Grand National/Flat-track Fans

JPT
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JPT
Edited Date/Time 6/19/2012 1:56am
I really miss the late 60's-70's hayday of that genre when guys like King Kenny and Bugsy Mann rode 4 types of dirt tracks and roadraced to win the title. Never was the same when they split off the pavement races. And I really enjoyed watching the Super-Moto series and was disappointed that the ecnomy killed it before it could get a foothold.

I think they should encorporate 5-6 Super-Moto races into the current series and make it a Grand National championship again. It would get some pavement into the mix without the cost of a Superbike.

Butch, you rode the old series, do you think it would go?
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dougie
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dougie 7/11/2011 3:21pm
7/11/2011 3:21pm
I had high hopes for Super Moto also but I was dissapointed in the direction it took. I was hoping for something more along the lines of the old Superbikers. More of a dirt emphais and less asphalt. (hard for me to say since I love the asphalt) . I didnt agree with running slicks. I want to see some asphalt, a few jumps, some whoops, some sand, some flat track, elevation changes Like the GPs we run out west.

I guess its completely normal for old guys to miss the old days. Road Racing: I miss pushstarts in GP. I miss TZ's. I miss F1 and F2. I miss road races at Spa Francorchamps (why dont they run there anymore) I miss Riverside and I miss Ontario motor speedways. I miss trophy girls.
look out below
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look out below 7/11/2011 3:51pm
7/11/2011 3:51pm
Im just happy we still have Dirt Track, and the AMA, DMG and who ever else has not ran it the way of superbike or supermoto. Its hard to believe how long that series has been around and how good the racing is and it still has no Tv coverage, big sponsors on the bikes, semi-haulers, factory teams (save a few factory supported teams). I know dirt track fanatics that could give a shit less about moto cause there is not enough passing.

I think if supermoto would have kept it a four or five race series in the fall, after all the other series were over, it would have attracted even bigger names to see who was the "best motorcycle racer"
project racer 7/11/2011 9:35pm
7/11/2011 9:35pm Edited Date/Time 7/11/2011 9:39pm
As far as DT goes, I have not been to a "singles" race since the production frame rule was enacted. The theory was to get the OEM's to support some teams with the whole product identification schpeil. 90% of the riders are still receiving little ,if any factory support, contingency is next to nil, and at the same time , the last of the custom frame builders were all but ruled out of the sport.

If I want to see MX bikes, I'll go to an MX race. Hell, you can't even change the number plates on a single now.

That is what I miss most, the ingenuity of a framed dirt tracker.

The SM deal was good in the beginning. Seemed like the tracks evolved to favor the lower speed technical type of riders though.


And speaking of Kenny Roberts, his early tuner / builder of many of his DT bikes, Shell Thuett passed away last weekend at the age of 97.
BUTCH
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BUTCH 7/11/2011 9:40pm
7/11/2011 9:40pm
JPT wrote:
I really miss the late 60's-70's hayday of that genre when guys like King Kenny and Bugsy Mann rode 4 types of dirt tracks and roadraced...
I really miss the late 60's-70's hayday of that genre when guys like King Kenny and Bugsy Mann rode 4 types of dirt tracks and roadraced to win the title. Never was the same when they split off the pavement races. And I really enjoyed watching the Super-Moto series and was disappointed that the ecnomy killed it before it could get a foothold.

I think they should encorporate 5-6 Super-Moto races into the current series and make it a Grand National championship again. It would get some pavement into the mix without the cost of a Superbike.

Butch, you rode the old series, do you think it would go?
I don't think it could ever come back to what it once was. I think once they got to the point where the big singles could run with the twins it took the beauty and color and art of sling'n a big 750 around on all types of tracks. These guys are out there now are on lowerd down mx bikes with front fenders, wearing mx gear. To me Flat track was always about BSA'S, Harleys, Triumphs, Yamahas, and even the Graham/Shobert Hondas, wearing custom orderd leathers. The look, the sound and the feel of the sport was was awesome back then and so much better imo, the only way to get that back would be to go back to that , and that will never happen. It is what it is now, and adding a different discipline to the sport couldn't hurt. jm2c

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project racer 7/11/2011 9:41pm
7/11/2011 9:41pm
I could look at a framer for hours. The jelly beans are just different colors.

