983.

First National Professional race result: Made 20" "B" Pro main but DNF'ed (Did Not Finish) at National Bicycle League (NBL) War of the Stars Nationals in Memphis, Tennessee on March 26, 1983 (he collided with a photographer ["Super BMX" July 1983 Vol. No.7 pg.58] ). He won USD$25, ["BMX plus!" July 1983 Vol.6 No.6 pg.50] the equivalent to USD$52.03 in 2007 ( [http://www.aier.org/research/cost-of-living-calculator Cost of Living Calculator] ).

First Professional win: "A" Pro main at the American Bicycle Association (ABA) Wheaties Gold Cup Qualifier on April 9, 1983 in Lubbock, Texas on the weekend of ABA the Lone Star National. ["Bicycles and Dirt" July 1983 Vol.1 No.10 pg.49]

First Junior Pro* race result: See "First National Professional rac result"

First Junior Pro Win: See "First Professional win"

First Senior Pro** race result: Crashed in the semi-finals and did not make main in the first of the NBL sanctioned ESPN Pro Spectacular race series on May 8, 1983 in Miami, Florida."BMX Action" September 1983 Vol.8 No.9 pg.26] He had moved himself up from "B" pro to "A" pro for this race.

First Senior Pro win: In "A" Pro on June 4, 1983 at an NBL national in Peoria, Illinois. ["BMX Plus!" October 1983 Vol.6 No.9 pg.13 ("A" Pro winners listing)]

Height & weight at height of his career (1983): Ht:5'5 Wt:~145lbs.

Retired: In February of 1989. He was 24 years old. He retired after his contract with Diamondback expired. ["BMX PluS!" July 1989 Vol.12 No.7 pg.47] He was basically burned out of the sport and felt it was time to do other things:

The 1988 ABA Grandnational in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for Eddy King represented a changing of the guard. It was the same race in which his younger brother Mike King won the 1988 ABA National No.1 pro title. Eddy himself came in sixth place in Pro Open, winning USD$210 ["BMX Plus!" March 1989 Vol.12 No.3 pg.38] (USD$367.99 in 2007).
Eddy King's last race as a Senior Pro was the ABA Winternationals on February 19, 1989. He came in eighth place last in "AA" pro. ["BMX Action" June 1989 Vol.15 No.6 pg.24 (results)] . He would race on at least two more occasions post retirement. He raced in the ABA Springnationals in Bakersfield, California on March 20 & 21, 1993 in the new Veteran Pro class with fellow retired pros including Tommy Brackens, Perry Kramer and Rod Beckering. He came in fourth on Saturday and fifth on Sunday. His old teammate Harry Leary won both days. ["BMX Plus!" July 1993 Vol. No.7 pg.58] He also raced Veteran Pro at the ABA Fall Nationals in Burbank, California on October 22, 1994, coming in sixth with Brian Patterson winning the event. ["American BMXer" December 1994 Vol.16 No.11 pg.91 (results)]

*In the NBL "B" Pro/Super Class/"A" Pro/Junior Elite Men (depending on the era); in the ABA "A" Pro.
**In the NBL "A" Pro/All Pro/Elite Men; in the ABA "AA" Pro.

Career factory and major bikeshop sponsors

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

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Amateur

*S & W Bike Shop: January 1975-Early 1976

*The Bike shop of El Cajon: Early 1976-March 1977

*The Bike shop of El Cajon/D.G. Performance Specialties (The initials stood for "D"an Hangsleben, "G"ary Harlow ["BMX Plus!" July 1988 Vol.11 No.7 pg.26 ] ): March 1977-May 1977 Support team with "The Bike Shop of El Cajon" being his main sponsor.

*Wheels N' Things/R & R ("R"ick Ankron & "R"ick Varner ["Bicycle Motocross News" April 1975 Vol.2 No.3 pg.10] ) Racing: May 1977-June 1978

*Torker BMX Racing Products: June 1978-September 1980

*Diamond Back (Centurion Bicycle Company): September 1980-February 1989. As with his very first sponsor, S & W Bike Shop, King was recriuted by Diamondback. [ [http://www.os-db.net/Eddy%20King.html Eddy King August 1, 2008 interview] ] Eddy would turn pro with this sponsor.

Professional

*Diamond Back: September 1980-February 1989. Diamond Back was the only sponsor of Eddy King's professional career.

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.

