Missing history of a long lost National.

Barnett117
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Barnett117
Edited Date/Time 6/6/2022 8:53am
I ride at a place called Sandy Oaks a lot and I have found out that in 1977 there was a pro national here that Bob Hannah won by a long shot. He also claimed it to be the toughest track he has ever rode. It is nothing but deep deep sand and whoops not even one jump. There is a connecting loop that we ride that is fairly wide and really deep whoops. I think it may be part of what was raced on. If anyone has anymore info or pictures of the place back in the day, that would be awesome!
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SuperMario 12/25/2012 4:01am
12/25/2012 4:01am Edited Date/Time 12/25/2012 4:24am
There was an AMA National Hare Scrambles there in 1983 that used parts of the MX track.
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Brad460
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Brad460 12/25/2012 6:37am
12/25/2012 6:37am
If Hearlings was there he would have lapped Hannah....now that we have that out of the way..carry on...
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just James
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just James 12/25/2012 7:00am
12/25/2012 7:00am
Brad460 wrote:
If Hearlings was there he would have lapped Hannah....now that we have that out of the way..carry on...
And he could have followed AC while doing it.
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Highsider
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Highsider 12/25/2012 7:01am
12/25/2012 7:01am
It was a 125 National and that is exactly the way I have heard about it all these years.
Thanks for reminding me.
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OldGuy
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OldGuy 12/25/2012 8:51am
12/25/2012 8:51am
I have rode there quite a few time in years past. Rough is a under statement on how bad that place can get. U never get to set down.
xnationalwrench 12/25/2012 8:52am
12/25/2012 8:52am
I'm not sure of the tracks name but the National at Keithsburg, Il. was listed as the roughest track ever.
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Highsider
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Highsider 12/25/2012 9:01am
12/25/2012 9:01am
xnationalwrench wrote:
I'm not sure of the tracks name but the National at Keithsburg, Il. was listed as the roughest track ever.
Same one.
KlootZak
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KlootZak 12/25/2012 9:29am
12/25/2012 9:29am
xnationalwrench wrote:
I'm not sure of the tracks name but the National at Keithsburg, Il. was listed as the roughest track ever.
Pictures or it didn't happen ...
DC
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DC 12/25/2012 9:43am
12/25/2012 9:43am
I have some pictures from this race that came by way of Jim Gianatsis that I can dig out this week at work. I also have the event program and, believe it or not, Jimmy Weinert's riding gear -- he was #10 on a works Kawasaki 125 -- that he gave me a few years ago as a present. He and Glover have both told me it was the roughest national track they ever rode, kind of like Diamondback at Cocoa Beach.

Merry Christmas, fellow bench racers.

DC
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motoxer68
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motoxer68 12/25/2012 10:41am
12/25/2012 10:41am
I didn't go to the national at Keithsburg but I did race some sort of state or regional qualifier there in 1980. I can testify that it was super rough. I've raced some of the infamous Florida tracks and this place was very similar, but maybe rougher. Built right on the sandy shores of the Mississippi river. Like with many sand tracks it looked as smooth as a freeway when I walked it the day before the race. I swear there were chest high whoops just about everywhere by the middle of race day. It pretty much rained all day which may have even made it more bearable than if it was dry. I'm sure there were some jumps hidden in among the craters but I don't remember any.
Barnett117
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Barnett117 12/25/2012 11:18am
12/25/2012 11:18am
DC wrote:
I have some pictures from this race that came by way of Jim Gianatsis that I can dig out this week at work. I also have...
I have some pictures from this race that came by way of Jim Gianatsis that I can dig out this week at work. I also have the event program and, believe it or not, Jimmy Weinert's riding gear -- he was #10 on a works Kawasaki 125 -- that he gave me a few years ago as a present. He and Glover have both told me it was the roughest national track they ever rode, kind of like Diamondback at Cocoa Beach.

Merry Christmas, fellow bench racers.

DC
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I would greatly appreciate if you would upload the pictures and the even program.Yeah the loop we ride is very rough. For sure one good way to get into shape. Also where was the gate/start for the national? We cant seem to find a decent place where a start would make sense.

Thanks.
Barnett117
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Barnett117 12/25/2012 11:31am
12/25/2012 11:31am
motoxer68 wrote:
I didn't go to the national at Keithsburg but I did race some sort of state or regional qualifier there in 1980. I can testify that...
I didn't go to the national at Keithsburg but I did race some sort of state or regional qualifier there in 1980. I can testify that it was super rough. I've raced some of the infamous Florida tracks and this place was very similar, but maybe rougher. Built right on the sandy shores of the Mississippi river. Like with many sand tracks it looked as smooth as a freeway when I walked it the day before the race. I swear there were chest high whoops just about everywhere by the middle of race day. It pretty much rained all day which may have even made it more bearable than if it was dry. I'm sure there were some jumps hidden in among the craters but I don't remember any.
I can agree that during the summer when its dry its some very tough riding. But after a nice long rain it is deffinetly a lot better. I cant think of any jumps besides maybe doubling some whoops.
DC
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DC 12/25/2012 2:05pm
12/25/2012 2:05pm
Barnett, will do. But I can't remember if the book has a track map or not...

