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Actor

1982-12-14 · Goussainville, France · Male

10 series in the catalog

Edward King (born October 9, 1964, in the Philippines (in 1970 his family settled in Chula Vista, California)) is an "Old School" former professional Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1977 to 1985.

Eddy King is the elder of a sibling combinations of Mike & Eddy King in BMX racing. Only the brother combinations of Ronnie & Richie Anderson and Brent & Brian Patterson were more successful. His best known nickname "King Edward" is an obvious play on his name feeding off of the cultural knowledge of famous British kings named Edwards. Other nicknames included "Silver Bullet" "Eddy the King" and "The Dynamic Duo" which he shared with Diamondback teammate Harry Leary. He was particularly dominant as an amateur winning most of his racing titles at that stage of his career. He would go on to be a professional for the remaining six years of his 14-year career. King would stay his entire professional career with Diamondback and would be associated with that company.

Racing career milestones

Retired: In February 1989. He was 24 years old. He retired after his contract with Diamondback expired. He was basically burned out of the sport and felt it was time to do other things:

Sparky: "Most of us from time to time decide to more on from companies of employment, but was there any particular reason for leaving DB, was it simply to progress your career?"Eddy: "I was tired and my body was tired. I had just purchased a new home and I wanted more time to pursue other interests and move forward in a different direction in life. Racing left little to no time for anything but racing, training, traveling, product development, and photo shoots. That is why I retired."

The 1988 ABA Grandnational in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for Eddy King represented a changing of the guard. It was the same race in which his younger brother Mike King won the 1988 ABA National No.1 pro title. Eddy himself came in sixth place in Pro Open, winning US$210 (US$367.99 in 2007). Eddy King's last race as a Senior Pro was the ABA Winternationals on February 19, 1989. He came in eighth place last in "AA" pro. He would race on at least two more occasions post retirement. He raced in the ABA Springnationals in Bakersfield, California on March 20 & 21, 1993 in the new Veteran Pro class with fellow retired pros including Tommy Brackens, Perry Kramer and Rod Beckering. He came in fourth on Saturday and fifth on Sunday. His old teammate Harry Leary won both days. He also raced Veteran Pro at the ABA Fall Nationals in Burbank, California on October 22, 1994, coming in sixth with Brian Patterson winning the event.

Career factory and major bike-shop sponsors

Amateur

S & W Bike Shop: January 1975-Early 1976

The Bike shop of El Cajon: Early 1976-March 1977

The Bike shop of El Cajon/D.G. Performance Specialties (The initials stood for Dan Hangsleben, Gary Harlow): March 1977-May 1977 Support team with "The Bike Shop of El Cajon" being his main sponsor.

Wheels N' Things/R & R (Rick Ankron & Rick Varner) Racing: May 1977-June 1978

Wheels N' Things/Torker Engineering: June 1978-Fall 1978

Torker Engineering: Fall 1978-September 1980 Originally King was co-sponsored by Torker. Then in the Fall of 1978 King became full factory Torker at the US Nationals.

Diamond Back (Centurion): September 1980-February 1989. As with his very first sponsor, S & W Bike Shop, King was recruited by Diamondback. Eddy would turn pro with this sponsor.

Professional

Diamond Back: September 1980-February 1989. Diamond Back was the only sponsor of Eddy King's professional career.

Amateur

National Bicycle Association (NBA)

1976,'77,'78 San Diego District No.1

1976 11 Boys California Cup Champion*

1976 10-11 Expert California State Champion

1977 12 Expert Champion in RC Cola/Two Wheeler's Race of Champions Invitational

The RC Cola/Two Wheeler's Race of Champions was a seven race NBA series sponsored by RC Cola and Two Wheelers. Racers raced six regional qualifying races in California and Arizona. Only racers who made at least the semi-finals or mains (if the class was too small for a semi final) were invited to race the Championship event held on May 15, 1977 in Gardena, California at Ascot Park.

1977 12 Expert District Championships Champion.

1978 13 Expert California State Champion

1978 14 Expert National No.1

1979 15 Expert Grandnational Champion

National Bicycle League (NBL)

1981 16 & Over Expert Grandnational Champion

1982 17 Expert Grandnational Champion

1982 17 Expert National No.3

Bicycle Motocross Association of San Diego (BMXA)

1976 No.3

International Bicycle Motocross (iBMX)

1976 11 boys Grandnational Champion

United Bicycle Racers (UBR)

American Bicycle Association (ABA)

1982 17 Expert Northeastern Gold Cup Champion

United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)

None

International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)

None

Independent race series and invitationals:

*The California Cup was a non sanctioned series of three qualifying races held at three tracks (for a total of nine separate races) in three different regions of Northern California. Then the finals were held. The series was sponsored and promoted by BX-Weekly Magazine, a BMX newspaper and Rick Ankron & Rick Varner (R&R) Racing Products. The finals were held at the famous Corona Raceway on September 5, 1976. Side note: Brian Patterson came in second in 11 Boys behind Eddy King.

Professional

National Bicycle Association (NBA)

None

National Bicycle League (NBL)

None

United Bicycle Racers (UBR)

American Bicycle Association (ABA)

None

United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)

None

International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)

1987 Second Place Silver Medal World Champion.

Notable accolades

Named one of the "Terrible Ten", BMX Action's pick of fastest amateur racers in the world in 1983

Named Pro Rookie of the Year for 1983 by BMX Action magazine.

Eddy King is a 1989 Inductee to the ABA BMX Hall of Fame.

BMX Product Lines

1979 Torker "Eddy King" complete bicycle.

Product evaluations:

Significant injuries

Received a broken right foot at the 1987 ABA Gilley's Nationals in Pasadena, Texas on March 7, when someone ran over it after going down in a collision.

Suffered a hand injury at the First Annual Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Gravity Powered Vehicle (GPV) and Ramp Jam in Palm Springs, California in June 1987. He was laid up until the ABA National in Ogden, Utah.

Miscellaneous

In an interview in the August 1987 issue of BMX Action Eddy King admitted that himself and allegedly Harry Leary along with four other people considered using anabolic steroids to race since BMX tracks at that time was focused on the power racer more than the racer that relied more on finesse and jumping ability. He also stated that he knew of a couple of racers that actually used them:

"Right now, pro racing is all power. I know of a couple of pros who are taking steroids and about half a dozen have looked at it, including myself and Harry. The doctors told us, 'No way. Don't do it.' Maybe the association will have to crack down on it like in other sports. Or change the tracks." ---BMX Action August 1987

Ironically, the tracks did change from an emphasis in power to those of skill and finesse in the mid-1990s. During this time comparatively small framed pro racers like Alan and Brian Foster and in the early 21st century Mario Soto and Donny Robinson racers that relied on finesse to make up for a lack of power started to do well. This coupled with drug testing instituted by the ABA in the late 1990s and later by the NBL, USA Cycling and the UCI, allegations of steroid use against BMX racers-either out of jealousy or real knowledge-fell.

Post BMX career

After retiring after the 1988 season, Eddy King became a full-time real estate broker (fellow BMX racer Cheri Elliott would become one as well approximately 14 years later after her mountain bike (MTB) racing career). Indeed, his career in…