1. When and where did you start racing? I started riding my bike down hills and over jumps when I was 7 years old in 1968. A couple of years after that, I met Matt Raymer and he had a number plate on his bike like the motorcycle racers. The first organized things we raced in were 1973 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Matt and I conducted the races, bought the trophies, passed out flyers, and even talked a local girl into being the "trophy girl".
2. What got you into racing back then? I wanted to emulate my uncle, Jerry Matthews. He raced Flat-Track AMA Motorcycles and was my sports hero. He always ran # 45N, the same number I ran on my bike up until I retired. I still admire him greatly and know that his early influence helped me form my early quest. I never could afford a real motorcycle, so my bicycle was the next best thing. I rode from sunup till sundown. We built some amazing trails near our house, and those same trails are in the same place we left them 30 years ago.
3. You have been nominated to the BMX Hall of Fame on more than 1 occasion. Was there any disappointment when you didn't make it in? How does it feel to finally be inducted? I was honored to be a nominee for the BMX Hall of Fame. There were some pretty heavy dudes in that nomination class and it was one of the coolest things ever to be included among those names. If you look at the inductees into this Hall of Fame, you sort of realize that EVERYONE deserves to be included. At some point, I believe they all will be in the HOF. Disappointment wasn't the emotion I felt during those years when someone else was selected. Lots of those guys that went in before me were my friends back in the day, so the first thing I felt was happiness for those guys. Jeff Utterback, Kevin McNeal, and many others were guys I hung with back in the day. All cool cats, and no heartburn in anyway when they went in before I did. They most assuredly deserved it and I was stoked for them!! Many of those same guys called me after I got in and gave me huge props. The entire experience has been very humbling. As far as how it feels, I am happy for all of the people who were part of my BMX life back then. I tried to make sure they received their due recognition. Without them, none of this would have been possible. My induction was more about the recognition of the time and the people than it was about me individually. Oklahoma was VERY important to the growth of BMX and somehow we were at the top of that rocket at the right time.
4. Who were the racers you looked up to as a kid? As racers, I can recall a few who were absolutely above the rest. First, Matt Raymer was the best BMX racer I ever saw. He went into the HOF with me. When he was on, no one could touch him. Of course Stu is considered to be the greatest of all time. John Palfreyman and John George were two guys who had mad skills and no apparent fear of death when they rode. George was the smoothest rider, other than Raymer, to ever ride a BMX bike. Palfreyman was the gnarliest. In the later 80's, Greg Hill was the absolute commander of BMX. He is still a good friend of mine and we still talk a lot about bmx.
What about now? This Danny Caluag kid seems to be on an unprecedented role! He has won 6 big races in a row. But overall, I look up to John Purse as a Pro. There are riders I admire for different reasons. Pat Quinn is more of a hero to me than any BMX pro. He rides because he loves it, and that is to be admired. Bubba Harris, Kyle Bennet, and Donny Robinson dominate the US scene but there is a youth movement taking over. On a local level, Shelley Bryson impresses me because she is a mom, a wife, and has a job but manages to maintain a high district standing and a high NAG number. Jessica Nicely could win National # 1 this year. She is THAT good. If I still raced, I would want some of Scot Fayard's action. He pimped me in a turn in Houston a few years back and made me look like a silly little boy. I may get a new Redline 20 inch and redeem myself sometime!
5. Did you play any other sports as a kid? I fished a lot, played baseball through high school (pitcher, scouted by the NY Yanks!) I quit baseball to race BMX and to be on the high school debate team where I was also the state champion in 1979. I like to talk.
6. What's the greatest college football...I mean, did you attend college and do you have any good stories? I had lots of scholarship offers after high school. Winning the state debate championship paved my way towards college. I started at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois but the program folded and I limped back to Oklahoma where I attended OU. They kicked me out because I wouldn't take calculus. I finally graduated from Central State University in Edmond. 25 Years later, I have never used calculus in my business. I was right! I still root for OU, however. It is a well-known, proven fact that they are the greatest sports dynasty in the history of the world. Iowa is 2nd, Texas is 35th.
7. Is there a particular race that stands out as your favorite or most memorable? My friends are tired of me talking about myself. The older I get, the faster I was. So, I will tell you a fun new school story. I was in Minnesota at a national, and John Purse came up to me and basically told me to quit being a sissy. He drew the track out on a napkin, told me exactly where to go, and to "pin it" in the first turn. After I won my first national during my comeback, John and Eric Rupe were waiting for me at the finish line and were with me celebrating as I hoisted that huge trophy in the air. My wife and daughter were there with me and it was a glorious day.
8. Comparing the early years of racing to today, what are your thoughts on:
a. The tracks. Today's tracks are homogenous products designed to maximize space. Generally, most of the tracks I've seen have many similarities. Today's tracks are too hard. I know I will take flack for that, but I don't mind at all. BMX is a sport for little kids. If I get grief from some one older than 12 years old, I don't even pay attention to those words. Today's tracks scare off the parents, not the kids. Old days we raced down mountains. I would like to see someone clip in going down the side of Randall Ranch.
b. Pedals vs. clips. Pros say: "Why is there no money in BMX" Shoe industry, former supplier of millions of dollars to BMX: "you killed us!". My friend JT: Hey, I broke my foot off, that's weird. Darren Joplin: Hey, I broke my foot off. That's weird. Kid's today don't have to learn to control their bike with their body. They just strap in and go. Clips are awful, and they are ruining the sport. True, they do give you an advantage. So do steroids. So does jumping the gate. So do lots of things. I love to watch kids ride flats who have never done it. They have lots of trouble riding their bike.
c. The caliber of the riders. Today's athletes are flat out superior. More attention is paid to training, health, and nutrition. We have some amazing riders out there all over the place.
d. The overall state of BMX racing and the industry. BMX is dying. In 1982, there were hundreds of thousands of racers. BMXA had 244,000 circulation of their magazine. Today, nothing compares to that. Back then, BMX was a sport anyone can do. With clips, huge jumps, and lots of potential for destruction, parents steer their kids away from it. I have had very well known management of BMX related companies tell me they won’t let their kids race!
