Shawn
Agree with your comments regarding Mitch and the publishers of VMX. Their publications are more about living room furniture mint motorcycles versus the pure essence of VMX/PVMX. My 1980 YZ125G is in VMX Issue #32.
The sad part is there are NO publications capturing Motocross Files type of coverage which is disappointing because this was the period which MX was pure and genuine.
Supercross is full of candy asses with the exception of a few. But still at the end of the day, we don't have forty-five (45) minute motos during the outdoor season where men are divided from boys.
As a kid, I grew up in New Orleans. We were blessed from 1973-1976 with the last National MX on the circuit. My focus was more on the 125 National with Hannah, Laporte, Smith, Glover (on a DG Honda), and others. I met all the riders during the 1973-1976 period.
One (1) of my clear memories was in 1973....ALL Suzuki mechanics were Japanese and worn pristine white jumpsuits.
Steve
Shawn
Great story, Thanks for Sharing. I was at a So. Cal track, Dead
Man`s Point when Yamaha brought out an early factory YZ (I don`t
remember the rider). It got the hole-shot on the start and walked away
from the CZ`s, Maicos and Huskys.
John
Shawn
I spent most of Friday afternoon, and night, reading your great interviews of our NW racers (as well as the National/World). I'm up again this morning reading more! you know how to ask fun/great/hard questions, and brings their independent spirit and drive out for us to learn from and, how they tick (they are a rare breed).
I look forward to more and, keep up the good work.
Larry Dunn
Shawn
Wow, I stumbled onto this website off of (I think) Eastside Motorsports' site (Bellevue, WA). As a "veteran" of the local '70's MX scene, it is a great window on my past. Also raced at Straddleline by Olympia, and Everett. Besides pictures, I have some video, including Ron Pomeroy at Startup in mid-70s. Keep it up!
Tim Schroeder
Hi Shawn
Ive got fond memorie's of all the racing that Steve Baker and Kenney, and all the other rider's, I was at the US Grand Prix at Escape Country in Cal in 72, I saw Brad lackey Win the First 500CC National Title For Kawasaki, I remember the Race Of The Year at Mallory Park yrs ago when Steve Baker ran away from the rest of the crowd on the Yamaha TZ 750, I have the video of Kenney making the harley wrecking crew angry at Indina state fairground's, When He was on the TZ 750 Flat Tracker, started last place and then come up thru the other rider's, And then Passes the Harley's on the last lap, Then rub's salt in thier wound's does that radical power wheelie down the backstretch with the chechered flag, And the crowd goes berserk, Lotsa Bike's Lotsa Memories.
Kirk Conway
Hey Shawn
I must have quit racing before you got into it , i loved the interview with gordy ochs i didnt know he was that old at the time. I rode for cliffs cycle on a dkw in 72, rode murphys new tm400 at puy crashed 3times put dents in his new tank, they hadnt lenghtened the swingarm yet,rode the protoype 360 for nw motorcycle,poulin had the 250 ive got the phoptos to prove it. i can get you pics of various tracks, is their anyway to get ahold of g ochs, id love to email him and murphy. thanks for the website, great job, i would love to have gone with those guys in 73 74 instead of welding at voctech,i jus tgot tired of the same tracks and riders, didnt relize that was the best time of my life, needed to be more outgoing like murphy, my mom would dig the mud out of his eyes instead of mine.thks.
Mike Guthrie,3c 18j, 8e 975 77
Shawn:
It is great to see that you are still around, I have most of the Bench Racers that you produced and I miss that you were unable to continue. I think what you are doing is very cool and I will put it on my calender to be there. Thank you for your enthusiasm it contagious.
