Interview – Nelson Chanady

How did you discover BMX, and what year was it?

In 1980, after years of riding 20″ bikes—including my awesome Redline Squareback—and racing dirt bikes from 1977-1980, my motocross days ended when my brother Louie moved to Nebraska. He had been instrumental in introducing me to motorcycle MX racing and mechanics. Things changed quickly:

I sold my YZ250.

I finally listened to my BMX friends, who kept telling me, “Go BMX racing! You’re fast when we race around these baseball diamonds.” I talked to my parents for their support, and they agreed—relieved, since they never liked me racing motocross.

When was your first year of racing? How long did it take before you started getting wins? 

My first race was in July 1980 at Boystown BMX in Kendall, Florida, on a custom chrome Redline. I started out using one foot starts, but I quickly adapted and improved. It wasn’t long before I was winning in the beginner, junior and expert classes. Racing three times a week and competing against pros in the open class helped me progress rapidly.

How was the Florida scene back then?

When I started racing in Florida in 1980, the scene was amazing. There were about four tracks within an hour’s drive and three more within a three-hour drive. Locally, we could race on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, plus about four nationals a year.

Who were your first sponsors?

My first sponsor was Gables Honda, which had a small BMX team. In 1980, Jim Linder, the manager there, decided to create The Hot Shop BMX team. It quickly evolved into a fully funded bike shop team with national-caliber riders, eventually becoming the NBL National #1 bike shop team.

How did you get on GT?

Jim made contact with Richard Long at GT, and soon, I was flying out to California to stay with Richard. I raced a highly competitive local race (I believe at Orange YMCA) and then a national that weekend. GT and The Hot Shop agreed on a dual sponsorship: I wore GT colors at ABA races on the West Coast and The Hot Shop colors at NBL races on the East Coast.

I started on a Proline, which I liked. My next frame, a GJS, wasn’t my favorite. I tested a Hutch and a GT in a parking lot and chose the GT—it cornered better, felt more balanced, and, let’s be honest, looked way better than the Hutch. I wasn’t necessarily influenced by anyone racing a GT—it was more about the image of the brand.

You had a stellar amateur career with National and World Titles in both Jag and IBMXF. What were some of your best wins as an amateur?

Some of my best races included my first two NBL nationals, where I placed 2nd in one and won my first main. That was a turning point—I realized I could compete for national titles. Instead of focusing on the overall title, I took things one race at a time. Seeing factory riders and amateurs practicing alongside pros at nationals was surreal, but I trained myself to block out the distractions.

Another highlight was the IBMXF World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. I hadn’t even considered the possibility of winning an overall world title. I crashed in one of the motos, which frustrated me, but I still managed to pull through.

Who were your biggest amateur rivals?

I faced tough competition from top 16+ experts like Timmy Judge, Vince Asbury and others. In the open class, I raced pros like Greg Esser, Buccieri, Burrows and more. South Florida had no shortage of top level talent, and we raced weekly.

My first NBL national was in Orlando, Florida, a few months after I started racing in 1981. I finished a close second, possibly to Mark Driscoll. My first national win was an NBL race in Memphis, TN, against Eddy King, John Paint and probably Lee Medlin. That year at the NBL Grand Nationals in St. Louis, MO, I had to beat defending champ Piant to take the national #1 plate. We made contact in the second corner, King passed us, and I finished behind Piant. All of this happened within my first year of BMX racing.

When did you decide to turn pro? How did things go in the beginning?

I turned pro in 1985, but in hindsight, it wasn’t the best timing. Spending three months in the UK racing and training was an incredible experience, but it set me back compared to my competition. The pro class was another level. My first year still went well—I believe I finished #12 B-Pro and #8 Pro Cruiser in the NBL.

The next year, I was no longer with GT. I raced a little but wasn’t at the same level. At that point, I was okay with stepping back. I focused on my girlfriend, normal life, and working at my family’s business—making women’s business clothing. My parents had always been incredibly supportive, taking me to races across Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee in our custom Ford Econoline van, staying at Motel 6s along the way.

