KLUNKERZ
“Klunkers” were the original mountain bikes raced down fire roads in the 1970’s. The bikes had no suspension and only coaster brakes but guys would race each other downhill in their flannel shirts and jeans. Most mountain bikers today (especially in central TX) have never heard of “Klunkers”
I approached Team Trail Party, Texas’s largest MTB Race Organizer, with a way to change this: I wanted to introduce the mountain bike community to its roots by hosting an “authentic” Klunker race at a bike park in Burnet, TX.
featured ON BIKEPACKING.COM
featured in singletrackS magazine
To make the race feel authentic, the marketing material, dress code and music were inspired by the 70’s. The photographers hired were chosen because of their “vintage” aesthetic. Merch designs were based off of images and quotes used at the original Klunker events and the bikes had to match the specs from the early races.
GETTING GROOVY
Each t-shirt in this design was tie-dyed by hand making them each one-of-a-kind.
One of a kind
The “Godfather” of Mountain Biking, Charlie Kelly, attended the race, signed merch and announced the winners. He was the first person to ever host a mountain bike race. I organized his visit from scheduling and booking flights to hosting while he was in town.
CHARLIE KELLY
State Bicycle Co. donated two of their “Klunker” bikes to be raffled off before & during the event. Spider Mountain Bike Park donated a Season Pass for the person who committed the most to the 70’s theme. Various other brands participated and contributed in other ways as well.
sponsors
I designed and hand-built all of the trophies for the event. I had plaques engraved with the logo but I crafted everything else myself.
trophies
The Klunker scene in Texas non-existent so there was no way to predict the participation and response from the community.
We ended up with:
40+ RACERS
200+ SPECTATORS
Team Trail Party and I decided to donate the proceeds from the race to the sports program at a local foster home- $5500 was raised to buy children bikes and other sports equipment.
The race was featured in Singletrack Magazine, Bikepacking.com and Bikes or Death Podcast.
A group in San Antonio now hosts weekly Klunker rides around town and cyclists from around the country reached out asking to bring the event to their city.