Wanna see how gnarly GP tracks were back in the eighties? (Must-see!)

Robgvx
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9/19/2018 4:37am Edited Date/Time 9/19/2018 9:49pm
Sittendorf, Austria, 1983

Specifically, check out the rocky uphill from 37m 20s onwards.

39m 42 is pretty good too!

In 1985 when I first went there and walked the track I couldn't believe that we were going to race up that hill. It was just bare, jagged rock with no dirt whatsoever. Huge boulders had become dislodged and had rolled down the hill.

What also amazed me, in what was my first 500GP, was that nobody was talking about this. It was as if gnarly sections of track like this were just the norm for the guys in the tough 500 class.

Brutal!

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ga_pike
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9/19/2018 4:52am
Yep, that's pretty gnarly.

Track prep was completely different back then. Watch video of tracks in the US like Carlsbad and Saddleback. Places like Unadilla where they just roped the track off and went at it without any "prep". The sport has evolved and there are pros and cons to it. Some prefer it the way it was, some prefer it the way it is now, some will never be happy.
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David934
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9/19/2018 5:12am
check out speed also, more like enduro speed then motocross
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SCR
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9/19/2018 6:15am Edited Date/Time 9/19/2018 9:49pm
ga_pike wrote:
Yep, that's pretty gnarly. Track prep was completely different back then. Watch video of tracks in the US like Carlsbad and Saddleback. Places like Unadilla where...
Yep, that's pretty gnarly.

Track prep was completely different back then. Watch video of tracks in the US like Carlsbad and Saddleback. Places like Unadilla where they just roped the track off and went at it without any "prep". The sport has evolved and there are pros and cons to it. Some prefer it the way it was, some prefer it the way it is now, some will never be happy.
Saddleback.


9/19/2018 6:43am
500 International at Ernee France had a few rocks in 1982
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The Shop

9/19/2018 6:46am
500 International at Ernee France had a few rocks in 1982 [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2018/09/19/288276/s1200_ernee18.jpg[/img]
500 International at Ernee France had a few rocks in 1982
DBM, show them Lost Creek Park during the offseason Woohoo
ATKpilot99
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9/19/2018 12:06pm
I love these old videos . I have the 83 Dutch and 82 British GPs on dvd as well as some early 80s Carlsbad footage. Duke video has some good GP season review dvds also that the OP makes some appearances on Smile
9/19/2018 12:14pm
Robgvx wrote:
Sittendorf, Austria, 1983 Specifically, check out the rocky uphill from 37m 20s onwards. 39m 42 is pretty good too! In 1985 when I first went there...
Sittendorf, Austria, 1983

Specifically, check out the rocky uphill from 37m 20s onwards.

39m 42 is pretty good too!

In 1985 when I first went there and walked the track I couldn't believe that we were going to race up that hill. It was just bare, jagged rock with no dirt whatsoever. Huge boulders had become dislodged and had rolled down the hill.

What also amazed me, in what was my first 500GP, was that nobody was talking about this. It was as if gnarly sections of track like this were just the norm for the guys in the tough 500 class.

Brutal!

Thanks for posting!! That is what I call a track
Robgvx
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9/19/2018 12:28pm
Holy crap! Check out 44m 15s onwards. How's that for an off-camber?!


9/19/2018 1:22pm
Thats whats motocross meant to me,

Now they should call it " Sculpturecross ", even if they have a track in near natural state, they stuff it up with jumps and whoops, its sad.
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TooOld4WFO
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9/19/2018 8:31pm
45.27 to 45.38 says it all.... Wow. Amazing that was an actual Motocross GP race. This has to be one of the narliest tracks these men raced on. Great upload Rob and I enjoyed your personnel insight. It’s that kind of stuff that makes vital so enjoyable.
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JustMX
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9/19/2018 9:24pm Edited Date/Time 9/19/2018 9:25pm
Man, carlqvist was just a bad ass.

Vromans was always an impressive rider. Very smooth for that era. I hate he didn't win a title except that lackey was able to take advantage of his error.

Having raced 480s in that era, I can't imagine going these speeds on that track.

How about the top-of-the line-for-that-time custom rv behind the puch rider being interviwed. Can you imagine tomac or other top riders lounging.in that?
dimetime
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9/19/2018 9:52pm
That was pretty crazy. One pet peeve of mine though is this whole "man they were slow" or "that's enduro speed" shit. It's fucking stupid, so knock it off.

At the time that video was taken that was as fast as anyone was going on the face of the earth. It is totally and completely irrelevent to anything else. No shit they go faster today, it be incredibly sad if they didn't.

It does not diminsh any rider of that era and it sure as fuck doesn't elevate any rider of today.
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