Name: Jeff Tollefson
Age: 41
Email: JTFreestyle@Yahoo.com
Web: www.JTFreestyle.com
What do you do for a living? Computer Network Manager
How long have you been collecting and building bikes? 1972 - present
What is your favorite bike to collect?
Really don't have a favorite since I rode in all generations of BMX but if I had to choose it would be
Torkers. Was coined the Torker Kid in '78.
What is your newest project?
Either my Dan Gurney Squareback or a Gary LittleJohn
Are you as passionate about BMX as you were in 1974?
Totally! Back in '74 I was just riding our MX track that I converted to BMX. I recruited more kids and we
would have "mob races!" Little kids in the front and the big guys in the rear. It taught the little kids to
go fast in which I created our BMX team with.
In 2000 I was involved in getting wheel parks built which led to organizing contests, camps, lessons,
and promoting. Now 33 years later I'm doin' the same things, racing a cruiser, freestyle shows, vintage
bike shows, and spreading the gospel of BMX to all!
I found out that you recently were in a race and won!! What is the story behind that?
Raced competitively from 1976 - 1984. With more and more old school guys coming out of the wood
work to ride again I thought I would get my first ever 24" cruiser. It was different but fun to get back out
on the track again after 23 years! A race was having a Vintage show and pit bike racing. I thought I
would try the pit bike race but no OSer's had a pit except for me. They convinced me to sign up for a
day ABA membership to race my cruiser. Never been to this track and after four gate starts I was lined
up with guys who raced before. Long story short, got a great snap and pedaled my butt off without
gettin' squirrely! I felt like I was back in 1981 again!
How did you go about developing a team of riders?
Having your own track behind your house is a big advantage. Many kids would come through and race
in our impromptu races. There I could see kids who had the talent of speed, control, positive attitude,
and loved BMX. It worked because all of our riders would podium and won rider never lost a race for
three years, total domination!
Did meeting Bob Haro change your life?
Yes! Was always doin' tricks growing up, rock walks, whip floaters, curb endos, etc. At the Rondo
Classic and hopped onto the elevator with Haro and Morales in it! I got in with my Torker and didn't
know what to say? Haro finally said, "Nice plate!" since I had a JT/Haro plate. I was like, "Yeah, it's
awesome and can't wait to see your guys show!" I couldn't believe I got to ride down the elevator with
them! At the show I was totally into it and they did a great performance! I couldn't wait to get home and
practice the only problem was I live in Minnesota and there's a ton of snow.
At my track we would race but chilled by doin' tricks on the jumps plus a ton of rollback tricks. It
became an obsession and in 1982 I did my first show by myself. Thanks to Bob for being at that race
and giving me something to see live or I probably wouldn't have gotten into frestyle as much as I did.
What is your favorite displine of riding and what is your favorite trick to do?
Freestyle you can do anywhere so I have to choose that even though I have had a great racing career.
A couple favorites, grip rides, quick spins, hitch hikers, and any form of wheelies.
How do you feel about the mondern day bikes, color designs etc?
Where's the chrome??? It seems to be makin' a comeback plus loud funky colors just like 1986. I still
have my 1982 Haro Freestyler and it took a beating but today's bikes are better handling, stronger,
lighter, and like the padded MacNeil seats, plug for my buddy Jay!
How did you get published in Ride BMX?
Was conversing about Old School BMX and how the Haro Freestyler came about with some of the RIDE
guys. Mentioned that I had built the prototype Torker Bob rode for Rockford and nobody knew what it
was? The RIDE staff thought that was gnarly enough to do an article about yesterday's bike 25 years
ago. Got an Email on Thanksgiving needing it within two days to make the deadline for the March 2007
issue. Did it that day from my Mom's house where I grew up in Duluth, Minnesota. My wife Carolyn took
one of the shots published and it was a fluke to build but ended up being really rememberable.
Emailed Haro about it and he was totally blown away that I had the bike and getting coverage in a
magazine like RIDE.
