Way back in the stone age when BMX was young. A great deal of innovation was being done in order to get that extra edge. This was not limited to the So-Cal scene. The more I look into it, the more I realize how the whole scene was moving in different parts of the country in parallel, or just weeks behind. This is specially true of the NOR-Cal scene.
A while back the OM and I had a good talk about how BMX spread like wildfire. He mentioned going up to Nor-Cal and battling it out with The Silver Shield BMX team which included people like Friendly Fred, John Wells among others. He also mentioned a certain Pete Harrigan and his bikes. Thanks to Mike "Spike" Rush (another Nor-Cal 70s icon,) I managed to get one of Pete's innovative frames.
![](http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/w303/reilley1/Harrigan%20Special/PH1.jpg)
The frame is a modified Schwinn Sting Ray. Main reason was in order to run longer cranks.
![](http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/w303/reilley1/Harrigan%20Special/PH3.jpg)
This picture shows where the bike was cut and rewelded along with a cool chainstay reinforcement
![](http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/w303/reilley1/Harrigan%20Special/ph4.jpg)
Pete Harrigan Special frame
Ashtabula non-reinforced fork
Schwinn Stem
Matthews bars
Unknown grips
Early Messinger seat
Generic Seat clamp
Schwinn Seatpost
Shimano B type Coaster brake
![](http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/w303/reilley1/Harrigan%20Special/ph5.jpg)
Schwinn Headset
Schwinn Bottom Bracket
Schwinn "Diamond" crank with Schwinn Sprocket
Araya Dimpled heavy duty rims
Asahi 105 Spokes
Cheng Shin Tires
Schwinn Approved large Flange front hub
![](http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/w303/reilley1/Harrigan%20Special/PH2.jpg)
Thanks Mike and thanks to Chris at Alpha Bicycles in Vista Ca for the small bits