The second CARtoons magazine post! I need to update the first one, now that I have a copy and a can see there’s more to be added inside. This is the May 1979 issue of CARtoons, and it’s packed full of skateboarding content. CARtoons ran from 1959 to 1991 until it folded. In 2016 someone resurrected CARtoons comic book mag, and at the time of publication you can still buy subscriptions. The new CARtoons look a lot more polished than this 70’s issue, which was kind of rough at times.

I fell down a rabbit hole in Etsy yesterday, a seller had a couple items labeled as Bergman Star Rider copers that didn’t seem like copers, so I started digging around. There’s next to nothing out there on Bergman Star Riders. Turns out they made cheap skateboard scooters, including this complete bootleg of a Madrid explosion. Takes a lot of balls to slap your name on someone else’s extremely recognizable design.

Remember Tillman the skateboarding bulldog? He passed away in 2015, but he had his moment of popularity. He appeared in iPhone commercials, in the Guinness book of Records, television news programs, and even as a spokesdog for Natural Balance pet foods. He also got to hang to with Rodney Mullen for some reason. I guess the reason is that Rodney’s nickname was the Mutt. And yes, I am clearing out my hard drive.

A lot of so-called skateboard safety equipment of the 70’s was rebranded, ineffectual generic equipment; volleyball kneepads, gardening gloves, and hockey helmets that probably weren’t very useful for hockey either. Every couple years I get an email from the UK someone asking if I have any leads on old Cooper skateboard helmets, and the answer is always no, except when it isn’t. Is it a niche skateboard collecting community? No, not exactly. The hurling community values these. As recently as 2024, Cooper (Ireland) was still making these helmets, some with the skateboard brands they white labeled back in the 70’s.

Has there never been a re-release of PVC copers, or has it all been new old stock that you can sometimes find on the internet? Snap N Grind to the rescue I guess. These are 3D printed though. These copers have printed in place hinges that act like the locks that Tracker copers had, without requiring removing the wheels to put them on. They make them for Independent, Ace, Royal, Slappy, and inexplicably, Carver. The best thing about these is the option to get a version embedded with flint for making sparks.

It’s a coffee mug with a skateboard truck as a handle. This may not be new, but it’s new to me. It’s an idea that feels like it might have come from a high school art project, except Independent actually decided to have these made. The cult of Independent will surely make this line item at least break even. If ever there was a product crying out for the Maltese Cross version of the Indy logo, this is it. It’s goofy, but I kind of like it. The 80’s Thunder Trucks version of this mug just has a lizard on it and no logo.*

Hey Kids! It’s the cover of Archie & Me #102 from 1978! The cover features Archie on a skateboard, painting the walls of his school for some reason. Must be some form of detention. There’s no other skateboarding content inside, just the usual, horrible Archie stories, Sea Monkey ads, and the like. Shame about the tail on that board…

Holy cow, I didn’t think this would be ready so fast, but opening day for Portlanders is this Saturday , October 17th. PDX street skaters, rejoice!

Legendary surfer and skater Larry Bertleman died at 71 yesterday. Famous in the skateboarding world for his surfing inspired moves, including the Bertlemann slide, AKA the Bert. The pic above is a Dan Devine photo featured in a Rolls Royce wheels advert from 1975. There’s a profile of Larry on Surfer.com. SHoF profile video after the jump.

I’ve posted about Hooker Headers skateboards before, originally fascinated with a strange looking adjustable truck configuration, and then again after discovering an ad for one in a 1976 issue of Hot Rod magazine. There’s also another Hooker ad in the vintage ad gallery, with more to come I’m sure. This one is a conventional looking skateboard missing the adjustable contraption. What is does have however, are likely some Chicago trucks, Rolls Royce wheels, and a psychedelic top. The seller has a few more interesting boards.