Kenneth Henry May (born April 5, 1970 from
Sacramento, California
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento C ...
,
U.S.
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
) is a former American professional "Old/Mid School"
Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1985 to 2000.
His best known nickname is "May Day", a play on words involving his last name and the international call of distress
Mayday
Mayday is an emergency procedure word used internationally as a distress signal in voice-procedure radio communications.
It is used to signal a life-threatening emergency primarily by aviators and mariners, but in some countries local organiza ...
which was in turn prompted by his hard charging "go-for-it" racing determined to come in first no matter what the cost. It often lead him to be carried off the race track in a stretcher. His being knocked out after a severe wreck (despite having a helmet on) during the 1986
American Bicycle Association
The American Bicycle Association (ABA) was a US-based BMX sports governing body in Gilbert, Arizona. In 2011, the ABA merged with the former National Bicycle League and became the current USA BMX. The organization was founded by Merl Mennenga ...
(ABA) Grand Nationals being a case in point. He often managed to recover quickly enough to be in the next moto (heat) of racing to take the win and transfer to the main. Incidents like this also earned him the alternate nickname of "Mayhem",
[''Go'' December 1989 Vol.1 No.2 pg.68] another play on his name and his predilection for wrecking on the race track and his aggressiveness toward other racers while racing and not.
Racing career milestones
Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.
Started racing: 1979 at approximately 10 years old at the Auburn DeWitt track. After racing for approximately two years he quit in 1983 after burnout. He returned to racing in 1985.
[''American BMXer'' August 1989 Vol.11 No.7 pg.18]
Sanctioning body:
First race result: Last place. He broke his hand in this race.
[
First win (local):
Home sanctioning body district(s): American Bicycle Association (ABA) CA-11 (1985)
First sponsor:
First national win:
Turned Professional: December 1, 1989 at 19 years of age.
First Professional race result: First place in "A" pro at the 1990 ]American Bicycle Association
The American Bicycle Association (ABA) was a US-based BMX sports governing body in Gilbert, Arizona. In 2011, the ABA merged with the former National Bicycle League and became the current USA BMX. The organization was founded by Merl Mennenga ...
(ABA) in Reno, Nevada
Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada-California border, about north from Lake Tahoe, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World". Known for its casino and tourism industry, Reno is the ...
(Day 1) on January 13, 1990. He won US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
525, the equivalent to US$826.26 in 2007
Cost of Living Calculator
He also won Pro Cruiser winning US$250 (US$393.46 in 2007).
First Professional win: See above.
First Junior Pro* win: See above.
First Senior Pro** race result: Disqualified for the day for fighting with Alex Pflug (pronounced "Flewg"[''American BMXer'' May 1990 Vol.12 No.4 pg.15 ("Thanx Box")]) in the first moto after they collided in the third turn at the 1990 ABA Winter Nationals in Chandler, Arizona
Chandler is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, and a suburb in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). It is bordered to the north and west by Tempe, to the north by Mesa, to the west by Phoenix, to the ...
on February 18. He hit Pflug with a right hook to the head.[''BMX Plus!'' June 1990 Vol.13 No.6 pg.20]
First Senior Pro win: In "AA" pro at the ABA Supernationals in El Paso, Texas
El Paso (; "the pass") is a city in and the county seat, seat of El Paso County, Texas, El Paso County in the western corner of the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 population of the city from the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau w ...
on March 31, 1990.
Retired: Sometime in late 1992.[''American BMXer'' January/February 1993 Vol.15 No.1 pg.48] He appeared to have just unceremoniously dropped out of racing during 1992.
Height & weight at height of his career (1988–1998): Ht:6'1" Wt:197 lbs.
*In the NBL it is B"/Superclass/"A" pro (beginning with 2000 season); in the ABA it is "A" pro.
**In the NBL it is "A" 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 ever changing 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
*Boss Racing Products: 1985
*Spinners (bicycle shop): 1986-Late February 1987.
*Free Agent: Late February 1987 – November 1989.
*Vision/Free Agent: November 1989-Late 1992 Starting in November 1989 Vision Street Wear, a casual apparel maker and Free Agent shared sponsorship of the team, similar to Vans/MCS joint venture. Kenny May turned pro with this sponsor.
