My future as Jeremy McGrath failed - Can I use this helmet for Drivers Ed. ? - Page 2

Laura-Hergesheimer MotorS · 09:31 AM

John D,

Boy are you bringing back memories! many of those things I do remember and the names and faces. I figured Gary Jones name would have to come up, such a nice guy, I believe he is still the only guy to win a US 125, 250 and 500 championship, and he still has some of his original bikes that he won on.
Super Rat, full bore, Penton, Rohr front ends, I personally had all these... Ascot on Thursday, Costa Mesa on Fridays, Curnutt shocks, Barstow to Vegas, Check Chase, Hopetown GP..
Montessa, DKW, Rickman Metisse...
Joel Robert, R. Thorwalson, D. LaPorte and Roseler ws just a young kid.. these guys were lucky to get gas and hotel money!

I know Gary Jones told me that is was extremely tough trying to make ends meet and crew, you were your own crew. I think at the end the best year he had was $100,00 to run and promote Mickey Thompson's events. (Now he works for White Bros. and keeps in touch with some of the oldies, visits DeSoto every year and they all have a fun run)

Those were the days...

87 slant nose · 87 slant nose's Garage

MEMORIES, MY 501 MAICO, WATCHING HEIKI MIKKOLA AND
JORSLAVE FALTA RACING AT BALDWIN KANSAS GP. GOING TO
SEE MY FIRST DRAG RACE AT CARLSBAD AND END UP WATCHING
THE MX RACES. THREE BROKEN ANKLES. DISLOCATED SHOULDERS
A NECK THAT SOUNDS LIKE POP CORN EVERY MORNING. SMOKING
A DUB WITH BAD BRAD L. ALL THE MEMORIES COME BACK NOW.
GOD WHY DIDN,T I GO TO MED SCHOOL SO I COULD BE THINKING
ABOUT A NEW TT INSTEAD OF WHERE TO GET THE POTATOS FOR
A NEW SET OF HIDES. MANY YEARS GONE I HOPE A LEAST A FEW MORE GOOD ONES AHEAD. RAISE A HARP TO THE OLD DAYS AND THOSE AHEAD.
KEITH

silver912e · 03-07-2002, 12:56 PM

Don't forget the "screw-u at Unadilla". I was standing at the top of the screw-u when Lackey came blasting through on his Husky, got airborne, and did a perfect full-lock crossup just a few feet from me. Damn, those were great times.

Now they call it the "gravity cavity", pretty lame, but I guess they renamed it for the TV broadcast I was watching.

johnd · 03-07-2002, 03:58 PM

Hey that VMX magazine seems great from their web page. Those were the days alright, just like formula one at watkins glen before Bernie turned it into a circus, Jackie Stewart, Francois Cevert, Senna, Villenueve etc. The MX days of yore were really great. I wished I was in So.Cal in those days. Is outdoor MX still in So.Cal? I know Saddleback is history, what about Perris and Carlsbad? Remember Wide World of Sports showing the Carlsbad GP?

johnd · 03-07-2002, 04:03 PM

I think Kiedrowski or Ward also won all three titles. When the AMA stopped the 500 series is when US motocross became second rate. (Johnson, Ward, Magoo, Bailey all were 500 stars) Now, we're too pussy to go to Europe, too many egos too afraid to get hurt, it's pathetic. The 500 class is like formula 1, everything else doesn't matter.

johnd · 03-07-2002, 04:11 PM

Can any of you California people fill me in on current stuff? I just found out Al Baker is dead. What are Tripes, Magoo Chandler, etc. up to? do they ever show up anywhere? Any others not with us anymore? I always find out someone is dead years later. I know some 500 GP riders got paralyzed in the PAris Dakar races but don't know who. Other than Ward in car racing do people out ther have the current info on what these LEGENDS are uo to? Roger D., Joel Robert, Tripes, Smith, Hannah, Ricky Hendrickson, Renee Payne, Mercedes Gonzalez, Weinert, etc. etc. I wish there was a "where are they now" somewhere. I grew up with these people.

johnd · 03-07-2002, 04:15 PM

Yeah, it's me again, I'm on a roll- I wonder if that VMX magazine just has old pictures of those bikes or if they actually exist today. I mean where does one find Lackeys 60 hp factory bike now or perfect Bultaco pursang?, I think they all went to the crusher when they were done with them so other factories wouldn't get them to analyze.