I was reading that you are teaching other riders how to ride a BMX bike. How many students
do you have and what kinds of things are they learning?
Actually I've been doing it my whole BMX career. Racing then turned into Freestyle clinics. One of the
difficulties with our sport is that things have progressed so much that kids hop on a bike then give up
right away. I tell them, "I'm as old as your Dad and if I can do it, you can!" Kids do not like getting
shown up by an adult!
At our local YMCA where I was a supervisor I got them to do bike camps so the kids could have the park
all to themselves. Asked Pro Tom Haugen, riding for Free Agent, to help out and he could show the
kids the big moves where I concentrated on getting kids to know the basics and to have FUN! From 4 -
18 years old we had a great mix of personalities and abilities. The parents were as jazzed as the kids
were...totally make my day when that happens.
How many hours a day to you get to ride on your bike?
My real job I put in around 2,300 hours a year so it's been difficult getting a lot of time in due to all the
projects or time spent with my wife Carolyn. When I do ride it's always 110% and totally fun!
How many Freestyle Shows do you prefom with in a years time?
Things started out great with five then my job took over. Also this year at a BMX race I was packing
down a new track and went over the bars and sprained both hands and thumbs so riding was not an
option for a couple of months.
Where will the next show be?
At an Elementry school here in the Twin Cities!
Any last Comments?
Just want to thank my Mom for putting up with all my crazy bike riding all these years. She always
wanted me to have fun and BMX gave me the outlet to express myself and to keep my physically fit.
Without her support and seeing what I believed in the whole time I wouldn't be the person I am.
BMX has given me so many opportunities for a kid in nowhere Minnesota which has blossomed into a
ton of cool friendships, businesses, crazy/fun riding, and accomplishing things that thought couldn't be
done yet succeeded!
Thanks for your support.
Mark, thanks for the opportunity!
JT
Age: 41
Email: JTFreestyle@Yahoo.com
Web: www.JTFreestyle.com
What do you do for a living? Computer Network Manager
How long have you been collecting and building bikes? 1972 - present
What is your favorite bike to collect?
Really don't have a favorite since I rode in all generations of BMX but if I had to choose it would be
Torkers. Was coined the Torker Kid in '78.
What is your newest project?
Either my Dan Gurney Squareback or a Gary LittleJohn
Are you as passionate about BMX as you were in 1974?
Totally! Back in '74 I was just riding our MX track that I converted to BMX. I recruited more kids and we
would have "mob races!" Little kids in the front and the big guys in the rear. It taught the little kids to
go fast in which I created our BMX team with.
In 2000 I was involved in getting wheel parks built which led to organizing contests, camps, lessons,
and promoting. Now 33 years later I'm doin' the same things, racing a cruiser, freestyle shows, vintage
bike shows, and spreading the gospel of BMX to all!
I found out that you recently were in a race and won!! What is the story behind that?
Raced competitively from 1976 - 1984. With more and more old school guys coming out of the wood
work to ride again I thought I would get my first ever 24" cruiser. It was different but fun to get back out
on the track again after 23 years! A race was having a Vintage show and pit bike racing. I thought I
would try the pit bike race but no OSer's had a pit except for me. They convinced me to sign up for a
day ABA membership to race my cruiser. Never been to this track and after four gate starts I was lined
up with guys who raced before. Long story short, got a great snap and pedaled my butt off without
gettin' squirrely! I felt like I was back in 1981 again!
How did you go about developing a team of riders?
Having your own track behind your house is a big advantage. Many kids would come through and race
in our impromptu races. There I could see kids who had the talent of speed, control, positive attitude,
and loved BMX. It worked because all of our riders would podium and won rider never lost a race for
three years, total domination!
Did meeting Bob Haro change your life?
