The Eddie Warren Story

early
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7/16/2014 7:00pm
Backto the top for an excellent read. Do youself a favor and take a break from vital to read some of the articles on that site.
kgillett
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7/21/2014 5:07am
I have raced the 87 KX 125 in the pics twice now in the Michigan Vintage Series and it is by far one of the best bikes Ive ever ridden. This was his factory practice bike so it has the suspension and motor straight from Factory Kawasaki. This 125 has the same billett fork legs that could be found on the factory race bikes. The cylinder has been heavily modified and Ed Sr. said thats how they got it straight from Kawasaki. This is the cleanest running bike Ive ever ridden and it really rips for an old 125.
VintageRacer
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7/21/2014 7:39am
kgillett wrote:
I have raced the 87 KX 125 in the pics twice now in the Michigan Vintage Series and it is by far one of the best...
I have raced the 87 KX 125 in the pics twice now in the Michigan Vintage Series and it is by far one of the best bikes Ive ever ridden. This was his factory practice bike so it has the suspension and motor straight from Factory Kawasaki. This 125 has the same billett fork legs that could be found on the factory race bikes. The cylinder has been heavily modified and Ed Sr. said thats how they got it straight from Kawasaki. This is the cleanest running bike Ive ever ridden and it really rips for an old 125.
I watched yesterday and seen the bike first hand. Cool to see in person with the factory parts and it ripping up the track. It sounded clean, crisp and strong on top! Maybe youll let me take it for a spin one day Gillet?
VintageRacer
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7/21/2014 7:40am
I'll try to get a few pics from Steve that my wife took of ya and post them here.

The Shop

Fox88
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Fantasy
7/23/2014 6:28am
dboivin wrote:
do yourself a favor and read Ed Warren Sr.'s story before you read Eddies....amazing motorcycle history in that man. These 2 interviews were the most in...
do yourself a favor and read Ed Warren Sr.'s story before you read Eddies....amazing motorcycle history in that man. These 2 interviews were the most in depth, well written interviews i've seen in long time.

he was one of my idols when i was on mini's. Used to stay for afternoon races after we were done with ours in the morning....just to watch epic battles between him and keith bowen.

Thanks for the tip, it took me a few days to get thru (short attention span and on vacation with kids) but I really enjoyed the reads.
I had read about him in cycle news and my brothers team green newsletters, but was blown away by his speed when I finally saw him clean up at ponca. I didn't know his dads story, good stuff..
TomZ
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7/23/2014 8:06am
Old-Man wrote:
I remember a many Silverdome series that looked exactly like this pic...Hated it then wish I had those days back
dboivin wrote:
I can remember running a race at Baja Acres in the silverdome series...i would say 83 or 84 where there was a foot of snow....and the...
I can remember running a race at Baja Acres in the silverdome series...i would say 83 or 84 where there was a foot of snow....and the race went on. They let the big bikes (vets) hit the track first to knock the snow down for us mini riders. when we got out there...all it was one dirt line around the whole track.

One thing thats surely changed since then is mud riding...michigan riders always rode in the mud...no one went home. When loretta's would get rain....Michigan would take home a bunch of titles. Dry, hard pack blue groove was our weakness.
Many of us were witness to a lot of moto history.

I believe that was 1983. I think it was the same year that the qualifier at Mustang Acres was a snowy, muddy mess.

I think you rode at Frelin when most of the track was blue-groove. Funny thing....last weekend the ruts were footpeg draggers.

Eddie has an amazing story for sure. Surprised that Grewe and Posten haven't been mentioned yet.
dboivin
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7/23/2014 12:26pm Edited Date/Time 7/23/2014 12:26pm
Old-Man wrote:
I remember a many Silverdome series that looked exactly like this pic...Hated it then wish I had those days back
dboivin wrote:
I can remember running a race at Baja Acres in the silverdome series...i would say 83 or 84 where there was a foot of snow....and the...
I can remember running a race at Baja Acres in the silverdome series...i would say 83 or 84 where there was a foot of snow....and the race went on. They let the big bikes (vets) hit the track first to knock the snow down for us mini riders. when we got out there...all it was one dirt line around the whole track.

One thing thats surely changed since then is mud riding...michigan riders always rode in the mud...no one went home. When loretta's would get rain....Michigan would take home a bunch of titles. Dry, hard pack blue groove was our weakness.
TomZ wrote:
Many of us were witness to a lot of moto history. I believe that was 1983. I think it was the same year that the qualifier...
Many of us were witness to a lot of moto history.