Professional
*Vision/Free Agent: November 1989 – 1992.
*L&S (''L''ucia & ''S''on) Racing: 1992. L&S was started by the same person who previously owned U.S. Boss Racing Products, Carlo Lucia. He retired sometime in late in the season.
Career bicycle motocross titles
Note: Listed are District, State/Provincial/Department, Regional, National, and International titles in ''italics''. "Defunct" refers to the fact of that sanctioning body in question no longer existing at the start of the racer's career or at that stage of his/her career. Depending on point totals of individual racers, winners of Grand Nationals do not necessarily win National titles. Series and one off Championships are also listed in block.
Amateur
National Bicycle Association (NBA)
*None
National Bicycle League (NBL)
*1987 16 Cruiser Grandnational Champion
*''1988 17 Expert National No.1''
*1989 18 & Over Expert and 18–20 Cruiser Grandnational Champion
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
*''1985 14 Expert Winter Season California 11 CA-1 District Age Group (DAG) No.1''
*''1986 CA-11 District No.1''
*1986 15 Cruiser Canadian-American (CAN-AM) Champion
*1987 16 Expert U.S. Gold Cup West Champion.
*1987 16 Expert and 16 Cruiser Grandnational Champion
*''1987 National 16 Expert No.1 (NAG)†''
*1989 17–21 Cruiser Grandnational Champion
*''1988 National No.1 Amateur and No.1 Cruiser'' He also won a Honda Reflex Motocross Motorcycle for each title.
*1989 17 & Over Expert U.S. Gold Cup West Champion
*1989 17 & Over Expert Honda East Vs. West Shootout "Future Pro" Champion.
*1989 17 & Over Expert Grandnational Champion
*''1989 17 & Over Expert National No.1 (NAG)''
*1989 17–21 Cruiser National No.3
United States Bicycle Motocross Association The United States Bicycle Association (USBA) was a short-lived Bicycle Motocross (BMX) national sanctioning body based in Tempe, Arizona. It was founded in March 1984 by five former members of the American Bicycle Association (ABA): Rich Mann, Dave ...
(USBA)
*None
†NAG=National Age Group
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
*1989 Superclass 24" (Cruiser) World Champion*
*He won this title after he protested that the racer who had crossed the line first in a close main event race, Bas De Bever, had interfered with him unfairly when the two got entangled with each other but stayed up to finish one and two. The IBMXF track officials sided with Kenny May and awarded him first place, much to the Brisbane, Australia
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...
audience's displeasure, who made it known to May for the rest of the event in the form of booing, cursing and hissing lavishly."[
]
Professional
National Bicycle Association The National Bicycle Association (NBA), later known as the National Bicycle Motocross Association (NbmxA), was a United States-based Bicycle Motocross (BMX) sports sanctioning body originally based in Soledad, California that was created by Ernie ...
(NBA)
*None (defunct)
National Bicycle League
The National Bicycle League (NBL) was a United States–based Bicycle Motocross (BMX) sports sanctioning body originally based in Deerfield Beach, Florida, but after several moves it was based in Hilliard, Ohio. It was created by George Edward Ess ...
(NBL)
*''1990 National No.1 Pro Cruiser''
*''1990 National No.3 in All Pro, National No.2 Super Cruiser''
American Bicycle Association
The American Bicycle Association (ABA) was a US-based BMX sports governing body in Gilbert, Arizona. In 2011, the ABA merged with the former National Bicycle League and became the current USA BMX. The organization was founded by Merl Mennenga ...
(ABA)
*1990 "AA" Pro U.S. Gold Cup East Champion
*''1990, 1991 National No. 1 Pro Cruiser''
*1990 "Pros in Paradise" Champion*
United States Bicycle Motocross Association The United States Bicycle Association (USBA) was a short-lived Bicycle Motocross (BMX) national sanctioning body based in Tempe, Arizona. It was founded in March 1984 by five former members of the American Bicycle Association (ABA): Rich Mann, Dave ...
(USBA)
*None (defunct)
*The Pros in Paradise was a championship series by the ABA that awarded the winner of the series a week vacation in Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
and cash in the form of a direct award of US$500 spending money. Also, the ABA purchased back the points the racer earned during the season up to the finals at a rate of $5 for each of the 116 points the eventual winner, Kenny May accumulated, which tabulated to US$580. In total May won US$1080.
