by Nick McCabe
Where Are They Now: Darrell Shultz
Tuesday, March 1, 2011 | 9:45 AM
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This week we’re checking in with former factory Honda and Suzuki rider Darrell Shultz, who raced professionally from 1977-1982 and was known for both his blazing speed and a string of injuries. He grew up in Northern California along with Danny “Magoo” Chandler in the 1970s and was able to win the 1982 AMA 500cc Outdoor National Championship.
Racer X: Hey, Darrell, what’s going on?
Darrell Shultz: Not too much! Just getting organized to move from Idaho down to Austin, Texas. We’re in the middle of packing and trying to get things dialed in.
I thought you were a NorCal guy!
[Laughs] I was! But I moved out here to Idaho in 2000 or so, back when I started working in the trades and doing drywall. I’ve been here since, just working and doing some camping and dual-sport riding. My knee is still pretty much junk, so it’s tough to do any serious moto, though. I got a few job offers down in Austin, and it seems like a real nice place to live, so now we’re packing!
Going back to your racing days, how did you get your start in the sport?
My dad started out racing in scrambles and desert events and eventually moved over to motocross. I grew up riding with him, and basically, it got me out of going to church on Sunday [laughs]. We lived over in the Sacramento area, and there was a pretty good riding scene. I think I was around 15 years old or so when I did my first race, and I got hooked real quick. But right away, the injuries started. I had two full-blown knee reconstructions before I ever turned pro and while I was a teenager.
Shultz was a former factory Suzuki rider.
When did you turn pro, how was the transition from the local races to the big time?
I moved up and rode as a Maico privateer in 1978 in the 500cc class, and we did all the big races. My big breakthrough was winning my class at the Trans-Am race in NorCal, along with Magoo [Danny Chandler]. I signed with Suzuki during the off-season. It was a two-year deal, but right away I had some more injuries and was basically hurt for those two years.... Looking back, man, it was nothing but injures, hospitals, missed races, and tough times for me after I turned pro. Finally, in ’81, which was my third year with Suzuki, I started getting results. I won the Daytona Supercross, and at the end of the year I had three overall wins and managed to finish the Trans-Am series in third overall. All of a sudden, Team Honda came calling.
After everything you were dealing with, were you surprised to get that call?
Oh, for sure. Honda was the dream team. The factory red bikes were just amazing, way better than anything I had before. I singed with Honda for ’82 and was feeling good. Right out of the gate, I was leading the supercross series in points and once again won the Daytona Supercross. I thought I was going to win the supercross championship, but then, halfway through the supercross season, I blew my knee out, and it wasn’t good. I sat out the remainder of supercross and hoped to be ready when the 500 nationals kicked off. Well, the series started and I was still banged up and out of shape. I basically was getting my knee drained every few days and sitting on the couch. But I went for it and somehow managed to win the first three races, which gave me a huge points lead. But then one day I decided to go riding. I was staying at my house in Santa Cruz, and I went with my mechanic, Chris Haines, to a local track. Because my knee was all jacked up, I rode a little strange and was just compensating for the bad knee. Somehow I had a freak little deal and basically collapsed my lung. I blew it off at first and said I was fine. Racers can withstand some serious pain, but after two days, I couldn’t breathe and went to the hospital. They admitted me on the spot and stuck a metal tube into my chest so I could breathe and told me it was serious.
Shultz is a former Daytona Supercross winner.
Photo: Courtesy of Suzuki
So while you were in the middle of leading the points in the 500cc nationals, you find yourself laying in a hospital bed with a trashed knee, collapsed lung, and some gnarly metal tube hooked up to your chest. How on earth did you mange to win that championship?
Well, after a few days in the hospital, my father showed up and told me to get out of bed. I pointed out the metal tube that was stuck in my lung and the big breathing machine that was beside my bed. He told me that I had a huge points lead and that this was pretty much my only shot at a championship. Somehow, I knew he was right. So we talked to the doctor, and although he was against it, he basically said that as long as I didn’t crash, and as long as I didn’t get winded, I could ride around and be okay. So we unplugged the metal tube, covered it with tape, and flew to Washougal.
What happened at Washougal?
