first pro you saw at your local track

haydos25
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haydos25 12/5/2011 11:00pm
12/5/2011 11:00pm
Gym Briggs wrote:
What happen to Nicoletti?
Raced down here this year for Kawasaki. Finished third i think behind Mossy.

First pro who blew past me was Paul Broomfield (RIP) on a ridiculous factory suzuki DRZ 400 that him and Hurley were racing against the YZF and CRF's. Scared the crap out of me, one second he's nowhere near me, the next he skims my arm with his bar and just motors away full noise like i wasnt even there.

Also one of the Moss boys (cant remember which one, they are twins after all) was cool enough to loan me there bike after i blew mine up so i could finish a riding school they were putting on at Nowra. Funniest thing was watching old man Moss have to go and tell these two hooligan 15 yr olds kids to stop launching off one of the berms, whipping 90 degrees and down siding the side of a tabletop. Not because they were in danger, but because he was trying to explain the finer points of starts to us and none of us in the school were paying any attention to what he was saying because we were to busy watching these lunatic midget kids hucking a ridiculous gap.
bayodome
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bayodome 12/5/2011 11:35pm
12/5/2011 11:35pm
First race I ever went was the Suzuki NJ State Championship (I think that's what it was called) in 1992 at Englishtown. Guy Cooper was there signing autographs and Larry Ward raced.

When I started racing, the first time I was on the track with a pro was during my first race at Englishtown, and Barry Carsten jumped over me on the flag pole double during practice. I was pumped!
OneTrack236
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OneTrack236 12/6/2011 12:17am
12/6/2011 12:17am
Steven Eugenio (El Centro, CA)
Ryan Clark (PHX, AZ)
Justin Buckelew (Yuma, AZ) (At my true local track)
tmphotoart 12/6/2011 12:32am
12/6/2011 12:32am
Growing up in So Cal in the 1970/80's was great time to be a motocrosser. All the top pros in the sport rode at Saddleback Park. I remember going out in second practice on my YZ 100C and getting roosted by Mike Bell, Broc Glover, Jeff Jennings, Rex Staten, Ron Turner and Goat Brecker on a single lap.

Good times . . . getting yelled at to "move out of the way" in the corners by some of the top pros.

The Shop

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FIREfish148
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FIREfish148 12/6/2011 1:16am
12/6/2011 1:16am
Brad Hagseth at trulson's mx park in 99. Now know as burtridge mx. dude was flying around the track. Dan Moore and Rusty Holland were right on his tail the whole time though.
mx757
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mx757 12/6/2011 1:55am
12/6/2011 1:55am
Andrew Short many many times. I remember seeing him at the 2001 PPSX run away from Kevin Johnson and Josh Hansen. Short unloaded a PC KX125 from his box van, Johnson was pitting all by himself out of the motoworld semi, and Hansen was about 2 months away from landing a Yamaha of Troy ride.
SwapperMX
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SwapperMX 12/6/2011 1:56am
12/6/2011 1:56am
First Pro I ever saw at my local track was Andrew McFarlane. It was mid week and I had ridden my push bike down to the track in the hope someone was down there riding. He would have been just 18 and had just signed with the Factory Suzuki team. I watched him do two 40 minute motos, and it was something I will never forget. RIP Andrew.
Hanaa80
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Hanaa80 12/6/2011 2:06am
12/6/2011 2:06am
John Van Den Berg and Alessandro Puzar at Hyvinkää just before the Finnish GP in -91
CR300
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CR300 12/6/2011 4:39am
12/6/2011 4:39am
Can't remember who I saw first, but it was either Bruce Stratton practicing or Paul Carpenter dicing with I believe Alex Sigismondi at a race. Both at Hogback Hill.
tbanks
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tbanks 12/6/2011 4:44am
12/6/2011 4:44am
I think it was my first race on 80's and Nick Evennou (Sp??) waxed everyone. I don't know where he is now, I thought he was in Canada. Only thing I remember from that race was that I was the first one that he didn't lap Smile
Bhayz105
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Bhayz105 12/6/2011 5:09am
12/6/2011 5:09am Edited Date/Time 12/6/2011 5:13am
Travis Pastrana at Happy Ramblers in 1999 at age 15....

Evennou lives in SoCal works in the sales department for FMF... He was a bad dude on an 80
Hoov
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Hoov 12/6/2011 5:35am
12/6/2011 5:35am
Electro21 wrote:
Dennis Jonon at Challenge Trax in Kingsville, MO. I think he was on KX 65, couldn't believe how fast he was on that thing.
You are right! Dennis was the fastest kid I ever saw on a 60...its really sad he was injured so young...could have gone all the way to the top.
Vet57
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Vet57 12/6/2011 5:44am
12/6/2011 5:44am
Jimmy Ellis.....
drmarkr
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drmarkr 12/6/2011 5:47am
12/6/2011 5:47am
neverwasfastenuf wrote:
Chuck Cooper
Highsider wrote:
Does Chuck still ride vet classes?
About 5-6 years ago I raced with him at Cooperland during the winter.
Nice fellow to talk to.
We had an OK moto reunion last summer...he was there. Still riding some off road, but not moto.