Sincerely, Cliff Mee
Shawn:
Just wanted to say thank you for all you do. Just stumbled upon the Pat Jacobson interview - I am happy he is getting some recognition for the incredible racer he was and the tragic end of his racing dream. The opportunity he earned is reserved for the truly talented and dedicated racers, the injury could happen to any of us. Thank you for making Pat's story available. Former NW Racer
Sean Phillips
Shawn:
I really liked reading the story about "Steve" visiting the old Start-up track location. I was in Startup about 3 weeks ago, to purchase a tool box advertised on Craigslist, and figured...I'm 65 miles from home and this close...why not check out the old location. Funny, because I too got out of the car and walked aroung the property. I only raced there a couple times, 125 expert about 1972 or 1973, Dale Zlock and I drove up, he raced a CZ125, and I a Bultaco 125. We didnt know we were supposed to "qualify" on Saturday, as we were red plate "A" riders, and they had so many show up they ran a run what ya got pair of motos. Dale kicked everybodys ass on hi! s very trick CZ and nobody knew it was just a 125. My first visit there was for an Inter-AM race, I was barely 16 (1968?) so my mom wouldnt let me drive all the way from Tacoma. She actually took me so I could spectate the race...Torsten Hallman, Dave Bickers, Sylvain Geboers, Rolf Tiblin, I dont remember the riders, but I was in rainy heaven. I think the race was November or early December and typical Start-up weather for that time of year...Wow. I later worked at Paulsons in Tacoma, a fledgling mechanic, and Jim Pomeroy was a bike salesman there. I got to install some Curnutt shocks on the trans am bike he raced at Puyallup...later I dated his ex girlfriend for quite awhile. The parts manager at the time...Dan Zlock. I still remember the smell when you walked down the steps to the bike area in the basement....makes me glad to race VDR and H&T these days..next race..THIS WEEKEND. I am the oldest guy in the 125 evo class, race evo 100, and vintage 250 also...good work Shawn.
Robert Fish
When I was 7 or 8 years old Mike Sullivan's wife told me that my dad (Dale Franklin) was really REALLY fast. So I have to vote for him AND Mike Sullivan too. My Dad said he used to ride one of Jimmy Dunn's old bikes, so I'm voting for him also.
Thanks, Zoie
Shawn
Loved the ceremony pictures to honor Jimmy and Steve Baker. Two NW legends for sure. I had the time of my life racing MX in Washington from 1972 - 1986 before I moved away (25 years ago this month) to Atlanta. Still race vintage MX, and some road racing, been to chehalis most years I can get a bike there! But those years in Washington were amazing special times in life, and of course no one outside our circle understands how special it was back then when it was all new, advancing, and we were young. Puyallup, Motocross West, StraddleLine and of course my all time favorite Startup are names like hallowed ground to me now. What a time it was! Thanks for all you do.
Terry Gates
Agree with your comments regarding Mitch and the publishers of VMX. Their publications are more about living room furniture mint motorcycles versus the pure essence of VMX/PVMX. My 1980 YZ125G is in VMX Issue #32.
The sad part is there are NO publications capturing Motocross Files type of coverage which is disappointing because this was the period which MX was pure and genuine.
Supercross is full of candy asses with the exception of a few. But still at the end of the day, we don't have forty-five (45) minute motos during the outdoor season where men are divided from boys.
As a kid, I grew up in New Orleans. We were blessed from 1973-1976 with the last National MX on the circuit. My focus was more on the 125 National with Hannah, Laporte, Smith, Glover (on a DG Honda), and others. I met all the riders during the 1973-1976 period.
One (1) of my clear memories was in 1973....ALL Suzuki mechanics were Japanese and worn pristine white jumpsuits.
Steve
Shawn
Great story, Thanks for Sharing. I was at a So. Cal track, Dead
Man`s Point when Yamaha brought out an early factory YZ (I don`t
remember the rider). It got the hole-shot on the start and walked away
from the CZ`s, Maicos and Huskys.
John
Shawn
I spent most of Friday afternoon, and night, reading your great interviews of our NW racers (as well as the National/World). I'm up again this morning reading more! you know how to ask fun/great/hard questions, and brings their independent spirit and drive out for us to learn from and, how they tick (they are a rare breed).
I look forward to more and, keep up the good work.
Larry Dunn
Shawn
Wow, I stumbled onto this website off of (I think) Eastside Motorsports' site (Bellevue, WA). As a "veteran" of the local '70's MX scene, it is a great window on my past. Also raced at Straddleline by Olympia, and Everett. Besides pictures, I have some video, including Ron Pomeroy at Startup in mid-70s. Keep it up!
