Danny Nelson

Daniel Lee Nelson (born May 3, 1975 in Simi Valley, California, U.S.) is a former American professional "Mid & Current School" Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years are from 1993 to 2003. His nickname is "Thunder".

Racing career milestones

Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.

Started racing: In 1981 at six years of age at the Teen Center in Van Nuys, California. He was riding with older kids one day and since they appreciated his talent of being "the wheelie king" of the neighborhood at such a young age they suggested he try racing. to devote himself to a new business he was partnered in. He made his formal announcement in a speech to the spectators to the ABA Fall Nationals in Del Mar, California on October 26, 2003 stating it was time to move on.

Height & weight at height of her career: Ht:6'4" Wt:200 lbs. In the NBL "B" Pro/Super Class/"A" Pro/Junior Elite Men depending on the era; in the ABA it is "A" Pro. In the NBL it is "AA" Pro/Elite Men; in the ABA it is "AA" Pro.

Career factory and major bike shop sponsors

Note: This listing only denotes the racer's primary sponsors. At any given time a racer could have numerous co-sponsors. Primary sponsorships can be verified by BMX press coverage and sponsor's advertisements at the time in question. When possible exact dates are given.

Amateur Robinson Racing: 1981-Early November 1983 GT (Gary Turner) Racing: Early November 1983-December 1986 Robinson Racing: January 1987-November 1991 GT Bicycles: November 1991-December 1992. GT underwent a minor name change since his first term with GT. Powerlite Industries: December 1992-December 2000. Nelson will turn pro with this sponsor.

Professional Powerlite Industries: December 1992-December 2000 Hot Wheels/GT Bicycles/Troy Lee Designs: December 2000-October 2001 Troy Lee Designs: October 2001-Mid December 2001. Troy Lee became Nelson's primary sponsor between GT and Giant. Giant/Troy Lee: Late December 2001-October 2003. After the NBL Grand Nationals just before Giant Bicycles dropped the Professional members of its team. He would retire within weeks to pursue a business opportunity. He is a winner of the 1999 VISA/USAC Athletes of the Year Award. He also received US$1,000 in prize money.

Significant injuries Suffered a knee injury high jumping at school in approximately May 1985. Injury side lined him until the ABA Grand Nationals in November 1985. Had post season knee surgery in December 1990. Inflamed knee in late summer of 1992. Missed the ABA Midwest nationals but was back by the next ABA national. Pulled his groin in the Summer of 1999. He was laid up for one race, coming back for the ABA Mile High Nationals.

Racing habits and traits

Miscellaneous

Post BMX career Nelson retired immediately after the 2003 NBL Grandnationals ending his 23-year career to pursue a business opportunity of being a partner in a thrift store. His workload of helping to run this new business and racing was impacting both his opportunity with the business and racing. As he said at the time in an interview that was printed in the February 2004 issue of Transworld BMX:

The full, illustrated website version of the interview, originally posted on January 8, 2004, can be seen here.

BMX and general press magazine interviews and articles "Around the States in 48 days" BMX Action December 1987 Vol.12 No.12 pg.58 Mini interview conducted along with teammates "Chicken" George Severs and Robert Swick also interviewed while the GT Racing team was on tour during the summer of 1987. "The Quiet Sound of Thunder..." Snap BMX Magazine July/August 1997 Vol.4 No.4 Iss.17 pg.53 "Danny Nelson: Heavy Thunder and New Reign" Snap BMX Magazine January 2000 Vol.7 Iss.1 No.39 pg.78 "Thunder Rolls Out" Transworld BMX February 2004 Vol.11 Iss.2 No.88 pg.17 Brief article on reason for Nelson's retirement.

BMX magazine covers

Note: (defunct) denotes that the magazine was out of business before the career of the racer started.

Bicycle Motocross News: None (defunct) Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX: None Bicycle Motocross Action & Go: February 1991 Vol.2 Iss.4 in center in with freestyler Todd Lyons in the left insert and freestyler Ron Wilkerson in the right insert. (Go) BMX Plus!: December 1993 Vol.16 No.12 (51) ahead of Steve Veltman. In insert freestyler Dave Mirra. June 1998 Vol.21 No.6 (6) with Kiyomi Waller (18). Total BMX:

Bicycles and Dirt: None Snap BMX Magazine & Transworld BMX: Snap BMX Magazine May/June 1996 Vol.3 Iss.3 No.10 Launching of the starting gate with Mike King (25) directly to his left. To his right is Six unidentified racers. Waiting his turn on the starting gate directly behind Mike King is Greg Romero (6). Snap BMX Magazine May 2000 Vol.7 Iss.5 No.43 (1) slightly behind Matt Pohlkamp (7) and Eric Abbadessa (9). In top insert Brian Foster. Twenty BMX:

Moto Mag: None BMX World:

NBA World & NBmxA World (The official NBA/NBmxA publication):

Bicycles Today & BMX Today (The official NBL publication; one name change): June 1983 (BToday) ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer (Three incarnations of the official ABA publication): American BMXer June 1985 Vol.7 No.4 USBA Racer (The official USBA membership publication):