Author Topic: 1980's GT World Tour in Ireland. (Read 12722 times)

Haro Fan · « **on:** November 20, 2010, 10:42 PM »

I was looking at some of the history of the GT Pro Performer during the eighties. GT's series of World Tours obviously formed a big part of their effort to promote their own brand of freestyler. There is a long list of the countries visited during the 1985 tour on Eddie Fiola's wikipedia page and I see that Ireland is included. It looks like Bob Morales was also on that tour. Does anybody have any other details or photos of the Irish visit in 1985? Where did they do their demo, how many shows did they do and did they visit any other towns or cities other than Dublin?

In this interview with Martin Aparijo on Youtube, he also mentions that he paid a visit to Ireland on his extensive travels while touring with GT;

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It looks like Martin was on the 1986 World Tour. Was that the year he visited Ireland? Again, if anyone has any info, photos or memories of these events, I'd love to hear about them. Is it possible that this bike was used on his Irish visit? It looks to me like it might be a training bike, as opposed to a display bike, as it appears to be a collection of spare parts from various bikes put together. The fact that it might not be a show bike is actually part of its appeal (to me, at least)!

http://www.ajkbikes.com/images/collection/86gt-aparijo/86gt-aparijo_1.jpg

It features in this video of what looks like an impromptu street session. One of my favourites videos, so far (ably enhanced by the amazing New Order!).

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I can only recall one BMX tour coming to my home town of Galway in the eighties and that was the Raleigh Team with Andy Ruffel and Jason Lunn, amongst other riders. I think I might have a photo of that demo in my folks attic. I will try to dig it out on my next visit home and post it up here. Thanks to anyone who can offer any information to all my questions. Cheers.

Liam.

sweetbeats · « **Reply #1 on:** November 20, 2010, 10:57 PM »

Dunno But Eddie Came to the Toon twice and I met him twice so I have 2 performers in homage to his rad sack

QUADROPHENIA · « **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2010, 09:06 AM »

think fiola and breed went in 85, they also took jess d. morales came over in 84

meticulous · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2010, 11:14 AM »

GT performers are plop!!!

sweetbeats · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2010, 12:29 PM »

Quote from: meticulous on November 21, 2010, 11:14 AM

GT performers are plop!!!

Agree sam i only keep mine to laugh at and make the sport look better

QUADROPHENIA · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2010, 02:02 PM »

Quote from: meticulous on November 21, 2010, 11:14 AM

GT performers are plop!!!

yep deffo

Haro Fan · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2010, 09:36 PM »

Ouch. The GT is taking a big hammering in this thread!

Was the GT Pro Performer really that bad or is it just the looks of the bike that people don't like? Did it suffer from a really poor build quality where frames were breaking just from looking at them or is it the case that you either love them or hate them?

The Pro Performer might be on my list to buy so, is it really that bad? The one I have my eye on has three holes in the rear drop-out. Does that make it an 85 or 86 model? Thanks.

Liam.

Rodgy1970 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 21, 2010, 10:22 PM »

Pics taken from this thread of the GT World Tour in Belfast.

I think I remember wanting to go but didn't make it $:-\$

http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=100282.0

sweetbeats · « **Reply #8 on:** November 21, 2010, 10:27 PM »

Quote from: Haro Fan on November 21, 2010, 09:36 PM

Ouch. The GT is taking a big hammering in this thread!

Was the GT Pro Performer really that bad or is it just the looks of the bike that people don't like? Did it suffer from a really poor build quality where frames were breaking just from looking at them or is it the case that you either love them or hate them?

The Pro Performer might be on my list to buy so, is it really that bad? The one I have my eye on has three holes in the rear drop-out. Does that make it an 85 or 86 model? Thanks.

Liam.

Avoid all GT mate they are dangerous and look shite.

madall · « **Reply #9 on:** November 28, 2010, 09:58 PM »

The GT Pro Performer was a decent bike, great for ramps as it was low centre of gravity.
Some of the best riders in the world used them so they cant be all bad.

I preffered the T/A but the performer was an OK bike

Cheers
ALL

Rodgy1970 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 29, 2010, 10:36 AM »

Quote from: stevencosta on November 29, 2010, 10:27 AM

i have the ireland tour on video

Is it video or DVD, any chance of getting a copy?

CD17 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 06, 2010, 08:19 PM »

Quote from: stevencosta on November 29, 2010, 10:43 AM

Quote from: rodgy on November 29, 2010, 10:36 AM
Quote from: stevencosta on November 29, 2010, 10:27 AM
i have the ireland tour on video

Is it video or DVD, any chance of getting a copy?

its on VHS video mate i bought it back in 85 after i went to see the tour at pickets lock north london

I was there at Pickets Lock too in 85

griff · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2010, 08:59 PM »

Quote from: Haro Fan on November 21, 2010, 09:36 PM

Ouch. The GT is taking a big hammering in this thread!

Was the GT Pro Performer really that bad or is it just the looks of the bike that people don't like? Did it suffer from a really poor build quality where frames were breaking just from looking at them or is it the case that you either love them or hate them?

The Pro Performer might be on my list to buy so, is it really that bad? The one I have my eye on has three holes in the rear drop-out. Does that make it an 85 or 86 model? Thanks.

Liam.

hey liam - they're both good bikes I reckon but if you do go for the GT you'll probably have to change your user name

PHIPPSIO · « **Reply #13 on:** December 06, 2010, 09:12 PM »

The chrome Performer that morales rode on this tour had no holes in the dropouts. Trivial and possibly useless information but true enough...

sweetbeats · « **Reply #14 on:** December 06, 2010, 09:34 PM »

GT=SkipFood

QUADROPHENIA · « **Reply #15 on:** December 06, 2010, 10:02 PM »

Quote from: PHIPPSIO on December 06, 2010, 09:12 PM

The chrome Performer that morales rode on this tour had no holes in the dropouts. Trivial and possibly useless information but true enough...

and no coaster mount, i am sad too

Haro Fan · « **Reply #16 on:** December 07, 2010, 05:29 PM »

hey liam - they're both good bikes I reckon but if you do go for the GT you'll probably have to change your user name

[/quote]

Yea, I think you're right. Haro Fan will pass into retirement soon and I will be back with a new handle. I have taken the plunge and located an 87 Performer F&F on ebay at a good price. I have also found some Performer Bars, a GT seat post and GT saddle and I'm waiting for the postman to deliver them. The plan is to build it as a 1986 "GT World Tour" Martin Aparijo replica, the chrome one with the blue forks and orange seat post. It will be built as a rider and probably won't be 100% accurate, but I will try to get it as close as possible. The Haro would have been nice but there is a massive demand for them and the prices reflect that. Maybe I'll get one in the future but for now, I'm happy with the Performer.

Haro Fan (for now).

jeff spicoli · « **Reply #17 on:** December 07, 2010, 05:39 PM »

It was Dave Breed , Dave Curry , Andy Irwin and Fiola . Can't remember if Jess went to ireland in 85. I would love to see the vid again for the Dave Curry bits.

jeff spicoli · « **Reply #18 on:** December 07, 2010, 07:25 PM »

Quote from: stevencosta on December 07, 2010, 06:04 PM

Quote from: jeff spicoli on December 07, 2010, 05:39 PM
It was Dave Breed , Dave Curry , Andy Irwin and Fiola . Can't remember if Jess went to ireland in 85. I would love to see the vid again for the Dave Curry bits.

yep jess did go to ireland he had the green performer

ha ha I should know really but one show just blends into another when your on a tour like that. I loved to see J D ride too he was RAD.