Charles Townsend (BMX rider)


Charles Heath Townsend is an "Old School/Mid School" former professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1985 to 1996. He has 2 kids.
Nicknames: Various and many dating back to his days as a young amateur. Many railroad related: "Steam Engine Charlie", "Speeding Locomotive Charlie", "Choo-Choo Charlie", "Amtrak". Also "Black Magic", "Big Chuck", "The Fleein' Korean", "Chasemainian Devil".

Racing career

Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.
MilestoneEvent Details
Started Racing:1979/80 age 12 or 13. Townsend himself is rather vague on this point
Sanctioning Body:
First race bike:
First race result:Third place in Beginner class in Hellyer Park in San Jose, California.
First win :
First sponsor:Woodside Bicycle Shop.
First national win:In 17 & Over Open at the 1985 American Bicycle Association Supernational in Pico Rivera, California on January 27, 1985.
Turned Professional:December 28, 1986 at the National Bicycle League Christmas National at age 19.
First Professional race result:First in "B" Pro on December 28, 1986 in Columbus, Ohio at the National Bicycle League 's Christmas National. He won US$600, the equivalent of US$1,126.09 in 2007 He also took a sixth in Pro Award but he finished out of the money.
First Professional win:See above.
First Junior Men/Pro* race result:See above.
First Junior Men/Pro win:See above.
First Senior Pro** race result:First in "AA" Pro at the American Bicycle Association Gilley's Nationals in Pasadena, Texas on March 7, 1987. He won US$535, the equivalent to US$1,004.10 2007. After the ABA Scottsdale National, Charles Townsend called the ABA and moved himself up to "AA" pro. This was reminiscent of Brian Patterson asking permission from then ABA Vice President Gene Roden to move up to "AA" after one race in "A" pro in early 1982.
First Senior Pro win:See above.
Height and weight at height of his career:Ht:6'2" Wt:~195 lbs.
Retired:2002. He raced in the Veteran Pro class of the ABA and the NBL's Master class until 2004.

*In the NBL it is B" Pro/Superclass/"A" Pro depending on the era; in the ABA it is "A" Pro.
**In the NBL it is "A" Pro ; in the ABA it is "AA" Pro.

Career factory and major bicycle 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.

Amateur/Junior Men

*By this time Gary Turner Racing had brought Powerlite.

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/Junior Men

National Bicycle Association
National Bicycle League
American Bicycle Association
International Bicycle Motocross Federation
Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme
Union Cycliste Internationale

Professional/Elite Men

National Bicycle Association
National Bicycle League
American Bicycle Association
United States Bicycle Motocross Association
International Bicycle Motocross Federation *
Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme *
Union Cycliste Internationale *
*Note: Beginning in 1991 the IBMXF and FIAC, the amateur cycling arm of the UCI, had been holding joint World Championship events as a transitional phase in merging which began in earnest in 1993. Beginning with the 1996 season the IBMXF and FIAC completed the merger and both ceased to exist as independent entities being integrated into the UCI. Beginning with the 1996 World Championships held in Brighton, England the UCI would officially hold and sanction BMX World Championships and with it inherited all precedents, records, streaks, etc. from both the IBMXF and FIAC.
Pro Series Championships

Notable accolades

Post BMX career

Miscellaneous and Trivia

Bicycle Motocross News:
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
BMX Plus!:
Bicycles and Dirt:
Snap BMX Magazine & Transworld BMX:
Moto Mag:
NBA World & NBmx World :
Bicycles Today & BMX Today :
USBA Racer :

BMX and general press magazine interviews and articles