In 1973, Rick Twomey approached Redline to make him two bikes. One for John Palfreyman and the other for Thom Lund. The early days of BMX with more downhill races and some serious jumps. Bikes had to be strong to take a pounding from hurtling down a big hill. No tracks had been thought of yet.
Redline made two looptails, 5" loops because that's all they had to form bends from their speedway bike frames. One survives and in Jeff Haney's collection, the other lost or stolen in 74-5.
The first looptail Bikes made using cromo tubing.
Some pictures of the two bikes still survive. One with a banana seat and the other just a smaller seat.
Being a Redline fella I've looked at the pictures and know the only survivor is not for sale.
I saw a copy of a looptail in Australia, Glynn hicks had it made and saw it was for sale. A few weeks later it turned up. Had an idea in my head what to build.
Parts are.
Full cromo frame and forks. Powdercoated candy red.
Screen printed to original decals via John Dalingwater.
Araya moped rims and Shimano MX hubs.
Paragon Stud 20 x 2.125 rear tyre.
Cheng Shin 20 x 2.125 front.
Unknown bars.
Redline Gen1 Proline stem
OGK grips.
Schwinn Stingray saddle.
Cut down sissy bars.
Wald seatpost.
Schwinn seat clamp.
Schwinn sweetheart chainwheel.
Schwinn crank dated 74.
Unknown pedals.
DID nickel chain.
Schwinn BB.
Schwinn headset.
Preston Petty plate and hand cut the nunbers.
#12 was the late Rick Twomey's MotoX race number.
The last pic is Thom Lund on his looptail.
