Any Southwick historians/locals?

Nairb#70
Profile picture for user Nairb#70
Posts
4182
Joined
2/25/2020
Location
Ivoryton, CT, USA
Nairb#70 9/1/2026 4:19pm
9/1/2026 4:19pm
Nairb#70 wrote:
Recently while paroozing The MX Vault, I noticed how there was no Southwick National in 1983, 1984 ad 1985. All other years have had one since...

Recently while paroozing The MX Vault, I noticed how there was no Southwick National in 1983, 1984 ad 1985. All other years have had one since it's opening in 1973. Strange, anyone know why, was there a particular reason or was just not requested?

Pop Shmoke wrote:
In 2013 there was a lease dispute with the American Legion and the track was going to close down so it was left off the pro...

In 2013 there was a lease dispute with the American Legion and the track was going to close down so it was left off the pro motocross schedule for 2014 and 2015 and that’s when mike grondahl (geico honda) took over the lease and put Keith Johnson as the day to day operations manager and it was back on the schedule in 2016. So there was also a 2 year gap about a decade ago. 

Yup, right you are, I forgot all about that. I think some big dollars helped smoothe that mess over. Of course 2020 was off the schedule also but we all know that was because of the Covid mess.

Vet57
Profile picture for user Vet57
Posts
2560
Joined
12/13/2010
Location
BRO Town, MA, USA
Vet57 9/2/2026 1:36am
9/2/2026 1:36am
Digger29 wrote:
My first race at Southwick was in 1978 on a buddy's 78 RM125 who was hurt. I used his bike and his number/NESC card. I had...

My first race at Southwick was in 1978 on a buddy's 78 RM125 who was hurt. I used his bike and his number/NESC card. I had a blast and hooked from that day on. I can't count how many times that I've raced there because it's so many times in my 40+CDjersey1 0yrs of racing. This is a pic on me that was in the Moto Sport mag on my 82 RM250 in the Buckley berm obviously taken by Paul. Ah.....the good ole days :-) 

Cycle Design ...Hail Doug Mulligan !

Steve125
Profile picture for user Steve125
Posts
1414
Joined
11/24/2010
Location
USA
Steve125 9/3/2026 9:41am
9/3/2026 9:41am
Joko wrote:
Some fuzzy pics from June 1977 Southwick NESC expert class:

Some fuzzy pics from June 1977 Southwick NESC expert class:

  • IMG 4494 5
    Jim Meenan #18, spectator jump
IMG 4493 2
Not sure who? Spectator jump
IMG 4496 5
Maybe Jim Meenan chasing Mark Manchester in 100cc or 125cc class?
IMG 4495 2.jpeg?VersionId=Wi
Pat Moroney #24 leading Mark Manchester #6 125cc class 
IMG 4497 6
Pat Moroney and Mark Manchester 

Crazy but I was there and probably standing next to you. My Uncle took me to see my first race that day. We knew Mark Manchester from our hometown. 68356834

3
Joko
Profile picture for user Joko
Posts
1551
Joined
1/2/2011
Location
Haddam, CT, USA
Fantasy
106th
Joko 9/3/2026 7:42pm
9/3/2026 7:42pm

That’s awesome, almost the exact same pic! Mark was a great rider, didn’t see him on the NESC scene after those years, do you know if he continued racing much longer from then? 

2

The Shop

See All »
Steve125
Profile picture for user Steve125
Posts
1414
Joined
11/24/2010
Location
USA
Steve125 9/4/2026 8:12am
9/4/2026 8:12am
Joko wrote:
That’s awesome, almost the exact same pic! Mark was a great rider, didn’t see him on the NESC scene after those years, do you know if...

That’s awesome, almost the exact same pic! Mark was a great rider, didn’t see him on the NESC scene after those years, do you know if he continued racing much longer from then? 

Mark quit around 1980 but came back on a Buckland Honda in 82 for 1 more year. My friends and I used to ride with him at his Father's gravel bank in Bristol Ct. Mark built some awesome practice tracks that we had a blast on. Super nice guy. 

2
Nairb#70
Profile picture for user Nairb#70
Posts
4182
Joined
2/25/2020
Location
Ivoryton, CT, USA
Nairb#70 9/4/2026 8:30am
9/4/2026 8:30am
Nairb#70 wrote:
Recently while paroozing The MX Vault, I noticed how there was no Southwick National in 1983, 1984 ad 1985. All other years have had one since...

