Collectors Corner with Joe Vasquez

When did you start collecting? I've seriously started collecting about 2 years ago thanks to my friend
getting me hooked onto ebay.

What originally got you started? Ebay. Ever since i found out about ebay, I was surprised to see a lot
of old vintage bikes that i wanted as a kid. Now that i make a decent living, I'm able to get the bikes that
I've always wanted as a kid.

How long have you been collecting? Since i was a kid. I have a hard time parting with the bikes that
i use to ride that are vintage now. I still have parts from my 87 gt pro freestyle tour which was my first
real freestyle bike.

What is your favourite bike to collect? Vintage wise 87 GT freestyle bikes, pro freestyle tours
mostly, but i like the performers too. Eventually, I want to have every Color from that year. I'm almost
there. i also like to collect Haros. Most of the ones that I have are the Mirra and Nyquist bikes. I do have
and 88 team master f/f that i got from rockabilly jay through Vintage BMX

What is your current restoration project? Right now, all of them. I have a blue 87 gt pro freestyle
tour that i haven't taken the time to clean up yet. Mark got to ride my current 87 gt pro freestyle tour
that i have built up.

How many bikes do you have in your collection? Including bikes and f/f id say over 30 easily. in
my garage, i have about 15 bikes built up. Everything else is in boxes.

Is there any one bike that brings back special memories? My blue 87 GT. I had one back in 93
that got stolen from school. One of the worst days of my life.

Is there a bike that you don't have that you still want to build? Probably a RL General, maybe a
Haro Sport.

What was your first restore? My blue 87 gt. It was dirty when i got it, but when i cleaned it up, the
paint was still nice and bright. I put on some peregrine super pro wheels,and i put on a 2 piece gt
sprocket that was nos. .

What was your very first bike that you can remember riding as a kid? I think a red and white
Murry. I did have one of those Huffy Sigmas when they came out back in 87.

Any last comments you would like to say to every one? Id like to say thank you to my girlfriend for
putting up with me about my collecting and ebaying. id also like to thank everyone at vintage bmx and
bmx freestyler and all of the other web sites for keeping the sport alive and well on the internet. and
also mark and his wife for stopping by my house and letting me share my collection with them. you guys
are the best. As Mark would say, "keep on riding!"