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Amateur

National Bicycle Association (NBA)

*"1976,'77,'78 San Diego District No.1"
*1976 11 Boys California Cup Champion ["Bicycle Motocross News" October 1976 Vol.3 No.10 pg.14 Results page.]
*"1976 10-11 Expert California State Champion"
*1977 12 Expert Champion in RC Cola/Two Wheeler's Race of Champions Invitational ["Bicycle Motocross News" June 1977 Vol.3 No.6 pg.12]

:The RC Cola/Two Wheeler's Race of Champions was a seven race NBA series sponsored by RC Cola and Two Wheelers. Racers raced six regional qualifying races in California and Arizona. Only racers who made at least the semi finals or mains (if the class was too small for a semi final) were invited to race the Championship event held on May 15, 1977 in Gardena, California at Ascot Park. ["Bicycle Motocross News" June 1977 Vol.3 No.6 pg.10]

*"1977 12 Expert District Championships Champion".
*"1978 14 Expert National No.1"
*1979 15 Expert Grandnational ChampionNational Bicycle League (NBL)
*1981 16 & Over Expert Grandnational Champion
*1982 17 Expert Grandnational Champion International Bicycle Motocross (iBMX)

*1976 11 boys Grandnational Champion

United Bicycle Racers (UBR)

American Bicycle Association (ABA)
*"1982 17 Expert Northeastern Gold Cup Champion"United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
*NoneInternational Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
*None

Independent race series and invitationals:

*"1976 11 Boys California Cup Champion".

The California Cup was a non sanctioned series of three qualifying races held at three tracks (for a total of nine separate races) in three different regions of Northern California. Then the finals were held. The series was sponsored and promoted by "BX-Weekly Magazine", a BMX newspaper and Rick Ankron & Rick Varner (R&R) Racing Products. The finals were held at the famous Corona Raceway on September 5, 1976. Side note: Brian Patterson came in second in 11 Boys behind Eddy King. ["Bicycle Motocross Action" December 1976/January 1977 Vol.1 No.1 pg.19-23] ["Bicycle Motocross News" October 1976 Vol.3 No.10 pg.15 Results page.]

Professional

National Bicycle Association (NBA)
*NoneNational Bicycle League (NBL)
*NoneUnited Bicycle Racers (UBR)

American Bicycle Association (ABA)
*NoneUnited States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
*NoneInternational Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
*NonePro Series Championships

Notable accolades

*Named one of the "Terrible Ten", "BMX Action"'s pick of fastest amateur racers in the world in 1983 [ "BMX Action" May 1983 Vol.8 No.5 pg.86]
*Named Pro Rookie of the Year for 1983 by "BMX Action" magazine. ["BMX Action" February 1983 Vol.9 No.2 pg.47 (photo caption).]

*Eddy King is a 1989 Inductee to the ABA BMX Hall of Fame.

BMX Product Lines

*1979 Torker "Eddy King" complete bicycle.Product evaluations:

ignificant injuries

*Received a broken right foot at the 1987 ABA Gilley's Nationals in Pasadena, Texas on March 7, when someone ran over it after going down in a collision. ["BMX Plus!" July 1987 Vol.10 No.7 pg.] ["BMX Action" July 1987 Vol.12 No.7 pg.41 photo caption]

*Suffered a hand injury at the First Annual Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Gravity Powered Vehicle (GPV) and Ramp Jam in Palm Springs, California in June 1987. He was laid up until the ABA National in Ogden, Utah. ["Super BMX & Freestyle" October 1987 Vol.14 No.10 pg.7]

Miscellaneous and Trivia

In an interview in the August 1987 issue of "BMX Action" Eddy King admitted that himself and allegedly Harry Leary along with four other people considered using anabolic steroids to race since BMX tracks at that time was focused on the power racer more than the racer that relied more on finesse and jumping ability. He also stated that he knew of a couple of racers that actually used them:

"Right now, pro racing is all power. I know of a couple of pros who are taking steroids and about half a dozen have looked at it, including myself and Harry. The doctors told us, 'No way. Don't do it.' Maybe the association will have to crack down on it like in other sports. Or change the tracks"." ["BMX Action" August 1987 Vol.12 No.8 pg.72] ---"BMX Action" August 1987

Ironically, the tracks did change from an emphasis in power to those of skill and finesse in the mid 1990's. During this time comparatively small framed pro racers like Alan and Brian Foster and in the early 21st century Mario Soto and Donny Robinson racers that relied on finesse to make up for a lack of power started to do well. This coupled with drug testing instituted by the ABA in the late 1990's and later by the NBL, USA Cycling and the UCI, allegations of steroid use against BMX racers-either out of jealousy or real knowledge-fell.

