2012 INDUCTEE GABE GIRAUD
Gabe Giraud started racing BMX in 1981 at the Northeast Lincoln YMCA track. One of Nebraska’s first BMX families – the Cechs were his neighbors and his friend Matt Cech got him started. His first race was a disaster…his seat fell off, his bars were crooked but somehow he got third. A few weeks later he got a CYC Stormer and it was on. He started winning right away.
Gabe raced all over Nebraska, at the Lincoln YMCA, Gnarlsbad BMX in Omaha, Crete, Beatrice, York, Council Bluffs, and Sioux City. He turned expert on a trip up to Minnesota, at Rochester BMX. He began the 1982 season by winning the Cornhusker Cup race at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. He raced indoors at the Flying D horse barns by Pioneers Park in Lincoln.
Gabe was a “Taylor Meadows” local which was the name for the legendary trails that became the riding area for Hall of Famers Greg Grubbs and Joe Baumert.
In 1988 Gabe started racing at Papillion BMX and York. In 1989 he was asked to race for the Earl’s Bike Shop team, along with Scott Ackerman, Wade Uldrich, Matt Beatem, Randy Frost, and Dusty and Elisha Thoms. That year he made his first National main, getting a 5th in 15 Expert at the Summer Nationals in Jenks, Oklahoma. In 1989 Gabe was #2 in points on 20 Inch and #1 in Cruiser for the State of Nebraska.
In 1990 Gabe raced for the Papio Pedal Power Co-Factory Kastan team making many National mains and finishing Nebraska Number 2 on both 20 Inch and Cruiser.
In 1992 I was asked to be on the JerryCo Motors BMX team, with J.P. Fellin, Robbie Richard, Scott Ackerman, and Brent and Jason Protiva. He made the mains at almost every national he entered, began to beat the factory riders and ended up the year National Age Group #9. He ended the season Number One in the State on both 20 Inch and Cruiser.
In 1993 he was asked to be part of the S&S BMX team, out of Pflugerville, Texas – they were one of the best teams in the country. He contributed to them winning Team Trophy both days at an ABA National in Canton, Ohio. He won his first big National that year at the famous Dallas County Cycle Park BMX track in Dallas Texas, beating TJ Johnson of Tangent fame, and Chris Ham former National #2 Vet Pro, on what was their home track.
In 2006 while living in Eureka, California, he decided to make a comeback, only to be injured. He says his BMX days are now done – but not by choice. Gabe Giraud was inducted into the Nebraska BMX Hall of Fame on August 18th, 2012.
