Wayne McIntosh

You don’t get nicknamed “The King” without good reason. Wayne “The King” McIntosh began his racing career in 1978 and was a regular at one of the very first BMX tracks in the country - Ryde Eastwood BMX Club. In 1980, before BMX Australia was even formed, the very first “Unofficial” Australian BMX championships were held over a series throughout NSW and QLD. It was here that Wayne stamped his mark on Australian BMX, claiming joint ownership of the very first Open Mens National Title.

Wayne, or simply “Macca” as he was affectionately known around the tracks, was an imposing figure and dominated racing on the East Coast. But even while his fame was on the rise here in Australia, Macca and his sponsors had other ideas sending him to the USA to compete against the best Pro’s in the world. Wayne McIntosh was the first Australian to become an American BMX Association AA PRO rider and race AA PRO in the States. He also represented Australia at the World Titles in Las Vegas in 1982.

Back at home, Macca had some epic battles with many long time interstate rivals but it was always when the cash was big that he pulled out the big guns to take the win. From 1981 to 1983 Wayne McIntosh would win some of the largest races and Pro purses the country has ever seen, including the Albury Wondonga Pro-AM, Castrol BOSS of BMX and of course the famous victory against the American Tourists at Australia’s richest Indoor event - the Hordern Pavilion. And then, just as the victory hangover was subsiding in 1982 - Macca was voted BMX Torque Magazine’s - rider of the year.

But even while Macca was busy being a powerhouse on the track, he was quietly contributing in other ways off of it. These included assisting with the formation of the Australian BMX Association, and holding some of the first ever coaching clinics in the country. His sponsors still speak highly of him today, claiming he was one of the most marketable and inspirational personalities they could have hoped for. GT Bicycles and SE racing were amongst them. He certainly did leave his mark on Australian BMX.