So CAL in the 60's and 70's

rdmike
Profile picture for user rdmike
Posts
19
Joined
7/22/2008
Location
Bangkok, TH
rdmike
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 6:09pm
Anyone from the 60's and 70's from the So Cal area in this forum?
|
Slow ~ Pro
Profile picture for user Slow ~ Pro
Posts
3834
Joined
3/27/2008
Location
Capistrano Beach, CA, USA
Slow ~ Pro 7/23/2008 10:05pm
7/23/2008 10:05pm
Been around since 57...started riding in 1962, racing in 1966.
rdmike
Profile picture for user rdmike
Posts
19
Joined
7/22/2008
Location
Bangkok, TH
rdmike 7/23/2008 10:23pm
7/23/2008 10:23pm
What ever happened to Greg Smith and Wheelsmith? I remember them in Santa Ana on Mcfadden Street. Are you from that area?
xnationalwrench 7/24/2008 4:42am
7/24/2008 4:42am
I'm not sure where Greg ended up after he sold Wheelsmith. Marty Miller built pipes for him back in the day he might know.

The Shop

See All »
Slow ~ Pro
Profile picture for user Slow ~ Pro
Posts
3834
Joined
3/27/2008
Location
Capistrano Beach, CA, USA
Slow ~ Pro 7/24/2008 7:44am
7/24/2008 7:44am
Greg Smith, is still around, I saw him recently, (I believe it was the 4-stroke Nationals), but I did not speak to him. I had only met him once, back in the 70s

xnationalwrench, has been around since the 30s

I kid...40s
xnationalwrench 7/24/2008 11:38am
7/24/2008 11:38am
Slow ~ Pro wrote:
Greg Smith, is still around, I saw him recently, (I believe it was the 4-stroke Nationals), but I did not speak to him. I had only...
Greg Smith, is still around, I saw him recently, (I believe it was the 4-stroke Nationals), but I did not speak to him. I had only met him once, back in the 70s

xnationalwrench, has been around since the 30s

I kid...40s
I did remember seeing you in a diaper when your dad raced lol. Shocked
Slow ~ Pro
Profile picture for user Slow ~ Pro
Posts
3834
Joined
3/27/2008
Location
Capistrano Beach, CA, USA
Slow ~ Pro 7/24/2008 5:32pm
7/24/2008 5:32pm
Well, my dad started in 1959...I started riding in 1962...
but what does Diapers have to do with it ?
I wore one til I was 14 !

*giggle*
rdmike
Profile picture for user rdmike
Posts
19
Joined
7/22/2008
Location
Bangkok, TH
rdmike 7/24/2008 8:51pm
7/24/2008 8:51pm
Marty Miller = local CMC Pro right? 1975 he was riding a Yamaha MX250B (red and white tank) rather than the YZ250B? How the memory goes,,,, At first when I heard Miller I was thinking Dave Miller of Miller Mano...
Slow ~ Pro
Profile picture for user Slow ~ Pro
Posts
3834
Joined
3/27/2008
Location
Capistrano Beach, CA, USA
Slow ~ Pro 7/24/2008 8:52pm
7/24/2008 8:52pm
Harbor, and Warner ? Now sits a big Kaiser hospital building...

I used to have a practice track, where the lower wing of Hoag hospital sits, on Coast hwy, in Newport beach.
rdmike
Profile picture for user rdmike
Posts
19
Joined
7/22/2008
Location
Bangkok, TH
rdmike 7/24/2008 9:03pm
7/24/2008 9:03pm
I use to ride somwhere around there also. Use to pump gas at the mobil at 15th and Balboa. There was a couple of guys I rode with there. Jon Derhammer on a Montesa and Steve Shipley on a Maico.
BobbyM
Profile picture for user BobbyM
Posts
21436
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
USA
BobbyM 7/24/2008 9:28pm
7/24/2008 9:28pm
rdmike wrote:
Anyone from the 60's and 70's from the So Cal area in this forum?
i was born in LA and lived in gardena til i was 5
Slow ~ Pro
Profile picture for user Slow ~ Pro
Posts
3834
Joined
3/27/2008
Location
Capistrano Beach, CA, USA
Slow ~ Pro 7/24/2008 11:36pm
7/24/2008 11:36pm
rdmike wrote:
I use to ride somwhere around there also. Use to pump gas at the mobil at 15th and Balboa. There was a couple of guys I...
I use to ride somwhere around there also. Use to pump gas at the mobil at 15th and Balboa. There was a couple of guys I rode with there. Jon Derhammer on a Montesa and Steve Shipley on a Maico.
Shippy is still around, he runs the "Zoo ministries" has Ray Sommo under his wing...but the prayers don't pay off cuz Ray, is worth about 10 minutes of racing.