DC
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Brtp4
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Brtp4 12/25/2012 8:46pm
12/25/2012 8:46pm
DC wrote:
I have some pictures from this race that came by way of Jim Gianatsis that I can dig out this week at work. I also have...
I have some pictures from this race that came by way of Jim Gianatsis that I can dig out this week at work. I also have the event program and, believe it or not, Jimmy Weinert's riding gear -- he was #10 on a works Kawasaki 125 -- that he gave me a few years ago as a present. He and Glover have both told me it was the roughest national track they ever rode, kind of like Diamondback at Cocoa Beach.

Merry Christmas, fellow bench racers.

DC
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Davey, can you PM me with the brand?

BP
DC
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DC 12/26/2012 6:47am
12/26/2012 6:47am
Brtp4, not sure which brand you mean? If it's the riding gear, it was standard-issue Kawasaki jersey -- incredibly thick, almost like fire-proof material -- and real leather pants (I am guessing Bates or ABH). I will check when I get into office later....

DC
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ATKpilot99
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ATKpilot99 12/26/2012 7:01am
12/26/2012 7:01am Edited Date/Time 12/26/2012 7:03am
Man I could spend hours on the Vault site. Excellent resource. Wish someone would do it for the GPs. Any chance the individual moto results will be posted on the classes that don't have them in the future? I'm referring to the 80s races.
Brtp4
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Brtp4 12/26/2012 8:05am
12/26/2012 8:05am
DC wrote:
Brtp4, not sure which brand you mean? If it's the riding gear, it was standard-issue Kawasaki jersey -- incredibly thick, almost like fire-proof material -- and...
Brtp4, not sure which brand you mean? If it's the riding gear, it was standard-issue Kawasaki jersey -- incredibly thick, almost like fire-proof material -- and real leather pants (I am guessing Bates or ABH). I will check when I get into office later....

DC
MX Sports
Good enough. Thanks.

BP

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DC
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DC 12/26/2012 10:02am
12/26/2012 10:02am
Barnett, here is what the track looked like in the overhead photo for the '77 program, which means the picture comes from a previous race of some importance....

DC
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DC
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DC 12/26/2012 10:03am
12/26/2012 10:03am
And here's a shot of the starting line from a previous race...
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DC
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DC 12/26/2012 10:05am
12/26/2012 10:05am
Finally, here's the program cover, though this shot was taken from the '77 Daytona SX...

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125
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125 12/26/2012 10:09am
12/26/2012 10:09am
Florida owns Motocross. CA just thinks it does.
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171motocross 12/26/2012 10:10am
12/26/2012 10:10am
Damn wyatt this is siiick. That track looks killer haha. We need to remake it!
Barnett117
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Barnett117 12/26/2012 10:17am
12/26/2012 10:17am
DC wrote:
Barnett, here is what the track looked like in the overhead photo for the '77 program, which means the picture comes from a previous race of...
Barnett, here is what the track looked like in the overhead photo for the '77 program, which means the picture comes from a previous race of some importance....

DC
MX Sports
Wow things have really changed a lot! Thank you again for the pictures. If you or anyone else has anymore that would be awesome!
171motocross 12/26/2012 10:23am
12/26/2012 10:23am


Heres a link of me riding at the place earlier this year. just to kind of show you guys what it's like now..
Barnett117
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Barnett117 12/26/2012 10:23am
12/26/2012 10:23am
171motocross wrote:
Damn wyatt this is siiick. That track looks killer haha. We need to remake it!
I know. I wonder if Dale would let us do something with it. I have an idea for an anual race.
NATEP231
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NATEP231 12/26/2012 10:42am
12/26/2012 10:42am
that place is so fun to go to in the beginning of the year when the ground has started to thaw out...then when you leave you and your bike hate the world!
motoxer68
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motoxer68 12/26/2012 11:18am
12/26/2012 11:18am
DC wrote:
Barnett, here is what the track looked like in the overhead photo for the '77 program, which means the picture comes from a previous race of...
Barnett, here is what the track looked like in the overhead photo for the '77 program, which means the picture comes from a previous race of some importance....

DC
MX Sports
Man, I swear that the "national track" where I raced in Keithsburg was very wooded, like the video Barnett posted. This overhead view doesn't look nearly as wooded. Maybe they had more than one track on the property? Or, maybe I'm getting old?
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DC
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DC 12/26/2012 11:25am
12/26/2012 11:25am
I also have a bunch of photos that appear to be more wooded, but I am guessing they are actually from Midland, Michigan, which was also quite sandy. I will ask Scott Wallenberg to have a look -- he raced the nationals at both and is an encyclopedia of motocroknowledge too....

DC
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