Posts
544
Joined
10/10/2011
Location
Granada
NI
Edited Date/Time
12/8/2012 12:04am
O.K. I've read all the blogs on California Motocross from back in the '70's and '80's, with great enjoyment I might add. I got to do some serious reminiscing.
I feel the need to bring some attention to a huge gap in the history of that time. There is very little mentioned of CMC Motocross and how it affected the development of Motocross.
First I'd like to pay homage to the most important influence in early MX racing: MX Hall of Fame member, Stu Peters of CMC from southern California. He presented races throughout the 60's, 70's, 80's, etc. at Saddleback, Carlsbad, and many other tracks. These were quality events that drew huge turnouts of riders, most notably, all of the Pro's that went on to national MX. Without Stu there would have been only a few club races rather than the well-ordered continuing program that he offered.
As for northern California, MX – During the 70's, CMC, namely Boss Motocross, pretty much dominated the racing scene. In the spirit of full disclosure, my name is Fred Dion and I promoted races under the name of Boss MX. Boss, during the 70's, promoted some 300 races at such diverse tracks as Sand Hill, Dixon, Prairie City (old McGill), Plymouth, Helvetia Park, Marysville, Sunnyville Pal, Mammoth Bar, Sacramento Raceway, T Car Speedway, Prison Hill in Nevada, and others. My average turnouts were 300 riders including full gates of the best of the D36 pro's. My wife, Mary (she passed away a few years ago) and I were involved in a number of important Pro races, including White Rock at McGill, White Knuckle at Dixon, and the Golden State series. These races drew large numbers of Pro's (as many as 200), as well as 600 to 700 sportsmen. They were mostly two-day events with bike giveaways, Saturday night bands, barbecues, etc. Great fun!
I count a large number of the racing community among my friends. A few that come to mind are Danny “Magoo” Chandler, Danny Turner, The Cantaloupi’s, Tim Aston, Darrell and Dean Schultz, Robert and Gaylon Norton and family, Mark Hilton and family, Buel and Billy Campbell, Allen and Tony Berluti, Dick Mann, Jerome White, Dave Coupue, and many, many more.
Anyway, this is my attempt to help fill the gaps in the record and to point out the contributions that CMC made in the development of motocross racing in the Golden Days of the sport.
As for me, I'm an old man (72) with some great memories. I'm in good health, still kicking, still love motocross, and I can say I always did my best for the sport. I cherish those days.
DANNY CHANDLER R.I.P.
Thanks,
]Fred Dion
Boss MX
fdion39@gmail.com
I feel the need to bring some attention to a huge gap in the history of that time. There is very little mentioned of CMC Motocross and how it affected the development of Motocross.
First I'd like to pay homage to the most important influence in early MX racing: MX Hall of Fame member, Stu Peters of CMC from southern California. He presented races throughout the 60's, 70's, 80's, etc. at Saddleback, Carlsbad, and many other tracks. These were quality events that drew huge turnouts of riders, most notably, all of the Pro's that went on to national MX. Without Stu there would have been only a few club races rather than the well-ordered continuing program that he offered.
As for northern California, MX – During the 70's, CMC, namely Boss Motocross, pretty much dominated the racing scene. In the spirit of full disclosure, my name is Fred Dion and I promoted races under the name of Boss MX. Boss, during the 70's, promoted some 300 races at such diverse tracks as Sand Hill, Dixon, Prairie City (old McGill), Plymouth, Helvetia Park, Marysville, Sunnyville Pal, Mammoth Bar, Sacramento Raceway, T Car Speedway, Prison Hill in Nevada, and others. My average turnouts were 300 riders including full gates of the best of the D36 pro's. My wife, Mary (she passed away a few years ago) and I were involved in a number of important Pro races, including White Rock at McGill, White Knuckle at Dixon, and the Golden State series. These races drew large numbers of Pro's (as many as 200), as well as 600 to 700 sportsmen. They were mostly two-day events with bike giveaways, Saturday night bands, barbecues, etc. Great fun!
I count a large number of the racing community among my friends. A few that come to mind are Danny “Magoo” Chandler, Danny Turner, The Cantaloupi’s, Tim Aston, Darrell and Dean Schultz, Robert and Gaylon Norton and family, Mark Hilton and family, Buel and Billy Campbell, Allen and Tony Berluti, Dick Mann, Jerome White, Dave Coupue, and many, many more.
Anyway, this is my attempt to help fill the gaps in the record and to point out the contributions that CMC made in the development of motocross racing in the Golden Days of the sport.
As for me, I'm an old man (72) with some great memories. I'm in good health, still kicking, still love motocross, and I can say I always did my best for the sport. I cherish those days.
DANNY CHANDLER R.I.P.
Thanks,
]Fred Dion
Boss MX
fdion39@gmail.com
Sondra Peters aka Stu's daughter
What stu brought to the u.s. Really admire the guy
The Shop
My earliest memories are "Lets" in Humboldt in 1969-71. Richter and Moffatt ruled the 125s and who can forget Barnes & his 501 (stinger & no silencer of course).
Most of my races were around Sacto and the Bay area. Long gone days but well remembered.
I've ridden with Richter several times, I always considered him a hometome boy (though he was Fortuna and I was further north). I mentioned the Maurice Lets track in Humboldt. In those days Pat was a wildman teen. When he was upright he was very fast.
When he returned from the 1976 Trans-AMA he rode an exhibition at Redwood Acres, Eureka. I busted out my '74 125 Elsinore and holeshot. I have a picture of him way back there behind me. I also have a mental picture of his rear fender just seconds later. ;-)
I loved seeing him get 1st American at the 1977 GP in Mid-Ohio, 3rd overall behind Rahier and Rond. The Norcal hometown boy!!! I set up shop in Minnesota and later Ohio and never really knew where he went from there.
You knew Magoo as well. One day he stopped by my cousin's house to check out his new RM125. He asked if he could take it for a spin; came back hours later pushing it in pieces. He was a character, and a real star. Greatly missed.
Thanks for your work with the promoting, you served many people well.
.
Do you remember any of the riders names that day? I remember Lance Burgess on the 250 Ossa. I have pics of others but can't remember names.
I ended up going east to ride the AMA nationals and never really rode California again. So most of the names from CA have escaped me now.
I think we may have briefly met but my CMC days were very short.
. It really chapped Lance's ass when I beat him in 77, but like Buggsy on his own framed TT, Lance (Popeye) rode some interesting bikes. SWM and also a TT500 later at Ruth Lake, where I struggled to keep him in sight. I ran CMC #5 In 78 and attempted a couple nationals. But Pat and Lance were the cream of Humboldt. Although the Villopoto family raised a speedy one.
My favorite race trrack of all was Hangtown 1976,77,78 Plymouth Ca..
Tumbiln you were one of those Nor Cal good guys. Riding with Malcolm in April, Seven Days of Baja. Wish me safe return.
Still have not found a contact number on Pat Richter. John
Pit Row
I'll bet I was there riding my last year on my 3rd CZ with Fred Villopoto's Eureka Cycles and Accessories.
Here's some Nor Cal CMC rankings with a bunch of us Humboldt Homies mixed in for you and Privateer to knock some dust off those memories.
Fred took Pat on the road to his first Trans Amas and nationals on those CZs, prior to his KTM and than Fox Suzukis. Pat repaid Fred by marrying his daughter and eventually moving to Alaska, but it all worked out Fred got his daughter back and now he gets to hang with his Fastest Grandson on the Planet. Ha!
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