Ivi Vidakovic

Ivi began his career in 1979 on a Bonanza bike, where the "Bergy Trail 63110" would later be built. In 1980, news of the new trend sport "BMX" reached his home town of Rodgau/Jügesheim and he set off with his friends on the long journey by bike to Frankfurt am Main, only to be laughed at by the local BMX scene for his bikes that were ready for the scrap heap. On this trip, he entered the shop of his future sponsor for the first time: "Hajo's", Hartwig Hofherr's shop. From then on, it was all about saving money and a year later Ivi was able to fulfil his dream of a BMX bike - he bought a Centurion Cobra "Wolfgang Renner" Special Edition for 800 DM. But the dream continued: he wanted to become Germany's best BMX rider.

His first race was a beginners' race on the "Golden Mile", the home track of the bike company "Schauff" in Remagen, for which he unfortunately arrived too late and could only start in the time trial. But that was enough to get him started: Ivi set a new best time on the very first lap and caused a stir in the scene - who was the guy in jeans and with the US flag on his jersey? Where was he from? Rodgau? After all, he had beaten the time of Andreas Tittmann, the star at the time! Hartwig Hofherr was also among the spectators, and after Ivi had beaten his own time again in the next two laps, he invited Ivi to visit him in his shop next week.

This was the day that BMX sport began for Ivi Vidakovic. The day his father threw his hat in the air for the first time when his son crossed the finish line. Something he was to do many more times and which made him famous throughout the country.

A few days later, Ivi came into the shop with his sister and Hartwig Hofherr asked him if he would like to ride the Redline PL 20 "Stu Thompson" Special Edition. "Why?" replied Ivi, his bike was still good ... But when Hartwig then offered to take him to a race in Magstadt three weeks later, he slowly realised what he wanted from him.

Ivi returned from Frankfurt with a boot full of trousers, Redline jerseys, gloves, shoes and, last but not least, the PL-20, and from then on was out racing almost every weekend. Ivi was still at school at the time, but when Hofherr asked him if he would like to work for him after he graduated, that too was soon over: Ivi was over the moon. All he wanted to do was become a BMX pro.

The rest is history: Ivi won the Centurion Supercup that same year, became German Champion a year later, rode the first European Championship in Beek-en-Donk, became Cruiser Champion in 1983 and took part in the World Championship in Slagharen. He travelled to the USA and joined the American Redline Factory Team. His powerful style, his famous cornering technique and his enormous speed made him a role model for the German BMX generation of the 80s.

In 1988, Ivi ended his BMX career and, like many successful riders at the time, turned to the newly emerging sport of mountain biking. But he has remained loyal to the BMX bike. As an ambassador for the sport and a loyal guest of the Veteran's Cup, he can still be found at many BMX events and old school rideouts. Ivi was naturally the first choice for the German BMX Hall of Fame and so he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024 for his pioneering role and his extraordinary career.