Anthony Sewell


Anthony Sewell was a professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1978 to 1984. He was nicknamed "The Panther". He got the moniker jumping curbs in his neighborhood and neighborhood kids likened his jumping to that of a cat. This was soon converted to Panther. He was also known as "The Professor" due to his glasses with their thick lenses.

Racing career milestones

Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.
Started Racing: 1974 at 12 years old at the Palms Park race track. Sewell was an accomplished track star in the 120 meter low hurdles. He made it to the state finals but they were held on Saturdays and Sundays, the same days BMX races are typically held. He had to make a choice: He decided on BMX.
Sanctioning body:
First race bike: A girl's Schwinn.
First race result:
First win :
Home sanctioning body district: National Bicycle Association District "X" ;
First sponsor:
First national win:
Turned professional: 1979 at 17 years old.
First professional race result:
First Professional win:
Height and Weight at height of his career : Ht:5' 6" Wt:~145 lbs
Retired from Senior A/AA pro racing: 1986 at age 24. He raced in England until the spring of 1986. He then returned to the United States and raced sponsorless for a few months in early 1986, then dropped out of sight. Briefly reappeared at the ABA U.S. Nationals in Bakersfield, California in April 1988. He then dropped out of sight again. His disappearances became somewhat of a running joke.

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 used.

Amateur

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 used.

Amateur

National Bicycle Association
*At the time the overall champion was decided by a trophy Dash between the age winners in points and open classes. With the oldest Amateurs, the 16 & over class and 16 & over open they also race the pro winners, so the overall world champion could be a professional or amateur. This rule was changed in 1983 and the Pros no longer raced the Amateurs.
National Bicycle League
United Bicycle Racers
American Bicycle Association
United States Bicycle Motocross Association
International Bicycle Motocross Federation

Professional

National Bicycle Association
National Bicycle League
*At this time professionals could race in the older amateur classes.
American Bicycle Association
United Bicycle Racers
United States Bicycle Motocross Association
International Bicycle Motocross Federation
Independent races; Pro Series and Invitational Championships

Notable accolades

*There were minimal foreign participation at the time, but given the fact that BMX during that era was virtually a US exclusive sport, the title of "World Champion" had some legitimacy. The only question was that it was not part of a series but just one race. Many felt that a World Champion could not be decided by just one race given the luck factor. The winner could have been having one good day by coincidence while an otherwise more consistent racer could have had one bad day at a bad time to have it.

Significant injuries

Racing habits and traits

Bicycle Motocross News:
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
BMX Plus!:
Total BMX:
Bicross Magazine:
BMX Action Bike:
Bicycles and Dirt
NBA World & NBmxA World :
Bicycles Today & BMX Today :
ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer :
USBA Racer :

Non BMX magazine covers