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The NEMA/MAMA races were intense. There was so much hype for a Southwick showdown between Randy McCann #44 and Randy Jones from MAMA. Not sure who won that race but it was a battle.
Good times for sure!
I was at Antietam in 1981, but I can't recall who won. However, in my race experiences, I never saw Randy Jones lose on an 80cc bike to anybody. I'm sure he likely lost somewhere to someone on an 80, but his record during the years I saw him were winning every moto he was in.
He was absolutely phenomenal to watch. He did things that most experts on large bikes weren't even attempting (like the uphill double at Big Berm).
Although he was sponsored by Kawasaki/Team Green, you got the feeling that had he been living in California he would have probably had a good chance to make it big.
When he got on a 125 he could mix it up in the top 3 and win a moto here and there, and then he quickly vanished.
A couple years later the Chris Fischer (NEMA) and John Thompson (MAMA) match up was the hype at Broome-Tioga.
I remember crashing out and waving John on from the side of the track (as I was a MAMA guy).
Sadly, that race was once on VHS tape and in a haste my little sister recorded "My Little Pony" or something over it... I learned to "pop" the recording tab on tapes afterwards!!!
It was always fun to see the match-ups as both organizations had some really fast guys.
Somewhere in the recesses of my parents house are boxes of Cycling Easts with results. I'd love to spend them time digging them up one day.
Heather Beach, Jason Steiner those are names of people I haven't seen or heard of in 20years! Dam I feel old saying that I raced NEMA from around 82 till about 90. Lots of good times, great racing, and good memories! If I'll give it a shot and see if I can remember the names of some of my old competitors.... John Kudla, David Souza, Chris and Scott Lansing, Scott Sheak, Clinton and Jason Fowler, Patrick Autoricky, David Pichette, T. Ryan Kaichen, Eric Bartha, Cindy Cole, Gary Douville, Eric Pearson, Jeremy ? I remember he had Mini Magoo painted on his helmet! I'm sure if I sat and thought about it for a while there are so many others I'm missing!
Those NEMA VS. MAMA races were great!
In 88 or 89 I broke my leg at GatorBack in Florida during the Mini o's the most memorable part of the trip wasn't even the racing it was going to Disney World with Gene Nuemac, Tim Lemier, If I remember correctly Ziggy and maybe even Bobby Beach.
Chris Fisher boy was he fast back in the day. He's still pretty fast and races/rides my area alot.
Bruce Fisher
Bruce Tessier
Leo fatuex
Ritchie Sampson
Matt Freeman
the local dealer in hudson started as Franks cycle, John Hansen dad owned it he was the fastest guy from there at that time, it got sold twice and became Sky Cycle i worked there part time with Weymus Scott he was a 5 time NESC champ, we all rode at Crow Island, along with Rick Marshal (robby marshals dad) Jimmy Meenan, and a whole lot of other guys im forgetting
He is in his 60's and still rides. I see him mostly every Wednesday night at Milford Riders Club in Milford CT.
And as far as Chris Fisher, I think he is still around. I recall that back in 1993 and 1994 I used to ride with Doug Henry at 'the damn', or so it was called.
I remember this dude would show up with a black snowmobile trailer, pop up the back and unload a Yamaha YZ 125. The bike had no numbers, was kinda beat and the dude wore old riding gear, and some of it was Doug's.
BUT, he was the only one that could actually hang with Henry, and he was fast as shit. Like really fast.
But the dude never, ever showed up at any races - he just showed up once in a while on Wednesday afternoons and messed with Doug (who was going for his two 125 championships at that time).
Come to find out it was Chris Fisher. He was, and still is very fast.
Around the same time, and when Doug was winning his championships on the Honda's, I think Chris's dad would fly his little plane over the east coast national tracks and do some informal little stunts right around opening ceremonies...
I once drove by their house sometime around 1994 and noticed that the family mailbox was actually an old beer keg put on its side with the top cut off. It was actually the fathers house.
Right next to the kegger mailbox was a big sign that read "beware of dog" and "keep out"
Awesome.
