When was the heyday of American outdoor MX?

That's a good sized crowd.

https://vault.racerxonline.com/1973/mx/points 1973

I think the heyday for local racing was early 80 through early 90s. The factory guys would show up at local races because the money was real good, and the contingencies for amateurs was great. 

The heyday for spectators was 78-83ish, and now. I see huge crowds at a lot of nationals now. 

 I think every era of professional racing is good in it own way because the racing is always progressing. But id say the heyday for professional racing was 2000-2007 when a 10th place 250 guy was getting 150k a year, josh Hansen and Mike Alessi were getting 750, and the top guys were making huge money. 

 The money is good now, but it’s very top heavy. 

I always enjoyed Kenworthy's. I miss the days when there was 4 national tracks within 4 hours from me. Red Bud, Kenworthy's, High Point, and Steel City. I guess now that I type that I realize still 3 that fit that. (Ironman).

I am in Hendersonville NC.

1995 Tracks less than 1.5 hours away.

Muddy Creek, Silver Creek, Polk Co MX, Top Gun MX, Catheys Creek MX, 226 MX, Madison Co MX , Travelers Rest MX, Camp Coker MX, Wilkes Co MX

2025 

Muddy Creek, Top Gun (new owners after long shut down), 221 MX , Catheys Creek Mx, TR MX , Revolution MX, NxtLvl MX, Strawberry Hill MX, The Cut, Hanna Creek Mx. probably missed a few.

Seems the heydey is still NOW and THEN both. 

That was a big race & on abc wide world sports live on tv.  I was working for a farmer we both where yelling go Marty go .  But rider turnout was probably peak at 98 , 4-5 full gates of 125 c, 2 full gates of 125b, full gate of 125a.  Threw the 90,s 125a had full gates 8 lap races.  125 racing is the big thing now . 

Just reading how fast the bikes advanced 70’s -80’s is incredible. Air cooled to watercooled and two shocks to one was huge.

i would have to argue the late 70s and 80s were the 'heyday' more ppl per capita bought dirt bikes and had room to ride them freely without having to travel to a track hours away. Having a larger base of active participants lead more ppl to go and watch pro races as well. I dont know what sales figures were for say a Cr250 back then but when I was working a dealer in 2006 the sales guys mentioned honda moved over 100k Crf450s in 2005 and even more CRF50s. That was just one model line whereas now a brand is lucky to move that for the whole offroad bike segment. 

the 90s were the golden era where we hit national tv and big money started coming in.  and while guys today definitly make more money, inflation would make it less compared to 90s money

Everybody sold more of everything, making more $ than ever in the 80's. 

For me, a lot of it died after 1985 which was the last year of the works bikes.  The pinnacle of the sport was seeing those works bikes.  I remember the teams and riders staying at the Holiday Inn in Rochester, MN for the Millville National.  They’d wrench those bikes in the parking lot!  There simply wasn’t anything more amazing than 125, 250, and 500 2-stroke works bikes.

Then Doug Henry won the Las Vegas SX on a 4 stroke (1998?) and half of my heart died.  Inevitably, the future is electric and then the other half of my heart will die.

I also think about the product offerings of the Japanese manufacturers in the early 80’s.  Much more abundant than the crap we have now.

This shit nowadays where you can hook your bike up to a smartphone and all this crap, give me a F’ing break.  I’m sorry but that’s retarded.  And somehow the OEM’s have convinced people they need this shit.  Bizarre for sure.

1985.

1985 RC250M...

COVID

I count 3 NESC riders in that list.  Awesome New England representation. 

1974-1989 in SoCal was an epic period for amateur Motocross. New bikes were affordable and there were 4x as many tracks as today. it cost $3:50 to get in. Racing on Sunday usually had 2 or 3 full gates of 125 and 250 beginner and novices