1977 Schwinn Tornado - BMXmuseum.com

This photo was taken on my 6th birthday.  I wanted a BMX bike so badly, and the local Schwinn dealer had this one on the showroom floor.  Before my 6th birthday, I would ask my folks to stop in there so I could drool over it.  I probably did a bit of begging on par for a 5 1/2 year old.  We went to dinner on my birthday and came home without stopping at the Schwinn dealer.  I got home and was disappointed: No Tornado.  Then, my dad called me out to the garage where he had it hidden behind a wrestling mat.  He pulled it away and this picture was taken moments later.  Over the next few years, I hit the neighborhood dirt mounds daily.  I removed the chainguard and fenders, and lost the bread loaf seat in exchange for a short BMX saddle and swapped out the tires for knobbies.  Then, I nearly lost my life when my dad caught me trying to remove the kickstand weld with a crowbar and a mini sledge.  Sadly, the only thing left of this bike is the picture.  I might try to rebuild one soon.