United States Bicycle Motocross Association The United States Bicycle Association (USBA) was a short-lived Bicycle Motocross (BMX) national sanctioning body based in Tempe, Arizona. It was founded in March 1984 by five former members of the American Bicycle Association (ABA): Rich Mann, Dave ...
(USBA)
*None
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
Independent Pro Series Championships and Invitationals
Notable accolades
*Named one of ''BMX Action's'' "Terrible Ten" of top amateurs and future pros of 1988.
*Named fourth out of 21 racers deemed BMX's Hottest Amateurs in 1988 from a ''BMX Plus!'' poll of seven team managers which included Don Crupi of MCS, Mike Seevers of GT, Yvonne Shoup of Free Agent, Dave Custodero of Mongoose, Mike Donell of Revcore, Bill Nelson of Robinson and Racer/Team Manager of Diamond Back Harry Leary
Harry may refer to:
TV shows
* ''Harry'' (American TV series), a 1987 American comedy series starring Alan Arkin
* ''Harry'' (British TV series), a 1993 BBC drama that ran for two seasons
* ''Harry'' (talk show), a 2016 American daytime talk show ...
.
Significant injuries
*Broke hand in his very first race in 1979[
]
Racing habits and traits
May had a "go for broke" racing style that often would result in him wrecking on the track and resulting in his injury. Indeed, he broke his hand in his very first race in 1979[ He acknowledged his predilections for on track mishaps in an interview:]
''Gork: "What's with you and crashing?"''
''Kenny: "I dunno. When I crash, I crash HARD! I give it all. I ride 125 percent. And if I'm going down, I'm going to go down giving it 125 percent."''
-----''American BMXer'' May 1990
His aggressiveness also had a penchant to be displayed very graphically on his face:
''"Kenny May is pretty hardcore. His quickness is attributed more to his determination and aggressiveness than it is his riding style. This can easily be identified by his facial expressions during a race—gritting teeth, wide eyed, loud huffing, snot spouting from his nose, saliva drooling out of the corner of his mouth, etc.''" ----''BMX Action'' June 1988
Kenny May was possibly the most arressive racer towards other competetores BMX had since the days of "Crazy" Ronnie Anderson in the mid-1980s. In Ronnie Anderson fashion, he liked to "trash talk
Trash talk is a form of insult usually found in sports events, although it is not exclusive to sports or similarly characterized events. It is often used to intimidate the opposition and/or make them less confident in their abilities as to win e ...
" the competition to get a psychological advantage. Sometimes this "trash talk" would provoke a physical altercation with another racer as it did with Joe Pinkney at the 1988 NBL Tanglewood Spring Nationals in Clemmons, North Carolina. It resulted in Pinkney having a dislocated shoulder.
On November 29, 1989 during the ABA Grandnationals in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, and ...
in a heavily contested race for the title of No.1 Amateur Cruiser that year, Kenny May had to be restrained by security guards to keep him from assaulting James Prichard (of whom he had several previous disputes with). In this case he thought made an overly aggressive pass during his 17–21 Cruiser main in the second turn while Kenny was leading. Kenny went down in the turn, costing him any chance of the 1989 amateur Cruiser title. As the guards and Yvonne Shoup restrained "a snorting mad" May, Prichard's family retreated to other environs after Prichard's last race.
As noted in the "First Senior Pro Race result" category above Kenny May was disqualified for fighting with another racer, Alex Pflug (pronounced "Puf-lug"[) They collided in the third turn in the first moto at the 1990 ABA Winter Nationals in ]Chandler, Arizona
Chandler is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, and a suburb in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). It is bordered to the north and west by Tempe, to the north by Mesa, to the west by Phoenix, to the ...
on February 18. In on report, he hit Pflug with a right hook to the head in response.[ May was disqualified for the day. May was asked and gave his side about the incident in a brief interview with ''Go'' magazine:]
''"We were coming out of the first corner and I was in third and Alex was in fourth and he pulled up next to me. I slipped my pedal coming off the drop-off. Then going into the second corner, just before the doubles he shoved me off the track and I missed the doubles. I was still in third, beating him into the third turn, and he came up on the inside and deliberately took me over the berm. THEN, he pushed me before I had even said anything to him, so I slapped him in the helmet and go 'What are you'' doin' ''dude? That ain't racing'. And I get DQ'ed for the day. I tell you, it's politics. They (the ABA) don't want me to get #1 this year." (1990)'' ----From ''Go'' June 1990.
