Author Topic: The Bike Gallery (Portland), Ben Joy and a 1978 SE Racing BD-III (Read 22902 times)

kungfunky · « **on:** August 07, 2012, 12:14 PM »

The Bike Gallery was started in 1974 by Bob graves and his Son Jay. They were the earliest, most organized shop in the Oregon and arguably the NW. They supported a full BMX Team and sold a ton of gear including SE Racing, Torker, Redline, Race Inc, Mongoose, Laguna, DG, FMF etc etc.

Theres a few photos of the Bike Gallery which are pretty well known already on the net, but I'd like to thank Ben Joy for all his help with my research and taking the time out to chat to me and send me dozens of amazing unseen pictures from BITD

The Bike Gallery circa 1978

Some of the amazing bikes that were for sale in the shop, note the BD-III on the wall which became Mike King's Wheels N Things sponsored racer.

The Gallery also had a sponsored team which included the two jr pro's Ben Joy and Ken Pliska, Ben raced for and also worked at the Gallery from 1978-1980 when he was forced into retirement due to a badly broken arm, Ben was racing alongside Stu Thomsen and winning when Stu wiped Ben out on the final berm resulting in Ben crashing, breaking his arm and then retiring.
Ben had a duel sponsorship with SE Racing and The Bike Gallery where he was given a JU-6, he raced this for a while when the Gallery insisted he switched to DG as they were a main stockist.

Ben with his JU-6

and a couple of 1st place trophies

and the Gallery race team

L A Coliseum

Ben said while working in the shop they had on display a 1978 SE Racing BD-III, "the jewel in the shop". "Everyone loved this bike and everyone wanted it". I was too tall for it so had the JU-6 otherwise it would have been mine.

One of the most famous old school bike shop pictures, the SE Racing BD-III.

Such was the impact of this picture for me I had to use it for inspiration and build my very own Bike Gallery BD-III

This is by far the best bike I've built. The time spent on researching the shop, bike and race history from that era has been fantastic and I am indeed honoured to have spent time talking to Ben. Your a legend and a gentleman

Andy68 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2012, 12:20 PM »

Imagine walking into that shop as a wee kid BITD!!

Peter J · « **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2012, 12:31 PM »

Thats spot on Ash

Glad you got the velcro sorted

kungfunky · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2012, 12:34 PM »

it's all in the detail Pete

probably the hardest thing to sort though

Macmania · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2012, 12:40 PM »

Great history and awesome build

Darren Wood · « **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2012, 12:41 PM »

Thats a great read ASH and some Great pics

................... AND WHAT A WAY TO FINISH THE STORY OFF

Thats a FANTASTIC BUILD

Nice one WOODY

brummie · « **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2012, 12:42 PM »

ooooooooooooooooooh funky mr kung
i loves that

sawzall · « **Reply #7 on:** August 07, 2012, 12:44 PM »

great pics ash,i bet you wish you had a time machine

stu27 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2012, 12:48 PM »

cracking story

with a stunning end result

pickle · « **Reply #9 on:** August 07, 2012, 01:12 PM »

what an awesome read....thanks for sharing ash

all those Tuff 1's hanging

AKGOFF · « **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2012, 01:15 PM »

I told you i loved this bike Ash but those pics are THE COOLEST BIKE SHOPS PICS EVER, i bet they had kids coming in from miles away just to drool over the kit they had in there. I could look at those pics for ever and see something new and cool everytime.

All those rims and Skyway hanging from the ceiling look awesome and what about those DG's

Am i reading that sign right that says the bike you have built was selling for $295.00?

Wicked read Ash and if you have any more info and pics of this shop im know we would all love to see them

Adam

PS: i've changed my mind, you don't look like that kid in the DG coat touching the bike but it does look like you have styled your hair after Bens.

snav69 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2012, 01:53 PM »

JEEEZUS H

I've been waiting a while to see this build and fcuk me that is Thee dogz b'jollocks

Oustanding Ash, Well done mate

NORTY40 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2012, 02:01 PM »

Great story and great pics Ash , thanks for sharing

Onto the bike ....

Stunning

Reckon that is pushing the RTT Ripper as my favourite build of yours ... love it

wazza · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2012, 02:26 PM »

Wow Wow & Wow

diesel · « **Reply #14 on:** August 07, 2012, 03:28 PM »

Love it

beard1973 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 07, 2012, 03:58 PM »

STUNNING!!!

kungfunky · « **Reply #16 on:** August 07, 2012, 05:11 PM »

Thanks a heap for all the comments, you guys rock

Adam your right, in 1978 the BD-III was indeed for sale at $295.00

and yes a time machine would be fookin awsome

Heres a couple more pictures of the shop from 78-around 82.

Badbaldie · « **Reply #17 on:** August 07, 2012, 06:16 PM »

o.m.g.

...................... what a shop , great pics Ash . as always a "wish i had that in my collection " build simply stunning . And a massive thanks for sharing your knowledge , always enjoying seeing the bikes you build , always special

kungfunky · « **Reply #18 on:** August 07, 2012, 06:19 PM »

cheers Lenny

and when I said "theres only 2 in the UK that I know of"...now you know who has the 2nd one

rollin72 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 07, 2012, 06:41 PM »

now thats a bike shop..awesome pictures Ash, and the build is class, looks like a lot has gone into it...nice1...

....but you are now officially....

Jaymz · « **Reply #20 on:** August 07, 2012, 06:46 PM »

Awesome Ash

You just dont see bike shop like that anymore, well I dont, you always get, heres a catalogue I can order it in it will take a couple of weeks, gone are the days of walking in and browsing for bits

markyp · « **Reply #21 on:** August 07, 2012, 07:44 PM »

thats my idea of heaven right there

steve69 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 07, 2012, 11:02 PM »

Now that's more like it, what a lovely lookin' machine, pure class Ash.

and if i close my eyes i can almost smell that shop from here

Mattdub · « **Reply #23 on:** August 08, 2012, 09:15 AM »

Great thread Ash

and superb recreation of that bike !

.

Those shop pics are awesome too , like a kid in a sweet shop to the max ! ...................

kungfunky · « **Reply #24 on:** August 08, 2012, 11:35 PM »

Like everyone else on here I could have spent hours just standing in that shop looking as a kid

Had a couple of cool replies from Scot the other day.

"you've done it again Ash, . . Looks fresh off the showroom floor !!! You have restored a BEAUTIFUL piece of HISTORY and made me PROUD Mate !! Ben Joy is a wonderful friend, historian and networker in addition to a perfectionist when it comes to building bikes to exact detail from BITD!! GREAT JOB !!.
you and Jeff Jt Tollefson have made the two best BDIII bikes ever built..I'm flattered and honored you guys..C-YA. "

High praise indeed from the OM and to be put in the same class as JT is way cool

Author Topic: The Bike Gallery (Portland), Ben Joy and a 1978 SE Racing BD-III (Read 22902 times)

snav69

wazza