Torker Racing — Est. 1976 · Fullerton, California
Every rider whose name we built a frame around. The Torker factory team, 1976 to 2002. A living document — we keep adding as we remember.
Torker frames aren't just chromoly. They're named after riders. Every reissue in the Heritage Vault carries one of these names — from Kevin McNeal on the very first MX in 1976, through the 1979 ABA National Number One team, through Clint Miller winning the world's first BMX Pro World Championship in 1980, through the Torker Twins on the Pro-X in 1984, through Eddie Fiola and the birth of freestyle on a Torker production line, all the way to Matt Hadan as the last factory Torker pro of the SBS era.
Seventeen inductees who carried the Torker name into the USA BMX Hall of Fame. Click any name to verify on the official USA BMX HOF profile.
Plus Jen Zeuner (BMX Hall of Fame Class of 2024) and Todd Corbit (University of BMX Hall of Fame, World Champion) honored separately on other rosters.
Torker is a family operation. Steve Johnson renamed the family fabrication shop “Torker” in 1976 and built the brand alongside his father John, brother Doug, and mother Doris.
Steve Johnson
The Founder
Founder and President of Torker, 1976. Renamed the family fabrication shop (Texon, run by his father John Johnson) to Torker and built one of BMX's most defining brands of the Fullerton era. USA BMX Hall of Fame 2012 as an Industry honoree.
The first Torker rolled out of the Fullerton shop in 1976. Pro-size geometry, 20-inch top tube, forward-facing dropouts. BMX Action called it “Fiendishly Seductive.”
The First MX
USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 2004 (Racer). California State Champion. Won the NBA / Mongoose Grandnationals on the original 1976 Torker MX. On the cover of Bicycle Motocross News, July 1977. The MX26 and MX29 are named in his honor.
Leo Green
Mean Leo · #191
Won the 16 & Over Expert class at the April 1977 NBA Weinert Supernationals at Escape Country on a Torker.
Sparky Perry
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1977 Torker factory rider. Photographed at Corona by Russ Okawa. Coaster-brake era.
Stanley G Robinson
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USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 2023 (Racer). Northern California power and speed. Confirmed Torker factory rider at the 1978 NBA Spring Nationals (Watsonville) AND the 1978 NBA Cycle Pro Supernationals.
By 1979 the Torker LP had refined the geometry and the factory team won the ABA National Number One team title outright. Harold “McGoo” McGruther joined the factory roster in 1979 from Florida.
The 1$
USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 1989 (Pioneer). From his early days on Wheels and Things, to Torker, to his Diamondback days as a pro. OG Torker LP rider. The EK 20 GEN II is named for him.
Aggie · Mini Hulk
The backbone of the 1979 #1 Team. Pictured at the 1979 NBA Tour stop at Craigmeur, NJ — “Straight Outta Vegas, Mini Hulk.”
The Barbarian
1980 IBMXF World Pro Champion — the first one ever held. The world's first BMX Pro World Champion was a Torker rider. Won it on a Torker LP.
The Heart Throb
USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 2025 (Woman). Indiana-based, started racing 1977 in Powder Puffs class. Quickly became one of the fastest females in the Midwest. 1979 ABA National #1 Team. Honored today by the Torker Cathy Hanna Heart Throb Shirt.
Juicy Jaws
USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 2019 (Pioneer). The quintessential Southern California racer — long blond hair, surfer's tan. The image of a fun-loving BMX kid that everyone wanted to be.
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1979 ABA National #1 Team factory rider. LP era. Pictured in the 1981 Factory Torker team photo.
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USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 2017 (Racer). Raced BMX 1976–1989. Won the 1983 National Number One Amateur title. Turned pro in 1988.
Patti Gammil
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1979 ABA National #1 Team factory rider. Women's class LP era.
Mike King
The Younger King
USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 1999 (Racer). Eddy King's younger brother. Earned three ABA No.1 titles (two Amateur, one Pro). Went on to win NORBA and UCI mountain bike championships, then Team USA Olympic coach.
