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Well here's what I've got... Back in the late 70's I was racing at a place just outside MD in Hanover Pa. On that day there was a rider who was up from Fla. and although it's nothing unusual to hear guys talking about not liking a track, especially one like Trailway Speedway.. for some reason your story sounded fimilure to me, kind of like I was there. Just like you stated, this Fla guy also didn't like the track and for the same type reasons. This could all just be a case not liking the Pa, Md, dirt we have up here.. but,.it would be really funny if that was you I met day. That day has become somewhat of a legend amongst me and my old race friends. I'll explain about it later if this turns out to be you.
Here is my best description of what, the Fla. guy was riding. He had a totally tricked out XR75. The bike was real tall I think it was a custom frame and I'm pretty sure it was painted like a powder blue. Any chance that was you? I hope so because the story of that day lives on till this day as one of the funniest moto-memories ever! Like I said it's a legend and none of it possible without the kid from Fla. and a comment made by his father concerning one of the riders who raced our class that day! I know your comment is a bit dated but I hope you see this.. Thanks!
The Shop
$40 PREPPED this WEEKEND. CLOSED NEXT WEEK.
PRO NATIONAL is Aug.19: It is 1 degree hotter Aug. 19 that Father's Day on average, please bring everyone, enemies & friends. ez-up's allowed. No crowd = High Point is your closest National next year. Amateur Day Fri & Sun." this is from John Beasley's post on the Facebook page Masters of Motocross
Could the KX be Randy Jones?
Chip Anacker came to mind too.
Welcome, Post-em!!
Mark
You wouldn't remember me
I am not a big FB user except for some local fishing stuff but here is a Face Book group of old D7 stuff I just found out about the other month.
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=motorcycling%20unlimited%20of%20…
Jeff
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I grew up in Vienna in the 70's/80's - a little before you I guess. But the older kids around me that had bikes always talked of the 'pits' in Tyson's - like it was mythical. Heard of a few serious injuries being attributed to it too. I presume it was just a local spot where folks rode. Later it was developed into the Tyson's II shopping center.
Anyone got any info? Stories? Pics even?
Do you still ride? Do you remember Lump Racing Suspension? That was me and I now live just below Charlotte in SC where the cheap gas is.
I just found this site and joined after reading through some of the post. They really brought back some good memories. I started racing in the seventies in Chesapeake Va at the Mid-East/ Dirt Park Track in the 125 class. Ran my first AMA race at LST, I came through the B class racing a lot with Glenn Wright, (RIP). When I moved into the A class I had some great runs with some of the guys I have seen mentioned in these posts.
Troy
Did you see the FB link to District 7 oldies?
Here it is.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/D7Alumni/
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Pit Row
Great vid that this guy did on the gravel pits in Springfield Va.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK-I-SB5Wfk
Before my time by a bit. Man I wish I'd been ten years older back then...
Thanks for posting it. I never rode there but that is still great memories for those that did.
We had a place next to RT 40 in White Marsh, MD. lots of locals would ride. We lived in Bradshaw, MD. and would ride down the rail road tracks, turn left and up a steep hill to get to the gravel pit.
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Skip Schildhauer was a neighborhood friend of mine. We all had dirt bikes and terrorized the neighborhood. Skip's dad Hank built a small track in their backyard, and as Skip became better built Big Berm (Skip's dad owned Big Berm). His wife Helen Lee kept us all sane as the track den mother.
Hank recruited me to run the place. I built the PA. I would go out on Saturdays and begin watering the track so that it wouldn't be too dusty on Sunday. Hank and installed a massive underground watering system fed by a 6" pipe from the nearby river. There was a big gas powered pump to drive this - sort of like someone bolted a pump onto an old John Deere tractor.
On Sunday, I'd recruit all my buddies from high school to come out for the day and be flagmen and starters.
Skip was a great racer. One time he did a serious endo at Big Berm, flipped upside down and the bike came down on top of his pelvis, splitting it. The doctors said he wouldn't walk for six months and would never race. Skip was back at Big Berm winning trophies two months later.
