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Broc Glover won 500s, Hannah won 250s and Ward won 125s.
The 2 riders that stood out to me were Hannah and Magoo Chandler (3rd in 500s). Maybe it was the way they rode - incredibly fast, with a nothing is going to slow me down vibe. And maybe they weren't as smooth looking as other (excellent) riders who I don't even remember being there. Maybe smooth sometimes doesn't look as fast.
Obviously, I left there as a huge fan of both of these riders - but especially Magoo with his performance at Trophies and Motocross des Nation in 1982 - which I'm sure I had read about in Cycle News.
I hadn't raced MX prior to seeing this race, but knowing I had to, was another thing I left that race with.
Big changes for me came shortly after that race.
I was about 3.5 years old.
RJ won the 500 overall
Ward came in 2nd
Stanton came in 3rd.
Bottom photo...This was just after I approached Stanton and said "Hey Ricky J. can I have your autograph?" I'm sure I had no idea I called him by name of one of his fiercest competitors. Obviously I was too young to remember this, but according to my parents, he was not impressed...as you can tell by the smug look on his face and that little dipshit to his left that was mean muggin me...
30-some years later, I still have all 3 of those signed posters tucked away in a binder in storage.
The Shop
Another thing I saw that was pretty cool. One of the Guatemalan riders was standing next to me and my dad with his wife and kids. They didn't come close to qualifying but I thought it was cool to see him taking in the experience with his family.
One Hannah story I forgot on that day in '83 at Whitney. The weekend before at Mosier Valley, one of the local pros had a stunning woman with him that everyone in the pits thought was a dancer. First time she had ever been at a track. The next week at Lake Whitney, she was walking around the track with Hannah holding his hand and hanging out in his pits. Old Bob was a legend.
After loosing our mom to a car accident by Cooks corner in Nov 1980, my brother convinced my dad to take me to an MX national. We lived on Hamilton Trail in Trabuco Canyon and we all had dirt bikes. My dad gave my brother the money and the keys to our 1971 Chevy Shorty Van and off we went.
At the end of the road my brother went left instead of right. I said, "Hey Saddleback is that way". He said, "Bro we gotta make a small detour". He then picked up his buddy, stopped at the country store in The Oaks and bopught a case of beer with my money! LoL.
When we approached the gate my brother told me to slide under the couch and be quiet. We made it in and parked across the valley on the top of the hill over there. We walked down the the famous turn where Howerton and Hannah would have it out. Not once but twice. You can actually see me in the famous photo 10th from the left. My older brother and his drinking buddy are the two tallest guys standing side by side.
After this experience I became completely addicted to the sport. This has led to my entire life revolving around the sport. Locations I have lived, vehicles I have driven, and video games I have played.
Next chapter is this.
Pit Row
Pepperall - never got to ride it. I think it wound down around '82 or '83. A couple friends used to race the Trans AMA I think it was or some other series that Euros came over for in the 70s and even housed some of the Euro riders back in the day.
Rick Johnson won the 500's that day with Wardy taking second (split moto wins I think), it was HOT and rough. Rick Johnson said they DETUNED his 500 between motos. Local pro Danny Storbeck went 4-9, that dude would be riding on regular practice days and boy, was he fast. Veteran and local, Kent Howerton, went 17-16 for 18th. 17 years later at Cycle Ranch, I got to ride with Howerton many times, he was FAST still on a 125cc and he would play race/push us around the track for fun, until he decided to pass and run away.
125cc Micky Dymond and Guy Cooper both on Hondas, took 1 and 2 respectively. This was Dymond's peak and he made a 125 look beautiful!
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