Whatever happened to Furman Gray

Larry
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Larry
Edited Date/Time 6/7/2018 10:26pm
From Warrior Alabama. He could ride a Maico Magnum faster than Bobby M.
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mx317
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mx317 12/6/2008 8:25am
12/6/2008 8:25am
That is a name from the past. I remember racing with him at Cullman AL (Indian Creek). He was really fast! I remember him leading the national at AIR for 15 or 20 mins over Marty Smith, Stackable, and the rest. I was also at a race in Memphis at Lakeland MX when he put in on Mark Barnett in the mud. They lapped up to third place (I was 4th). I heard he did some stunt work and then later became a bartender.
BobbyM
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BobbyM 12/6/2008 8:33am
12/6/2008 8:33am
Larry wrote:
From Warrior Alabama. He could ride a Maico Magnum faster than Bobby M.
i remember him...he was faster than greased rat shit
The Rock
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The Rock 12/8/2008 1:17am
12/8/2008 1:17am
Larry wrote:
From Warrior Alabama. He could ride a Maico Magnum faster than Bobby M.
Not sure if he was faster than BobbyM was in his era but I saw Gray working it at a National in Tennessee in the mid 70s. Dude was fast!
Larry
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Larry 12/8/2008 7:20am
12/8/2008 7:20am
He went from an XR75 to a Yamaha MX400 in 1975. He won a big pro race at the old Towaliga river track near Macon Ga. that Bill West promoted and his prize was a trip to Anaheim for the final SX of the year. He pulled the holeshot in the main and lead two laps before his front wheel collapsed over a 70 ft jump and cartwheeled himself all the way to the ambulance.
It was pure joy to watch him work his Maicos around Burnt Hickory in the late 70's.

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vetarider
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vetarider 12/21/2008 7:17am
12/21/2008 7:17am
That name sounds familiar. Anyone remember if he raced at Flying Wheels MX track in Alabama in the late 70's? Sorry, trying to bring back some old memories. Pic (grainy) below from Flying Wheels 1978. Big jump on the back side of the track that some turned into a table top. Example by Rodney Herring.

prillernut
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prillernut 12/21/2008 3:32pm
12/21/2008 3:32pm
Larry wrote:
He went from an XR75 to a Yamaha MX400 in 1975. He won a big pro race at the old Towaliga river track near Macon Ga...
He went from an XR75 to a Yamaha MX400 in 1975. He won a big pro race at the old Towaliga river track near Macon Ga. that Bill West promoted and his prize was a trip to Anaheim for the final SX of the year. He pulled the holeshot in the main and lead two laps before his front wheel collapsed over a 70 ft jump and cartwheeled himself all the way to the ambulance.
It was pure joy to watch him work his Maicos around Burnt Hickory in the late 70's.
yep, definitely remember him on the ol' Yamaha - great googly moogly, he was fast...
Heath
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Heath 1/28/2009 2:34pm
1/28/2009 2:34pm
I like the one about the stunt job and the bartender, ha,ha. Furman is doing well. He is my uncle, my mom's brother. He lived in Miami, FL. for a while, then came back to Warrior. He moved to Louisville Ky. for several years. He is going to be moving back to Warrior this Saturday if the weather let's him leave. He raced at Anaheim and broke his collar bone real bad. He quit racing after that. I was only about three at the time of his racing and can actually remember some of the races. I know his friend Jack Gill from Georgia wanted him to go to Ca. to try for a stunt job. Furman didn't go but Jack did. Last I heard Jack was head stunt producer in Ca. Furman was at the edge of fame, but that wreck on ABC wide world of sports at 15 yrs. old messed him up. He is a born again Christian now, he's married, and he's a knife salesman for case. His website is (pocketknifeworld.com). Hope this info helps. I have told him about this page recently, he said he will check it out. HEATH
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croom mx 1/28/2009 4:22pm
1/28/2009 4:22pm
I remember him from all the Maico riders that would show up at the Winter AMA races, Furman Grey, Sam Dayton, Ken Adams, Mickey Kessler it would be a Maico freight train going around the track.
Flying Red Head 7/11/2009 8:25pm
7/11/2009 8:25pm
vetarider wrote:
That name sounds familiar. Anyone remember if he raced at Flying Wheels MX track in Alabama in the late 70's? Sorry, trying to bring back some...
That name sounds familiar. Anyone remember if he raced at Flying Wheels MX track in Alabama in the late 70's? Sorry, trying to bring back some old memories. Pic (grainy) below from Flying Wheels 1978. Big jump on the back side of the track that some turned into a table top. Example by Rodney Herring.

