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Yup....Indian Dunes. (Rick and Danny....two of the all time greatest moto people)
Didn't the Vital forum members get together and pitch in to get Danny a new wheelchair years ago? He encapsulated a lot of the good side of moto, but his later years showed a really sad and disappointing side of moto, where he was pretty much abandoned by the sport after his injury, living out of a van as a paraplegic. We should be talking about him a lot more I think.
Brad Lackey raised money for a van. Was that for Danny.
What's especially endearing about this photo is the age of innocence in a couple ways. Two kids caught in a moment at a time when the whole world is still a magical wonder. ...and that moment caught on film, an image developed with chemicals, hung to dry. A labor of love.
Not one of the billions of staged/massaged digital photos taken every second of every day and shared/lost into the electronic 2 second attention span web-o-sphere.
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Bob Hannah and J-Law!
Jason Lawrence Meets The Hurrican's Challenge to Help Danny "Magoo" Chandler's Van Fund - Motocross Press Release - Vital MX
Curious what percent of SX riders could pick Danny out of a lineup. Magoo was legendary for taking the battle to the world’s best, but his lack of titles other than the MXDN and Trophees make for a small impression on the record books. Might want to cut the guy asking the question a break.
There's a lot more than record books that define a human being
"Bob Hannah & Brad Lackey's Magoo Van Fund Challenge has been met... and exceeded" - Dirt Rider
J-Law did contribute but Brad, also being from NorCal headed it up. Wanted to make sure my memory didn't leave me 🙂
Let’s add a little context: in 1982, who could rattle off names of riders with zero titles from the late 50’s? Danny’s prime was over 40 years ago, and while his legend lives with those of us fortunate enough to seem him ride, a lot has happened since then. Yet the guy asking the question was railed for not being “core” enough. And I’d wager than 80%+ of the guys lining up this weekend know very little, if anything, about Magoo, either.
But thanks to Al Gore we now have the internet. Makes it much easier to research riders from different era's. Not just stats but riding clips and stories. Far from me to tell someone who's better and more deserving of accolades over another rider. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but the timing was not the best. The OP was obviously reminiscing about Magoo and his fond memories. Why throw a wet towel on it.
Guy.... the dude that asked the question was aware of Magoo and didn't get WHY people admire him.
...and I quote: "I'll probably get flamed for this, but what is the mystique about this guy? A handful of wins and podiums and people around here act like he was a 5 time champion...."
You want to continue defending this?
Be my guest.
I was working in a bike shop in the early 1990s and a few of us were the "moto guys." One of the shop mechanics was like "Hey, have you guys heard of Jimmy Ellis? I was his mechanic and traveled the circuit with him." We said we didn't know who he was. He just kind of walked off. Looking back, he must have thought we were total morons. The guy was way more core than we would ever be, and we kind of blew him off a little bit. I'm sure he had some amazing stories, but as pretty young kids we were too ignorant to be interested. So, I can see how this happens. My knowledge of early to mid-70s moto is still pretty limited.
Exactly! We’re burying the lead! Danny’s mystique was as much about who he was as a person as his on-track accomplishments. If Magoo had been a complete asshat his spectacular riding would have been somewhat overlooked. But because Danny was this gregarious character with a huge heart, he’s remembered very fondly.
So when someone asks “what was the big deal?”, tell the whole story, as the record books will come up woefully short.
He rode over his head, took huge chances and crashed a lot, but he was fun to watch.
He wasn’t particularly faster than the fast guys, he just looked like it because he was wide open everywhere. Overall, he was a good guy, who worked hard, who just wanted to win.
He was a mess on a 125, but once he got on the RC 500, he went pretty good.
Magoo did get along well with that Honda 500. He demolished the 500 Support class at the 1983 Unadilla 250 USGP. Here he is saluting the Hill People on the final lap of Moto 2. He topped it off by sitting backwards on the bike as he rode across the finish line in front of the AMA officials.
Thank you.
Pit Row
I see what you’re trying to say; but, the 80s don’t compare to the 50s the way the 2020s compare to the 80s.
In the 80s we DID have Supercross. In the 80s, the U.S.A. began that Championship Run at The Motocross des Nations. In the 70s & 80s Motocross EXPLODED in the USA.
Motocross was “scrambles” in the USA…in the 50s. It was an extremely small and rare sport at that time.
That was a “Real Man’s Motorcycle”. Been there, done that.
That bike was so fast I lapped myself!
There were days I’d ride that bike like a 125 & there were days I rode it like a Bultaco Sherpa S trials bike.
I was 145 pounds soaking wet and rode 3 classes every weekend.
Good Times!
Post a reply to: Was near Foresthill, CA today and thinking about Magoo