Hoov
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Hoov 12/6/2011 5:51am
12/6/2011 5:51am
After winning the '90 SX 125 East Championship, Denny Stephenson tried to hold on to his Factory Suzuki ride...even though he had broken his Navicular (bone in his wrist) the year before. He ultimately lost his ride the following year and was taking the time to heal. He came down from Omaha to a little track owned by a Kansas pig farmer named Tony to practice since it was snowing in Nebraska, and it was 60 degrees in N.E. Kansas that year. Denny showed all of us "locals" a 120' double jump designed into the track years before by Mike Boston. We didn't even know it WAS a jump! It was very humbling to say the least. After the practice session, my then 8 year old son was clowning around jumping from pic-nic table to pic-nic table and came up short bouncing his chin off the table. Of course he was embarrassed having crashed and burned in front of one of his heroes. Denny came immediately over to him and comforted him saying, "Thats just the kind of thing I would have done when I was a kid!" Then he gave my son his jersey after wiping away his tears with it. Love you Dennis! Smile
drmarkr
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drmarkr 12/6/2011 5:52am
12/6/2011 5:52am
Oh....to the OP's question....Wyman Priddy. Amber Valley. 1972.

maicocd
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maicocd 12/6/2011 6:09am
12/6/2011 6:09am
My first experience on the track with a pro was in the winter of '89 when I loaded a new white Chevy van with a brand new KX250 and an air matress and set out for the Florida winter series.

At that point, I was 18 and still idealistically entertaining the fact that I might yet discover the hidden MX pro that was still resting dormant somewhere deep inside me.

I figured a winter in Florida would not only give me an edge locally come springtime, but would jumpstart my aspiring pro career...

That quickly changed at my first practice session at Brooksville. As I was laying down what I thought to be some impessive laps in the sand and weaving through the rutted, whooped out section in the woods, I heard a screaming RM250 behind me.

Within a flash of a second, the RM250 railed by me, smashed a sand berm, covered me in a shotgun blast of sand and within another second was long out of sight.
In what seemed like a matter of a couple minutes, I was unceramoniusly lapped and caught the last name on the jersey. It was Ronnie Tichenor and he was flat out hauling.

Just when my psyche had begin to convince myself that maybe with hard work and practice that I could possibly give Ronnie a run for his money one day, John Dowd came by me in a similar fashion and brought be back down to earth.

I'm not one to admit defeat or give up easily, so despite getting such a harsh reality check, I didn't completely pull the plug on my MX dreams that day.
However, it did turn out to be one of my first lessons in realizing that I wasn't destined for MX stardom.

As it turns out, the construction world was in need of a business manager that rides and races MX for the fun of it.
I'm happy that I can say I've done a half decent job at doing that!
CamP
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CamP 12/6/2011 6:17am
12/6/2011 6:17am
drmarkr wrote:
Oh....to the OP's question....Wyman Priddy. Amber Valley. 1972. [img]https://api.ning.com/files/tSNuPtPFTeffb8Zu*v-fFgOMOG6d7uJ0iBEEyHsWwsGJMC5f-9bzGN58D*43Y3GbqqEc7LI1JlG0GurTSaV8uxz87a*nDlHZ/WPkaw68_18.jpg[/img]
Oh....to the OP's question....Wyman Priddy. Amber Valley. 1972.

I think Priddy was probably at the first race I saw, but I was only 6 so everyone looked fast. 1970 at Arlington MX Park.

Pit Row

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526
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526 12/6/2011 6:21am
12/6/2011 6:21am
Ryan Hughes in September Lined up right next to him on the gate, I believe he was 6 sec a lap faster than the best. It was incredible how he maintained speed, very impressive. Thanks to GYTR for making it happen.
Hando
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Hando 12/6/2011 7:25am
12/6/2011 7:25am Edited Date/Time 12/6/2011 7:26am
Hando wrote:
JLaw, Nicoletti, Barcia (when he was on 80s)


All really Faaaaaaaasstt
Gym Briggs wrote:
What happen to Nicoletti?
He did pretty good @ KROC this year but i've seen him on 80's at etown and in 2005 or so he was on big bikes. Was down in AUS this past year.. not sure what hes doing this year, I dont follow his career or anything but hes from NY and would come down to NJ to ride/race here and there.

His dad had a horse trailer full of bikes that they used to haul the bikes with and I remember the day I was at the practice track he hopped on his CR250 2-stroke and held that thing tapped around the whole track. Back then the 4-stroke revolution was in its peak IMO and 2-strokes were less and less common...especially 250 2-strokes. it was cool to hear that smoker being ridden like it was supposed to be.

