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

Boys,

Is this Troy Lee Designs Bell helmet allowed for Drivers Education ? After many broken bones and fatherhood, it would be great to use this pricey(albeit older) helmet for something. Thanks.

Most DE require helmets to be SA95 or SA00 rated. The helmet might just be M95 rated, which will not work in most DE's

Actually, at the events in the Northwest, M2000 is fine, and M95 might even be okay, just check the rules with your local PCA. Also, M-rated helmets are fine for any auto-x that I've heard of-

It came from the 80s :P

Rich,
I'm glad you didn't become a McGrath clone.
Sure he's rich and famous, but doncha think he's a pussy?

He's a pussy compared to Rick Johnson, Bob Hannah, Jim Pomeroy, Brad Lackey, Jeff Ward etc. They were not afraid to go to Europe and win, McGrath was too much of a pussy to go across the big pond and compete.

When Bob "Hurricane" Hannah retired, a Golden Era of M-X ended.

I read an interview with Bob Hannah in one of last years MX mags, he really blasted the current crop of US riders as being sissies. No one will ever forget Johhny O, and MAgoo Chandler destroying the world in the MX Des NAtions when we owned the world. Jonny O beat the whole 500 field on a factory 125 Honda. Now we are afraid to even go over to Europe, when Bob Hannah and Marty Smith would go over there for a weekend to race the GP's between the US nationals.

Heck, I met Rick Johnson, Roger DeCoster and Mike Kiedrowski at Unadilla once. No problem, they talked to me, gave me autographs, shot the **** etc. No egos, no glitz, Try that with today's crop of spoiled kids.

I definitley agree with the pussy mentality of most riders today. the late 70's early 80's guys did ot on bikes with literally zero suspension compared to the super bikes they fly on today. All you need to do is go rip it up on an early Husqvarna or comparable and see what the earlier guys were up against. Personally Bob Hannah is the king in my book.

About 3 years ago I bought a seized up but very original 1980 KX 80 for my son. I did a new lower and top end and restored the bike to good running order. Just as I suspected, he didn't really like it too much. He was appreciative of all the work but side by side with a new YZ 80, it makes the early stuff look 100 years old. BTW, the 1980 KX was faster on the top end. You can draw alot of comparison technologically with today's current addiction, PORSCHE. Here's a shot from 1990 riding RM 250. It sure doesn't seem like 12 years ago. Thanks for the input boys.

Glad to see there are some vintage MX folks on the board. The yearly pilgramage to Unadilla in the 70's was a spiritual experience for my buddies & me.

Anyway, here I am 30 years ago on my 125 Puch:

rboylan,

I use to have the exact same helmet and used it at my first 2 DE's, before I bought a SA2000 helmet.

I agree with you all on the vintage MX. I remeber when Johnny'O beat the pants off the 500's with his 125. Those were the days.

I did a search on google for Brad LAckey, wow did he get fat.
I am 43, wish I had a son to teach mx too. I was actually quite good 25 yrs. ago. Started on a Honda mini-trail, then a Steen with a Hodaka 100 engine, then the infamous 1973 Honda Elsinore CR-125, then a 1983 CR250, then a 86 CR500, then I bought the CR250 that finished 3rd. in the 1987 Canadian supercross series, That was owned by Andy Stacy and was the most fantastic thing I ever owned. It made me do things I could never do before, trick up the kazoo- sort of like buying an ex-Peter Gregg Porsche. That bike also competed in the US outdoor nationals against Rick Johnson, Ward, etc.
I would give anything(including my 84 911 Targa) to be able to have a MX bike and an area to ride in WITH NO HASSLES like the old days. ( now, just like jetskis, you have to drive way out just to find a riding area & track).
Do a search for Jim Weinert, Brad Lackey, Danny Magoo Chandler and you will be amazed at what the search brings up. I was up till 3am last night reliving Bultaco's, Ossa's, Husky's etc. Seems that Brad Lackey is involved in a Vintage series where the bikes are original 70's vintage. WOW.
Comparable to talking about 917's, Peter Gregg, Brumos, and days when radar was non existant. Remember Brock Yates and Dan Gurney in a Daytona going NY to Long Beach in 33 hrs. Damn, the good old days, whem MX was great and the car seen was just as great. If I was rich I'd by acreage and have my own MX track and get a 70's or early 80's mx bike etc.

