Tony D and Husqvarna

Tony only did one series on the Husqvarna, the 1981 AMA 500 Nationals, which were well past his prime (1974-78). He had also raced Can-Am (1979) after being let go from Suzuki and then did not race at all in 1980 (I believe due to his eye injury). When he did race in '81 his results just weren't what they used to be, as he only had one top ten finish as you can see from The Vault, so he went into teaching a very successful motocross school...

I believe he wore #111 in 1981 as that honorary number the AMA gives either visiting champions or past champions who didn't compete the previous season.

And here's a little known fact: Tony D. raced Loretta Lynn's in 1987 on a Suzuki in the Vet +30 class and finished second to South Carolina amateur legend Robbie Neeley in all three motos...
.

DC
Racer X

DC wrote:

Tony only did one series on the Husqvarna, the 1981 AMA 500 Nationals, which were well past his prime (1974-78). He had also raced Can-Am (1979) after being let go from Suzuki and then did not race at all in 1980 (I believe due to his eye injury). When he did race in '81 his results just weren't what they used to be, as he only had one top ten finish as you can see from The Vault, so he went into teaching a very successful motocross school...

I believe he wore #111 in 1981 as that honorary number the AMA gives either visiting champions or past champions who didn't compete the previous season.

And here's a little known fact: Tony D. raced Loretta Lynn's in 1987 on a Suzuki in the Vet +30 class and finished second to South Carolina amateur legend Robbie Neeley in all three motos...
.

DC
Racer X

Thanks DC I always wondered this but never asked when he was around, I was always too busy laughing to get into any serious questions
I think he missed his calling as a comedian lol.

He has always been incredibly kind and funny. If I recall correctly his career got derailed in one notorious crash that also took down Marty Smith and Jimmy Ellis, in the first turn at the Houston Astrodome in 1978. Tony tore up his knee badly, Marty separated his pelvis and Ellis hurt his shoulder. None of them were ever the same after that.

DC
Racer X

The two dust covered helmets in this pic are Tony's Motocross des Nations helmets,I gave them back at the funeral. I believe they're on tour with the traveling Museum now at the Nationals.

I was fortunate enough to be an instructor for Tony for many years during his Suzuki sponsored "Tony D MX Schools". Tony was a unique individual and had TONS of stories to tell...but not necessarily always ones to be heard by the younger students HAHA. Those were some of my fondest memories during my moto days. Tony is a great guy!

I've got a picture somewhere of him on a '84 Husky 250CR....iirc wasn't Husky a sponsor of his schools in that time frame ?

I thought Mitch Payton was helping him when he was on Huskys.

dimetime wrote:

I thought Mitch Payton was helping him when he was on Huskys.

Not that I am aware of I think husky was kind of in shambles then, the guy I work for used to tell me stories of where tony couldn't get parts and he would have help him out. even after he died when I was helping sell off the contents of the shop there were still shelves of new Husqvarna parts.

this was the day before the funeral we were all hanging out in the shop telling War stories.

DC wrote:

Tony only did one series on the Husqvarna, the 1981 AMA 500 Nationals, which were well past his prime (1974-78). He had also raced Can-Am (1979) after being let go from Suzuki and then did not race at all in 1980 (I believe due to his eye injury). When he did race in '81 his results just weren't what they used to be, as he only had one top ten finish as you can see from The Vault, so he went into teaching a very successful motocross school...

I believe he wore #111 in 1981 as that honorary number the AMA gives either visiting champions or past champions who didn't compete the previous season.

And here's a little known fact: Tony D. raced Loretta Lynn's in 1987 on a Suzuki in the Vet +30 class and finished second to South Carolina amateur legend Robbie Neeley in all three motos...
.

DC
Racer X

I was racing the 250 B stock class that year and never even new he was racing that year in 30 plus.

DC wrote:

Tony only did one series on the Husqvarna, the 1981 AMA 500 Nationals, which were well past his prime (1974-78). He had also raced Can-Am (1979) after being let go from Suzuki and then did not race at all in 1980 (I believe due to his eye injury). When he did race in '81 his results just weren't what they used to be, as he only had one top ten finish as you can see from The Vault, so he went into teaching a very successful motocross school...

