Veterans Cup 2019: The silver anniversary of the oldest OSBMX meeting in the world!

This year was a special year: the Veterans Cup turned 25! Probably the world's oldest reunion meeting of old-school BMX fans was born in 1995 and has been held once a year ever since. In addition to the races in two classes (Oldie and Veteran class), there was once again a large exhibition of old-school bikes, a beauty contest for the most beautiful bikes and a team ranking for the best race teams at the races.

As part of the 5th & 6th Bundesliga race in 2019, old-school BMXers from all over Germany once again came to Weiterstadt to show off their bikes at the Veterans' Cup and spend a great day with other lovers of 20- and 24-inch CrMo bikes.

This time, the veterans' paddock was positioned next to the start straight, which was very well received. Not only could you admire the beautiful bikes and talk shop, but you could also watch the races at the same time. As always, the beauty show of the bikes, clothing and accessories was one of the highlights of the Veterans' Cup. Below you can see a selection of the tents, bikes and components that were presented.

The Veterans Cup site

The bike exhibition

If you would like to know who took home the coveted awards in the individual categories of the beauty contest, take a look below.

Award ceremony Pro class

Award ceremony A Pro class

AA Pro class award ceremony

Award ceremony Cruiser class

Award ceremony freestyle class

King-of-Oldschool award ceremony

Award ceremony Best-of-Bike-Show

Once again this year, there were not only many participants at the start, but also many old-schoolers as spectators at the side of the track. Among those seen were Jochen M.e.n.z.e.n, Markus S.t.o.e.c.k.e.l, Uwe R.a.b.e, Oliver M.i.t.t.e and many more. The atmosphere was good, the weather, as so often, sunny and warm and the people were in a good mood.

M.i.t.t.e, R.a.b.e, M.a.u.r.i.t.z, H.a.y.n.b.e.r.g and M.e.n.z.e.n

K.e.e.s, T.r.i.n.i, K.i.e.n.z.l.e and H.a.n.n.i.c.h

Good-humoured old-schoolers ...

M.e.n.z.e.n, H.a.y.n.b.e.r.g, K.i.e.n.z.l.e.

There were many spectacular runs in the races, which fortunately all went off without a crash this year. The veteran class was dominated by David M.o.l.i.n.a, who naturally has a few advantages as a local rider. Very surprisingly, Andreas B.a.y.r from Munich not only made it to the final after 10 years of abstinence (!), but even snatched 3rd place (although he almost crashed in the rhythm section of the 3rd straight and went over the handlebars)! The oldies class was once again a start-to-finish victory for Oliver K.i.e.n.z.l.e, who showed the other oldschoolers what a former vice world champion of the 80s is still capable of, despite his "killer bum". If you want to read the race results, you can do so below.

Award ceremony veteran class

Team award ceremony

We came up with a few extras for the 25th Veterans' Cup: In addition to the races, the beauty contest, a special shirt and stickers, this time there was also a bunny hop contest. 15 riders were entered to see how high they could jump with their bikes. In the end, three riders came out on top: Udo W.a.g.n.e.r in first place with a jump of 75 cm, ahead of Christian K.e.s.s with a height of 70 cm and Ralf M.a.u.r.i.t.z with a jump of 60 cm.

Even the best day comes to an end at some point. And even the best old-schoolers run out of breath sooner or later. Here you can see two well-known veterans whistling happily and contentedly together with the decoration doll on their last legs in the evening...:-)

The Veterans' Cup is now 25 years old in 2019. We had 23 events in Weiterstadt, twice (2006 in Ingersheim and 2009 in Weinheim) we had to switch to a different track, as the track in Weiterstadt was rebuilt in those years. There were a total of 739 start registrations with 286 different riders, which corresponds to an average of 29.6 riders per event. 157 riders have only competed once so far, 129 riders at least twice or more (top participation was 22 out of 25 participations). We had a lot of fun seeing old familiar faces again after many years. What's more, every year we enjoyed seeing beautiful bikes from the 80s and 90s. Unfortunately, there were always a few crashes and injuries during the races, but everyone always recovered and the OSBMX fans kept coming back.

