R.I.P. Don Jones

Slow ~ Pro
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Slow ~ Pro
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 12:41pm
Just received the horrible phone call from Four time Motocross champion Gary Jones.

His Father Don Jones, passed away today at 1pm.

Not wanting to keep Gary, on the phone, details will surely follow in the motorcycle industry magazines.

Don Jones, was a great man, I remember him from so many years back.

I will miss you ol' friend.
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drmarkr
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drmarkr 7/27/2008 8:07pm
7/27/2008 8:07pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 7:48pm
Wow.....that's a blow. The Godfather of American moto. Did it his way for sure.


God bless Gary, Dewayne and the rest of the family.


MR
flarider
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flarider 7/27/2008 8:12pm
7/27/2008 8:12pm
Sorry to hear it
My condolences to the family
BobbyM
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BobbyM 7/27/2008 8:16pm
7/27/2008 8:16pm
holy fuck...great dad and a great mx icon. they should bury him in Amex box.
Slow ~ Pro
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Slow ~ Pro 7/27/2008 8:18pm
7/27/2008 8:18pm
Gunna have a party, and ride at his house. There are a lot of Ammex boxes there.

Ironic, Gary, crashed today, while leading our class, and dislocated his shoulder.

The Shop

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andymoto
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andymoto 7/27/2008 8:35pm
7/27/2008 8:35pm
Sorry to hear the news.
God Bless the family and he will be missed greatly.
Xtreme1
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Xtreme1 7/27/2008 8:50pm
7/27/2008 8:50pm
HuskyEd
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HuskyEd 7/27/2008 8:57pm
7/27/2008 8:57pm
Lost another one of the pioneers. Godspeed Don Jones.
tunedlength
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tunedlength 7/27/2008 10:39pm
7/27/2008 10:39pm
Don was a great guy, Always had time for me when ever I had a mechanical problem. A major influence on me and my techno motorsport endeavors.
Thanks Don

God speed
Sondy132001
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Sondy132001 7/27/2008 11:18pm
7/27/2008 11:18pm
wow seen him a few times this year at different events, he looked in great health, so sad he will be missed.

S
Craze
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Craze 7/27/2008 11:43pm
7/27/2008 11:43pm
Sorry to hear that, He was a great guy, I feel very fortunite to have met him a few years back. I loved hearing the many yarns he had about the beginnings of American Mx. There would be no YZ's without his influence
Shocker
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Shocker 7/28/2008 3:42am
7/28/2008 3:42am
Godspeed... Prayers and condolences are with his family and friends
mx317
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mx317 7/28/2008 4:43am
7/28/2008 4:43am
I hung out with Don and Gary at MidOhio last year and will never forget the stories he told. Don was a close friend to one of my best friend's Dad and he introduced me. He did a reed valve and port mod on an Elsinore that we ran in 74 and it was bad fast for it's time. Honda later won a court battle against Boyesen because Don had designed that port work when he worked for them and Honda was paying Boyesen for the rights. I have a reprinted article from a 1974 Cycle Guide that shows the port design. Godspeed Don.
JPT
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JPT 7/28/2008 5:11am
7/28/2008 5:11am
We're losing too many of our founding fathers.

Sad to hear.
willmoto
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willmoto 7/28/2008 5:13am
7/28/2008 5:13am
Godspeed Don
MX-Files
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MX-Files 7/28/2008 6:20am
7/28/2008 6:20am
Still in Mid-Ohio from Vintage Motorcycle Days and Gary called me last night. I'm really bummed for Gary, Dwayne, Melinda and the rest of the family.

We talked about Don over the weekend out here and what a good time he had last year here for the Legends weekend. It was nice he got together with everyone one last time.

Developed the YZ's, Elsinore's, Can-Ams, and Ammex's...Plus, supported Gary in his four national titles. Who else has contributed more for American motocross in the early years?

He will be missed.


Slow ~ Pro
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Slow ~ Pro 7/28/2008 7:38am
7/28/2008 7:38am
Sondy132001 wrote:
wow seen him a few times this year at different events, he looked in great health, so sad he will be missed.

S
Yeah...I was really taken a back when Renee (Gary's Wife) told me Don was in ill health a couple months ago.

I saw Don, at the Vet., Nationals, and I was telling him how my father's health was failing, Don, Laughed, because my father was always the tough guy. For some reason, my Dad, just keeps pluggin' with only 22% heart function. I will bring him to Don's Memorial.
Slow ~ Pro
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Slow ~ Pro 7/28/2008 12:25pm
7/28/2008 12:25pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 7:48pm


Instead of doing a "Copy & Paste" I will just let you know there is a heartfelt letter, and Memorium, over at www.motocrossactionmag.com/
czguy
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czguy 7/29/2008 12:45pm
7/29/2008 12:45pm
Sorry to hear; only got the news he was ill last week. Been around them all off and on over the years and got to sit down and talk with Don about a year ago at Perris. Great experience and very friendly all evening. He was an innovator and craftsman of the highest caliber and will be missed by many. Godspeed Don and condolences to the Jones family.....

Pit Row

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xnationalwrench 7/30/2008 9:32am
7/30/2008 9:32am
Don was a real racer, his family has to be listed as the 1st family of Motocross. The thing I remember most was after his grandkids starting racing, he told me "When Gary and Dewayne raced I stood at trackside and yelled to go faster now the grandkids are racing I stand at trackside and yell at 'em to go slower." Of course this was when they first started out racing, I can't imagine Don telling any of them to slow down because racing is what we do as he often said.
oldx
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oldx 7/30/2008 11:08am
7/30/2008 11:08am Edited Date/Time 7/30/2008 11:08am
You old guys remember when he dished out all the bolts on his kids bikes with a small hand grinder to cut weight. I believe he was the first to do this. Next he came up with a holder , clamp, for the drill press to dish them.
RIP Don
Slow ~ Pro
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Slow ~ Pro 7/30/2008 2:54pm
7/30/2008 2:54pm
xnationalwrench wrote:
Don was a real racer, his family has to be listed as the 1st family of Motocross. The thing I remember most was after his grandkids...
Don was a real racer, his family has to be listed as the 1st family of Motocross. The thing I remember most was after his grandkids starting racing, he told me "When Gary and Dewayne raced I stood at trackside and yelled to go faster now the grandkids are racing I stand at trackside and yell at 'em to go slower." Of course this was when they first started out racing, I can't imagine Don telling any of them to slow down because racing is what we do as he often said.
Well, his youngest grandson (Justin) rode for me this week end, and looks to be on my Pro 24 hour team.

I remember when Justin's older brother (Gregory) took two hours to complete an 11 mile loop at the 1999, 24 hour GP...These days he is an overall contender.
trickeyrick
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trickeyrick 9/21/2008 8:49pm
9/21/2008 8:49pm Edited Date/Time 9/21/2008 9:56pm
I remember cycle news calling him the irrepressible don jones now they can call it the way it is irreplaceable.lets face it if it was not for don and a hand full of others we all would be reading about euro motocross still.everyone who straps a leg across a dirt BIKE owes don ONE way or the other.RICK YOUNG
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The Rock 9/23/2008 12:03pm
9/23/2008 12:03pm
Sondy132001 wrote:
wow seen him a few times this year at different events, he looked in great health, so sad he will be missed.

S
When we were at Tom White's last fall for the Hannah deal I was talking to your father and Don Jones. It was great hearing them talk about tracks in Europe I'd never even heard of and the early days of the sport.

Don didn't know me from Adam but invited me up to his ranch to ride quads and hang out. Wished I would have taken him up on his offer now.......

Godspeed Don Jones!

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