Recently while paroozing The MX Vault, I noticed how there was no Southwick National in 1983, 1984 ad 1985. All other years have had one since it's opening in 1973. Strange, anyone know why, was there a particular reason or was just not requested?

Still at a loss for the absence of the National 1983, 1984 and 1985.

Flatliner
Profile picture for user Flatliner
Posts
4328
Joined
11/3/2009
Location
CA
Flatliner 9/4/2026 12:37pm
9/4/2026 12:37pm
AP182 wrote:
I know the years and riders here, let’s see if the group does! Whatcha got? (All taken by me with a disposable camera)
IMG 0909 6IMG 0960 4IMG 0959 8.jpeg?VersionId=byYeI IePoIMG 0961 2.jpeg?VersionId=fny7me8ltkme4H.D2AXIMWx.rs2IMG 0964 5IMG 0965 7IMG 0981 5

I know the years and riders here, let’s see if the group does! Whatcha got? (All taken by me with a disposable camera)

1NVINC18LE wrote:

TP 01

Stew 02

Stew 02

Lusk + Ferry 02

Keith Johnson 02

Keith Johnson 01 ...... + Langston (edit)

KW 02

Close,  KW didn't race outdoors in 02.

 

2001.

1
MarkF
Profile picture for user MarkF
Posts
380
Joined
3/18/2013
Location
Colorado Springs, CO, USA
MarkF 9/4/2026 3:24pm
9/4/2026 3:24pm
Digger29 wrote:
My first race at Southwick was in 1978 on a buddy's 78 RM125 who was hurt. I used his bike and his number/NESC card. I had...

My first race at Southwick was in 1978 on a buddy's 78 RM125 who was hurt. I used his bike and his number/NESC card. I had a blast and hooked from that day on. I can't count how many times that I've raced there because it's so many times in my 40+CDjersey1 0yrs of racing. This is a pic on me that was in the Moto Sport mag on my 82 RM250 in the Buckley berm obviously taken by Paul. Ah.....the good ole days :-) 

Vet57 wrote:

Cycle Design ...Hail Doug Mulligan !

Cycle Design and Doug were the best!

1
Motoxtombo
Profile picture for user Motoxtombo
Posts
1115
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Holyoke, MA, USA
Motoxtombo 9/4/2026 5:40pm
9/4/2026 5:40pm
Nairb#70 wrote:
Recently while paroozing The MX Vault, I noticed how there was no Southwick National in 1983, 1984 ad 1985. All other years have had one since...

Recently while paroozing The MX Vault, I noticed how there was no Southwick National in 1983, 1984 ad 1985. All other years have had one since it's opening in 1973. Strange, anyone know why, was there a particular reason or was just not requested?

Nairb#70 wrote:

Still at a loss for the absence of the National 1983, 1984 and 1985.

From what I remember from second hand information back then there was a disagreement over the price of the sanction fee to have the National and the group that ran Southwick told the AMA that they weren't interested in running the races those years. I might be wrong but that's how I remember it. 

2
Motoxtombo
Profile picture for user Motoxtombo
Posts
1115
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Holyoke, MA, USA
Motoxtombo 9/4/2026 5:46pm
9/4/2026 5:46pm
Digger29 wrote:
My first race at Southwick was in 1978 on a buddy's 78 RM125 who was hurt. I used his bike and his number/NESC card. I had...

My first race at Southwick was in 1978 on a buddy's 78 RM125 who was hurt. I used his bike and his number/NESC card. I had a blast and hooked from that day on. I can't count how many times that I've raced there because it's so many times in my 40+CDjersey1 0yrs of racing. This is a pic on me that was in the Moto Sport mag on my 82 RM250 in the Buckley berm obviously taken by Paul. Ah.....the good ole days :-) 

Vet57 wrote:

Cycle Design ...Hail Doug Mulligan !

MarkF wrote:

Cycle Design and Doug were the best!

Doug is great, when I first started racing my boots were junk and Doug sold me a new pair of Alpinestars and let me pay them off over time, 

I'll always remember how great he was to me and all the other guys at the NESC races.

2

Pit Row

See All »

Post a reply to: Any Southwick historians/locals?