Not much, actually! They put this big strap around my chest and cinched it up real tight for pressure. I went out and raced both motos, finishing around the top ten. I made sure I didn’t crash and didn’t get winded, just like the doctor told me. The next and final race was at Carlsbad, and I only had to score some points in the first moto to get the championship, so it was the same thing. I just went out and rode around just inside the top ten. With that, I won the 1982 500cc championship.
I understand that after you won that championship, you didn’t really race again.
I went out and had three more knee surgeries over a six-month period, and that was it. I was just done. I had been riding injured for so long and was just tired of compensating in everything that I was doing.
How was it when you stepped away from the sport?
Horrible. It was the worst time of my life. I wasn’t ready to quit. I finally got to the top of the sport and it was over before I knew it. Once I realized I was never even going to get to ride with my #1 plate, I fell to pieces. Nothing in life seemed worth anything to me, and I basically just got lost in partying, for years, I guess trying to just forget about it. I went through a bunch of car crashes, DUIs, and the normal stuff that happens when you’re doing that stuff. It was five or ten really dark years there. I also blew pretty much all of my money, with the exception of some that my father hid once he saw what was going on. Basically, I think, the same effort and dedication I put into racing, I somehow channeled into partying. I don’t know what the deal was—maybe I was trying to get onto the next life or whatever, but I made it through some tough times there.
Shultz and his wife Cheri on a recent visit to Pearl Harbor.
How did you get yourself sorted out?
Sometime around 1989 or 1990, my dad told to come up to the north coast and learn the trades with him. He told me I needed to get my life sorted out and get on a good path. We starting building some houses and doing some construction up in Humboldt County. Once I got sorted out and he retired, I moved to Idaho about eleven years ago and just got things going out there. I’ve been doing primarily drywall contracting.
So what’s up with the move to Austin?
Construction dried up here about four years ago. I had done well, though. We had a bunch of houses, an RV, and at one time a crew of twenty-six workers, and 2005 and 2006 were really good years for us. I was making some good money—in fact, way more than when I was racing. But with the economy in recent years, it turned around on us. I kept thinking construction would turn around, but it didn’t. Slowly, I had to let my workers go as things dried up. I picked up some easy riding again and started doing a lot of camping with my extra time.
But regardless, it was good to get a taste of the money again. When I was younger, it came and went so quick, it was crazy. When I was racing, I had three houses and five cars. By the time 2005 came around, we had six properties and all the cars, but now we sold them off to stay afloat. We’re okay, but after a number of years with little to no work, things started getting thin, so off we go.
What about your personal life? Are you married?
I’ve been married for Cheri for a number of years, and we have three kids. Our son Phil is 14 and we have two older daughters, Amanda [21] and my daughter Chelsea [24]. Chelsea is going to school in Santa Barbara. We ride as a family and do a lot of camping together. We have a good time together.
Darrell riding bicycles with children Chelsea and Phil.
Do you still follow the sport?
Oh, yeah, absolutely. Its awesome right now—with three or four guys that can win, the races are great. I normally watch every race. I also still stay in touch with Goat Breker and Larry Wosic—those are my closest guys. We ran around together when we were factory guys, and we’re still tight.
Well, thanks for your time, Darrell. Good luck in Austin—hopefully you can find some good dual-sport riding out there in the hill country!
Thanks. One thing I want to note: I don’t have any regrets on my career. Nothing at all. I’ve got one more good moto left in me and then it’s time to retire, so we’ll see if I can do it again before it’s time to hang it up!
Have a rider you’re wondering about? Drop us a line at [email protected].
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Great story and great recovery. Way to pick up the pieces and make something happen. There are probably a whole lot of college b/f-ball players that could benefit from your story too.
Great read. Always wondered what the Shu was doing nowadays. Anyone remember that promo video peter Starr made for Honda on his daytona SX win.
Hope everything works out for him in Texas.
Wow,
Gret to see an update on the Shu.
He was an absolute brut on a bike.
I remember him reading about Carlsbad and how he just did what he had to do to win the title, then 83 rolls around and he drops off the map.
He had pig ligimants or cartalidge or something like that put in.
Maybe with today's fixs he would have been back racing in another year or two.
He had the drive and discipline to be a multi time champion.
Just didn't have the knees.