What will happen next? We will continue to organise the Veterans Cup once a year in Weiterstadt. The schedule and the programme have proven themselves. In addition to the races in two classes (oldies class with bikes and clothing from the 80s and 90s and veterans class with modern bikes and clothing), the beauty contest with the exhibition and awarding of prizes for OSBMX bikes will also remain a fixed part of the programme. The now legendary T-shirt, which is redesigned and printed every year, will also be produced in the coming years.

Many thanks to my home club TSV Braunshardt, which has supported me and this Veterans Cup for 25 years now. Without the framework organisation such as track maintenance, registration, race organisation, paramedics, catering service and marshals, it would not be possible to hold this veterans' race. We will continue to tie the Veterans' Cup firmly to TSV Braunshardt and Weiterstadt in the future; what has proved its worth for 25 years will probably last another 25 years. Perhaps we will even see each other again in Weiterstadt in 2044, when the 50th Veterans' Cup is due! I hope to see you again in 2020 and celebrate the 26th Veterans' Cup in Weiterstadt together! All the best until then!

Ralf M.a.u.r.i.t.z.

P.S.: Most of the photos in this report were taken by Ralf M.a.u.r.i.t.z.

Results

25. Jubiläums-Veteranencup (2019, Weiterstadt)

Veteranenklasse 1. David M.o.l.i.n.a 2. Mark A.n.t.o.n.y 3. Andreas B.a.y.r 4. Stephan W.e.i.s 5. Felix W.i.e.g.a.n.d 6. Marcel S.p.a.n.g 7. Dirk W.a.e.h.l.e.r 8. Kevin R.a.p.p
Oldieklasse 1. Oliver K.i.e.n.z.l.e 2. Ralf M.a.u.r.i.t.z 3. Olaf K.l.e.i.n 4. Mark B.a.l.t.r.u.s.c.h 5. Christian K.e.e.s 6. Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h 7. Thomas K.o.l.l.e.r 8. Joerg A.r.n.o.l.d
Best-of- Bike-Show Robert H.o.c.h (GJS Big Tube)
King-of-Oldschool 1. Rini W.e.n.d.t (Redline PL 24) 2. Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h. (SE Racing 24") 3. Marc S.a.d.e.g.h.p.o.u.r (CW 24")
Beauty-Contest - AA Pro Klasse: 1. Marc S.c.h.o.e.l.z.l (Hutch Hollywood) 2. Stefan T.r.i.n.i (Jag BMX) 3. Lothar K.a.s.p.r.c.z.y.k (CW ZX Gold)
Beauty-Contest - A Pro Klasse: 1. Christian H.i.m.o.l.i.k (National Pro) 2. Juergen W.a.g.n.e.r (PK Ripper) 3. Joerg S.t.r.i.c.k.e.r (Redline PL 20)
Beauty-Contest - Pro Klasse: 1. Olaf K.e.h.s.e (PTR Racer) 2. Daniel D.o.l.o.v.a.c (Cycle Craft) 3. Sascha S.m.o.l.s.k.i (GT Pro Series)
Beauty-Contest - Cruiser: 1. Steffen Sander (Patterson PR 240) 2. Robert I.w.a.n.o.w.s.k.i (Torker 26") 3. Frank U.n.t.e.r.s.t.a.b (GHP 24")
Beauty-Contest - Freestyler: 1. Daniel S.c.h.u.m.a.n.n (PTR Trickstyler) 2. Torsten F.i.l.b.i.r (GT Pro Freestyle Tour) 3. Mike S.c.h.r.u.h.l (PT Pro Performer)
Team-Wertung 1. Team Holeshot (Dirk H.a.y.n.b.e.r.g, Olaf K.l.e.i.n, Christian K.e.e.s, Ralf M.a.u.r.i.t.z) 2. Team Die voegelfreien Oache sticht (Guido H.a.n.n.i.c.h, Joerg A.r.n.o.l.d, Christian P.e.n.n.o, Thomas K.o.l.l.e.r) 3. Team Medlin/Brackens (Oliver K.i.e.n.z.l.e, Costas L.a.c.h.a.n.i.d.i.s, Michael B.a.l.i.n.t, Mike T.o.l.l.o.w.i.t.z)
Bunny-Hopp-Contest: 1. Udo W.a.g.n.e.r (Hoehe 75 cm) 2. Christian K.e.e.s (Hoehe 70 cm) 3. Ralf M.a.u.r.i.t.z (Hoehe 60 cm)