1984 Saddleback National

I was there, Bailey & Glover put on a good battle in the open class, with Brecker not to far behind. Johnson chased Lechien for 3/4 of the 1st moto, then just rode off. In the 2nd moto Johnson checked out, I don't remember who got 3rd. I think Wardy won the 125's, but Im not real sure on that one. I would have paid more attention had I known that was going to be the last National ever raced there, wasn't much longer after that Saddleback closed for good.

suicide was unreal to me as a kid. saddleback in general was unbeleivable. suicide, webco hill, bonzai, magoo double...even the start was cool. a real whooped out 6th gear uphill and a first turn wide enough for everyone followed by bonzai drop. man, those were the days...

hey jim256.did you go to high school in riverside?do you ride high school motorcross at corona raceway?let me no.the great white dolemite

I went to high school at rim of the world high school in lake arrowhead. I did race at corona on friday nights but was not part of the high school motocross program as my school didnt know what mx was. I also raced several of the corona grand prix's and had so much fun blowing berms up during practice but come race time the track was entirely different and rough. I remember guys like gordon ward and vince mcmahon killing it back then...

[quote="JIM256":36211]I went to high school at rim of the world high school in lake arrowhead. I did race at corona on friday nights but was not part of the high school motocross program as my school didnt know what mx was. I also raced several of the corona grand prix's and had so much fun blowing berms up during practice but come race time the track was entirely different and rough. I remember guys like gordon ward and vince mcmahon killing it back then...[/quote:36211]



Rex Staten did his fair share of winning back then also.. Eric Mc cracken or something like that too...

Eric Mckenna ?

[quote="mr50racer":78976]



Rex Staten did his fair share of winning back then also.. Eric Mc cracken or something like that too...[/quote:78976]

Brother to Phil McCrackin

I think this pic is from Trans-AMA 1971. First time Banzai was used.

[img:2f928]http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/8112/banzaiqw2.jpg[/img:2f928]

I raced in the 250 class at the 84 Saddleback National. 90+ 250s showed up to qualify for the 20 or so remaining slots after they gave auto main spots to the top 20. My YZ250 was stock except for the pro support mods they do to it, could have used some stiffer springs for the Magoos and landing between two tricky double jumps right before the finish line turn. Got a great jump on the start in my qualifier, came around for Bonzai in about 5th, some guy ate it big flippin to the bottom put me in fourth past up to second and hung there for the very short 5 lap qualifier. Qualified for my first National. I still remember my brother's face big smile and 'miller time' written on the pit board (he was my mechanic) as I landed from the doubles and crossed the line. Great memory.

Jumping the magoos for the first time was surreal, and relatively easy after you did it once. The hardest thing about it was keeping your head up as you pegged it coming up from the gully. Major Gs on your neck that your just not ready for the first time. Just pick your rut, pin it, squeeze the tank and take off going maybe 40. You are instantly 30 feet up in the air and begin to stall, landing softly on the ridge, get your shit together for immediate left turn and back down. Saw David Bailey in practice fly from outside in pitched totally sideways leg out landing perfectly in the berm at the top, gave it alittle squirt and popped back down the hill. It was much tougher to take the jarring not jumping it landing on the up face and rattling your teeth. When magoo did it a couple years earlier it was much scarier, second ridge kinda worn down by 1984.

Finished 24th in first moto, 25th in second for 21st overall. Got lapped by RJ and the front runners both motos. Lap times were almost 3 minutes that track was so long and technical. Landed so hard going up suicide hill one time my front brake cable snagged on my fort tube locking it all up. Luckily some guys helped me get it undone (probably against the rules but nobody cares when you already lapped). It was very silty/sandy up there and almost couldn't get up to the top ledge after that. Knarly track for sure.

Thanks for letting me reminisce!

