For those of you that don't know me my maiden name is Bonnie Hutelin. I raced BMX for 12 years, starting at the age of six. I was considered a challenging competitor and ambassador to help promote the sport and represented my sponsors as I raced across the USA, Puerto Rico and Japan.
I began racing in 1976 in South Florida, at 6 years old. In the beginning, I raced against both boys and girls as there were not always enough girls for a class of my own age group. After 1 year of racing I was picked up as one of the first "factory girl" racers. I raced for Scot Breithaupt in 1977 on the FMF Factory Team and in 1978, began racing on the SE Racing Factory Team, also for Scot Breithaupt. I was the Florida State Champion for NPSA for several years in the 1970’s. In 1979, I raced the NBA National Schwinn Tour and traveled to California with my parents. I raced in the Orange Bowl during half time in Miami, Florida in 1978 and also at the Daytona Speedway Supercross the same year, and later that year at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. I raced at the indoor races in Chicago, Indianapolis, and at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan and competed in the War of the Stars series, winning races in Florida, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. During the1980’s I was the NBL Florida State Champion for several consecutive years.
I did a lot of volunteer work related to BMX, participating in Factory SE Racing BMX Clinics. I had birthday races for several years, donating my trophies for the race and my sponsors donated
a lot of goodies to give away.
My racing career was ended when I was 18 years old, racing for Hardees and broke my arm on a set of doubles at a national in Akron, Ohio. I was traveling with Heather McKenzie's family and she wrecked in a couple of motos before me and tore her achilles heel. We rode together in the ambulance. Her poor mom had to take care of both of us. Needless to say it was one week before the Worlds in Orlando, FL. ugh. Since my arm was broken in the upper part it could not have a cast or pinned. So I was out of racing for a year. Shortly after that I decided I was that I would race one more national and then end my career on a good note. Which I did. I love the family and friends that I have met in BMX. It was a great way to have a childhood.
Once A Spectator, Hutelin Has Become Bike Racer To Watch
February 19, 1988 | By DON ZERN, Staff Writer
Bonnie not only is enthusiastic about the sport, she also is a proven winner. Brother John, 23, no longer races, but little sister is carrying on the family tradition like a champ.
Hutelin has won her share of national races, including those in Jacksonville and Houston last year. During the World Cup Invitational at Irvine, Calif., last June, she placed second in the overall girls division.
Bonnie Hutelin has been a BMX competitor since she was 6. Now a senior at Cooper City High, she competes almost every weekend and that includes a dozen or more trips to various national races all over the country.
Before an injury sidelined her for five months, Hutelin was ranked second in the nation in the girls 16s division. She also was first in the state in that class.
Hutelin broke an arm just before a major race in July. She tumbled during a triple jump in a preliminary heat race in Ohio and
didn't compete the rest of the year. The immobility of her cast combined with the pain kept her sidelined. It was a difficult time of adjustment.
During 11 years of competition, Hutelin has won four consecutive championship plates in age classes14, 15, 16 and 17. She has won dozens of other races en route to national prominence.
``I've been interested in BMX most of my life,`` said Hutelin, who placed second in a Jan. 24 race in Kendall, her first race since the injury.
Racing is paramount in her life.