Harold McGruther
McGoo
Florida-based BMX racer. First Torker factory sponsorship 1979–1981. Joined Max as rider rep in October 1982, where he first crossed paths with Martin Aparijo. Together they co-designed the early 1984 Torker Freestylist.
Bryan Dworshak
#220
Plate #220. Factory Torker, 1978. Raced 16 Expert class — pictured in the main at the October 21, 1978 NBA Cook Bros. / Fontana BMX Classic.
Gary Green
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1981 Factory Torker team. Pictured in the back row of the 1981 team photo with Steve Johnson, Marietti, Miller, and Olson.
Jeff Osmus
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1981 Factory Torker team. Pictured in the front row of the 1981 team photo with Jensen and Mike King.
EK 20 GEN II (Eddy King) · Barbarian-2 (Clint Miller) · LP Race Frame Set + LP-F
In 1980 the IBMXF held the first BMX Pro World Championship. Clint “The Barbarian” Miller won it on a Torker LP. Same year, the BMX Action Trick Team performed its first public show at the ABA Winternationals on Torker-built frames.
“The world's first BMX Pro World Champion was a Torker rider.”
Documented · BMXmuseum.com Torker Archives
The Pro-X enters production in 1982. Small triangle downtube gussets, machined head tube and bottom bracket. Marietti, McDougall, and Gibson raced it through 1982–83 before Brackens and Miranda joined to form the Torker Twins.
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Pictured in the 1981 Factory Torker team photo with Steve Johnson. Reached ABA National #6 Pro in 1983. After racing, founded Hot Shoppe Designs in 1984 at age 16.
Kelly McDougall
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Came to Torker from Cooks Brothers. New addition to the 1982 factory team. Rode the new Pro X. 15-and-over class.
Steve Gibson
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1982–83 Torker factory rider. 12 Expert class. Issued two hand-built pro frames plus a chromoly cruiser from the Fullerton shop. Featured in the period Torker 280 magazine ad.
PRO-X Frame Set · Launched 1982, raced through 1984
Same year as the Pro-X, Torker manufactured the world's first purpose-built freestyle BMX frame — the Haro Freestyler. Bob Haro commissioned it. Eddie Fiola helped test it. R.L. Osborn rode it. BMX freestyle as a sport was born on a Torker production line.
King of the Skateparks
USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 2009 (Freestyle). A true legend in BMX and arguably the best rider to ever ride a skatepark. Early Torker sponsorship per BMXmuseum.com. 5x King of the Skatepark. 4 NORA cups. Stunt doubled Cru Jones in the 1986 film RAD. Today co-founder of Legend Bike Co.
Freestyle Frame Set (20" + 26" Pro) · 20" Freestylist · 29" Freestylist · Freestylist 2
1984 was Torker's most ambitious year. Brackens joined late 1983, Miranda January 1984 — the Torker Twins on the PRO-X. Richie Anderson joined in July, already a 2x ABA #1 Amateur. The summer team also added Bark, Huebner, Zeuner, Theodore, Foxe, and Corbit. Aparijo and McGoo co-designed the Freestylist, which launched early 1984. November: bankruptcy ended the family operation.
Hollywood
USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 1992 (Racer). One of the sport's most flamboyant pros. Helped put CW Racing and Hutch on the map post-Torker. Torker factory rider January 1984 – September 14, 1984. The face of the Torker Twins on the PRO-X.
The Human Dragster
USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 1991 (Racer). Whether riding for Powerlite, Torker, GT or his own company, Brackens was one of the most powerful pros of the 80s. Joined Torker late 1983 – November 1984. Half of the Torker Twins. Won the 1983 European Championship.
Mike McLaughlin
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Torker Team Manager during the 1984 final season. Lived in the Fullerton apartment below Miranda and Brackens.
Martin Aparijo
The Designer
USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 2014 (Freestyle). A pure showman from the moment he arrived on the freestyle scene of the mid-80s. Martin was a Max pro before signing with Torker — he and McGoo first crossed paths in October 1982 when McGoo took the job at Max. Longtime GT freestyler post-Torker. Together they co-designed the early 1984 Torker Freestylist.