I remember the that station...no more on the Peninsula.
rdmike
Profile picture for user rdmike
Posts
19
Joined
7/22/2008
Location
Bangkok, TH
rdmike 7/25/2008 12:41am
7/25/2008 12:41am
Really?? Last I saw him he owned a huge fishing boat and was staying off of 17th street in Costa Mesa. He always parked on the hill looking down in the pits at saddleback. Always had his golden retriever with him. How about Mike Yorba? I think he was from the beach area. Another guy who rode a montesa was Kevin ??? had viva on the back of his pants......I remember he worked as a car washer in car lots He was a good guy, forgot his last name....


xnational wrench..... I read your profile, what era were you tuning for Ron T? I knew him more around his Suzuki test rider days and FMF I guess that would have been 75 - 77, 1977 #15 on the bike.... I believe Smoked everyone at the Golden State Series at Saddleback all three classes that day.
xnationalwrench 7/25/2008 4:58am
7/25/2008 4:58am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 7:46pm
rdmike wrote:
Really?? Last I saw him he owned a huge fishing boat and was staying off of 17th street in Costa Mesa. He always parked on the...
Really?? Last I saw him he owned a huge fishing boat and was staying off of 17th street in Costa Mesa. He always parked on the hill looking down in the pits at saddleback. Always had his golden retriever with him. How about Mike Yorba? I think he was from the beach area. Another guy who rode a montesa was Kevin ??? had viva on the back of his pants......I remember he worked as a car washer in car lots He was a good guy, forgot his last name....


xnational wrench..... I read your profile, what era were you tuning for Ron T? I knew him more around his Suzuki test rider days and FMF I guess that would have been 75 - 77, 1977 #15 on the bike.... I believe Smoked everyone at the Golden State Series at Saddleback all three classes that day.
I was hired by FMF while I was helping Malcolm McCassey Sr. (he was helping FMF at the time) And worked with both Gary Ogden and Ron Turner and was friends when he raced with Suzuki R&D and then later with Cagiva. Back then the FMF National Team was Ogden, Turner, & John Savitski.
rdmike
Profile picture for user rdmike
Posts
19
Joined
7/22/2008
Location
Bangkok, TH
rdmike 7/25/2008 6:48am
7/25/2008 6:48am
We must had met I am sure. We use to hang out and ride together. He was living in Whitter at the time. He had a girlfriend with some well to do parents, big RV at the races.The Suzuki RD guys were at the time Jennings, Ron, Ogden, Elliott, Laporte, and Hannah had just left.

In 1977 I rode Ron's FMF, 370. It was just set up new for the Saddleback Golden State Series by FMF . Not sure if you did the work. If you had, you were a god! It was the fastest best handling bike I ever rode. Ron won that day, and I bought the bike from Elmer as they were loading it up. $1500 bucks. First and only used bike I ever bought. The bike was a holeshot almost everytime. Good memories. 530 chain kit, thor swing arm, mototec ignition, custom cone pipe, air forks, fat seat, ported, and the list went on. I had a 250 built the same afterwards. FMF was a little shop then in Harbor City
rdmike
Profile picture for user rdmike
Posts
19
Joined
7/22/2008
Location
Bangkok, TH
rdmike 7/25/2008 6:59am
7/25/2008 6:59am
rdmike wrote:
I use to ride somwhere around there also. Use to pump gas at the mobil at 15th and Balboa. There was a couple of guys I...
I use to ride somwhere around there also. Use to pump gas at the mobil at 15th and Balboa. There was a couple of guys I rode with there. Jon Derhammer on a Montesa and Steve Shipley on a Maico.
Slow ~ Pro wrote:
Shippy is still around, he runs the "Zoo ministries" has Ray Sommo under his wing...but the prayers don't pay off cuz Ray, is worth about 10...
Shippy is still around, he runs the "Zoo ministries" has Ray Sommo under his wing...but the prayers don't pay off cuz Ray, is worth about 10 minutes of racing.