I believe he wore #111 in 1981 as that honorary number the AMA gives either visiting champions or past champions who didn't compete the previous season.

And here's a little known fact: Tony D. raced Loretta Lynn's in 1987 on a Suzuki in the Vet +30 class and finished second to South Carolina amateur legend Robbie Neeley in all three motos...
.

DC
Racer X

I remember the name Neeley in the 86 Florida winter AMA. I think there was only one senior class then and he won it on his KX500 racing with Barry Higgins and Dave Clemence from RI. i remember holding up Enduro superstar Dick Burlesons Husky on the gate as he raced at least one round that series. Neeley was indeed fast.

this cz he raced winter series in fla..

did he die?

bultokid wrote:

I've got a picture somewhere of him on a '84 Husky 250CR....iirc wasn't Husky a sponsor of his schools in that time frame ?

I purchased a 500 Husky in 1986 and that allowed me to go to a Tony D MX school.

dimetime wrote:

I thought Mitch Payton was helping him when he was on Huskys.

RCF wrote:

Not that I am aware of I think husky was kind of in shambles then, the guy I work for used to tell me stories of where tony couldn't get parts and he would have help him out. even after he died when I was helping sell off the contents of the shop there were still shelves of new Husqvarna parts.

this was the day before the funeral we were all hanging out in the shop telling War stories.

From the 1981 PC Catalog

vtec wrote:

did he die?

No.

anniebertmojo wrote:

From the 1981 PC Catalog

then he must have been with a husky for more than one year like dc said. all the pictures my friend Dave had were of him was on a white husky (83).
I never seen that single shock setup before that's pretty cool I'll have to send that to a buddy of mine he's really into those vintage Huskies.

vtec wrote:

did he die?

tydog wrote:

No.

I wondered the same thing. A funeral was mentioned twice.

vtec wrote:

did he die?

tydog wrote:

No.

Thor34103 wrote:

I wondered the same thing. A funeral was mentioned twice.

I was talking about a mutual friend that died , sorry about the confusion. Tony is alive and well.

tydog wrote:

No.

Thor34103 wrote:

I wondered the same thing. A funeral was mentioned twice.

RCF wrote:

I was talking about a mutual friend that died , sorry about the confusion. Tony is alive and well.

No problem. Thanks for the clarification.

MOTO120 wrote:

I was fortunate enough to be an instructor for Tony for many years during his Suzuki sponsored "Tony D MX Schools". Tony was a unique individual and had TONS of stories to tell...but not necessarily always ones to be heard by the younger students HAHA. Those were some of my fondest memories during my moto days. Tony is a great guy!

Former instructor here too; early to mid 2000s! Who's this?!

Ditto on your statement. Some great experiences on the road with Tony. Traveling around the country from the time he was 14 and a near photographic memory meant he knew of the most random little places. No need for yelp or google maps, if you wanted some real BBQ down south (most missions were food-related), he could take you to the most legit backwoods spot that he'd been to 20 years earlier without even needing a map.

MOTO120 wrote:

I was fortunate enough to be an instructor for Tony for many years during his Suzuki sponsored "Tony D MX Schools". Tony was a unique individual and had TONS of stories to tell...but not necessarily always ones to be heard by the younger students HAHA. Those were some of my fondest memories during my moto days. Tony is a great guy!

bayodome wrote:

Former instructor here too; early to mid 2000s! Who's this?!

Ditto on your statement. Some great experiences on the road with Tony. Traveling around the country from the time he was 14 and a near photographic memory meant he knew of the most random little places. No need for yelp or google maps, if you wanted some real BBQ down south (most missions were food-related), he could take you to the most legit backwoods spot that he'd been to 20 years earlier without even needing a map.

Roy I was the mechanic at santich Cycles, we would have definitely met then whenever he was in town doing a school he always invited me and my son. I think the last one I was ever at was up at Jack Frost ski resort when they used to have mx track there.

They have always been close

Thor34103 wrote:

They have always been close

I have this photo autograph by Tony

Thor34103 wrote:

They have always been close

Classic