ACE RACING, THE HISTORY

[RATTY]

Back in 1979/80 a Guy called Richard Barrington started a shop called ACE racing at 444 Forest Road Walthamstow London. It was a small 800 square foot shop, but it stocked some of the best BMX parts about.
Richard had the foresight in BMX and alongside Alan Woods, Malcolm Jarvis and Don Smith they saw a potential in BMX not just as a passing US gimmick but a sport that would last into the 21st Century and beyond.
Ace recruited some local riders and sponsored them with a kit and equipment.
The top names in the beginning were on the team, Cav Strutt, Pete Middleton, Andy Ruffell, Nikki Matthews, Scott McDonald, Trevor Shanks, Steve Gilley to name a few.
In the first few months ACE ruled on the race track. But it wasnt long before the big american backed Ammaco Mongoose went looking for riders and managed to pimp the best of the squad, the notable exception was Cav Strutt.
Cav helped develop the ACE racing frame and forks. Cav featured in the early UK BMX mags and was rad beyond belief, he peformed the first aerial 360 amongst other tricks and was admired by all the early riders. He gave up in 1981 but his name is still legendary in the Old School world, just ask Rom bloke, Bill Stup or Superbike Dan and Arma.
There are two members on RAD who also rode for ACE, Marty C was one and I was the last before Richard closed the shop.
Ace gave a start to some of the top racers of the 80s and its a shame that it didnt get the recognition it deserved.

I got back into bMX in 2006 and I started looking for an ACE frame, most people had never heard of one, most had never seen one, and to be honest I almost gave up looking for one. Then earlier this year rumours started circulating that a guy in the Essex area had one.
Well after a couple of months a new Rad member called 38yearsyoung came onto the site, he said he had an ACE frame and I have to say I was doubtfull, perhaps a pos with ace stickers. Well Ty managed to retreive it from the shed and sent me the pics. I am still trying to persuade him to part with it.
Well here are the pics of the frame, with a few bits of ACE memorabilia.













Cav Strutt




Marty C on his ACE




The Race Trousers


Trevor Shanks
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201462351833881&set=a.1487102710710.69620.1628203250&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf

The shirt modelled by an unknown hottie

and by Steve Gratton


My membership card


Me and Kev Reviere racing at Ipswich, me on the ACe and Kev on a 26" GT



Nikki Matthews in action




Pete and Nikki


From Don Smiths book






Thanks to all who I borrowed pics off

[THIRSTYKIRSTY]

wow

ta tony

eye opener

now see nikki wants a titan

r

[zed4130]

thanks for posting all of it tony, ive aleways wondered about aces history etc, i didnt realise there was a frame as noticed riders riding gooses in pics, we all learn something new everyday on rad,   

paul , oh i hpe you get the frame its a real peice of ace history   

[Trev]

nice article ratty and some great pics. 

[hooga1975]

Nice one Tone.  I really hope you get your hands on that frame as I can tell how much it means to you

[kdw712]

Finally some pics of the elusive ACE frame 

hope you can sort out a deal on it 

[superbikedan]

that's a kool write up rats

[38yearsyoung]

Ah tone!
Your makin' it harder for me to part with it ..... Brings back a lot of sweet memories man.
Glad you put this up, great little piece of history. Where did you get the mag/advertising pics.? SO good to see the bike in it's full glory!

Thanks so much for posting,
We'll talk tomorrow at Braintree hopefully.

[RATTY]

Ty, dont say that mate
The pics are from members on here like Marty C, KDW and myself, im sure I need to credit others but I cant remember who!!
Deffo off to Braintree tomorrow so hope you can make it

[stumpy]

Ratty, this is quality mate, can't believe that one of these gems has turned up after all these years. Gives hope to the chance of unearthing another East London home grown
piece of kit (Holeshot rf1). I'm made up for ya mate, cos i know that ACE is a big chunk of good memories for Ya.

Stumpy

[38yearsyoung]

I'm only ribbin' ya tone

See ya at Braintree ..... You want me to bring it up with me so you can have a closer look??

[RATTY]

I'm only ribbin' ya tone

See ya at Braintree ..... You want me to bring it up with me so you can have a closer look??

Please mate, it would be good to have a close look...
Bring a minder with you just it case I CANT CONTROL MYSELF

[DR VINOAH]

ace story

ace pix 

ace bikes

and as for cav strutt

[dct]

thats sweet bit Tone   

if you get the frame - sell me the pedals - i need them for my streak 

Danny 

[38yearsyoung]

I'm only ribbin' ya tone

See ya at Braintree ..... You want me to bring it up with me so you can have a closer look??

Please mate, it would be good to have a close look...
Bring a minder with you just it case I CANT CONTROL MYSELF

Hahaha .... You can look at it through the van window(armour plated).

[Gary72]

Nice story Tone, if he keeps it in the SHED

[MartyC]

FFS HOW did I miss this thread? 

Did I love my ACE?  You fooking bet I did    That's me doing the endo on my one bitd  , they're also my race pants (still in the wardrobe too  )  .  I rode mine at Earls Court 1982, holeshot the first moto but went down in the first corner as no grip whatsoever which is why my race pants have a knee patch on them  .  RB was a cool dude and gave me those race pants and a jersey (which I can't find  ) plus a shed load of other gear.

Some scummy bastard nicked mine from outside a mates house in 1982  .

Whatever happens that bikes needs to be restored back to its former glory, I remember getting mine from Richard Barrington in the ACE shop, hundreds of them lining the walls and built up as completes on the shop floor; fantastic stuff.  They rode so nice too, not too much flex and looked so bling in chrome  .

[MartyC]

ace story

ace pix 

ace bikes

and as for cav strutt

Too right V Noah, Cav was one rad dude and to top it a really nice bloke too, mind you the same can be said for Ruff's too 

[38yearsyoung]

Nice story Tone, if he keeps it in the SHED

Is that a dig ...

Nice one centurion, like it, like it!

[MartyC]

Nice story Tone, if he keeps it in the SHED

Is that a dig ...

Nice one centurion, like it, like it!

I doubt if it's a dig

Buddy, that is a RARE bike and IMHO you've got to do it justice and restore it  .  I loved my ACE and would love an opportunity to own another one only this time I wouldn't let a little scrote nick it  .

A little time in an oxalic bath would do that the world of good and bring it up like new  .

[38yearsyoung]

Cheers Marty

I knew there wasn't too many of these still around, that's why i kept it so long (even if it was just sittin about), but after getting on this site and talking to you guy's, the only thing to do is restore it.
I loved it then and love it now! So where can i take it for a bath??

[Mattdub]

Cool thread Tony , it'd be good to see this F+F restored with period parts throughout 

[nic968]

  Great to get the whole story,nice bit of nostalgia there Tony...
 Hope to see that frameset complete and shiney at MK this year....

[Gary72]

Definetly not a dig

[se]

Great tale great gusset great haircuts