My father started the flying wheels motocross club and built the motocross track. I used to race against Rodney Herring back in the early 70's. My name is M Bray and used to ride out of the Troy Yamaha shop with Audie Ward. My father got the intial grand stands and boy scout hut (used to sell food) moved to the track. In fact my father brought down Gary Baily for a motocross school. When I say the above photo it brought back a lot of memories... I walked into the Troy Yamaha Shop after some 30 years and Audie Ward recognized me right off. I had red hair and rode YZ 80's at the time.
badbrad108 7/15/2009 11:41am
7/15/2009 11:41am
Who was he again. I know he worked at a bank some. Help me out Larry.
Larry
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Larry 7/15/2009 8:20pm
7/15/2009 8:20pm
badbrad108 wrote:
Who was he again. I know he worked at a bank some. Help me out Larry.
He was that short fast guy on a Maico that you were always trying to catch.Wink
badbrad108 7/16/2009 9:26am
7/16/2009 9:26am
Was you on drugs back then Larry. He was like Marvin some times he chased me and some times I was on the ground or broke.
vetarider
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vetarider 7/16/2009 10:19am
7/16/2009 10:19am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 12:56am
vetarider wrote:
That name sounds familiar. Anyone remember if he raced at Flying Wheels MX track in Alabama in the late 70's? Sorry, trying to bring back some...
That name sounds familiar. Anyone remember if he raced at Flying Wheels MX track in Alabama in the late 70's? Sorry, trying to bring back some old memories. Pic (grainy) below from Flying Wheels 1978. Big jump on the back side of the track that some turned into a table top. Example by Rodney Herring.

Flying Red Head wrote:
My father started the flying wheels motocross club and built the motocross track. I used to race against Rodney Herring back in the early 70's. My...
My father started the flying wheels motocross club and built the motocross track. I used to race against Rodney Herring back in the early 70's. My name is M Bray and used to ride out of the Troy Yamaha shop with Audie Ward. My father got the intial grand stands and boy scout hut (used to sell food) moved to the track. In fact my father brought down Gary Baily for a motocross school. When I say the above photo it brought back a lot of memories... I walked into the Troy Yamaha Shop after some 30 years and Audie Ward recognized me right off. I had red hair and rode YZ 80's at the time.
Flying Red Head - I have a few more pictures of Flying Wheels. If you want I can send them to you by email. Send me a PM. Most are grainy though. I remember an article in the paper about Bailey teaching at FW. I cut out the picture and it's posted below. I originally thought it was Russ Darnell but someone since told me it's Bailey.


TFS (Steve Bruhn) raced at Flying Wheels as well. I didn't have the money to race but rode the track a few times when they had open practices in 1977-78. Great memories though of watching the races and how beat up the track would get by the end of the day. Good sand riding. I remember they mixed peanut shells or something in with the sand??


I finally built my own 1978 YZ250 last year but now have to sell because of health reasons....


I went to school for a while with a Jim (Jimbo) Ward in Enterprise. They had a Suzuki dealership in E'prise but then moved to Troy. In 1976 or 77 Jimbo wanted to sell his RM80 or YZ80 and I test rode it by the mini track at FW but didn't buy it. My dad ended up buying a 125 Yamaha from Yamaha of Troy in 1978.