I remember Skip originally riding Suzuki RM-125s and then getting an early Kawasaki sponsorship; I don't think anyone else had a Kawasaki at that time.
We had a lot of fun. Hank had a big Blue Bird bust that was converted into a motorhome (and a Chrysler Cordoba that we never stopped ribbing him about). I destroyed my dad's car driving around the track one Saturday - that Toyota $Runner just couldn't take that jump. And a the end of the day, back at the Schildhauer's, Helen Lee would share a G&T with their pet rabbit or he'd bang on his cage.
I lost touch with them after I moved away for college. Those were some fun days.
And some video my friend Justin Huffman captured of my first ride in 36 years on the RM125B at Whittens MX July 3rd 2017 (flailing a bit):
The way I recall it Jimmy Lauers dad (James?) rented the land and started the track and ran it till it closed.
I worked at the Dirt Shop for Ralf for a few years and was very close to buying it all from Ralf but the building was not large enough to do the changes I was planning. Ralf was a mentor that did give me some of the advise that got me to where I am today. I usually would stop and see Ralf and Carol when we came up to MD for Christmas but its been a couple years. I hope to see Ralf at the Broom Factory a D7 vintage MC museum in Baltimore when they have an open house this year.
No hauling or trailers needed... Just needed a couple of bucks (gas was about $0.60 to $1 from the mid to late 70's), strap a small bottle pre-mix in between your steering stem/upper triple clamps and number plate, open the garage and roll about 100 yards down the street into the big open field across from our house, and the trails/tracks were all yours...Some of the best days of my life were spent riding on these trails...
Kinda always bums me out when I see how much they've built on every piece of available land in the county. Now I have to trailer my bike 45 minutes - 1.5 hours away if I want to get any riding in...Oh well -- still, I'm grateful for the childhood/teen memories I have of riding with my pals. Great time to be alive back then!
Did you guys know Mike Farmer or Mitch Owen? Mike is still blazing fast and racing today.
I loved pounding out laps at the dust bowl in Glen Bernie in those 2 feet deep sand woops and crazy hot temps.
Did either of you ever ride at MD City off of Brock Bridge RD? I lived right there and started riding there in 1976. We also rode in Mock Field the land where Meade had their mock wars. There was a old road under the parkway into it from MD City and we could ride all the way over to Odenton and the RR tracks you are taking about. And yes it is a federal offense if you get caught riding there …. And I did. 😆
I never got to know anyone at the races since I was shy, went to the races alone and my racing career was short lived. When I was brand new to the B class I broke my wrist on a Saturday before a Budds Creek race while practicing in the Beltsville pits near Briggs Chaney and Old Gunpowder Rds. The injury setback, girls, cars, school, jobs and more girls derailed the racing. I bought my VR250 from Heyser from Bob Burrows, a neighbor who was a salesman there. Memory says that I paid $1,700 new off the showroom floor. I believe that his brother Al whom we kids called crazy Albert also worked at Heyser?
The trophies in the photo were 1st, 2nd and 3rd all from the 250 C class at Budds Creek. I took 1st after a guy ahead of me lost one of his rear shocks in the last lap. I don't know his name but his dad was there in a Winnebago. I wonder if anyone on here may remember that or who it was? The 3rd place was in an inaugural Turkey Weekend Classic or some such Thanksgiving weekend name? I was a mid-packer in a few B class race(s) before I broke my wrist.
I grew up in Landover Hills MD riding gravel pits that we called Phantom Hill at the Beltway and Rt. 50 what is now the New Carrollton Metro Station. We rode Contee Pits quite a bit and inside the Beltway where the Greenbelt Metro Station parking lot is now. My friends dad, Curtice Wink frequently took us over to ride at the Tyson Pits that is now Tysons II. I remember that the only thing there was The Holiday Inn and AT&T tower on top of the hill.
I have continued riding street bikes my entire life and currently live in Purcellville, VA. This July I did a 13 day, 8 country European Tour riding 34 mountain passes in the Alps and Dolomites.
Post a reply to: old Maryland photos