Shu aint scared, I still have the documentary recorded by Peter Star I gotta seee if I can find it! It was a good storey. Yes Ive been around the sport since the early 70's. It has been quite a ride. Many good times lots of injuries What the medical profesion can now do is so pale to what they did back then. sorry for the typos, arthritis is hell on your body. lol
I stil remember watching the USGP @ Carlsbad on ABC one year, he was leading the moto when the rear started swapping down a fast downhill. He got launched into the fans standing on the side of the track and either his body or the bike hit some chick just standing their. Nasty get off!
One of my childhood hero's, Been along time and i still have my magazines with ya in it from "back in the day"... I am 40 now and still race at HoneyLakemx ( Larry Wosick) of course...Good to see ya around and the family looks great!
Welker, you beat me to it... Shu ain't scared!!!!!
Darrell
Great to see you are doing good! all we do out here in No Cal Sactown now is Fish my Brother, Dave Loncor wants to go out in the bay soon so I will be fishing and talking old times. Darrel how is your dad is he still alive?Those were the days at Dixon and Hellvetia The Dutchmen passed away a year or so ago anyway you look good! Good luck in Texas Bro!!!
Marty
Shop talk with Jan Hauterman a few years ago,said you was the toughest rider,he ever worked for,and he had alot of great riders. The training @ riding was 110%.Many stories followed.Actually,use to bet beers on your races with Magoo at Plymouth.Man those where something to watch and I always said you had the best seat in the house watching what Danny was going to do next to win a moto if you wasn't leading . Saw your great race at USGP Carlsbad.You and Magoo showed the world,your toughness@talent
Hey endoman, second place is the first looser lol, I get tired of these young uns and think they know racing. I had to laugh it was a long time ago when Short was suprised to se DeCoster in the machine shop at KTM how many people know that Roger has a Mechanical Engineering degree? After all, was it Adolf Weil or Hans Mash beat DeCoster in the GP's after moving his shocks up that DeCoster wrote in MXA that he stayed up all night moving his shocks up? Well I did it on my silver tank YZ the next week and blew emaway also. Back then I was lucky enough that I was working at a major race shop. I built a Silver tanked yz ya know with the straps a 125 chrome bore that could beat the fabled Hondas LOL
Hey Shu: If you read this call me. I still live in Fortuna and would love to talk to you. Great story! I'm in the book. Good luck on the Texas move.
I never saw the guy race but this was a very interesting story. He has been through it all in the sport it seems, good to see he is doing good these days. Way to go!!!
Man, a punctured lung, a hinge for a knee and a championship. Makes turf toe and anything in World Cup Soccer seem like an accident in Candy Land.
Its amazing to see Darrell look that good,he's gotta be 50ish? He looks like he's 35. See what good shape motocross leaves you in.
The story at the time was there was a doctor at the track to re-inflate Shu's lung, if necessary. Never knew if that was true or not.
ama vintage motorcycle days you get a shot at a championship at this event i think they have a class for that 1982 cr500 shu ain't scared!!! intersted
Excellent read RX!!!! Good to see Shu doing well, Him and brother Dean are LEGENDS of the Nor Cal racing scene!
Great interview. These interviews, updates are excellent . Well done.
the good ole daze,,,I have some killer pix of magoo and shultz at the sears point trans cal.
it was a great day for us nor calers. to bad they did'nt have the medical techno back then.
bob hannah did'nt have shit on those 2 that day. they got their dream jobs by winning that day and we as norcal fans got our moneys worth.A BIG THANX TO RX for bringin back some real history.
I can remember watching darrell at Plymouth on a Bultaco wide open bouncing off a tree! bad ass dude! I remember when you and Wosick got busted for sneaking your corvettes on the track at sears point. good shit there.
Shu... You look great and I know you will have no problem making a good life in Texas. I just hope we can get together and catch up before we are too old.. Hopefully some of these young guys, that are hero's, can learn from what you have gone through. Tough sport!
Peck
Really enjoyed the article and comments! WOW!! 30 years go by in the blink of an eye, it was all good tho! Low moment was walking in the hospital room in Santa Cruz on thursday and seeing a square tube the size of a pencil inserted in Darrells chest. It went behind his lung and evacuated the cavity so his lung could reinflate . The Doc, bless his soul aggreed to remove the tube, I know he didn't think we were serious about racing SUNDAY. Next we had to convince AMERICAN HONDA to allow Darrell to race , they manned up, and also provided the support Darrell needed at the track , Big thanks to mech. CHRIS HAINES also. High moment was putting that champion's tee shirt on. Once a champ always a champ.
