Puyallup Trans-AMA Revisited

Reese95w
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Reese95w
Edited Date/Time 8/3/2025 12:19pm

It was fogged in this morning in the south Puget Sound area and that brought back memories.

It was just about this time 46 years ago, in the fall of 1976, that I got to see the top motocross riders in the world for the first time in person. My best friend and I took a road trip from Montana to attend the Puyallup Trans-AMA. When we drove down from Snoqualmie Pass on I-5, then turned south on Hwy 18 to Puyallup we hit fog. It was foggy all weekend. Only did it clear off on Sunday afternoon and I got to see Mt. Rainier for the first time as we headed back to Montana after the race. Despite the pea soup fog for most of the weekend, I really liked the area and I said to myself that I'd like to live out here when I finish school, (I did move out here after college).

For you motocross Yuts, the Trans-AMA was a BIG DEAL back then. All of the top MX GP rider would come over for the series and the top American riders would try to beat them. Here's the Cycle News report on that 1976 Puyallup Trans-AMA and at the bottom a video from the 1972 Puyallup Trans-AMA.

I sure wish there was a world caliber motocross in Puyallup next Sunday, because the Seahawks have a bye this week.








 

 


 

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motomike137
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motomike137 11/16/2022 12:24pm
11/16/2022 12:24pm
That area of the country is unbelievably scenic! I attended a few of those races back in the day and it was just a magic time in the sport. The one and only time I had the privilege of seeing "The Man" race was at the 75 Trans-Am at Red Bud. The day was much like the weather at the Des Nations this year but colder with an occasional snow flurry. I saw Roger, Gerrit, Brad, Tony D, Jim Pomeroy (Washingtion native) and darn near every other top rider of that era that day. It was amazing!
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1911
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1911 11/16/2022 12:40pm
11/16/2022 12:40pm Edited Date/Time 11/16/2022 12:41pm
What a great video. Thanks for sharing. I was 10 years old in 76.
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Reese95w
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Reese95w 11/16/2022 1:20pm
11/16/2022 1:20pm Edited Date/Time 12/3/2022 1:01pm

Here's some home movie footage from the 1970 and 1972 Puyallup Trans-AMA's. From the Giboney film archives.

 

 

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mooch
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mooch 11/16/2022 2:03pm
11/16/2022 2:03pm
Thought I was in an odd time warp for bit...how were dual shock Yamahas racing in 1976 and Joel Robert was still on and old Zuke?

Duh...then finally realized the article is 76 and the vid is 72.

Yep, cool vid...Some interesting stuff , like can you imagine footage being put in today's race coverage that involved slow motion riding with 70's porn music playing in background.
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thewrizzle
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thewrizzle 11/16/2022 3:07pm
11/16/2022 3:07pm
motomike137 wrote:
That area of the country is unbelievably scenic! I attended a few of those races back in the day and it was just a magic time...
That area of the country is unbelievably scenic! I attended a few of those races back in the day and it was just a magic time in the sport. The one and only time I had the privilege of seeing "The Man" race was at the 75 Trans-Am at Red Bud. The day was much like the weather at the Des Nations this year but colder with an occasional snow flurry. I saw Roger, Gerrit, Brad, Tony D, Jim Pomeroy (Washingtion native) and darn near every other top rider of that era that day. It was amazing!
Puyallup isn’t very scenic.
2
Reese95w
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Reese95w 11/16/2022 3:19pm
11/16/2022 3:19pm
motomike137 wrote:
That area of the country is unbelievably scenic! I attended a few of those races back in the day and it was just a magic time...
That area of the country is unbelievably scenic! I attended a few of those races back in the day and it was just a magic time in the sport. The one and only time I had the privilege of seeing "The Man" race was at the 75 Trans-Am at Red Bud. The day was much like the weather at the Des Nations this year but colder with an occasional snow flurry. I saw Roger, Gerrit, Brad, Tony D, Jim Pomeroy (Washingtion native) and darn near every other top rider of that era that day. It was amazing!
thewrizzle wrote:
Puyallup isn’t very scenic.
Puyallup is not scenic, but it was scenic at the track back then, especially looking toward Mt. Rainier. Now there is a shopping center there.
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SmokinJoe439
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SmokinJoe439 11/16/2022 3:26pm
11/16/2022 3:26pm
motomike137 wrote:
That area of the country is unbelievably scenic! I attended a few of those races back in the day and it was just a magic time...
That area of the country is unbelievably scenic! I attended a few of those races back in the day and it was just a magic time in the sport. The one and only time I had the privilege of seeing "The Man" race was at the 75 Trans-Am at Red Bud. The day was much like the weather at the Des Nations this year but colder with an occasional snow flurry. I saw Roger, Gerrit, Brad, Tony D, Jim Pomeroy (Washingtion native) and darn near every other top rider of that era that day. It was amazing!
thewrizzle wrote:
Puyallup isn’t very scenic.
Reese95w wrote:
Puyallup is not scenic, but it was scenic at the track back then, especially looking toward Mt. Rainier. Now there is a shopping center there.
Back then it was different than it is now. Never rode the track. Did ride my motorcycle in the Puyallup fair in the 80's and they used to do arenacross up till 2003 at the fairgrounds.
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Dave v3.0
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Dave v3.0 11/16/2022 5:00pm
11/16/2022 5:00pm
That's some awesome Dick Mann footage on the red Ossa at the beginning of the 1970 video. And the second part where Joel is reeling in and passing Jeff Smith....