Tim Schroeder
Hi Shawn
Ive got fond memorie's of all the racing that Steve Baker and Kenney, and all the other rider's, I was at the US Grand Prix at Escape Country in Cal in 72, I saw Brad lackey Win the First 500CC National Title For Kawasaki, I remember the Race Of The Year at Mallory Park yrs ago when Steve Baker ran away from the rest of the crowd on the Yamaha TZ 750, I have the video of Kenney making the harley wrecking crew angry at Indina state fairground's, When He was on the TZ 750 Flat Tracker, started last place and then come up thru the other rider's, And then Passes the Harley's on the last lap, Then rub's salt in thier wound's does that radical power wheelie down the backstretch with the chechered flag, And the crowd goes berserk, Lotsa Bike's Lotsa Memories.
Kirk Conway
Hey Shawn
I must have quit racing before you got into it , i loved the interview with gordy ochs i didnt know he was that old at the time. I rode for cliffs cycle on a dkw in 72, rode murphys new tm400 at puy crashed 3times put dents in his new tank, they hadnt lenghtened the swingarm yet,rode the protoype 360 for nw motorcycle,poulin had the 250 ive got the phoptos to prove it. i can get you pics of various tracks, is their anyway to get ahold of g ochs, id love to email him and murphy. thanks for the website, great job, i would love to have gone with those guys in 73 74 instead of welding at voctech,i jus tgot tired of the same tracks and riders, didnt relize that was the best time of my life, needed to be more outgoing like murphy, my mom would dig the mud out of his eyes instead of mine.thks.
Mike Guthrie,3c 18j, 8e 975 77
Shawn:
It is great to see that you are still around, I have most of the Bench Racers that you produced and I miss that you were unable to continue. I think what you are doing is very cool and I will put it on my calender to be there. Thank you for your enthusiasm it contagious.
Sincerely, Cliff Mee
Shawn:
Just wanted to say thank you for all you do. Just stumbled upon the Pat Jacobson interview - I am happy he is getting some recognition for the incredible racer he was and the tragic end of his racing dream. The opportunity he earned is reserved for the truly talented and dedicated racers, the injury could happen to any of us. Thank you for making Pat's story available. Former NW Racer
Sean Phillips
Shawn:
I really liked reading the story about "Steve" visiting the old Start-up track location. I was in Startup about 3 weeks ago, to purchase a tool box advertised on Craigslist, and figured...I'm 65 miles from home and this close...why not check out the old location. Funny, because I too got out of the car and walked aroung the property. I only raced there a couple times, 125 expert about 1972 or 1973, Dale Zlock and I drove up, he raced a CZ125, and I a Bultaco 125. We didnt know we were supposed to "qualify" on Saturday, as we were red plate "A" riders, and they had so many show up they ran a run what ya got pair of motos. Dale kicked everybodys ass on hi! s very trick CZ and nobody knew it was just a 125. My first visit there was for an Inter-AM race, I was barely 16 (1968?) so my mom wouldnt let me drive all the way from Tacoma. She actually took me so I could spectate the race...Torsten Hallman, Dave Bickers, Sylvain Geboers, Rolf Tiblin, I dont remember the riders, but I was in rainy heaven. I think the race was November or early December and typical Start-up weather for that time of year...Wow. I later worked at Paulsons in Tacoma, a fledgling mechanic, and Jim Pomeroy was a bike salesman there. I got to install some Curnutt shocks on the trans am bike he raced at Puyallup...later I dated his ex girlfriend for quite awhile. The parts manager at the time...Dan Zlock. I still remember the smell when you walked down the steps to the bike area in the basement....makes me glad to race VDR and H&T these days..next race..THIS WEEKEND. I am the oldest guy in the 125 evo class, race evo 100, and vintage 250 also...good work Shawn.
Robert Fish
When I was 7 or 8 years old Mike Sullivan's wife told me that my dad (Dale Franklin) was really REALLY fast. So I have to vote for him AND Mike Sullivan too. My Dad said he used to ride one of Jimmy Dunn's old bikes, so I'm voting for him also.
Thanks, Zoie
Shawn
Loved the ceremony pictures to honor Jimmy and Steve Baker. Two NW legends for sure. I had the time of my life racing MX in Washington from 1972 - 1986 before I moved away (25 years ago this month) to Atlanta. Still race vintage MX, and some road racing, been to chehalis most years I can get a bike there! But those years in Washington were amazing special times in life, and of course no one outside our circle understands how special it was back then when it was all new, advancing, and we were young. Puyallup, Motocross West, StraddleLine and of course my all time favorite Startup are names like hallowed ground to me now. What a time it was! Thanks for all you do.
Terry Gates
