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===== Champion Racing Frames =====
Many existing BMX bike makers successfully transitioned to mountain bikes, such as [[https://www.mongoose.com/|Mongoose]] and [[https://www.diamondback.com/|Diamondback]].  Many more made the attempt and failed.  Champion was one such, in whose failure there remains much DNA in today's mountain bikes.

Champion went from motorcycle to BMX in the 70's and either directly produced a few mountain bikes in the late 70's, or had customers adapting their frames into bmx style klunkers with gears.  In 1978, the founder of Champion died and the brand was auctioned off to Redline Bicycles and was not actively developed.


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{{champ.jpg?360|Champion Racing Products}}
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Champion Racing Products [[https://bmxsociety.com/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-6631-136160220866.jpg|bmxsociety]]
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===== 1979 Squareback 26 =====

Original 1979 custom build.  SunTour AG Tech, Cook Bros. hubs, Triton bear traps and much very vintage parts, pre-mountain bike.

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{{1979.jpg?300|1979 Squareback 26}}
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1979 Squareback 26 [[https://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/champion/42632|bmxmuseum]]
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<div column 50% #s1980>
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===== 1980 Squareback 26 =====

This example was created in 1980 by [[https://mmbhof.org/richard-cunningham/|Richard Cunningham]] who would later found
[[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Mantis.html|Mantis Bicycle Co.]] the next year.(([[https://bmxsociety.com/topic/29968-champion-squareback-build/|bmxsociety]])).  See also: [[mantis:start|Mantis]]
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{{1980.jpg?300|1980 Squareback 26}}
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Personal build by Richard Cunningham [[https://bmxsociety.com/topic/29968-champion-squareback-build/|bmxsociety]]

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===== Terry Knight =====
Terry Knight worked for Champion until 1978 and then left to create the [[lawwill:start|Lawwill-Knight Pro-Cruiser]] later that year.

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{{1975.jpg?160|1975 champion}}
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1975 Champion [[https://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/champion/80008|bmxmuseum]]
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Similar design DNA...
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{{lawwill:procruiser.jpg?160|1978 Pro Cruiser}}
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1978 Pro Cruiser[[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1978_Pro_Cruiser_Red.html|mombat]]
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==== Production Notes ====
<WRAP #prod1 />
[1].  No info available.