Tommy Brackens

Tommy Brackens
Personal information
Full nameTommy Lee Brackens
NicknameThe Human Dragster
Born (1960-11-20) November 20, 1960 (age 63)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight79.4–81.6 kg (175–180 lb)
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineBicycle Motocross (BMX)
RoleRacer
Rider typeOff Road
Amateur teams
1979City of Bicycles
1980The Pedal Shop of North Hollywood
1980JAG BMX
Professional teams
1981JAG BMX
1981-1983Powerlite
1983-1984Torker BMX Products
1984-1986GT Racing
1987KHS
1987-1988World Class Racing/KHS
1988-1990Brackens Racing

Tommy Lee Brackens (born November 20, 1960) is an American former professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer. His prime competitive years were from 1980 to 1988.

His nickname was "The Human Dragster", so named for his adeptness at getting the "Holeshot", or getting out in front literally at the drop of the starting gate and leading the other competitors down the first straight and into the first turn. The moniker was coined by Bob Hunt, an NBL announcer at the 1982 NBL Grand Nationals that Tommy raced in.[1] Many racers received their monikers from the pithy play by play race announcers.

Tommy Brackens was a former motorcycle motocross (MX) racer that made the switch to BMX in 1977 (he would return to MX after his BMX career). Quiet, shy and highly likable he was believed to have all the talents to be truly a top level racer. If Mr. Brackens was likable he had a strong desire to be liked. One of his goals was to be voted as the fan favorite among kids as their favorite racer; "...to be the people's favorite is my goal." he said.[2] That goal was fulfilled in 1987 When he won BMX Action's Number One Racer Award (NORA) Cup for that year.

Unfortunately his inconsistency prevented him from winning a national number one plate for any association amateur or professional. The closest was a National No. 2 with the NBL in 1986. He failed to transfer out of his semi (crashed) while only a few points behind the eventual No.1 for that year, Pete Loncarevich (who was not doing well himself at the time and barely qualified for the main). However, he did win the 1986 IBMXF World Championship. 1986 was a good year by any measure.

  1. ^ Super BMX February 1983 Vol.10 No.2 pg.26
  2. ^ BMX Plus! April 1983 Vol.6 No.4 pg.58