That 70's show

[Fred T]

Hey for all you people old enough to not be in diapers in the 70's who was your favorite MX racer back then 1970-1979?
1. Brad Lackey
2. Jim Weinert?
3. Marty Smith?
4. Bob Hannah
5. Marty Tripes?
6. Jeff Ward?
7. Gary Bailey?
. Others?????


I liked most of these guys, but had a chance to spend some time once with Brad Lackey and Jim Weinert at Daytona, after they whipped snot in the 250 and open class on Saturday they stood on top of the converted motorhome from a Buss with us to watch the 200! I was pissin my pants!

 

[UPSMAN]

I worshiped Marty Smith, i even had the Team Honda helmet like he wore and everything, i liked Hannah to but he was really the guy who displaced Marty Smith so i had a hard time with that.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by UPSMAN
I worshiped Marty Smith, i even had the Team Honda helmet like he wore and everything, i liked Hannah to but he was really the guy who displaced Marty Smith so i had a hard time with that.

That pretty much sums it up for me, too.

 

[MotoEnduro]

I always liked Roger DeCoster, and Jim Weinert too. I even decorated my first helmet (white Bell Moto I orII ? with the snap on visor) to look like Jims helmet - one stripe of green electrical tape and one stripe of blue:)

 

[duke]

In terms of riding style, Marty Tripes. Hell, if that guy had hired a personal trainer and really lost some weight, he would have been a multi time national champ. Even while rotund, he had the ability to ride both motos while always standing on the pegs, even in the apex's. However, Marty Smith had the allure that comes from those fabled tales of the all American teenager who got discovered, went to Hollywood and became a star. Hannah burst that bubble. The rest were after thoughts in terms of really leaving an impression on the minds of what are now midle aged riders. If you stand around poeple of say 40-45 and discuss racing from the seventies, Hannah and Smith are always brought up. For Lackey, his accomplishments in Europe came at a time when the Yanks were begginning to beat the Euros and thus the impact his winning made, was less then were it to have occured say 3 years sooner. He almost did it in 79, with what a runner up? Oh, another example in terms of smooth, effortless riding, Gaylon Mosier and Arnie Nils Nilson. It was a case of the bikes holding them back a bit I surmise.

Bill

 

[Zee]

Decoster was my favorite, but I never tired of watching "Rocket" Rex Staten, and Hannah outdoors. They always seemed to be riding on the ragged edge. Indoors, Tony D., Weinert, Jim Ellis (on the Can Am no less!!) were always exciting to watch. Ahhhh the memories.......

 

[dirt bike dave]

Jeff Ward is my all-time favorite, but since he was racing minis most of the '70s and didn't get his first big bike championship until '84, I think he should be on the '80s list.

For the '70's riders, I'll go with Lackey as my favorite, but there are so many greats, such as Pomeroy.

Another guy from the late '70s to mid '80s that I loved to watch was Danny 'Magoo' Chandler.

 

[Senior KX Rider]

Always liked Bad Brad but my hero was the man..... Roger:cool: :cool:

 

[Okiewan]

3. Marty Smith

My first MX Hero. Lexington, Ohio, Mid-Ohio Motocross Park, 125 USGP Winner, 75 & 76. Pokie & I were there :)

 

[thermal]

BoB let it all hang out! Ya know....the hurricane.

 

[VintageDirt]

DeCoster is the man. But nobody tried harder than Falta. And nobody achieved more, with less (in terms of equipment) than Falta. Thanks to a Russian protest at the Swedish GP, Falta only got to enjoy his 1974 250 world championship for two hours. Falta also won the 3rd superbowl of motocross at a time when nothing was trick about a CZ. So you should add Jaroslav Falta to the list so I can vote for him.:)

 

[thermal]

I forgot all about Brad. What's he up to these days?

 

[VintageDirt]

Originally posted by thermal
I forgot all about Brad. What's he up to these days?

http://www.bradlackey.com/

 

[thermal]

Thanks, that Brad looks like one cool dude.

 

[VintageDirt]

Bad Brad at last years Vintage Days West (AHRMA national at Sears Point) Open face helmet and sunglasses.:cool:

 

[BEEF706]

Loved Bad Brad and Pomeroy, but Hannah was my fave, as the pilots say "all stick and no forehead" . He seems to have gotten a little bitter lately, if you watched the YROC the last two years.:) Fun thread.

 

[BCR-Bob]

I would have to say Roger D. Didn't Gaylon Mosier (sp?) ride for Suzuki (RM125) in the World Championships?

 

[XRpredator]

one word:

Hurricane

 

[Unknown Ctrl]

cmon guys....what about one of the fastes guys out there on a Husky....Chuck Sun..

 

[dirt bike dave]

Originally posted by BCR-Bob
[B Didn't Gaylon Mosier (sp?) ride for Suzuki (RM125) in the World Championships? [/B]

I think you are thinking of Belgium's Gaston Rahier, who won the first three 125 world champsionships on a works Suzuki. He later went on to win Paris Dakar a few times on a BMW.

Gaylon Mosier was a rider on the AMA circuit for Wheelsmith Maico before joining factory Kawasaki. He was tragically killed as he was hit by a car while riding a bicycle during training.

 

[dirt bike dave]

Here is a link to an AMA list of all the winners of AMA MX and SX nationals. Each rider's name brings up a list of their victories.

http://www.amaproracing.com/archive/00sxmx/RIDERS/WINSXRID/WINXRIDE.HTM

If you are talking fast Husky riders from the '70's, you have to include Kent Howerton.

 

[KXKen]

Hannah was my favorite but after reading some of the more recent interviews with him I ashamed to admit that I ever liked him at all. Here's a few Hannah quotes from 6/99 MXA.

On MC

"He picked a good time to win because he's racing a bunch of morons"
"These riders aren't tired of hearing about MC. They aren't jealous of MC. That is sad I would hate MC if I was racing against him"

IMO this is not a good example for young riders that are reading this stuff.

Bob I think your the one that's a moron.

 

[duke]

Wes Baca was right, I forgot about the REAL world champ of '74. Falta continued to win GP's well into the later seventies on out dated CZ's. Granted these were behind the Iron Curtain, but nonetheless he won them. He also earned decent GP points in western rounds as well. he would have been the world champ if he were equipped aboard something a bit more modern. As for Husky lovers, Mike Guerra won the Spanish GP in 82 on an air colled, dual shock Husky

 

[Heywood]

Some of my favorites.......

David Bailey
Magoo
Lechien
Meyerscough
Lackey

Roger D
Ake Jonson
Carla (Hakan Carlqvist)
Joel Robert

I couldn't count how many times I read Ake Jonsson's Book the Technique of Motocross when I was a kid. Anyone remenber this one?

The Technique of Motocross