BUTCH
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BUTCH 7/11/2011 9:52pm
7/11/2011 9:52pm
Don't get me wrong, it's still cool. But it's nowhere near what it once was.
BUTCH
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BUTCH 7/11/2011 9:54pm
7/11/2011 9:54pm
BUTCH
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BUTCH 7/11/2011 9:56pm
7/11/2011 9:56pm
BUTCH
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BUTCH 7/11/2011 9:59pm
7/11/2011 9:59pm
oldschoolmxr203 7/11/2011 10:06pm
7/11/2011 10:06pm
BUTCH wrote:
[img]https://hellforleathermagazine.com/images/springer.jpg[/img]
Jay Springsteen?
lumpy790
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lumpy790 7/12/2011 5:27am
7/12/2011 5:27am
My sources tell me that there will be a Pro SM series with the 1st race this fall. The 70/30 mix is actually a pretty good combination that equals out the competition.







I got a little taste of Pro Flat track when I went with my friend JR to Daytona for his 1st Pro race.

Racer92
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Racer92 7/12/2011 5:53am
7/12/2011 5:53am
I can remember when this guy going pretty damn fast at the Yamaha Gold Cup in Houston. Flattrack & Steeplechase both !





JPT
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JPT 7/12/2011 4:42pm
7/12/2011 4:42pm Edited Date/Time 7/12/2011 4:42pm
BUTCH wrote:
[img]http://www.theriderfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Houston-75.jpg[/img]
I'm gonna guess Castle Rock '74 since Gary Scott's on a Harley. I see Lawill peeking over his shoulder and Lil John on the inside. I didn't remember him riding a Norton though. Is that Dave Hansen behind Hately and Hocking in the back? Great picture.
BUTCH
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BUTCH 7/12/2011 7:28pm
7/12/2011 7:28pm
It's not Castle Rock. It's 74 Houston although the pic says it's 75. That couldn't be right for 2 reasons in my mind, Gary Scott would have had the #1 plate on his bike and also Roberts is still riding the Champion Framed Yamaha, if you remember in 75 he was on the C$J framed monoshock and the team leathers were also changed from what we see here. #65X in the back is Springer ,#70 is northwest legend Mark Willamams who took 4th in the tt and 4th in the short track that year and walked outta there with the points lead. Later that year he had a get off at San jose( not sure), I believe and was paralyzed. Notice his leathers, he was on the BSA/Norton/Triumph Team also, you have all the other guys right , not sure either about that being Hansen but that does look like a 2 for 23. I also believe way in the back behind Springsteen is another guy that I learned alot racing with up here when I was a young kid, is national #35 Randy Skiver you can just see the top of his helmet, I think he ended up 7 or 8th that year and was 9th in the short track. He won Castle Rock in 77.
BUTCH
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BUTCH 7/12/2011 7:31pm
7/12/2011 7:31pm
Racer92 wrote:
I can remember when this guy going pretty damn fast at the Yamaha Gold Cup in Houston. Flattrack & Steeplechase both ! [img]http://i52.tinypic.com/16a48ko.jpg[/img] [img]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JNgH2kk8pu4/TUxwmunEXhI/AAAAAAAAKOM/CT3V1kHUDTo/s1600/eklund2.jpg[/img] [img]https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JNgH2kk8pu4/TUxwmSwCxkI/AAAAAAAAKOE/Z0sEjRBzYgY/s1600/eklund1.jpg[/img]
I can remember when this guy going pretty damn fast at the Yamaha Gold Cup in Houston. Flattrack & Steeplechase both !





Eklund was a badass! Kinda makes me sad to see those pics.
lostboy819 7/12/2011 10:43pm
7/12/2011 10:43pm
I am planning on going to the 1/2 mile in Minnesota but I won't buy my tickets until the last minute. too bad they have a habit of canceling some of these races and I don't want to wait for a refund if they do. I was a big fan of Randy Cleek and Gary and Hank Scott and of course Springsteen and King Kenny.
JPT
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JPT 7/13/2011 5:14am
7/13/2011 5:14am
My all time favorite. Ended up e-mailing back and forth with him a few times when I ordered some stuff from his website.