Tom

[quote="twitt":cca87]I raced in the 250 class at the 84 Saddleback National. 90+ 250s showed up to qualify for the 20 or so remaining slots after they gave auto main spots to the top 20. My YZ250 was stock except for the pro support mods they do to it, could have used some stiffer springs for the Magoos and landing between two tricky double jumps right before the finish line turn. Got a great jump on the start in my qualifier, came around for Bonzai in about 5th, some guy ate it big flippin to the bottom put me in fourth past up to second and hung there for the very short 5 lap qualifier. Qualified for my first National. I still remember my brother's face big smile and 'miller time' written on the pit board (he was my mechanic) as I landed from the doubles and crossed the line. Great memory.

Jumping the magoos for the first time was surreal, and relatively easy after you did it once. The hardest thing about it was keeping your head up as you pegged it coming up from the gully. Major Gs on your neck that your just not ready for the first time. Just pick your rut, pin it, squeeze the tank and take off going maybe 40. You are instantly 30 feet up in the air and begin to stall, landing softly on the ridge, get your shit together for immediate left turn and back down. Saw David Bailey in practice fly from outside in pitched totally sideways leg out landing perfectly in the berm at the top, gave it alittle squirt and popped back down the hill. It was much tougher to take the jarring not jumping it landing on the up face and rattling your teeth. When magoo did it a couple years earlier it was much scarier, second ridge kinda worn down by 1984.

Finished 24th in first moto, 25th in second for 21st overall. Got lapped by RJ and the front runners both motos. Lap times were almost 3 minutes that track was so long and technical. Landed so hard going up suicide hill one time my front brake cable snagged on my fort tube locking it all up. Luckily some guys helped me get it undone (probably against the rules but nobody cares when you already lapped). It was very silty/sandy up there and almost couldn't get up to the top ledge after that. Knarly track for sure.

Thanks for letting me reminisce!

Tom[/quote:cca87]

Thanks for sharing.

[quote="twitt":02052]I raced in the 250 class at the 84 Saddleback National. 90+ 250s showed up to qualify for the 20 or so remaining slots after they gave auto main spots to the top 20. My YZ250 was stock except for the pro support mods they do to it, could have used some stiffer springs for the Magoos and landing between two tricky double jumps right before the finish line turn. Got a great jump on the start in my qualifier, came around for Bonzai in about 5th, some guy ate it big flippin to the bottom put me in fourth past up to second and hung there for the very short 5 lap qualifier. Qualified for my first National. I still remember my brother's face big smile and 'miller time' written on the pit board (he was my mechanic) as I landed from the doubles and crossed the line. Great memory.

Jumping the magoos for the first time was surreal, and relatively easy after you did it once. The hardest thing about it was keeping your head up as you pegged it coming up from the gully. Major Gs on your neck that your just not ready for the first time. Just pick your rut, pin it, squeeze the tank and take off going maybe 40. You are instantly 30 feet up in the air and begin to stall, landing softly on the ridge, get your shit together for immediate left turn and back down. Saw David Bailey in practice fly from outside in pitched totally sideways leg out landing perfectly in the berm at the top, gave it alittle squirt and popped back down the hill. It was much tougher to take the jarring not jumping it landing on the up face and rattling your teeth. When magoo did it a couple years earlier it was much scarier, second ridge kinda worn down by 1984.

Finished 24th in first moto, 25th in second for 21st overall. Got lapped by RJ and the front runners both motos. Lap times were almost 3 minutes that track was so long and technical. Landed so hard going up suicide hill one time my front brake cable snagged on my fort tube locking it all up. Luckily some guys helped me get it undone (probably against the rules but nobody cares when you already lapped). It was very silty/sandy up there and almost couldn't get up to the top ledge after that. Knarly track for sure.

Thanks for letting me reminisce!

Tom[/quote:02052]

Great story
Thanks

We raced there in April of that year at the world mini grand prix, obviously the last time it was held there. Me and two other 16yo buddies drove from Seattle to LA in 17hrs straight. 125cc Intermediate riders on stock '84 KX's, we were doing the Magoo uphill double and this huge quad by the finish line. We weren't used to the hardpack and heat, don't even remember where we finished, midpack or so.
The one thing I always wondered was who was the fastest 60 cc rider that year? There was some kid that was insanely fast doing those huge quadruples on a KX 60, don't remember the name, I always wondered if he made it big.

Anybody?? NMA archives?