Proud Dad ORV
Thank you to Racer X for giving moto fans around the world an update on Darrell, one of the true legends of motocross in the USA.
Darrell is a straight shooter, honest to the core, no nonsense guy, and what a treasure to moto he was.
Good luck in Austin Bud, I know you'll make a success of it!
Love from the Wosick family
What a great read, very cool to bring up a fast guy from the past that you dont hear much about. I had the pleasure of meeting shu and magoo at my first national (red bud 82) as a spectator while walking the track early sunday (ahh, the good old days). They made quite the impression on this 15 year old as I couldnt believe how down to earth and laid back they were,and then to see them flying those works CR's around the track was even more impressive! So 30 years later and a few dirt bike tattoos (scars)myself, Thanks for takin the time! Good luck in TX !
Great to hear about the Legendary Darrell Schultz !
I will never forget Goat, Wardy and I bailing you out of Binghamton lock down the night before you kicked the 500cc class' ass in 1981 ! Man those were fun times:)
Tom Benolkin
I remember being at Fremont Raceway & seeing 'Dangerous' Darrell Schultz rail the outside berm on his 490 Maico & scatter the spectators with roost!
these are great articles.he is one tough sob. good luck in texas! im thinkin your the type of guy who doesnt need good luck. you will make your own!
Great to catch up on Darrell. Good luck Bro! I chased him around Saddleback and Sand Hill a couple times when he was on his Suzukis and I my Maico. Sad to hear about Jan's passing. He helped me alot back in the day. A couple other Nor Cal guys I'm curious about: Joey Schlag and Allen Berlutti... where the H are they?
Great to hear that you and your family are doing well, Darrell.
Being a Norcal, Dist. 36 mxer back in da day, I often found myself on the starting line with Darrell & Magoo & Pat Richter and a bunch of other high caliber racers. What a joke! Very hard for me to get pumped up knowing how these guys were about to roost all over me. But it was cool just being around them. I was always afraid to approach you when Mr. Jan H. was around. He was intimidating to me at the time but I later got to know him as a cool dude. The first time I saw you ride was at plymouth on a Bultaco standing up around the entire track was awsome but I liked yu best on the Maico's. If you ever want to do a Post vintage race I will put you on a good 1981 490 Maico. I would love to see it happen. Aloha & good luck!
I remember seeing awesome pics of Darrell riding a CR500R in Dirt Bike and MXA mags around '83 for a Honda ad. The ad read: "People who ride motocross should get professional help." I'll always have that pic of Darrell wearing an open-face Shoei and Scott goggles, in my mind. Man, what a great era! To me, these were the REAL racers who rode injured and took the pain like a man, and not the pussies we have nowadays who won't ride because they just have some "stomach virus" or shit like that...Anyway, I loved seeing you blasting on that Honda RC500, Darrell. Good times!
Mr. Shultz,
Hello. I heard you rode for Jan at Eurocycle on a Bultaco 125 Pursang around 1973. Jan sold me a 125 cylinder and told me it was on your racing bike during this time. My 125 Bultaco is getting it's engine serviced now and this cylinder is going on the bike.
Would like to send you a image of the bike when it is done.
It was great seeing you clinch the 500 Nationals championship at Carlsbad in 1982. The race was great to attend.
Greg Kendrick
Folsom ca.
Wow, what a great fraternity we have in our 2-wheel world. Thanks to all for the great memories. Kids, train hard and teach yourself 'mind over matter' - when I used to run I could always see Hannah 50' in front of me [man if I could have just got my hands on him]. Looking forward to chattin with everybody, time to start packing the dual-sport for spring campout with my Bro Dean. Darrell Shultz- NOR CAL
So cool to read this great interview. I forgot a lot of the scariest stuff, on purpose I think. Every one of Darrell's races were so wild I could barely breath until they were over! He was truly a gladiator. Darrell, that one more good moto is in the race of life, right, and not literal? You're scaring me....
Darrell, great to hear that you are doing well! You were tough to beat...all you NorCal Maico bastards were! I can remember many battles we all had, especially at those CMC Golden State Series races. Remember that Dirt Diggers Grand Prix at Escape Country, the one with the huge purse and everybody showed up? You and I put the hurt to all the factory guys in the first moto, "Privateer Power"! That track was soooo fast and soooooo dusty the second moto, we are lucky to be alive! Take it easy, old buddy, and I'll kick Bob Myers in the nuts for you when he stops by later today!