Yes! Was always doin' tricks growing up, rock walks, whip floaters, curb endos, etc. At the Rondo
Classic and hopped onto the elevator with Haro and Morales in it! I got in with my Torker and didn't
know what to say? Haro finally said, "Nice plate!" since I had a JT/Haro plate. I was like, "Yeah, it's
awesome and can't wait to see your guys show!" I couldn't believe I got to ride down the elevator with
them! At the show I was totally into it and they did a great performance! I couldn't wait to get home and
practice the only problem was I live in Minnesota and there's a ton of snow.
At my track we would race but chilled by doin' tricks on the jumps plus a ton of rollback tricks. It
became an obsession and in 1982 I did my first show by myself. Thanks to Bob for being at that race
and giving me something to see live or I probably wouldn't have gotten into frestyle as much as I did.
What is your favorite displine of riding and what is your favorite trick to do?
Freestyle you can do anywhere so I have to choose that even though I have had a great racing career.
A couple favorites, grip rides, quick spins, hitch hikers, and any form of wheelies.
How do you feel about the mondern day bikes, color designs etc?
Where's the chrome??? It seems to be makin' a comeback plus loud funky colors just like 1986. I still
have my 1982 Haro Freestyler and it took a beating but today's bikes are better handling, stronger,
lighter, and like the padded MacNeil seats, plug for my buddy Jay!
How did you get published in Ride BMX?
Was conversing about Old School BMX and how the Haro Freestyler came about with some of the RIDE
guys. Mentioned that I had built the prototype Torker Bob rode for Rockford and nobody knew what it
was? The RIDE staff thought that was gnarly enough to do an article about yesterday's bike 25 years
ago. Got an Email on Thanksgiving needing it within two days to make the deadline for the March 2007
issue. Did it that day from my Mom's house where I grew up in Duluth, Minnesota. My wife Carolyn took
one of the shots published and it was a fluke to build but ended up being really rememberable.
Emailed Haro about it and he was totally blown away that I had the bike and getting coverage in a
magazine like RIDE.
I was reading that you are teaching other riders how to ride a BMX bike. How many students
do you have and what kinds of things are they learning?
Actually I've been doing it my whole BMX career. Racing then turned into Freestyle clinics. One of the
difficulties with our sport is that things have progressed so much that kids hop on a bike then give up
right away. I tell them, "I'm as old as your Dad and if I can do it, you can!" Kids do not like getting
shown up by an adult!
At our local YMCA where I was a supervisor I got them to do bike camps so the kids could have the park
all to themselves. Asked Pro Tom Haugen, riding for Free Agent, to help out and he could show the
kids the big moves where I concentrated on getting kids to know the basics and to have FUN! From 4 -
18 years old we had a great mix of personalities and abilities. The parents were as jazzed as the kids
were...totally make my day when that happens.
How many hours a day to you get to ride on your bike?
My real job I put in around 2,300 hours a year so it's been difficult getting a lot of time in due to all the
projects or time spent with my wife Carolyn. When I do ride it's always 110% and totally fun!
How many Freestyle Shows do you prefom with in a years time?
Things started out great with five then my job took over. Also this year at a BMX race I was packing
down a new track and went over the bars and sprained both hands and thumbs so riding was not an
option for a couple of months.
Where will the next show be?
At an Elementry school here in the Twin Cities!
Any last Comments?
Just want to thank my Mom for putting up with all my crazy bike riding all these years. She always
wanted me to have fun and BMX gave me the outlet to express myself and to keep my physically fit.
Without her support and seeing what I believed in the whole time I wouldn't be the person I am.
BMX has given me so many opportunities for a kid in nowhere Minnesota which has blossomed into a
ton of cool friendships, businesses, crazy/fun riding, and accomplishing things that thought couldn't be
done yet succeeded!
Thanks for your support.
Mark, thanks for the opportunity!
JT
| 2006 JTFreestyle Bike |
| 72 Sting Ray Bike |
| 81 Jason Jensen Replica |
1975 RL Stu Bike
| 1981 Bob Haro Torker |
| 1974 RL Square Back |
| 1980 Eddy King Torker Replica |
| 1979 Dennis Dain |