I remember the that station...no more on the Peninsula.
I don't think this is the same guy after looking at the website zoo. This guy was older than me, lived on the pennisula, mom and dad were loaded. Was a big CMC racer, Saddleback, Carlsbad, and Irwindale. Hung around a bit with Greg Smith, Mosier, Val Talmetti (sp) Thought the last name was Shipley......
Slow ~ Pro
Profile picture for user Slow ~ Pro
Posts
3834
Joined
3/27/2008
Location
Capistrano Beach, CA, USA
Slow ~ Pro 7/25/2008 8:14am
7/25/2008 8:14am Edited Date/Time 7/25/2008 8:14am
I very, well could be wrong then. I met this guy Shippy, just a few years ago...he approached me for financial support. HA...I am Atheist, didn't seem prudent to help a Ministery.
jwhracer
Profile picture for user jwhracer
Posts
11
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
jwhracer 7/25/2008 3:26pm
7/25/2008 3:26pm
Started racing in 1970, my first race was at saddleback. I raced at Indian Dunes, Corona, DeAnza, Perris, Elsinore, Escape Country, Irwindale, OCIR, Trojan Speedway, Adelanto, Rawhide. That was some fun times in the 70s, i remember racing 4 times in one week. Trojan was tuesday nights, OCIR, Corona, Irwindale friday nights and some of the others were running Saturday and Sunday. My Dad raced Ascot in the 60s. Wayne Rainey and I did our first race together, he was two years older then me and I can't forget seeing Jeff Ward hauling ass on his little 50. Like Mini Elsinore said there was plenty of tracks back then and I know I forgot some of them.

Pit Row

See All »
bigmaico
Profile picture for user bigmaico
Posts
971
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Kingwood, TX, USA
bigmaico 7/25/2008 7:53pm
7/25/2008 7:53pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 7:47pm
rdmike wrote:
Really?? Last I saw him he owned a huge fishing boat and was staying off of 17th street in Costa Mesa. He always parked on the...
Really?? Last I saw him he owned a huge fishing boat and was staying off of 17th street in Costa Mesa. He always parked on the hill looking down in the pits at saddleback. Always had his golden retriever with him. How about Mike Yorba? I think he was from the beach area. Another guy who rode a montesa was Kevin ??? had viva on the back of his pants......I remember he worked as a car washer in car lots He was a good guy, forgot his last name....


xnational wrench..... I read your profile, what era were you tuning for Ron T? I knew him more around his Suzuki test rider days and FMF I guess that would have been 75 - 77, 1977 #15 on the bike.... I believe Smoked everyone at the Golden State Series at Saddleback all three classes that day.
Last I head of Mike was back in the late 70's, something about riding in the dez & getting his back broke in a crash.


I'll have to ask Steve Russell. one of Wheelsmiths Mechanics during that time & a CMC pro on a Maico.


Any one know what happened to Jeff Witherell, you the guy who's brother Greg hit Rex Staten with a Cresent wrench?
Slow ~ Pro
Profile picture for user Slow ~ Pro
Posts
3834
Joined
3/27/2008
Location
Capistrano Beach, CA, USA
Slow ~ Pro 7/25/2008 8:02pm
7/25/2008 8:02pm
bigmaico wrote:
Last I head of Mike was back in the late 70's, something about riding in the dez & getting his back broke in a crash. I'll...
Last I head of Mike was back in the late 70's, something about riding in the dez & getting his back broke in a crash.


I'll have to ask Steve Russell. one of Wheelsmiths Mechanics during that time & a CMC pro on a Maico.