Your as good looking as ever, my youngest son Jonathan looks like you, a real family resemblance. It must be the Shultz (the true spelling) blood. Good reading about you!
Its so nice to see all the positive response from this article, so I can remember why my husband cant take long moonlit walks. When I first meet Darrell he had a cast on his arm from crashing, I should have known then what an adventure life with him was going to be! As always he has never disappointed.
Here is our email address, for all his old friends [email protected]
I remember Shu at the 1980 Unadilla GP. He was absolutely flying that day. Everyone was glued to the fence in practice watching him and Kent Howerton on the factory Suzuki's..
I was there that day that Darrel and Magoo won the Trans-AMA event @ Sears Point, Darrel the 500 class and Danny the 250's. I lived in Hollister most of my life, and one while heading out of town, I found a gear bag on the side of the road, turned out it was Larry Wosicks. I retruned the gear bag to his mother, when the Wosicks ran Hollister Hills Off-Road park. Susan, Larry's mother, said that Larry and Darrel had gone riding at Clear Creek and were coming home when the gear bag flew. Larry mentioned it to his mother, but thought it was gone, till I brought it to him about a week later. Now, as I service the Sac Valley rtl bike dlrs as a Road Rep, I service Jan's place: Euro Cycles, not that Jeff and Terri have it.
Hi Darrell from your cousin Deb havent seen you forever. you have a beautiful family. Hope you like it in austin. wish i could see you , hows ann and dean doing is mom and dad ok. so proud of you .Love\ deb
Darrell its good to see your doing well. i used to race in no-cal also.i watched you and magoo go at it all the time at plymouth in 77-78 it was ausom,you guys would fly on the rough sand track.the last time i saw you race was at mammoth in,i think 83 on a 250. I raced with Allen and Tony Berluti for years, I know you were good friends with Allen.....the good old days.....take care...TD.
I remember Daryl giving me ride home from Sears Point in his Indy Pace Car Vette. We passed a CHP on I80 at 130mph and were back in Sac before the cop even noticed what blew him sideways. I also remember getting surrounded at Plymouth by Orv and his 2 sons and Jann because I wasnt doing my job writing race reports for Cycle News very well. So I took some awesome photos of Daryl banging bars with Magoo and Randy Losh and Eric McKenna and Perry Klassen and got them published as a make up. And lastly, you gotta come to Sac. My house caught on fire in October and I need walls! HELP! And Alane Markham says "Hi" and I wont say no more about that except her dad would like to see you. Oh! Remember the CHP at the Oakland SX who crashed the back gate on a Suzuki 1000 cop bike wearing the Porsche design sunglasses and posing for a photo with you? I loved that picture. And that dude is still riding bikes for the CHP and gave me a ticket 2-weeks ago. And thats the truth I swear. He's a big shot now too.
Daryl Shultz, It is So wonderful to See You and Hear your Story through the Years Im glad your doing well and Happy. Your Family is Beautiful!!! Good-Luck in Texas!!!
Daryl Shultz, It is So wonderful to See You and Hear your Story through the Years Im glad your doing well and Happy. Your Family is Beautiful!!! Good-Luck in Texas!!!
Hey Shu,
This Is Your Old Best Freind Allen Berluti, I Dont Know Much About Comps But My Wife Is Trying To School Me On It, She Pulled Up This Site About You ,You & Dean Have Been In My Thoughts 4 Alot of Years, Been In Trouble A Few Times Did Some Stints In Prison But Now I Have Been Married 4 Almost 3 Years & Have A Beautiful Little Mini Me Girl Named Audra & Will Stay Out Of Trouble For Both My Girls. My God The Years Have Really Flown By Havent They, Im Still In Awsome Shape For A 52 Year Old, I Mountain Bike About 40 Miles A Day Im Still In Reno And Would Love To Hook Up And See My Best Friend And His Family. Our Racing Days Together were The Most Awsome And Best Times Of My Life But As We Grow Older We Must Try To Move Ahead And Make The Best Of What We Have Now I Sure Miss U And Dean Like You Cant Even Imagine Please Conntact Me So We Can Arrange Maybe A Reunion I Can Be Reached At [email protected] Contact Me Immediately
Your Right Hand Man
Allen Berluti