What a time to be a fan. Those crowds were fantastic.
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Reese95w
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Reese95w 11/16/2022 5:25pm
11/16/2022 5:25pm Edited Date/Time 11/16/2022 5:28pm
Dave v3.0 wrote:
That's some awesome Dick Mann footage on the red Ossa at the beginning of the 1970 video. And the second part where Joel is reeling in...
That's some awesome Dick Mann footage on the red Ossa at the beginning of the 1970 video. And the second part where Joel is reeling in and passing Jeff Smith....

What a time to be a fan. Those crowds were fantastic.
Actually that is Barry Higgins on the OSSA.

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thewrizzle
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thewrizzle 11/16/2022 5:34pm
11/16/2022 5:34pm
thewrizzle wrote:
Puyallup isn’t very scenic.
Reese95w wrote:
Puyallup is not scenic, but it was scenic at the track back then, especially looking toward Mt. Rainier. Now there is a shopping center there.
SmokinJoe439 wrote:
Back then it was different than it is now. Never rode the track. Did ride my motorcycle in the Puyallup fair in the 80's and they...
Back then it was different than it is now. Never rode the track. Did ride my motorcycle in the Puyallup fair in the 80's and they used to do arenacross up till 2003 at the fairgrounds.
I’ve only been in WA for 10 years, that area has never been scenic. I’ve heard from others though.
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thewrizzle
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thewrizzle 11/16/2022 5:35pm
11/16/2022 5:35pm
*never been scenic for me
APLMAN99
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APLMAN99 11/16/2022 6:01pm
11/16/2022 6:01pm
thewrizzle wrote:
Puyallup isn’t very scenic.
Reese95w wrote:
Puyallup is not scenic, but it was scenic at the track back then, especially looking toward Mt. Rainier. Now there is a shopping center there.
SmokinJoe439 wrote:
Back then it was different than it is now. Never rode the track. Did ride my motorcycle in the Puyallup fair in the 80's and they...
Back then it was different than it is now. Never rode the track. Did ride my motorcycle in the Puyallup fair in the 80's and they used to do arenacross up till 2003 at the fairgrounds.
Okay, that clears up a bit of confusion for me! I never made it to the Trans-AMA events (probably only 11yo when the last one was held). But I was sure that there was racing at the fairgrounds later and just figured the fairgrounds was where the Trans-AMA events were held. Had to do some digging and now I get where the Trans-AMA was actually held.

That whole area really WAS pretty nice when it was more wooded. I had family with several acres of farmland just east of Auburn that you couldn’t tell ever was a farm today.

Progress……..
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MXR
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MXR 11/16/2022 6:05pm
11/16/2022 6:05pm
I was there . 14 years old . I started racing about a year later at Puyallup . My first race was in January 1977 125 c class .The track was frozen , temps in the mid teens . Track was not graded with 2-3 foot whoops and frozen water between whoops . Fun times and had a shot at winning it but the chain derailed while in 2nd. I got to know Buck Murphy a few years later as I moved up in class and started riding local pro . He was a fun cool dude . The Trans Am was an awesome series.
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MXR 11/16/2022 6:07pm
11/16/2022 6:07pm
At one time Buck Murphy raced for Rokon .
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MX252
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MX252 11/16/2022 7:59pm
11/16/2022 7:59pm
I was there and will never forget those races back in the day!, still a great memory seeing the “man” in the pits and all of the stars of the day it was Cool!!
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KennyT 11/16/2022 10:25pm
11/16/2022 10:25pm
Reese95w wrote:
It was fogged in this morning in the south Puget Sound area and that brought back memories.It was just about this time 46 years ago, in...

It was fogged in this morning in the south Puget Sound area and that brought back memories.

It was just about this time 46 years ago, in the fall of 1976, that I got to see the top motocross riders in the world for the first time in person. My best friend and I took a road trip from Montana to attend the Puyallup Trans-AMA. When we drove down from Snoqualmie Pass on I-5, then turned south on Hwy 18 to Puyallup we hit fog. It was foggy all weekend. Only did it clear off on Sunday afternoon and I got to see Mt. Rainier for the first time as we headed back to Montana after the race. Despite the pea soup fog for most of the weekend, I really liked the area and I said to myself that I'd like to live out here when I finish school, (I did move out here after college).

For you motocross Yuts, the Trans-AMA was a BIG DEAL back then. All of the top MX GP rider would come over for the series and the top American riders would try to beat them. Here's the Cycle News report on that 1976 Puyallup Trans-AMA and at the bottom a video from the 1972 Puyallup Trans-AMA.

I sure wish there was a world caliber motocross in Puyallup next Sunday, because the Seahawks have a bye this week.








