Hey JPT.....

BUTCH

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BUTCH 7/5/2012 4:16pm

7/5/2012 4:16pm

Damn ....I just came across this! I had know idea!

http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/flat-track/2011/01/19/rick-hocking-passes/

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project racer

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project racer 7/5/2012 7:43pm

7/5/2012 7:43pm

Sadly, I believe Rick took his own life. In '75 , a friend of ours bought Rick's old TD-3 Champion Yamaha twin,still had the #31z welded on the swingarm. The twins were fading away,and the bike ended up with some four stroke single shoe horned in it.

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az2u

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az2u 7/5/2012 9:58pm

7/5/2012 9:58pm

It was always a treat to see Rick Hocking and Randy Mamola show up at Fremont Raceway

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JPT

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JPT 7/6/2012 5:27am

7/6/2012 5:27am Edited Date/Time 7/6/2012 5:31am

Thanks Butch, I hadn't seen those. I was at Houston the night Hocking won the TT on his 500 Yamaha thumper. I remember Scott getting all sideways on his Triumph trying to keep up. If you look close you'll see the ticket stub for that night in my avatar.

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The Shop

BUTCH

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BUTCH 7/6/2012 5:01pm

7/6/2012 5:01pm

Rick didn't like me after I put a pass on him at the Castle Rock National in 79. I was a rookie and came from dead last coming out of the first turn to win the heat, that put me on the pole for the National. I worked my way thru the pack, caught Rick and and Don Dodge. Don had the lead and Rick was on his ass and down way low in the big 1/2 mile turn. I followed Ricks line down low. He was really hugging that turn . I reallized I wasn't going to be able to pass him on the outside because I was wide open all the way around that turn hooked up and had no more throttle to go any faster...., Rick was wide open too. After 2 laps right behind him, he moved up some and left just enough room and I put my bike in the little opening he gave me. You couldn't have put a dime between our hand grips....... I'm pretty sure he thought I was crazy

! I passed Dodge at the same time and pulled away. Rick never did get by Dodge. The next week at Ascott, when I pushed my bike pass Ricks pit... looking for a spot to pit. He saw me a started heckling me. I just smiled. The thing was, Rick was one of my favorites when I was a kid... I thought he was the shit! I even used to call Mick Fay...Mick Hocking just to fuck with him!