You were one of the earlier U.S. riders to race in Europe in the early ’80s. Besides Holland and England, did you compete in other European countries? Who were some of the people you stayed with during your European travels?

I spent the most time in the UK and Holland, but I also raced in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Puerto Rico, Chile and Venezuela. I loved Europe—the lifestyle, the tracks and the people. It felt like everyone had what they needed for a good life, maybe because Miami was so crowded in comparison. People can get irritated and rude when packed together like mice in a cage.

I think part of why I connected with Europe was my ancestry—on my dad’s side, Austrian and Yugoslavian; on my mom’s side, Spanish and some German.

What do you remember about your trip to England for the 1984 Kellogg’s Championships? The American pros were treated like superstars. 

The 1984 Kellogg’s Championship was the best racing of my career. I believe I was chosen as a replacement for Stu after he got injured. I was sick before flying out and wasn’t sure how I’d perform against the pros, but I stayed consistent, avoided crashes, and ended up winning the overall.

One memorable moment was the Eric Rupe drama when Rupe and others came into turn one too fast—he cut the track and protested! Yes, he cut the track!

Highlight as a Pro?

My most rewarding memory of my career was becoming the overall Pro Champion at the Kellogg’s Series. It was my opportunity to race against the pros for a few days on foreign ground, in the rain and mud!

It’s been great seeing you back at events like Frogtown, racing well and representing GT. What got you back on the bike, and how did it feel being back on the gate?

What got me back into racing was knowing I could still do it, but modern BMX tracks require a level of technical skill that was beyond me. Then I saw the Frogtown Classic race on YouTube and realized that was a track I could race safely. So, I ordered a stock GT Pro Series 24 and modified it a little—Redline cranks, 2.3 tires, a new stem and gearing. Bought a helmet and uniform, then called Bonnie Hutelin, who said she was going to Frogtown too. Then her brother John called, and we made plans to rent a camper.

I started training—stationary bike three times a week, MTB once a week, lost ten pounds and practiced a little at the Boise track. That was for Frogtown 2023. Actually, I lost 20 pounds for that race.

How’s life these days? You mentioned at Frogtown that you’ve slowed things down, are now a grandpa, and living in Idaho. Will we see you back on the track this year?

Life these days has been good. I plan for summer activities and reunions with family and Frogtown during the winter because it helps avoid getting bored when it’s too cold outside to ride or train. Racing at Frogtown in 2023 and 2024 was just what I needed and something I had been wanting to do for a long time. Unfortunately, I don’t think my knee will be recovered enough to train and race at this year’s Frogtown, but I plan to be there to see my BMX friends.

My lifestyle is nice and slow here in Baker City, Oregon. People still think I live in Boise, Idaho—you’re not the only one. Lol. There’s no traffic, and everything is five minutes away. The beautiful mountains and roads going up there in a car or on a motorcycle are relaxing.

Will We See You Back on the Track?

I’ll use my stationary bike but can’t do full-circle pedaling. I’ve lost more weight but will slowly gain muscle mass in the summer. I received a new GT Speed Series 24 from Steve Spencer! Stu Thompson also got a new, lighter cruiser, so maybe I’ll show up with a new GT Speed Series. But I prefer my Craig Turner 24 that you saw me race last year. Maybe I’ll show up with both bikes!

My new pastime is restoring a classic 26″ Santa Cruz mountain bike this winter. I cleaned and lubed all the bearings and upgraded some parts. Classic 26.

It’s almost ready to ride in April when it warms up.

Final thoughts on your racing career—if you could change anything, would you, or are you content with everything you accomplished? 

I have to give thanks to my parents first—for allowing me to go motorcycle racing when I was 13, then supporting my BMX racing. My mom was actually my coach. She would watch my lines around corners and jumps and correct me. My dad was my crew support, from getting my moto info to holding the umbrella for much-needed shade during the long wait times in the hot Florida sun.

Next would be team managers Jim Linder, Richard Long and Don Hutelin—I’m sure they helped a lot of us riders from Florida get exposure to factory racing teams. Then, of course, the track operators and volunteers.

When I went racing BMX, all the pieces of the puzzle I needed were already in place because of these people.