Kenny May did not believe in turning the other cheek in competition. As he puts it he believes in "Payback": ''"....I still won't deliberately take him out to pass him"'' f the opponent was in the lead -ed''"--unless he's someone who's taken me out before. I'm into paybacks. Say that someone bumps me and I'm going to go down; I only feel it right that he goes down with me. It's simple."'' ---"Down 'N' Dirty" article March 1990 ''BMX Plus!'' article.
Miscellaneous
*Kenny May quintupled at the ABA Great Northwest Nationals in Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
, Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
on March 13, 1988 (Day 2). He won 16 Expert, 15 & Over Open; 16 Cruiser, 15 & Over Cruiser Trophy Dash, and 15 & Over Trophy Dash.[''BMX Plus!'' July 1988 Vol.11 No.7 pg.47–48]
Post BMX career
BMX press magazine interviews and articles
*"Inside Free Agent: ABA's #1 Team" ''BMX Plus!'' March 1989 Vol.12 No.3 pg.51 Part of a profile about the Free Agent racing team.
*"Kenny May: Natl.#1 Amateur & Cruiser" ''American BMXer'' August 1989 Vol.11 No.7 pg.18
*Gold Cup West mini interview. ''American BMXer'' November 1989 Vol.11 No.10 pg.15 Very brief interview taken after his win.
*"Down'N'Dirty: The pros lead the way!" ''BMX Plus!'' March 1990 Vol.13 No.3 pg.67 Article within a series of answers by pros as to how they would deliberately interfere with competitors while racing without being called for fouls and disqualified by track officials or even the other competitors being aware.
*"Rookie Pro Kenny May is on his way..." ''American BMXer'' May 1990 Vol.12 No.4 pg.44
*"New Kids on the Block" ''Go'' September 1990 Vol.1 Iss.11 pg.52 A joint interview article with fellow rookie pros Steve Veltman
Stephen James Veltman (born August 4, 1969 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; later raised in Conroe, Texas U.S.) is a former American "Old School/Mid School" professional Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1980–19 ...
and Matt Hadan
Matthew Merle Hadan (b. June 4, 1970 from Azusa, California U.S.) is an American professional "Old/Mid School" Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1985 to 1995. Hadan was nicknamed early in his career as "The Mas ...
.
*"Young Guns!!!" ''BMX Plus!'' October 1990 Vol.13 No.10 pg.64 Joint interview with fellow rookie pros Eric Carter, Tim Hall, Steve Veltman
Stephen James Veltman (born August 4, 1969 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; later raised in Conroe, Texas U.S.) is a former American "Old School/Mid School" professional Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1980–19 ...
, and Matt Hadan
Matthew Merle Hadan (b. June 4, 1970 from Azusa, California U.S.) is an American professional "Old/Mid School" Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1985 to 1995. Hadan was nicknamed early in his career as "The Mas ...
.
*"Just Crusin'" ''BMX Plus!'' August 1991 Vol.14 No.8 pg.22 Part of a double interview (but not joint) alongside fellow racer D D. Leone.
BMX magazine covers
Note: Only magazines that were in publication at the time of the racer's career(s) are listed unless specifically noted.
''Minicycle/BMX Action'' & ''Super BMX:''
*None
''Bicycle Motocross Action'' & ''Go:''
''BMX Plus!:''
''Total BMX:''
*None
''Bicycles and Dirt:''
*None
''NBA World'' & ''NBmxA'' (The official NBA/NBmxA publication):
''Bicycles Today'' & ''BMX Today'' (The official NBL membership publication under two names):
''ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer'' (The official ABA membership publication under three names):
*American BMXer August 1989 Vol.11 No.7
''USBA Racer'' (The official USBA membership publication):
Notes
External links
The American Bicycle Association (ABA) Website.
The National Bicycle League (NBL) Website.
{{DEFAULTSORT:May, Kenny
Living people
American male cyclists
BMX riders
1970 births