BUTCH
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BUTCH 7/13/2011 6:32pm
7/13/2011 6:32pm
JPT wrote:
My all time favorite. Ended up e-mailing back and forth with him a few times when I ordered some stuff from his website. [IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a152/JPT54/Old%20School/Gary.jpg[/IMG]
My all time favorite. Ended up e-mailing back and forth with him a few times when I ordered some stuff from his website.

That is a badass photo!

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BUTCH
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BUTCH 7/13/2011 6:33pm
7/13/2011 6:33pm
lostboy819 wrote:
I am planning on going to the 1/2 mile in Minnesota but I won't buy my tickets until the last minute. too bad they have a...
I am planning on going to the 1/2 mile in Minnesota but I won't buy my tickets until the last minute. too bad they have a habit of canceling some of these races and I don't want to wait for a refund if they do. I was a big fan of Randy Cleek and Gary and Hank Scott and of course Springsteen and King Kenny.
Gary Scott was always my favorite back in the day.
JPT
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JPT 7/14/2011 5:30am
7/14/2011 5:30am
Those are great. I'd kinda forgotten about Dave Sehl. As I recall he was a Canadian and had a brother that raced too.
BUTCH
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BUTCH 7/14/2011 5:25pm
7/14/2011 5:25pm
JPT wrote:
Those are great. I'd kinda forgotten about Dave Sehl. As I recall he was a Canadian and had a brother that raced too.
Yeah, me too, tell I saw the photo. Yes Dave and Doug from Canada , they were both good mile and 1/2 mile riders. Dave was the better of the 2, but I believe they both won at least one or 2 nationals. Remember this guy? He was another favorite of mine. Rex Beauchamp.

I had this poster on my bedroom wall for about 7 years. Rex was the only guy that was ever give'n a factory ride from Harley before he made expert.
BUTCH
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BUTCH 7/14/2011 5:39pm
7/14/2011 5:39pm
Remember the controversy over the Bone Man leathers? Banned by the AMA. Also there are the newer style Roberts leathers I spoke of earlier.

EBCHAMP31 6/6/2012 7:57pm
6/6/2012 7:57pm
JPT wrote:
Those are great. I'd kinda forgotten about Dave Sehl. As I recall he was a Canadian and had a brother that raced too.
BUTCH wrote:
Yeah, me too, tell I saw the photo. Yes Dave and Doug from Canada , they were both good mile and 1/2 mile riders. Dave was...
Yeah, me too, tell I saw the photo. Yes Dave and Doug from Canada , they were both good mile and 1/2 mile riders. Dave was the better of the 2, but I believe they both won at least one or 2 nationals. Remember this guy? He was another favorite of mine. Rex Beauchamp.

I had this poster on my bedroom wall for about 7 years. Rex was the only guy that was ever give'n a factory ride from Harley before he made expert.
Awesome comments Butch!
az2u
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az2u 6/6/2012 10:27pm
6/6/2012 10:27pm
Cool pics of Eklund. Back in the day he use to come over our house w/ Rod and Brad Spencer to ride on a dirt track we used
to build every winter after farming season was done.
ocscottie
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ocscottie 6/7/2012 12:10am
6/7/2012 12:10am
Not exactly FT but check out this cool Speedway film from RedBull, i sub. to their youtube channel and get all sorts or random coolness daily.

Was gonna start a new thread, but it fits in here fairly well Cool

https://youtu.be/VmNzndtI1Ks
PressPassP
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PressPassP 6/7/2012 1:35am
6/7/2012 1:35am
ocscottie wrote:
Not exactly FT but check out this cool Speedway film from RedBull, i sub. to their youtube channel and get all sorts or random coolness daily...
Not exactly FT but check out this cool Speedway film from RedBull, i sub. to their youtube channel and get all sorts or random coolness daily.

Was gonna start a new thread, but it fits in here fairly well Cool

https://youtu.be/VmNzndtI1Ks
Jensen got the wildcard slot for Saturdays Danish round of the GP,great up and coming rider Smile
TX24
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TX24 6/7/2012 7:38am
6/7/2012 7:38am
When we lived in St. Louis we could easily go to about five Nationals. I believe they have a TV deal through Lucas oil and Mav. tv. A friend of mine, Jim Wagoner, used to own about ten 883s that various young men and women raced. They won the 883 Championship twice. Jason Tyers 750s were so cool.
TX24
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TX24 6/7/2012 9:33am
6/7/2012 9:33am

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