Eric Carter


Eric Robert Carter is a former American professional "Old/Mid School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1983 to 1998. He had the nickname "The Golden Child," and later in his BMX career, acquired the moniker "The Earthquake." More recently, he has been known simply as "EC." Beginning in 1996, he converted fully to mountain bike racing and has become one of the most respected racers in that discipline of bicycle racing.

BMX racing career milestones

Note: Professional firsts are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.
MilestoneEvent Details
Started racing:1978 at age 8. He went out to see his friend Brent Fay to race. Fay's father was the track operator and set Eric up to race.
Sanctioning body:Bicycle Motocross League.
Home sanctioning body sistrict:American Bicycle Association California 22 ;
United States Bicycle Motocross Association California 3
First race bike:
First race result:
First win :
First sponsor:
First national win:At the 1985 ABA Silver Dollar Nationals in Reno, Nevada on January 6, 1985, as a 15 expert. This was a decisive race, for Carter promised himself if he didn't do well here, he would quit BMX racing. He ended up "tripling." Note: By either typographical error on American BMXer's part or Eric's misrecollection, he says he first won in the 1984 Silver Dollar Nationals. There were no Silver Dollar nationals in 1984.
Turned Professional:September 2, 1989 at the National Bicycle League Grand National in Louisville, Kentucky at 19 years of age.
First Professional race result:First place in "B" pro at the 1989 NBL Grand Nationals on September 2. He won US$1,260, the equivalent of US$2,090.18 in 2007. He also gained a second in pro cruiser, winning US$250.
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:Third place at the NBL Christmas Classic on December 27, 1989 in Columbus, Ohio. He won US$280. He had previously won every NBL "B" pro event he entered.
First Senior Pro win:In "A" pro at the National Bicycle League "Round 5: Clash in the Sun" national in Orlando, Florida on February 17, 1990.
Height and weight at height of his career :Ht:5'10″ Wt:~175-180 lbs.
Retired:Largely by late 1995, to concentrate on mountain bike racing.

*In the NBL, "B"/Superclass/"A" pro, depending on the era; in the ABA, "A" pro.
**In the NBL, "A"/"Elite" pro; in the ABA, "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 cosponsors. Primary sponsorships can be verified by BMX press coverage and the sponsor's advertisements at the time in question. When possible, exact dates are given.

Amateur

Note: Listed are District, State/Provincial/Department, Regional, National, and International titles in italics. "Defunct" refers to the fact that the sanctioning body in question no longer existed 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
National Bicycle League
American Bicycle Association
United States Bicycle Motocross Association
International Bicycle Motocross Federation
National Bicycle Association
National Bicycle League
American Bicycle Association
United States Bicycle Motocross Association
International Bicycle Motocross Federation
Pro Series Championships

Notable BMX accolades

Significant BMX injuries

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

Post BMX career

Following in the footsteps of other legendary pros Eric Carter became a pro mountain-biker in 1993. He currently races MTB for Mongoose Bicycles in the mountain-cross and downhill divisions. However, he does race BMX during the winter to cross train and enhance his MTB racing skills.

Mountain Bike Racing Career

Started Racing: 1993 at age 23.
Sub Discipline:
First Race Result:
Sanctioning Body:

Career MTB factory and major Non-factory sponsors

Amateur

No amateur status.

Professional

Amateur

No amateur status.

Professional

National Off Road Bicycle Association
USA Cycling
Eric Carter had substantial input on the design of the Hyper Metro pro sized frame of the early 1990, which he raced when sponsored by Hyper Designs.