9. Do you ever wish you would have persued a pro racing career? I often wonder how it might have turned out. College called and I answered and I am happy with how my life has turned out. I would have preferred a professional Golf career to be honest.
10. What's a typical Cash Matthews day like? I wake up around 6:30 and try to work out a little. I take my daughter to school and come back home to prepare for my day. Katy and I eat breakfast together at least twice a week so that is a nice treat. I am usually on the cell phone all the way to the office talking about BMX, or other important items. I am at the office usually by 10 a.m. and once there, I am always totally involved. We have a thriving business and the demands on me are vast. I run the entire show, and the responsibility for me and my employees falls directly in my lap. I love my work as a financial advisor. I wouldn't trade this career path! Usually, I am home by 5 p.m. except for those weeks where I am doing public speaking, and I usually show up at home around 8:00 p.m. We stay busy, but that is how we have designed our lives.
11. What's your training regiment like? I just bought a new house and we set up a nice work out station. After I broke my arms, I gained lots of weight and have been a slug for the past year. I bought some new Power Blocks, a trainer for my road bike, and set my treadmill and airdyne up in my new combo office/workout room. I set up a new Dell Flat Panel TV right in front of the bikes so I am stoked about the new situation. I have a new trainer helping me with my nutrition and I have shed a few lb's since Christmas. I have a plyo program that I am going to do but it is top secret. Jessica Nicely is doing the same one, so ask me after the 07 Grands if it works!!! I don't see myself racing seriously ever again, but I said that back in 1979 also.
12.
Will there be a Cash summer bmx tour this year?
Nope. I will go to Rockford and Phoenix and Vegas, but that
doesn't constitute a tour. My time off will be strictly for family
vacations.
13. What do you think of bmx in the 2008 Olympics? do you think the
international exposure will help grow the sport? will it bring bmx racing
back to tv, and the masses?
I think it is awesome. We talked about this in the mid 70's. Ernie
Alexander, the founder of the NBA talked about it a lot back then also. The
impact will be interesting. They need to create and sell a product that
people will buy. I am certainly hopeful that we get maximum exposure for
the sport and the riders. I think it is going to be great!
14. what's your favorite track, past or present? Yarnell Street BMX, Sylmar, California, Dusty Trails, Minerva, Ohio, Shawnee BMX, Shawnee, Oklahoma. All in the past. Present tracks? Old Colony near Cape Cod, Mass, but they switched from ABA to NBL and went from having 35-50 motos per race and ran it into the dirt. Now they get about 5 motos. Great atmosphere, no vision for the future.
15. what was/is the concept and reasoning behind starting the UC team? I want to promote the sport of BMX. BMX is dying because local shops don't promote it, and the sport doesn't help the local shop either. To grow the sport, the tracks and the shops must work hand in hand. I believe we need to promote the sport on a local level, and the national level will grow from that. Not the other way around.
16. how did you deal with having 2 broken arms after your crash at Rockford 2005? how did you handle wiping? Two broken arms was no big deal. Wiping? When you are just sitting around on the couch for 8 weeks, you don't have to.
17. How did it feel to get pimped in the last turn at The Lone Star Nats by Scot Fayard, back in '03? Oh yea, I remember that well. Here is the story behind the pic. I was leading the class by about 75 bike lengths when all the sudden, I got hungry going into the last turn. I stopped and had a toasty cheese sandwich and a nice latte for dessert. About the time I got back on my bike, here comes Fayard.
Well, as I saw him approaching, I figured I better get moving or I would have trouble passing him. So, I let all the air out of my tires so I could put some high tech fresh air in. About that time, Scot ran me up the berm and got by. I had another cheese sandwich and finished the race some 3 hours later. I was happy for him. :)
And now, word association:
ughawhugawitz
-
Actually it is ogawogawitz. It is my middle name.
ABA -
the class of the sport. Awesome people there who love the sport.
NBL -
Long history with BMX. Mr. Esser was a great man.
UCI -
We'll see. I hope they get it.
2008 Olympics -
Dream come true.
Embodiment of Pro -
Loves kids and knows (s)he needs to sell bikes.
9th St -
Spleen Graveyard
C$ -
That's what Jackal calls me.
Jackal -
The most genuine human I have ever met. Also races bmx quite well
Greg cHill -
Could run the world. Tells it like it is. Long time friend. I can see Greg
telling the commies that he is gonna have to smack em' down a little bit.
Greg is a modern day John Wayne.
Bubba Harris -
I love Bubba. One of the most respectful Pros on the circuit.
Donny Robinson -
Smart. One of the most determined people I have ever met.
Kyle Bennet -
Butter is a great nickname.
Rockford -
Jealous.
Jessica Nicely -
Can break anything. A good person.
Energy drinks -
For sissies who can't tolerate black coffee.
Clips -
Look good in a girls hair. Not a bike part.
Flat turns -
Don't go with clips. Skill.
BBQ -
Similar to oxygen, but more important.
Thanks Cash. This year is gonna be great.