Any one know what happened to Jeff Witherell, you the guy who's brother Greg hit Rex Staten with a Cresent wrench?
Wow...My name is Mike, I raced Desert, and broke my back in the 70s

rdmike
Profile picture for user rdmike
Posts
19
Joined
7/22/2008
Location
Bangkok, TH
rdmike 7/25/2008 11:43pm
7/25/2008 11:43pm
Where was trojan raceway?
rdmike
Profile picture for user rdmike
Posts
19
Joined
7/22/2008
Location
Bangkok, TH
rdmike 7/25/2008 11:47pm
7/25/2008 11:47pm
That was the day Rex was riding along the snow fence on the downhill sweeper by the highway and t boned him right?
jwhracer
Profile picture for user jwhracer
Posts
11
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
jwhracer 7/26/2008 12:01am
7/26/2008 12:01am
rdmike wrote:
Where was trojan raceway?
Southgate, Ca off the 710 FWY I believe. It was a flat track and TT course.
rdmike
Profile picture for user rdmike
Posts
19
Joined
7/22/2008
Location
Bangkok, TH
rdmike 7/26/2008 5:58am
7/26/2008 5:58am
never rode there. Rawhide brings back memories. Rubberband start, and I remember he ran sprinklers on the track all night. Left hand start straight into a filled gully!

Remember the chuck bowers and mcdougal penton races at OCIR? You could through a blanket over those guys they raced so close.
xnationalwrench 7/26/2008 6:50am
7/26/2008 6:50am
rdmike wrote:
Where was trojan raceway?
jwhracer wrote:
Southgate, Ca off the 710 FWY I believe. It was a flat track and TT course.
Trojan Raceway was there. It was a tiny track 1/4 oval I think and had a tt track sort of like the 250 track at Ascot. They also raced midgets there but sure don't know how it was a tiny track.
rdmike
Profile picture for user rdmike
Posts
19
Joined
7/22/2008
Location
Bangkok, TH
rdmike 7/26/2008 6:53am
7/26/2008 6:53am
x wrench - how about Rocky? Is he still around?
rdmike
Profile picture for user rdmike
Posts
19
Joined
7/22/2008
Location
Bangkok, TH
rdmike 7/26/2008 6:53am
7/26/2008 6:53am
x wrench - how about Rocky? Is he still around?
jwhracer
Profile picture for user jwhracer
Posts
11
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
jwhracer 7/26/2008 8:48am
7/26/2008 8:48am Edited Date/Time 7/26/2008 9:01am
rdmike wrote:
never rode there. Rawhide brings back memories. Rubberband start, and I remember he ran sprinklers on the track all night. Left hand start straight into a...
never rode there. Rawhide brings back memories. Rubberband start, and I remember he ran sprinklers on the track all night. Left hand start straight into a filled gully!

Remember the chuck bowers and mcdougal penton races at OCIR? You could through a blanket over those guys they raced so close.
Rawhide was a great track, I remember the last race there. I forgot who the organization was that day but it was a qualifier for the super bowl of MX at the LA colosium, There were alot of pros there and the track owner split with all the money and the pro purse.
rdmike
Profile picture for user rdmike
Posts
19
Joined
7/22/2008
Location
Bangkok, TH
rdmike 7/26/2008 9:39am
7/26/2008 9:39am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 7:47pm
I did not know Ron with Honda and FMF. I do remember him with T&M when he rode hondas though. 73 and 74. What year was the honda? T&M always initialed the cylinders. My 74 yz250 had the same. back then rode for for Lemar's Cycle in Orange which became Sunshine Cycle.
xnationalwrench 7/26/2008 11:34am
7/26/2008 11:34am Edited Date/Time 7/26/2008 11:34am
rdmike wrote:
I did not know Ron with Honda and FMF. I do remember him with T&M when he rode hondas though. 73 and 74. What year was...
I did not know Ron with Honda and FMF. I do remember him with T&M when he rode hondas though. 73 and 74. What year was the honda? T&M always initialed the cylinders. My 74 yz250 had the same. back then rode for for Lemar's Cycle in Orange which became Sunshine Cycle.
Same here I knew Ron when he was riding Suzuki's at FMF. His father-in-law was a dentist and I believe he had some money in T&M.

Post a reply to: So CAL in the 60's and 70's