Post BMX career

After retiring after the 1988 season, Eddy King became a full time real estate broker (fellow BMX racer Cheri Elliott would become one as well approximately 14 years later after her mountain bike (MTB) racing career). Indeed, his career in that field started before retirement selling his first house, his own in the summer of 1987 for USD$180,000, ["BMX Action" November 1987 Vol.12 No.11 pg.16] which was the equivalent to USD$328,468.31 in 2007( [http://www.aier.org/research/cost-of-living-calculator Cost of Living Calculator] ).

Other significant sibling combinations in BMX

*Ronnie & Richie Anderson
*Brent & Brian Patterson
*Eric & Robby Rupe
*Alan & Brian Foster

BMX magazine covers

"Bicycle Motocross News:"
*None"Minicycle/BMX Action" & "Super BMX:"
*December 1983 Vol.10 No.12"Bicycle Motocross Action" & "Go:"
*June 1980 Vol.5 No.6 (BMXA)
*March 1983 Vol.8 No.3 (BMXA)
*August 1987 Vol.12 No.8 with Billy Griggs and Charles Townsend. (BMXA)"BMX Plus!:"
*July 1979 Vol.2 No.7 ahead of Donny Atherton.
*January 1985 Vol.8 No.1 in circle insert behind Billy Griggs testing bikes. Main

*April 1985 Vol.8 No.4 (5) in insert with Harry Leary (2). Main image is Eric Rupe.
*June 1985 Vol.8 No.6 being jumped over by Harry Leary.
*July 1985 Vol.8 No.7 in insert with Mike Miranda (17). Main image freestyler Ron Wilkerson.
*February 1987 Vol.10 No.2. (6) in insert behind Mike Miranda (5) and beside Pete Loncarevich (2). In separate insert top freestyler Martin Aparijo frame standing on MX motorcycle. Main

*March 1987 Vol.14 No.3 in bottom insert (6) behind Greg Hill (16) several places back. In right insert on ramp freestyler Joe Johnson. Main image freestyler Dennis McCoy."Total BMX:"
*May 1981"Bicycles and Dirt:"
*October 1982 Vol.1 No.2 (9) in second behind Tim Judge (55) and ahead of unknown (175)."NBA World" & "NBmxA World" (The official NBA/NBmxA membership publication):

"BMXA Newsletter" (The official BMXA of San Diego membership publication):
*April 1982 Vol.1 No.2 with two unidentified racers."Bicycles Today" & "BMX Today" (The official NBL membership publication under two names): "ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer" (The official ABA membership publication under three names):
*April 1984 Vol.7 No.3 Top middle with (clockwise) Brent Romero, Todd Guss, Brian Patterson, Doug Davis, Brett Allen and Cheri Elliott.
*June 1984 Vol.7 No.5 behind Brian Patterson."USBA Racer" (The official USBA membership publication):

BMX press magazine interviews and articles

*"Agility and ability make Eddy a BMX winner" "the california BMX Rider" Summer 1976 Vol.1 No.2
*"Confrontation at Corona" "Bicycle Motocross Action" March/April 1979 Vol.4 No.2 pg.53 Joint interview of King, Lee Medlin, and Chris Hopkins at the ABA Fall Nationals at Corona Speed way in Corona, California on September 17, 1978 interspred in the race report.
*"Torker Team" "BMX Plus!" May 1980 Vol.3 No.5 pg.20 Joint interview with his brother Mike King, Clint Miller, Mike Agueilera, and Jason Jensen; his teammates on the Torker BMX racing team.
*"The King Is Back" "Bicycle Motocross Action" December 1981 Vol.6 No.12 pg.72 sidebar.
*"Eddy King: Super Athlete, Super Individual!" "BMXA of San Diego Newsleter" April 1982 Vol.1 No.2
*"Eddy King" "BMX Plus!" May 1982 Vol.5 No.5 pg.43
*"Harry & Eddy" "BMX Action" February 1984 Vol.9 No.2 pg.46 Joint interview with Harry Leary.
*"Five Minutes with Eddy King" "BMX Action" October 1984 Vol.9 No.10 pg.18 side bar
*"On the Cover...Eddy King" "BMX Action" August 1987 Vol.12 No.8 pg.72
*"Bros. Eddy & Mike" "BMX Action" January 1988 Vol.13 No.1 pg.30 Joint interview with his brother Mike King.

End Notes

External links

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