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Dirt Slinger Factory and Factory Team
Johnny Johnson posted a topic in Riding, Research & Collecting
I've had quite a few people ask me what Dirt Slinger is or was. Dirt Slinger was a company that was originally a brand out of San Diego that made a frame, fork, stem, and I believe grips as well. The company started back in the mid 70's. By 1978, it had faded away into obscurity. In late 1983, a San Diego distributor, Bicycle Parts Pacific (a.k.a. BPP) bought the name and had a company in Taiwan build a complete Dirt Slinger bicycle. They were shooting after the market that Diamond Back had done so well with the Silver Streak. Bicycle Parts Pacific also was a distributor for OMAS road, track, and BMX products (hubs, headsets, and bottom brackets). BPP built a team of San Diego riders to help promote Dirt Slinger. The 1983 Dirt Slinger/ OMAS Factory Team (with a co-sponsor from Zumwalt's Bike Shop) was Bill Parisen (17x), Jimmy Taylor (16x and cruiser), Johnny Johnson (15x), and Mikey King (14x) and Jeff Little (14x). Jeff Little was the youngest and biggest guy on the team 6 feet tall and 210 lbs. He quit BMX a month later to pursue Varsity football football as a freshman. The first team appearance was King, Parisen, and Taylor at the ESPN Pro Spectacular in the Burbank Esquestrian Center Nov. 28, 1983. The second team appearance was myself, Taylor, and King at the 1983 Jag World Championships in Burbank Ca. Mike King got a third in 14x. We got hooked up with DT spokes (t-shirts and decals too). They had a distribution deal with BPP. DID I RUN THE FRAME?-- I ran the Dirt Slinger frame for a few weeks. It was too short for me. I raced a Pro sized Hutch frame, forks, and bars with D.S. decals on the head tube, down tube, seat tube, and seat stays, bars, ect. Everyone else on the team ran the Dirt Slinger frame. MIKE KING-- Mike King was on Dirt Slinger from November 1983 till Mid March 1984. Huffy team manager Bob Hadley, approached Mike at the CW Racing sponsored NBL War Of The Stars race at Devonshire Downs (North Ridge, California). He offered King a full sponsorship with Huffy. Eight months later, Mike became the ABA national number one amateur. 1984 BMXA/ NBL Del Mar Nationals Pat Lierly (Inky's), Johnny Johnson (Dirt Slinger/ OMAS), Dex Arcibald (starter) Johnny Johnson (Dirt Slinger / OMAS), Dex Arcibald (starter), Timmy Taylor Mike King (Dirt Slinger), Tracey Tsuda, and Scott Mitchell (SE) at Kearny Moto Park. Early 1984. Newspaper article. Mike King (Dirt Slinger) running over Doug Davis (Diamond Back) and Carl Butler (JMC). Also in the photo Peter Casano (Tioga), Darwin Griffin's foot (Mongoose), Robby Taft #4 (GHP) and Tosh Muriviov (hidden behind King) 1983 Jag World Championships. Burbank California. Dec. 1983