http://i6.photobucket.com/...yingWheelsMX12-1.jpg


http://i6.photobucket.com/...lyingWheelsMX1-1.jpg


http://i6.photobucket.com/.../FlyingWheelsMX2.jpg


http://i6.photobucket.com/.../FlyingWheelsMX5.jpg


http://i6.photobucket.com/...yingWheelsMX11-1.jpg
Larry
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Larry 7/16/2009 11:01am
7/16/2009 11:01am
badbrad108 wrote:
Was you on drugs back then Larry. He was like Marvin some times he chased me and some times I was on the ground or broke.
We all were. Smile You would have been a lot less broke if Furman would have stayed in Warrior.
Heath
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Heath 7/5/2011 8:19pm
7/5/2011 8:19pm
It's with a sad hart I report my Uncle Furman Gray passed away this morning 7-5-11, at home in Warrior at the age of 50. Furman got sick Sat. after eating at Milo's in G'dale. He thought he had food poisoning. He was found in bed this morning. He will be at Messmer funeral home Sat. July 9 at 10:00am. Funeral will be at 11:00 am. Funeral home is off I-65 281 exit in Warrior. Furman is home now in Heaven, he was saved a couple of years ago and loved the lord Jesus. For all who knew him please pray for the family. If you need anymore info you can call 205-514-7228, ask for Heath. Also if anyone has any old MX pics of Furman please send to amytburns@bellsouth.net. Furman had a roommate in Fl. Years ago steal all of his pics. Have no idea why. Thank you, Heath
BobbyM
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BobbyM 7/5/2011 8:27pm
7/5/2011 8:27pm
Heath wrote:
It's with a sad hart I report my Uncle Furman Gray passed away this morning 7-5-11, at home in Warrior at the age of 50. Furman...
It's with a sad hart I report my Uncle Furman Gray passed away this morning 7-5-11, at home in Warrior at the age of 50. Furman got sick Sat. after eating at Milo's in G'dale. He thought he had food poisoning. He was found in bed this morning. He will be at Messmer funeral home Sat. July 9 at 10:00am. Funeral will be at 11:00 am. Funeral home is off I-65 281 exit in Warrior. Furman is home now in Heaven, he was saved a couple of years ago and loved the lord Jesus. For all who knew him please pray for the family. If you need anymore info you can call 205-514-7228, ask for Heath. Also if anyone has any old MX pics of Furman please send to amytburns@bellsouth.net. Furman had a roommate in Fl. Years ago steal all of his pics. Have no idea why. Thank you, Heath
damn sorry to hear man...godspeed furman gray dammit
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rallendude 7/5/2011 9:14pm
7/5/2011 9:14pm
So sorry to hear this Heath. Please shoot me an email at rallendude at aol dot com when you get time. I race at Warrior often and figure we may have crossed paths. I have heard the name Furman Gray many times over the years. I never had the chance to see or meet the man. Just as I started reading this thread I find he's no longer with us. So glad to hear he has gone to a better place. Will pray for the family.
TG130
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TG130 7/5/2011 10:59pm
7/5/2011 10:59pm
Heath wrote:
It's with a sad hart I report my Uncle Furman Gray passed away this morning 7-5-11, at home in Warrior at the age of 50. Furman...
It's with a sad hart I report my Uncle Furman Gray passed away this morning 7-5-11, at home in Warrior at the age of 50. Furman got sick Sat. after eating at Milo's in G'dale. He thought he had food poisoning. He was found in bed this morning. He will be at Messmer funeral home Sat. July 9 at 10:00am. Funeral will be at 11:00 am. Funeral home is off I-65 281 exit in Warrior. Furman is home now in Heaven, he was saved a couple of years ago and loved the lord Jesus. For all who knew him please pray for the family. If you need anymore info you can call 205-514-7228, ask for Heath. Also if anyone has any old MX pics of Furman please send to amytburns@bellsouth.net. Furman had a roommate in Fl. Years ago steal all of his pics. Have no idea why. Thank you, Heath
My Condolences to your family. Sorry to hear this.

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andymoto
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andymoto 7/5/2011 11:36pm
7/5/2011 11:36pm
Prayers sent and condolences to you, the entire Gray family and friends.