Brad Lackey...man, that's a name I haven't heard in years. Isn't he the one who rode with paper doves taped to his handlebars? BTW... EX Yamaha rider here...175, then 360. Suspension travel? What's that? NO weenie closed face helmets for the crowd I rode with...open face, either goggles or a snap on windshield. Or, just out cowtrailing? 50/50 helmet use...count me among the weenies there, always wore one.

Darn now I can't stop!!!!! I used to ride at an area that Frank Stacy built to practice on (he competed with Jim Weinert, Gary & Dewayne Jones, Peter Lampuu and John Desoto, now a councilman in Hawaii) I saw him do things on a Ossa Phantom that blew my mind, His arms were like a body builders and he threw that Ossa around blowing up berms like nothing, maybe 3 inches of suspension travel total. Compare those guys to these millionaire teenagers with Ferrari's etc. John Desoto was awesome. I think the Golden Age ended when DeCoster, Mikkola, Wolsink, Weinert, LAckey etc. retired.

Whoop de chews, Jofa mouth guards. Lackey going to Europe full time to train in Sweden. Bengnt Aberg, Montesa, AJS.
Yeah, Brad or Weinert taped the rubber ducky to their helmets. Roger Decoster inventing the cross-up. What make did Brad win the World Championship on? And Jim Pomeroy rode what make as the first US rider to win a grand prix? (I know the answers, but how may out there do also?
Super Hunky, the great yellow dirt bike truck, Jody's box, Daryll Bassani, Zoar Moto Park (first US site of a 125 Grand Prix), Puch, Bazzers box, Jody Weisel, Mr know it all, Blendzdall oil, Paper air filters, The Bast bros. in speedway, Saddleback Park, Carlsbad freeway, Mini-Bike Guide, Minicycle magazine, Hangtown, MAmmoth Mountain, UNADILLA!!!!!!, Carabella, super rat, girling shocks, CZ!!!!!, Jaroslav Falta won the first ever supercross in history (LA Coliseum), that russian world champion that was in the red army when he became champion. Maico 501, TM400, Bernie Shrieber in trials, Donny Emler and FMF, Tony D. being the first privateer to win a national title on what make? Gary and Dewayne Jones, Can-Am, air-fork caps, everyone moving their shocks up on the swingarm, Poppy aluminum shock bodies for Konis so the would be cool, water cooled heads, porcupine heads, snail pipes, Bob Hannah's OW125 water cooled Yamaha, Marty Smiths CR125, Johnny O in those funky boot cover things, Scott Boots (great boot), Full bore boots, lace up Malcolm smith boots, those gloves with the rubber strips on each finger, BSA actually had a MX team, Harley had a MX team with funky weird front forks, The russian MX team (red army sposored), Penton, Carrera goggles, rotary valved Maico 125, Marty Smith and Bob Hannah fighting it out for the whole moto. 3 motos, 40 minute motos, DAMN this is depressing...................

Mart Tripes, Renee Payne (female racer),

"......And Jim Pomeroy rode what make as the first US rider to win a grand prix? (I know the answers, but how may out there do also? ......."

BULTACO

What country's GP did he win making him the first American to win a GP. ( he won both motos)

check out www.off-road.com/dirtbike/oct2000index.html

there is a picture of Brad Lackey NOW and a whole bunch of neat old stuff.
also: www.vmx-mag.com/issue%20Database/issue8%20db.htm
http://vmx-mag.com/images/new_vmx8.JPG

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...

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.
KEITHSmileWavy

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.