I believe that was 1983. I think it was the same year that the qualifier at Mustang Acres was a snowy, muddy mess.

I think you rode at Frelin when most of the track was blue-groove. Funny thing....last weekend the ruts were footpeg draggers.

Eddie has an amazing story for sure. Surprised that Grewe and Posten haven't been mentioned yet.
Eddie and Keith kinda overshadowed everyone (it seemed to me as a little kid)...there were many fast guys. Eric Posten went on to wrench for Team Green, then on to rep for gear companies. Last i knew he was working for goggle manufacture (maybe oakley) not sure....such a smart kid for his age back then. Grewe still tears up the local tracks and gives Trampas Parker a run each year at Loretta's.

and yes, was not a fan of the old S&A Raceway (now freelin). It definitely looks better condition nowadays.
TomZ
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7/23/2014 1:31pm
dboivin wrote:
I can remember running a race at Baja Acres in the silverdome series...i would say 83 or 84 where there was a foot of snow....and the...
I can remember running a race at Baja Acres in the silverdome series...i would say 83 or 84 where there was a foot of snow....and the race went on. They let the big bikes (vets) hit the track first to knock the snow down for us mini riders. when we got out there...all it was one dirt line around the whole track.

One thing thats surely changed since then is mud riding...michigan riders always rode in the mud...no one went home. When loretta's would get rain....Michigan would take home a bunch of titles. Dry, hard pack blue groove was our weakness.
TomZ wrote:
Many of us were witness to a lot of moto history. I believe that was 1983. I think it was the same year that the qualifier...
Many of us were witness to a lot of moto history.

I believe that was 1983. I think it was the same year that the qualifier at Mustang Acres was a snowy, muddy mess.

I think you rode at Frelin when most of the track was blue-groove. Funny thing....last weekend the ruts were footpeg draggers.

Eddie has an amazing story for sure. Surprised that Grewe and Posten haven't been mentioned yet.
dboivin wrote:
Eddie and Keith kinda overshadowed everyone (it seemed to me as a little kid)...there were many fast guys. Eric Posten went on to wrench for Team...
Eddie and Keith kinda overshadowed everyone (it seemed to me as a little kid)...there were many fast guys. Eric Posten went on to wrench for Team Green, then on to rep for gear companies. Last i knew he was working for goggle manufacture (maybe oakley) not sure....such a smart kid for his age back then. Grewe still tears up the local tracks and gives Trampas Parker a run each year at Loretta's.

and yes, was not a fan of the old S&A Raceway (now freelin). It definitely looks better condition nowadays.
You are correct Eric is living in Cali working for Oakley. Stayed at his place a couple times and went MTB riding. He and his pro cycling buddies are crazy fit.

Grewe still hauls for sure. Probably more successful as a vet rider then ever before. An inspiration for old guys !

Still talk to Keith occasionally and have a laugh or three about the old days.

It is really great to see stuff about Eddie because he really didn't become as big in the U.S. as his ability deserved.

.
ak23
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7/23/2014 7:27pm
TomZ wrote:
Many of us were witness to a lot of moto history. I believe that was 1983. I think it was the same year that the qualifier...
Many of us were witness to a lot of moto history.

I believe that was 1983. I think it was the same year that the qualifier at Mustang Acres was a snowy, muddy mess.

I think you rode at Frelin when most of the track was blue-groove. Funny thing....last weekend the ruts were footpeg draggers.

Eddie has an amazing story for sure. Surprised that Grewe and Posten haven't been mentioned yet.
dboivin wrote:
Eddie and Keith kinda overshadowed everyone (it seemed to me as a little kid)...there were many fast guys. Eric Posten went on to wrench for Team...
Eddie and Keith kinda overshadowed everyone (it seemed to me as a little kid)...there were many fast guys. Eric Posten went on to wrench for Team Green, then on to rep for gear companies. Last i knew he was working for goggle manufacture (maybe oakley) not sure....such a smart kid for his age back then. Grewe still tears up the local tracks and gives Trampas Parker a run each year at Loretta's.

and yes, was not a fan of the old S&A Raceway (now freelin). It definitely looks better condition nowadays.
TomZ wrote:
You are correct Eric is living in Cali working for Oakley. Stayed at his place a couple times and went MTB riding. He and his pro...
You are correct Eric is living in Cali working for Oakley. Stayed at his place a couple times and went MTB riding. He and his pro cycling buddies are crazy fit.

Grewe still hauls for sure. Probably more successful as a vet rider then ever before. An inspiration for old guys !