Watching pro's ride when they're riding amongst normal folks is honestly the best because it gives you the prospective of gauging them with slower riders..when they ride with each other it doesn't look as fast because they're all going fast!
motogolf810
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motogolf810 12/6/2011 7:33am
12/6/2011 7:33am
brian swink milan cycle city fri night racing under the lights 1990 as a 14 yr old 80c beginner i was blown away he made it look so easy!!
LoudLove
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LoudLove 12/6/2011 7:33am
12/6/2011 7:33am
Charley Bogard at Moiser Valley. Holy crap!
GILLETT
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GILLETT 12/6/2011 8:03am
12/6/2011 8:03am
Kris Bigelow. Husqvarna. Bulldog's Motocross Millington, Mi.
dirthead1
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dirthead1 12/6/2011 8:33am
12/6/2011 8:33am
Marty Smith at Saddleback.
bauman117
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bauman117 12/6/2011 8:35am
12/6/2011 8:35am
1997 G.F.I raceway (now perris raceway again) Emig was practicing not to long after winning a championship.I would try to see if i could get a lap with out him passin me twice.Shift had just came out with the tight gear ( i think the baggy stuff was out for atleast a year before the race stuff) ..i remember metzger and his dad were there that same day pitting out of a old school van.. this was when metzger was still making night shows in sx..there was the bigggest jump i have ever seen at perris in the back section metz was hitting..I think bubba did something amazing on a 125 later that year on it..anyone remember that jump?..not were the 90 footer usually is by the rocks, it was back in the south east part of the track like on the side of the hill..MASSIVE..damn time flies
hasko158
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hasko158 12/6/2011 8:43am
12/6/2011 8:43am
Ryan Mills when I raced Dist34/NY and Doug Henry when I would go to Southwick.
Hando
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Hando 12/6/2011 8:48am
12/6/2011 8:48am
bauman117 wrote:
1997 G.F.I raceway (now perris raceway again) Emig was practicing not to long after winning a championship.I would try to see if i could get a...
1997 G.F.I raceway (now perris raceway again) Emig was practicing not to long after winning a championship.I would try to see if i could get a lap with out him passin me twice.Shift had just came out with the tight gear ( i think the baggy stuff was out for atleast a year before the race stuff) ..i remember metzger and his dad were there that same day pitting out of a old school van.. this was when metzger was still making night shows in sx..there was the bigggest jump i have ever seen at perris in the back section metz was hitting..I think bubba did something amazing on a 125 later that year on it..anyone remember that jump?..not were the 90 footer usually is by the rocks, it was back in the south east part of the track like on the side of the hill..MASSIVE..damn time flies
I like hearing these stories ..most people know Metzger as some crack head FMX guy but there was a time when he was a hardcore motocross racer and pretty fast privateer.
Oldskool
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Oldskool 12/6/2011 9:00am
12/6/2011 9:00am
The first pros that I ever saw at our local track were Steve Stackable and Kent Howerton. It was at a local track in east Texas back around 75 or 76, I think. That's been too long ago to remember what year it was. I just remember being so impressed at how fast they were.

I thought that I was fast until that day. It was a real awakening for me that I was never going to be that fast.
mx295
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mx295 12/6/2011 9:03am
12/6/2011 9:03am
bauman117 wrote:
1997 G.F.I raceway (now perris raceway again) Emig was practicing not to long after winning a championship.I would try to see if i could get a...
1997 G.F.I raceway (now perris raceway again) Emig was practicing not to long after winning a championship.I would try to see if i could get a lap with out him passin me twice.Shift had just came out with the tight gear ( i think the baggy stuff was out for atleast a year before the race stuff) ..i remember metzger and his dad were there that same day pitting out of a old school van.. this was when metzger was still making night shows in sx..there was the bigggest jump i have ever seen at perris in the back section metz was hitting..I think bubba did something amazing on a 125 later that year on it..anyone remember that jump?..not were the 90 footer usually is by the rocks, it was back in the south east part of the track like on the side of the hill..MASSIVE..damn time flies
Hando wrote:
I like hearing these stories ..most people know Metzger as some crack head FMX guy but there was a time when he was a hardcore motocross...
I like hearing these stories ..most people know Metzger as some crack head FMX guy but there was a time when he was a hardcore motocross racer and pretty fast privateer.
Metz isn't a crackhead..Should check your facts before you post something like that.
Hando
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Hando 12/6/2011 9:06am
12/6/2011 9:06am
bauman117 wrote:
1997 G.F.I raceway (now perris raceway again) Emig was practicing not to long after winning a championship.I would try to see if i could get a...
1997 G.F.I raceway (now perris raceway again) Emig was practicing not to long after winning a championship.I would try to see if i could get a lap with out him passin me twice.Shift had just came out with the tight gear ( i think the baggy stuff was out for atleast a year before the race stuff) ..i remember metzger and his dad were there that same day pitting out of a old school van.. this was when metzger was still making night shows in sx..there was the bigggest jump i have ever seen at perris in the back section metz was hitting..I think bubba did something amazing on a 125 later that year on it..anyone remember that jump?..not were the 90 footer usually is by the rocks, it was back in the south east part of the track like on the side of the hill..MASSIVE..damn time flies
Hando wrote:
I like hearing these stories ..most people know Metzger as some crack head FMX guy but there was a time when he was a hardcore motocross...
I like hearing these stories ..most people know Metzger as some crack head FMX guy but there was a time when he was a hardcore motocross racer and pretty fast privateer.
mx295 wrote:
Metz isn't a crackhead..Should check your facts before you post something like that.
Didn't say he was, I said people think he is.

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