 

 


 

Thank you for posting the awesome videos. As old as I am I sure remembered seeing the majority of those riders when the series made its way down to Saddleback. Great memories 👍
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Tim507
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Tim507 11/17/2022 5:16am
11/17/2022 5:16am


Puyallup 1970 on a 69 250 Greeves Griffon
I started racing there on a AT1
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OleTex
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OleTex 11/17/2022 1:55pm
11/17/2022 1:55pm
I remember as a kid impatiently waiting for the next Cycle News to come out. Really cool videos. Thank you.
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Reese95w
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Reese95w 11/17/2022 4:04pm
11/17/2022 4:04pm
Some more home movie footage from the 1977 Puyallup Trans-AMA.

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Mark Hite
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Mark Hite 11/17/2022 4:21pm
11/17/2022 4:21pm
I was at the race in 77, never been so cold in my life, the parking area was insane. We had two drunk dudes sleeping under our van, didn't know they were there until they rolled out from under the van looking for beer, good times.
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NWmx756 11/18/2022 7:46am
11/18/2022 7:46am
motomike137 wrote:
That area of the country is unbelievably scenic! I attended a few of those races back in the day and it was just a magic time...
That area of the country is unbelievably scenic! I attended a few of those races back in the day and it was just a magic time in the sport. The one and only time I had the privilege of seeing "The Man" race was at the 75 Trans-Am at Red Bud. The day was much like the weather at the Des Nations this year but colder with an occasional snow flurry. I saw Roger, Gerrit, Brad, Tony D, Jim Pomeroy (Washingtion native) and darn near every other top rider of that era that day. It was amazing!
thewrizzle wrote:
Puyallup isn’t very scenic.
Reese95w wrote:
Puyallup is not scenic, but it was scenic at the track back then, especially looking toward Mt. Rainier. Now there is a shopping center there.
Where was the track? Every time I drive through Puyallup I’ve always wondered where they used to race.
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Reese95w
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Reese95w 11/18/2022 9:15am
11/18/2022 9:15am
thewrizzle wrote:
Puyallup isn’t very scenic.
Reese95w wrote:
Puyallup is not scenic, but it was scenic at the track back then, especially looking toward Mt. Rainier. Now there is a shopping center there.
NWmx756 wrote:
Where was the track? Every time I drive through Puyallup I’ve always wondered where they used to race.
Puyallup Motocross Track

About where the red dot is,

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Reese95w
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Reese95w 11/18/2022 9:24am
11/18/2022 9:24am

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wildbill
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wildbill 11/18/2022 1:13pm
11/18/2022 1:13pm
I always called it Pileup and thought it a strange name for an MX track. Of course I didn't have a clue how to properly pronounce it.
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Reese95w
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Reese95w 11/18/2022 1:25pm
11/18/2022 1:25pm Edited Date/Time 11/18/2022 1:52pm
wildbill wrote:
I always called it Pileup and thought it a strange name for an MX track. Of course I didn't have a clue how to properly pronounce...
I always called it Pileup and thought it a strange name for an MX track. Of course I didn't have a clue how to properly pronounce it.
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SmokinJoe439
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SmokinJoe439 11/18/2022 2:07pm
11/18/2022 2:07pm
wildbill wrote:
I always called it Pileup and thought it a strange name for an MX track. Of course I didn't have a clue how to properly pronounce...
I always called it Pileup and thought it a strange name for an MX track. Of course I didn't have a clue how to properly pronounce it.
No the joke was it was called pileup because it used to be more rural farm like. The pileup refers to cow pies that pileup. Which is a joke to say Puyallup is shit.
wildbill
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wildbill 11/18/2022 9:45pm
11/18/2022 9:45pm
SmokinJoe439 wrote:
No the joke was it was called pileup because it used to be more rural farm like. The pileup refers to cow pies that pileup. Which...
No the joke was it was called pileup because it used to be more rural farm like. The pileup refers to cow pies that pileup. Which is a joke to say Puyallup is shit.
Joe, cowshit makes for great dirt.
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Trickamoto
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Trickamoto 11/19/2022 9:12am
11/19/2022 9:12am
I was 6. Sat on Marty Smith's knee in the back of his box van looking out to the crowd after his win.
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APLMAN99
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APLMAN99 11/19/2022 5:28pm
11/19/2022 5:28pm
wildbill wrote:
I always called it Pileup and thought it a strange name for an MX track. Of course I didn't have a clue how to properly pronounce...
I always called it Pileup and thought it a strange name for an MX track. Of course I didn't have a clue how to properly pronounce it.
SmokinJoe439 wrote:
No the joke was it was called pileup because it used to be more rural farm like. The pileup refers to cow pies that pileup. Which...
No the joke was it was called pileup because it used to be more rural farm like. The pileup refers to cow pies that pileup. Which is a joke to say Puyallup is shit.
I remember back when there were actual farms back around Totem Lake in Kirkland. And lots of them in Woodinville!
PNWMXer
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PNWMXer 11/20/2022 7:35am
11/20/2022 7:35am
Picture my dad took of The Man at one of the Puyallup Trans-Ams…sorry, pic of an 8x10, so quality is lacking.


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