Richie Anderson
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USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 1994 (Racer). ABA's very first two-time consecutive No.1 Amateur (1979 and 1980). Younger brother of pro Ronnie Anderson. Joined Torker July 1984.
Craig Bark
Mini Pro
The 1984 Mini Pro was designed specifically for Craig Bark. Never mass produced. The few that exist are pure Fullerton-era artifacts.
Willie Huebner
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Younger-class 1984 Torker factory rider. Announced on the team in Super BMX magazine, November 1984.
Jen Zeuner
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BMX Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Sister of Sal Zeuner. Grew up racing BMX in New Jersey. Later pro Mountain Bike / World Cup Downhill racer.
Jason Theodore
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Younger-class 1984 Torker factory rider. Announced on the team in Super BMX magazine, November 1984.
Jason Foxe
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Younger-class 1984 Torker factory rider. A one-off mini-class prototype frame was photographed under him.
Todd Corbit
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University of BMX Hall of Fame as a World Champion. Raced Superclass mid-to-late 1980s. Invited to the 1988 King of Bercy event in France.
PRO-X Frame Set (Miranda + Brackens) · 20" Freestylist · Freestylist 2
Seattle Bike Supply revived Torker in the 1990s. Three notable pros carried the name into the early 2000s.
The Diesel
Matthew Merle Hadan. Born June 4, 1970, Azusa CA. 1986 amateur World Champion. National #1 Cruiser as amateur. Torker Bicycles factory pro 1998–2000. The last factory Torker pro of the SBS era. The Diesel Frame Set is named in his honor.
Steve Veltman
Spider-Man · V-Dog · Primetime
USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 2010 (Racer). The first rider to win ABA National #1 Amateur AND Cruiser the same year (1982). 1993 ABA National #1 Pro. The only BMX racer ever on a Wheaties cereal box. Torker factory pro 1997–98.
Clarence Perry
Earthquake
USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 2018 (Pioneer). As Northwest legend has it, a small rumble would begin when he rolled into the starting grid. Worked at SBS 1995–2001 and raced the SBS Torker factory team. 2x ABA World Cup Cruiser Champion (1997, 2002).
Diesel Frame Set · Named for Matt Hadan when the modern aluminum era of Torker began
Two pioneers of BMX freestyle were closely tied to the Torker production line in the early 80s without ever wearing a Torker jersey.
Bob Haro
Father of Freestyle
USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 1987 (Freestyle). Founder of Haro Bikes, famed BMX artist, the man who changed the face of number plates, and the honorary Godfather of Freestyle BMX. Featured in many period Torker ads riding the LPX. Commissioned the Haro Freestyler in 1982 — manufactured by Torker.
R.L. Osborn
The Commander
USA BMX Hall of Fame Class of 2009 (Freestyle) — inducted alongside Mike Buff. Co-founded the BMX Action Trick Team with Bob Haro. Rode a Torker for a long time on the trick team circuit. Never on the Torker factory team.
As we remember the riders and the years, we'll keep adding to this amazingly talented group. If you know — and have proof of — a Factory Torker rider we don't have listed here, please email us at sales@supercrossbmx.com.
Bring the photo, the magazine page, the team announcement. We want to honor every rider who carried the Torker name.
Seventeen — see the chronological list at the top. Plus Jen Zeuner (BMX HOF 2024) and Todd Corbit (University of BMX HOF). There may be more Torker riders in the USA BMX Hall of Fame than from any other brand.
Kevin McNeal. He raced the original 1976 MX. USA BMX HOF Class of 2004. The MX26 and MX29 are named in his honor.
Clint “The Barbarian” Miller. He won the first IBMXF World Pro Championship in 1980 on a Torker LP.
Mike Miranda and Tommy Brackens — both USA BMX Hall of Famers. Brackens joined Torker late 1983, Miranda January 1984. They roomed together in Fullerton and raced the PRO-X.
Matt Hadan — “The Diesel.” Torker Bicycles factory pro 1998–2000.
Yes. This is a living document. Email sales@supercrossbmx.com with photo, magazine page, or team announcement proof.
The Heritage Vault holds the last builds of every frame on this roster. Once gone, gone.
Enter the Heritage Vault