Still talk to Keith occasionally and have a laugh or three about the old days.

It is really great to see stuff about Eddie because he really didn't become as big in the U.S. as his ability deserved.

.
Just talked to eric yesterday at Oakley - I was sending him old school pics of himself that were on that miafia website w Eddie warren. He was in a lot of them and quite surprised - and he hung out w all those a guys, Grewe, curry, kitch ,buchalter , horn, bowen, and that fast fucker. Akey- beleive it or not I took Eric for his first ever dirt bike ride when we were 8-9. Tom. How bout Gosen - be hauled ass aye- till he broke his arm
DC
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7/23/2014 7:38pm Edited Date/Time 7/23/2014 7:41pm
That is a great read, thanks for sharing OP. I have known Eddie for years and years...

The first time I ever raced Eddie was 1978 at the AMA-Youth National at Baja Acres in Michigan. We were in the 80cc Mod 12-14 class and he was wearing a white open-faced helmet, blue jeans, and a yellow Suzuki jersey with black sleeves. He lapped me, and he probably would have won the 100 class that day on his RM80, which his dad built! I think second was another Michigan kid named Mark Cheza (?).

The next year, the '79 race at Otter Creek, Iowa, he showed up on Kawasakis and was the fastest guy there, but his bike broke a couple of times and my longtime friend Brian Stanley won over Troy Graham. Eddie was still wearing an open-face white helmet, but he was sponsored by Hi-Point by then. Eddie was already faster than the Team Dynamic guys at that point, and they had great support, and like the story said, he had one bike.

In 1980 Eddie won three out of four motos at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in the 85cc 12-14 class and should have won the title. He was amazing on a minicycle, just as he was on a big bike, and I would put him up against Brian Swink as the best 85 rider ever from Michigan, and definitely one of the best all time. Team Green helped him after that, and he delivered!

(Edit: And Eric Posten was not only very fast in his own right, he remains one of the nicest guys I have ever met in motocross. He once helped me re-ring my KTM the night before we raced each other at the '85 Daytona Supercross! I will never forget that.)

DC
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j100
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7/23/2014 9:15pm
Old-Man wrote:
I remember a many Silverdome series that looked exactly like this pic...Hated it then wish I had those days back
i agree. hahaha raced so many times in the snow.
hammertime
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7/23/2014 10:53pm
eddie was in the day when i was a canadian pro that raced some nats and sx's down south a bit. even as involved as i was at that time, with just the mags and cycle news you never really got a pulse on the guy. at first, it was him coming in killing it on the DMC bikes we all had, then he faded....and we never really knew why. that was a detailed read that you'd rarely see these days. it was awesome! questions answered!
VintageRacer
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7/27/2014 9:23am
Well here is one of Eddie's bikes in action last weekend at Freelin Mx, Michigan Vintage Motocross Series-



dboivin
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7/27/2014 10:07am
dboivin wrote:
Eddie and Keith kinda overshadowed everyone (it seemed to me as a little kid)...there were many fast guys. Eric Posten went on to wrench for Team...
Eddie and Keith kinda overshadowed everyone (it seemed to me as a little kid)...there were many fast guys. Eric Posten went on to wrench for Team Green, then on to rep for gear companies. Last i knew he was working for goggle manufacture (maybe oakley) not sure....such a smart kid for his age back then. Grewe still tears up the local tracks and gives Trampas Parker a run each year at Loretta's.

and yes, was not a fan of the old S&A Raceway (now freelin). It definitely looks better condition nowadays.
TomZ wrote:
You are correct Eric is living in Cali working for Oakley. Stayed at his place a couple times and went MTB riding. He and his pro...
You are correct Eric is living in Cali working for Oakley. Stayed at his place a couple times and went MTB riding. He and his pro cycling buddies are crazy fit.

Grewe still hauls for sure. Probably more successful as a vet rider then ever before. An inspiration for old guys !

Still talk to Keith occasionally and have a laugh or three about the old days.

It is really great to see stuff about Eddie because he really didn't become as big in the U.S. as his ability deserved.