Sure was a really good motocrosser back in the day. RIP Furman Gray.
dirtbikemike 7/6/2011 6:51am
7/6/2011 6:51am
I remember Furman Gray and Johnny Borders coming to Little Rock back in 1974/75 to the NLR Jaycees race. They were both smokin fast. Say Alabama in a motocross discussion = Furman Gray and Johnny Borders. I ran into Johnny last year at a race in Mississippi, still fast. Condolences to the Gray family.
Larry
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Larry 7/6/2011 7:02am
7/6/2011 7:02am
Man that is terrible news. Furman Gray was one of the first guys from the southeast to show you did not need to be from the west coast to be fast.
That collarbone injury followed him the rest of his career but I remember in 78 or 79 at the Atlanta motor speedway National he crashed in the first qualifying heat and rebroke it. Then he wins the consilation moto to make the national. No one could go any faster through a corner than Furman did on his Maico's.
Godspeed Furman and take it easy on West, Pomeroy and Moiser.
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Heath
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Heath 7/10/2011 12:35am
7/10/2011 12:35am
Thank you to all who replied about Furman's passing on. We still don't know the cause for sure. I had some calls because of this site, it ment alot. I was always close to Furman, when he would come home while living out of state I couldn't wait to see him. These last two years were good with him being home. Furman was still Furman, it was his way, but he had also softend after being saved and getting older. Loosing my Grandfather, his Dad in 2004 was hard on him. Then on mothers day this year my Grandmother, his Mom passed on. But going from May to July and loosing him is the hardest because he was still supose to be here. I have a 7 y/o boy who realy took to Furman over these last two years. If you saw a picture of Furman at seven up aginst my boys it would blow your mind. My boy has been wanting a motorcycle for a while now and wanted Furman to teach him to ride. He asked if he could race just three weeks ago. I don't know what I'll do on that yet. I thought Furman's pics were taken by an old roommate, I was wrong, it was his trophies. Thank God we still have his pictures, and more news clippings than I've ever seen. I have posted several old pics on my profile, so click and tell me what you think. Some may remember the tracks or races or even be in a picture. Just a few out of alot he had put up. I'm sure going to miss him. If any of you know any good yet cheap deals on a 50cc, shoot me an email at (amytburns@bellsouth.net) who knows Josh my boy may have more in common with Furman than we know. Maybe he'll take Anaheim for Furman one day. Thank you, please keep intouch. Heath
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The Rock
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The Rock 7/10/2011 12:54am
7/10/2011 12:54am
dirtbikemike wrote:
I remember Furman Gray and Johnny Borders coming to Little Rock back in 1974/75 to the NLR Jaycees race. They were both smokin fast. Say Alabama...
I remember Furman Gray and Johnny Borders coming to Little Rock back in 1974/75 to the NLR Jaycees race. They were both smokin fast. Say Alabama in a motocross discussion = Furman Gray and Johnny Borders. I ran into Johnny last year at a race in Mississippi, still fast. Condolences to the Gray family.
Gray on his Maico and Borders on a Bultaco if memory serves correct. I was at a National in Lebanon, TN back in the mid 70s and they were there.

Godspeed Furman Gray!
bvm111
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bvm111 7/10/2011 1:03am
7/10/2011 1:03am
My condolences heath... My thoughts are with you and your family
DanDunes818 7/10/2011 2:48am
7/10/2011 2:48am
Man that was a tough thread.. Love reading these threads about the old dogs and their wars on Maico's and never expected the end of the thread to take such a somber turn.. I'm so sorry for your loss Heath and my sincere condolences go out to you and yours.. RIP Furman!
Heath B.
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Heath B. 5/6/2013 10:48am
5/6/2013 10:48am
I found this on YouTube and thought I'd share it. Furman gets the holeshot but falls back after a couple of laps. My parents said he had bike trouble here. I'm just so thankful to get to see a video after 33 yrs.
http://youtu.be/q_n2m0N3LpQ
BobbyM
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BobbyM 5/6/2013 12:26pm
5/6/2013 12:26pm Edited Date/Time 5/6/2013 12:29pm
Larry wrote:
From Warrior Alabama. He could ride a Maico Magnum faster than Bobby M.
Lol....he was fast but I beat him a time or two.

ON a serious note godspeed Mr. Grey again.
Heath B.
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Heath B. 5/6/2013 12:35pm
5/6/2013 12:35pm
Where did you race from Bobby? I can remember them dragging me all over in that old motorhome. He walked away in 1979 after leading in the Winter AMA in FL. This is the first time I've seen him race since I was 5. That was 33 yrs ago, lol. Wish I had Anehiem when he wrecked. Thanks
Larry
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Larry 5/6/2013 1:00pm
5/6/2013 1:00pm
Heath B. wrote:
Where did you race from Bobby? I can remember them dragging me all over in that old motorhome. He walked away in 1979 after leading in...
Where did you race from Bobby? I can remember them dragging me all over in that old motorhome. He walked away in 1979 after leading in the Winter AMA in FL. This is the first time I've seen him race since I was 5. That was 33 yrs ago, lol. Wish I had Anehiem when he wrecked. Thanks
Furman was only 16 when he won that trip to Anehiem I think.
Bobby M rode the novice class at chicken licks raceway out west and thought he was fast untill he met your uncle.
FlaNard
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FlaNard 5/6/2013 1:28pm
5/6/2013 1:28pm
My condolences to your family. Very sad to hear such a young man go.

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