So tell me about Magoo

https://racerxonline.com/2022/09/21/20-team-usa-moments-magoo-in-82

He was the first “Fastest Man on the Planet”, before James.  Dude was just awesome to watch.  I was about 7 or 8 when saw him race at E street in Marysville.  It left a lasting impression on a young MX obsessed kid.

There is/was no one else like him.   Unforgettable.  

One of a kind and in a league of his own.

RIP

Go to YouTube and type in "Wild Magoo".

You'll find it in at least 2 formats, the 1plus hour version or the 7(?) part version.

Sit back, and take it all in, young ( I assume ) man ( once again, I'm assuming things).

It is fantastic!

Theres a whole recent thread on Magoo already....

https://www.vitalmx.com/forums/moto-related/id-never-seen-magoo-pic

I met Danny in 1975 at the high school race the weekend of the super bowl of motocross at the LA Coliseum. We were both in the 125 pro class. We hung out over the weekend and he had a great sense of humor. I remember he told me his nickname was "Magoo" and I thought WTF is this kid talking about. But he was crazy fast - I remember Heikki Mikkola and a couple other real pro racers standing on the side of the track shaking their heads in amazement at how fast Magoo tearing up a section of the track using lines that the international Pro's never even considered. As his career progressed, I always thought it was cool this little guy from Norcal was schooling everybody.

My memory of the high school race is that there were so many kids they ran three moto's to qualify for the saturday evening main. I think two moto's on Friday and one on Saturday. I came in 3rd in two of my qualifiers and my chain fell off in the third so I didn't make the main, Danny made the main but some unknown kid got the holeshot and won. There were a lot of kids riding CR125m Elsinores with downpipes and the whoops were so big that all the CR riders were smashing the bottom of their expansion chambers flat

It would be great if Arnold Plant could jump in and talk about him.... they grew up together in Sacramento. 

A lot of excellent race results but overall season results are very average. From 80-84 his season average is 19th. I’d guess checkers or wreckers and a shit tonne of speed.

Question for all the diehards 

which country did Magoo hold a licence for in the 1985 season? 

Italy...

His career ending crash can be seen on the 53rd minute of this documentary....for those that wish to see it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibcI3aSC36M

I thought it was Luxembourg? Or was that where he got hurt? 

I loved Magoo, but the Legend was bigger than the actual rider, and this post proves it. 
 

 He was never in the hunt for that title when he got DQed, he was trying to keep up with Bailey when he crashed. 
 

 Magoo was pure heart and passion, and would over ride everything and jump everything, and it was great to watch. But the realities of his speed are seriously overblown, he was a top 5 guy who could go real fast under certain conditions. 
 

 I think he was getting better with age, because he was starting to figure out control, and was riding more conservatively, it’s a shame it was cut short. 

 About 2 months before he dominated the MX and Trophy Des Nations, he was in the Springfield, MO area.

I was racing a series at the Fairgrounds, and he walked into my pits and hung out talking for about 45 min. He was as cool as it gets. 

When he won all four motos at the Des Nations, it was really cool knowing that the pointers I gave him that night were put to good use!
Yes, that’s a joke  

A true legend, and one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet. 

I did a school project on him in the 7th grade as a motivational figure 

He was a fun and generous dude. He was absolutely The Best guy to watch at a Golden State Series race. When he went to Europe and won “ALL of IT”…the Trophee des Nations and Motocross des Nations…where was a helluva lot of celebrating going on in Northern California. 

No other rider…ever…won all his motos at both races. 

Ireland, rode for Dave Grant.

Saw him several years in the early 80's at Red Bud. He crashed but would get up and blow by other riders then crash again. In 1982 he went 1-1 in the 500 class at Red Bud. He was on another level that day and had several crashes but did his usual get up in a panic and hold the throttle wide open. Two 45 minute motos back then and it was HOT. It was something to see him ride a 500. I used to have 8x10" signed posters from almost of of the legends, remember going around the pits like it was yesterday. Those guys were animals.

WFO

I grew up in the D-36 area - Northern California, Sacramento Valley area - and raced the Marysville courses of E Street and 20th Street. Often Magoo (Danny Chandler) would be at these races. The first time I saw him was on his 'legendary' red-framed CZ250 at 20th Street racing the 250 junior class. Over the next few years, ~1974 - ~1977 or so, his rides would change. I think his Dirt Factory KTM ride was his longest tenured ride during this time. After that I remember him in 1977 on a Suzuki when he did the 125 AMA nationals that year. 

The legend of Magoo seemed like it happened instantaneously. Even as a D-36 junior there was an awe about his style... One did not really need to SEE Magoo ride, you could HEAR HIM on the track and know that he was out there. Just imagine a 125 two stroke at some really, really insane rev level.

At this time I was an aspiring Moto Photohound (in the words of the late TFS) and shot various local races as well as some nationals. Danny and I would briefly chat a bit at the races sharing our common D-36 bond. Just a nice guy.  A fond memory I have is at the 1977 Keithsburg, IL AMA 125 National. I remember Danny getting the hole shot in the first moto. I was down the track a bit and standing next to me was the AMA Official at the time Mike DiPreite (?).  On the first lap he watches Magoo go blazing by on his Suzuki seemingly at 12,000 rpm bouncing all over the track. He goes to me "Who is that guy?".  I responded 'That's Magoo". 

The last time I spoke to Danny was at a 2001 vintage race that Brad Lackey hosted at Sears Point. I could see the effect of his accident on his body that day, he looked way older than he was. Still as we talked a bit he was the same Magoo to me... 

He was an energetic personality that has left sentimental memories for many of us - even after almost 50 years.

Correct 

Yep, even with all of the bad dudes riding the GSS, magoo was always the show.

Legendary motocross racer!

That mxdn holeshot photo......one of the best mx photos ever

I've been spectating at pro events since the mid-seventies, and I have seen them all. Magoo is one of the guys I can count on one hand that I was afraid to take my eyes off of when he was on the track for fear that I would miss something spectacular. Hannah and Stewart were similar, and I might put Eli in that mix as well. The stuff that Danny would do was really only matched by Bubba in scope imho.

Danny was legend in NorCal before he hit the nationals as a KTM support rider in 76.  There was a lot of show and speed, and sketchy equipment until he got on Honda in 82.

I don't remember who won the 79 Trans AMA because after my film ran out I was too busy moving around the track to watch him.   He was coming up one of the hills and whipping off the top with his rear wheel over the fence above the crowd's heads.  You'd go to local races or nationals and it was like watching the gallery follow Tiger on a golf course.  He was such a fun rider to watch and always played to the crowd.  Think Guy Cooper on steroids.

I wrenched for my buddy at the 79 Hangtown race.  Danny crashed off the start with another rider one moto and stopped to make sure the guy was okay and headed off almost a lap down (the old, old prairie city start went out to where the pit entrance is now and then wrapped around the hill where the vendor row is now).  He came around not far in front of Hannah who was leading.  The officials tried to blue flag him and he pulled it up on the rear wheel all the way down the straight flashing them the peace sign.

To really capture Danny I think you need to find 82 Trophee/Motocross des Nations film.

I was at a dealer meeting with my dad back in the day and Magoo was there. My pops had helped him get some sort of deal so I got to hang out with him. He took me on the rental car ride of a life time, Him and RJ jumping them things off of loading docks was a hoot.

scrub at 4:09?