.
ak23 wrote:
Just talked to eric yesterday at Oakley - I was sending him old school pics of himself that were on that miafia website w Eddie warren...
Just talked to eric yesterday at Oakley - I was sending him old school pics of himself that were on that miafia website w Eddie warren. He was in a lot of them and quite surprised - and he hung out w all those a guys, Grewe, curry, kitch ,buchalter , horn, bowen, and that fast fucker. Akey- beleive it or not I took Eric for his first ever dirt bike ride when we were 8-9. Tom. How bout Gosen - be hauled ass aye- till he broke his arm
kitsch, curry, poston, stanick, buchalters and myself...all from same area. whole lot of team green going on in this little corner of motocross. Smile

I remember a guy named Dan Gosen that Eric introduced me to many years ago....same person?
ehr400
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8/5/2014 8:54am
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2014/07/27/61000/s1200_image.jpg[/img]


Ran into these guys at Sandbox on Sunday and this bike is so trick. Thing rips and doesnt behave or sounds like a '87. Dude riding it is about my size and was taking him over everything pretty easy. The suspension looked damn good for a '87 also.
Old-Man
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8/5/2014 3:50pm
DC wrote:
That is a great read, thanks for sharing OP. I have known Eddie for years and years... The first time I ever raced Eddie was 1978...
That is a great read, thanks for sharing OP. I have known Eddie for years and years...

The first time I ever raced Eddie was 1978 at the AMA-Youth National at Baja Acres in Michigan. We were in the 80cc Mod 12-14 class and he was wearing a white open-faced helmet, blue jeans, and a yellow Suzuki jersey with black sleeves. He lapped me, and he probably would have won the 100 class that day on his RM80, which his dad built! I think second was another Michigan kid named Mark Cheza (?).

The next year, the '79 race at Otter Creek, Iowa, he showed up on Kawasakis and was the fastest guy there, but his bike broke a couple of times and my longtime friend Brian Stanley won over Troy Graham. Eddie was still wearing an open-face white helmet, but he was sponsored by Hi-Point by then. Eddie was already faster than the Team Dynamic guys at that point, and they had great support, and like the story said, he had one bike.

In 1980 Eddie won three out of four motos at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in the 85cc 12-14 class and should have won the title. He was amazing on a minicycle, just as he was on a big bike, and I would put him up against Brian Swink as the best 85 rider ever from Michigan, and definitely one of the best all time. Team Green helped him after that, and he delivered!

(Edit: And Eric Posten was not only very fast in his own right, he remains one of the nicest guys I have ever met in motocross. He once helped me re-ring my KTM the night before we raced each other at the '85 Daytona Supercross! I will never forget that.)

DC
MX Sports
Cool story's

I just missed racing against EW by about two years. He was onto bigger and better things by the time I hit the "A" class but I always knew who to watch when I was race gazin.

Michigan/Ohio/Indiana/Penn area was stacked backed then which of course made each rider that much faster tying to keep up.
Glad you were able to ride Baja, please keep it in mind for a future AMA National as the schedule needs another sand track. Wink
ando
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8/5/2014 3:55pm
If my memory serves me correctly I saw Eddie Warren racing a few times at the Supercross Masters in Australia in the mid to late '90's.
dboivin
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8/5/2014 4:46pm
ando wrote:
If my memory serves me correctly I saw Eddie Warren racing a few times at the Supercross Masters in Australia in the mid to late '90's.
in the interview he covers it. yeah he went back later 90's and did couple seasons in AUS until it was not fun anymore.
GILLETT
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8/10/2014 12:11pm
I went and picked up the '88 250 this morning. Bike is ridiculously tight and can't have more than a few hours on it. I'm looking for a factory finish pipe and also a silencer for the bike if anyone has any connections, preferably a Pro Circuit.
ehr400
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8/11/2014 6:26am
GILLETT wrote:
I went and picked up the '88 250 this morning. Bike is ridiculously tight and can't have more than a few hours on it. I'm looking...
I went and picked up the '88 250 this morning. Bike is ridiculously tight and can't have more than a few hours on it. I'm looking for a factory finish pipe and also a silencer for the bike if anyone has any connections, preferably a Pro Circuit.
Now that bike I would like to see in person. I think it was your brother who was riding the 125? Either way bike looked trick and sounded great.
TomZ
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8/11/2014 11:27am
TomZ wrote:
You are correct Eric is living in Cali working for Oakley. Stayed at his place a couple times and went MTB riding. He and his pro...
You are correct Eric is living in Cali working for Oakley. Stayed at his place a couple times and went MTB riding. He and his pro cycling buddies are crazy fit.

Grewe still hauls for sure. Probably more successful as a vet rider then ever before. An inspiration for old guys !

Still talk to Keith occasionally and have a laugh or three about the old days.

It is really great to see stuff about Eddie because he really didn't become as big in the U.S. as his ability deserved.