Pit Row
MxNick - are you a CT guy too? I saw that you mentioned John Ruddy earlier - John and I used to ride together at a sand track owned by my neighbors back in '87-'89. One of the other guys who rode with us was Gothic Jay (Shorty's old wrench) - he was always the first to try any new hits we would find in the sand pit. It was great to be able to ride out of the driveway, and across a pasture to get to some awesome riding. Now, most of the land has been sold off and developed, or will be in the not-so-distant future.
Soren346 - I KNOW that you and I have probably battled it out on the some of the D34 tracks. I was also a 5th-10th place guy when I wasn't crashing my brains out. I had good speed for a lap - maybe 2 at the most - before I would crash from riding over my head. I loved some of those D34 tracks: Southwoods, Ace, Claverack
Funny Chris Fisher story - a bunch of guys were riding at Thomaston Dam one evening, and Chris was by far the fastest guy out there, but this one guy from Waterbury was really keeping pace with Chris, maybe a 2-3 bike lengths behind. After they came into a corner side-by-side, the guy's foot got caught in Chris' rear wheel. Apparently Chris thought he had hit a rock or stump which caused the bike to bog, so he said that he just held the throttle wide open. The end result was that the rear sole of the guy's Hi-Point boot was ripped off completely, and his heel was as purple as an eggplant!
Gothic Jay is from CT?
Did you ever head up to Beacon Falls to ride back in the 80's? From the late 70's through the early 90's, the sand track along the Naugatuck River and the sand pit in Seymour attracted some of the best riders in New England, especially early in the spring. It wasn't uncommon to see the entire Midtown Kawasaki "team" or Jim Meenan and the guys from Cycle Design show up for some laps. If you could pound out 20-25 minute motos in that deep sand and huge whoops, you were ready for anything that Southwick could throw your way.
Soren Lauridsen
I saw a lot of names here I recognized. I raced from 85 to 88. Tony larusso and I were pretty much the only 2 on yamaha's. I had a 83 yz60 when i started. Jay steiner, brian gingras, and jason newton were on the gate for my first novice race. I am still good friends with J.Newton. I did some downhill mountain bike racing about ten years ago and had Gary Douville was on my team. Funny thing, he has very few memories of racing when younger. Brought back some great memories for me reading this thread. Erin rand, you had the most badass 60 on the planet back then. Used to love the Jon Pierre Levesque and Tim Lemier battles, with s.ome Bobby Beach and Greg Anderson making his 80 pop like crazy, goodstuff
Mike98d@yahoo.com
I actually went on a road bike ride with Gary a few years ago. He lives on the west coast now and is still heavy into the road bike / MTB riding and racing.
His father does a ton of cycling too.
That 60 was pretty bad ass. I wish I still had it! I think it would make a cool conversation piece. I think that bike is kinda historic.
I know who you are, but I didn't know you when I raced (or maybe I did?) I used to ride Crow Island to practice for races as I lived up the street and could get there in 10 mins. I remember Jim Meenan riding there, plus Steve Burdette and Graham Barber. I was probably 13 around that time. I used to get rides to the races from Bruce Slater and the Mansfield's when my dad was unable to drive me.
I was good friends with one of the Borrello's (Vinnie) I spent some time riding with him and his older brother Chris.
I know Rick Marshall, but never rode with him. Richie Sampson was crazy fast back then. Little Leo Fotuex in "82"had a sick wipe out at Southwick. He landed on another bike off the spectator jump by the grandstands and was out for quite some time. I think he broke his back...
I bought bikes from Northboro Suzuki, Sky Cycle, Cycle Design and last one was from Bernardi Honda.
I live out in Gardner these days and I head over to Crow Hill from time to time to watch the races. A lot has changed and tracks are crazier and the jumps are bigger.
I came across this thread and some old names are popping up like John Ruddy and Mike lato
I remember when you guys just started racing LOL
John Ruddy and Jim Lato used to come down and help out so much at milford riders when we had no machines
Nick Latos brothers name was jimmy jr he actually was a good artist he made our shirts for the club
I think Mike Lato has a construction business in Fairfeild right next stop and shop
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