"When you saw McGrath in person, it was like seeing god"

Bradshaw - Reynard 

effortless speed

In 1981 He bested all comers, foreign & domestic. 

125 National champ

250SX Champion 

125cc USGP OA winner ; 

I think my Holy! shit moment was when I was at Washougal one year and we were standing by the fence at Horsepower Hill, a friend of mine that didn't know much about Motocross says to me, who's this guy next to us that people keep talking to, I turn around at it was "The Man" Roger Decoster, I was like stunned that I didn't notice he was standing right next to me.  Ended up talking to him for about 10 minutes about Honda's and their new Aluminum frames, so it must have been in 1997, but that was pretty damn cool being surprised like that. 

Wow, Ray Mitchell is a name I haven't heard in a long time. I wonder what he's up to these days? Last time I saw him was probably 2001ish. Dude was never the same on the bike after his injury. I grew up watching KDub, Ray, and Tash Bunch. That was a rowdy group haha.  

Was speachless when I got this signed many years ago. He was super cool about it though. Still need Nathan Ramsey to complete it . Maybe some day! 

I have one interaction with McGrath and to me it sort of epitomizes how down to earth the guy is:

I was in a bit of a funk in 2016 so my wife bought us tickets to the Atlanta SX that year, we flew out and showed up the the stadium early on race day to take it all in. It had been so long since I had been to a race that I didn’t realize they only allowed spectators in the 1st level for practice, so we made our way to the second level where our seats were and started watching practice. I thought it was odd how barren it was around us.

During one of the breaks I decided to take a leak so I wandered off to the restroom. When I entered I saw the first person I had seen on the second level since getting to the stadium, I parked myself at one of the urinals and gave the guy a quick side-eye…sure as shit it was MC. I just grinned and said “big fan” to which he replied “thanks dude, I appreciate that.”    
 

We both finished up, washed our hands, and headed out and told one another to have a good day.

A little surreal looking back, but perfectly fitting.

Nope,, it was 1984 I was working an IMSA race in San Antonio Texas. 

On the way though the paddock I saw the man him self.

I'm not an autograph queer, but I had a chance to meet a motorsports hero, he was right there.  I hassled him, I was being a dick, but I didn't know if I would ever have the chance to talk to him again. 

They were in a team meeting, and he finally aquesed.

He said "You are a pain in the ass" yes sir, I said, but I have always considered you a driving hero. 

So after the race, coming back from my station, I'm in the paddock again. My hero's team had won and as I walked by their garage someone shouted to me. "HEY, come here.."You're the guy that hounded me for an autograph "

Yes sir, I'm sorry, but I didn't know if I'd ever get another chance to meet you. 

He said "Come on son, walk me to my hotel."

I walked Dan Gurney to his hotel after they won the 84 San Antonio grand prix.

Not clear on the year, but all other contents are 100% accurate. 

It was Nissan, Geoff Brabham won.

Kinda slayed me too, cuz the Jaguars were running 12 cylinders and they sounded like sex.

I'm Team Fro. He was the epitome of cool in the late 90's, which was imo the golden era of our sport, before RC, overkill training, and 4 strokes came along. We'll never see the top guys today riding the dunes, the hills, or partying on houseboats at Havasu ever again. God bless the late 90's.

One of the very first time I went riding I was about 20 around 98 and I didn’t even know how to ride, but I was friends w OG freestyle guys in OC and they take me to Beaumont.  We meet up w about 20 guys and we are all at our trucks getting dressed and I see these guys getting dressed and their bikes and I say to my buddy man these guys look cool.  Custom helmets bikes and gear I could tell they were somebody.  He starts naming them off Jeremy McGrath, Ben and Eric bostrom, Mickey diamond.  At the time it meant nothing to me I didn’t know who they were I had just gotten my first bike and knew nothing about the sport.   I remember thinking to myself that day as these guys are sending jumps that I’m looking at and didn’t even know where they were jumping from or landing until they did it is this normal?  they were all doing it I was asking myself is this how everyone rides dirt bikes cuz this is crazy. 😂.  Side note life is weird I remember going to supercross and watching laracco race 20 years ago didn’t know him at all and now we are friends and talk 2-3 times a week.  Sometimes daily.  😂