.
ak23 wrote:
Just talked to eric yesterday at Oakley - I was sending him old school pics of himself that were on that miafia website w Eddie warren...
Just talked to eric yesterday at Oakley - I was sending him old school pics of himself that were on that miafia website w Eddie warren. He was in a lot of them and quite surprised - and he hung out w all those a guys, Grewe, curry, kitch ,buchalter , horn, bowen, and that fast fucker. Akey- beleive it or not I took Eric for his first ever dirt bike ride when we were 8-9. Tom. How bout Gosen - be hauled ass aye- till he broke his arm
dboivin wrote:
kitsch, curry, poston, stanick, buchalters and myself...all from same area. whole lot of team green going on in this little corner of motocross. :) I remember...
kitsch, curry, poston, stanick, buchalters and myself...all from same area. whole lot of team green going on in this little corner of motocross. Smile

I remember a guy named Dan Gosen that Eric introduced me to many years ago....same person?
Spoke to Dan Gosen Thursday. Was one of my very best racing friends (and remains so today). He is a haul ass bicycle racer these days. We did a lot of traveling together back then. Dan was a Wednesday Night Club (Mustang Acres)member. Dan kept his bike at our house for a long time. It is totally fair to say that he was the most organized racer I ever knew.....I wouldn't have made the start many times if it weren't for his wrenching. For those who were part of that, there is some really fond memories there.

Kevin - didn't know you posted here. Would have said hey a long time ago. Hope to see you at GLGP this year.

Haven't talked to Curry in a bit. He raced my CR500AF at LL years back. Some funny stories there.

There are endless stories about Buchalters, Posten, Gosen and so many more.

A short and very humbling story about Posten's fitness.... On a mountain bike ride in SoCal Dan Gosen and I were pushed (literally) up a hill by Posten and a very fast and famous friend of his. Eric made me guzzle Coca Cola when we made it back to the car I was so bonked out. NEVER mention that you think you are pretty fit in that group........it won't work out well.

Eric and the guys he runs with are very bad dudes.

Sanford Buchalter broke a MTB in 2 pieces on a ride shortly after that one. Funny stuff.....For those who were around then, you may remember Dr. Buchalter having a welder in the garage because the boys broke MX bikes so often.

A great walk down memory lane.

DC mentioned what a great guy Eric was(is).........he was the man. So many funny AXO stories from back in the day,.



.
GILLETT
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8/11/2014 4:44pm
GILLETT wrote:
I went and picked up the '88 250 this morning. Bike is ridiculously tight and can't have more than a few hours on it. I'm looking...
I went and picked up the '88 250 this morning. Bike is ridiculously tight and can't have more than a few hours on it. I'm looking for a factory finish pipe and also a silencer for the bike if anyone has any connections, preferably a Pro Circuit.
ehr400 wrote:
Now that bike I would like to see in person. I think it was your brother who was riding the 125? Either way bike looked trick...
Now that bike I would like to see in person. I think it was your brother who was riding the 125? Either way bike looked trick and sounded great.
Yes that's my younger brother Kris who picked up the 125. I'll have the 250 out at the track soon. Just looking everything over and re-doing the forks and shock.
ehr400
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8/12/2014 10:53am
Since it is a hybrid of factory stuff with OEM are there some things not replacable?
kgillett
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8/13/2014 12:54pm
ehr400 wrote:
Since it is a hybrid of factory stuff with OEM are there some things not replacable?
I did have my 125 apart and the piston has been worked with a Dremel here and there so that will probably be hard to replicate but everything else should be pretty standard like fork seals and stuff like that. Its really just the suspension and motor that have been altered on the 125. I'll never get another set of the tires that are on it I know that. They are Dunlop K690A's that Im sure Dunlop sent right to Eddies house. His dad probably has a bunch of new ones piled up at his place.
8/13/2014 3:27pm
Great story and epic photos in the gallery. The good ol days. Can't believe he has 6 daughters!!
2nd2matt
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AU
8/13/2014 11:21pm
"FAST" Eddie WARREN . Added some color to the Australian MX scene. Pretty much kept up with, beat, or held his own as privater against all the aussie factory backed riders Dack,Bell,Armstrong,Melton,Deakin,Gall . Ripped an awesome heel clicker / cross up / pancake Lol at the burswood dome in Perth circa 1988, sick trick for back in the day, Eddie had a different approach than most back then , i remember him teaching to land front wheel first, when ever you could, when that was , i wasn't good enough to know, totally different line choices, and kind of outside the box thinking to racing , always felt improved for his tuition.
Old-Man
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8/15/2014 8:42am
I can see why he went "down under"


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