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Jody’s Box was my first read of every issue, it felt like hanging out with my big brother.
I can’t begin to describe how many tortuously boring days of school, snowy winters, and lack of talent/funds, etc that his article and that magazine got me through while I was growing up.
I’m in my mid 50s now, but still smile when I think back to his articles of living the California dream, having almost unlimited riding and racing opportunities, almost everything he needed in his moto van, and a Jack In The Box near by.
Thank you Jody! Get well soon.
That was me. And it did happen.
phantomduckofthedesert.com
I had the CD of the articles that I believe I sent to you. I still have those.
Yes you did! Do you need it back? (I don't think I have the actual CD media. But I do have the contents).
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
No, if I remember I uploaded it into Google drive for you. I still have mine.
Paul Bordreau?
Hopefully the Lovely Louella is taking good care of him!! Everyone remember her?
For some reason my high school library had an MXA subscription and I had an early bus to school so I would put off my homework to read it, circa 1980. Moto media was scarce back then so it was always a treat to see the latest MXA on the magazine rack. Didn't really read any editor sections in other magazines except for Jody's Box in MXA. Good times. Hope Jody recovers.
That’s the one.
Anyone remember Pete Szilagyi and Rondo Talbot (Mr. Know It All)?
VIc Krause....the original MR Know-it-all.
With RIck and Jody hamming it up. (these pics are from Jody's column on Ricks passing)
@WhipMeister
Cool.
I see a few columns on the website, is there a digital format for all of his columns?
cool, didn't know that
In the recent OCT MXA mag there was an article on the demise of the Hodaka.
Jody was tasked to customize the Thundedog Enduro. Hodaka hoped it would renew interest in their bikes with a last ditch attempt to turn the enduro into a MX bike. Neat article.
Any updates on Jody?
I don't know. Rick's daughter, Cindy, actively manages the store. I just got it set up for her on Shopify. Just did a drive thru and it looks like only some select articles are on there. I know I mentioned to her that Shopify supports selling digital media such as Rick's columns. But it doesn't look like she's done that yet.
Some useless trivia about Jody and the Hodaka connection. My racing 'career' started at Rabbit Run MX in Plano/Richardson, Texas. AKA Chicken Licks. In the beginning it was in Plano, but sometime along the line in the mid 70s, Richardson annexed it. That changed the open container of alcohol law at the track, which is probably why I remember. Not because I drank. I was only 14. But because of all the adults commenting about it.
Anyway, back south along US 75 (Central Expressway) about 4 exits (Spring Valley Road exit), on Floyd Road in Richardson, sat Big R Cycle, a Hodaka dealer. Mr. Bradshaw (can't recall his first name) was the owner. And his two boys, Eddie and (?) Gary, regularly mopped the floor with the mini junior class at Rabbit Run. They rode Yamaha minis at that time.
Myself and many of my pals I'd met at the track hung out at Big R. Some Mr. Bradshaw sponsored such as Dan Allen, Mike Hance, LaRoy Montgomery (who became one of Jody's best friends) and others, which is how I first encountered Jody. He was going to University of North Texas at the time and he raced Hodakas for Mr Bradshaw and Big R. I only met him face to face a couple of times. But I always admired the super sano bikes Bradshaw had built for him. Of course the Super Rats for dirt. But he also had a full-fairing 100cc road racer back in the shop and, IIRC, a flat tracker, too. That road racer was SWEET. Jody was kind of a myth to all of us younger kids. I think it was around this time he started contributing to Hi-Torque which led him to MXA.
As I moved up through the 100s (on an LT2MX) and on to the 125s, myself and Mike Hance managed to score the first two Honda CR125M Elsies to hit north Texas dealers in 1973 (that's another story. Mike loves to tell it to this day). Because it was so close and wide open (free), I rode at RR pretty much every day after school until dark. Often the Bradshaws and the rest of the gang would also be there during the week.
Not too long after I started riding the Elsie, the Hodaka Combat Wombat 125 arrived at Big R. And he had a couple out at the track one day. He asked me to spin a lap or two on one. Which I did. It felt so different than the Honda. Really tall, to me. I politely gave it back and he asked if I would be interested in racing it. (I was 14, I didn't know jack about sponsors). I just stared at my boots and, as politely as I could, said, "I think I'm going to go with the Honda. Not that it's a lot better. But I just got it and I'm still getting used to it. " . Or somesuch. Probably a lot less diplomatic. Mike and I labeled the Elsies 'Cheater Bikes'. They were so much better than anything in the class at that time.
He said, "That's ok. I still want to help you out. What do you need?". I was surprised and I really couldn't react. Mind was racing. I finally blurted "Tires? I could use a fresh set every couple of races.". He said, "You got it. Just wear a Big R Cycle jersey. Ok?". I was a little shocked. Should've asked for plugs and goggle lenses, too!
Anyway, that how's I brushed with Jody, once. And how Mike and some of the rest of us wound up getting sponsored by a Hodaka dealer, while not riding Hodakas. Mr. Bradshaw as a good man. Laroy grew very close to Big R and with Jody.
When LaRoy passed unexpectedly at the Indianapolis MIC show in 2008, Jody wrote this fine epitaph to his friend and mine. (I still see Michael Martin that Jody mentioned in his column somewhat regularly. He may be in the road racing hall of fame, but you don't want to tangle with him on an MX track either!)
https://motocrossactionmag.com/godspeed-laroy-montgomery-1956-2008/
Get Well Soon Jody!
Pit Row
I stopped posting here awhile ago but this thread deserves a posting. My Jody Weisel story:
I was in my late teens going to college in the Santa Barbara area and during the summer of 1977 I followed the AMA National circuit for a bit trying to take photos. I was literally just a naive Moto-Photohound living the dream while accidentally making a little money (emphasis on little).
Long story short: I was in Morgantown, WV at the national there. On the Thursday or Friday before the race I was hanging out at the Holiday Inn like everybody else did and somehow connected with Jody. I was a nobody, Jim Gianatsis was the "Dude" then in terms of photographers... Jody invited me to go see the newly released movie Star Wars with him and TonyD! I repeat again, I was a nobody. But off I went... I still remember TonyD asking Jody a question about one of the scenes during the movie where a planet seems to have multiple moons or suns - "Is that possible? TonyD asked. Amazing memory for me which matches several of the heartfelt comments in this thread on Jody.
That is a great story, Whip ! Thanks for sharing that.
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