Bench Racing Ammo: Five Straight Hurricanes
Thursday, July 7, 2011 | 3:00 PM
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PrintThe Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship just completed a four-weekend stretch before taking a break this weekend. Four-straight doesn't sound like much compared to a supercross string that can often run as many as 14-straight weeks, but we all know the outdoor series can be much more grueling on bodies, bikes, and teams.
In fact, the AMA record book shows that four-straight weekends is pretty much the limit, as we had to dig way, way, back to find a season that featured five-straight weekends with an AMA National Motocross race. And fittingly, the man who enjoyed that stretch best was one of the toughest riders to ever swing a leg over a bike.
In '78, the 250 series visited Hangtown in Plymouth, California on April 9th, Trabuco Canyon, California on April 16th, Houston, Texas on April 23rd, Hermen, Nebraska on April 30th and Southwick, Masachussets on May 7th. That's five weekends in a row. And here's the thing: Bob "Hurricane" Hannah won all five rounds! You think the competition was feeling burned out after that stretch?
Hannah won every race during a record five-week stretch in 1978.
By the way, the beatings would continue. After an off weekend, the next race was a supercross in New Orleans on May 20th. Hannah won that. Then came another national at Lake Whitney, Texas on May 28th. And Hannah won that!
The 125s also raced five-straight in '78. Broc Glover won three of the races, and Mark Barnett won two.
There have been some other tough stretches for the sport, such as when supercross and motocross overlapped during the months of May and June, sending the teams scrambling between a motocross one weekend and a supercross the next. But that's another topic for another day....
So we've gone 33 years since the riders have had to endure five-straight motocross weekends, and chances are we'll probably never see a stretch like that again. The riders and teams who are off this weekend certainly hope so!
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Just had to post first so no stupid HOLESHOT thing....
By the way... I have that Yamaha poster. And is that Moates taking a nap?
1st.
3rd.
Justin Barcia - Bob Hannah's illegitimate son
I don't think Moates was riding LOP in 1978. It was 1980. I could be wrong.
Yea, The Moates thing was a guess. It's the beanie he has on. Moates was the only guy I've seen that would pull a 1/2 inch thick beanie over a Blake Wharton hair-do after two motos in the summer time.
Great guy though...
Those who decline (or disparage) the holeshot abdicate it to 2nd place, therefore, First is 1st! Congratulations!
Moates was a cave dweller............R.I.P. brother.
Can't really tell who that is takin a nap,but that's "Jammin Jimmy" beside him! That guy behind Hannah in those ole "Moto Fox" pants looks familiar but can't put a name on the face. Those were the days--no rich kid-spoiled brat racers--just guys who loved to race !!
I love the holeshot!!
One thing you forgot to mention about Hannah at Hangtown in 1978: He beat 'em so bad that he lapped up to 2ND PLACE! I think Carmichael is the only other racer to have done that in national competition. Anyone else...?
No disrespect to RC, but he did it when it was muddy and easier to gap people. Hannah lapped up to 2nd on a dry track when lap times will be closer. Both amazing accomplishments, but Hannah's is more amazing given track conditions.
moto x fox pants guy behind hannah is one of the Bigelows (Kris maybe). believe that pic was taken in like kansas or one of the midwest states.
Hanna did it when there were far few professional athletes.
RC did it in a much more competitive era.
RC is THE man and will be forever.
Different eras, but I will say motocross was HUGE in the'70s. It seems like there were many more riders at local races compared to today. Modern racers might have more resources, but those older riders were pushing the limits of the day every bit as much as the current group.
CR500AF... Hannah's accomplishment is not to be compared to RC... In is days, there were 2 motos of 45 mns plus 2.... And the MX & SX season were not separated.
And I am sure, the bikes of those days are not like the bikes of today... Tried once a CR250 of 1980... Shit my pants... Scary thing to ride...
rode RM's in 1978.....hated BOB back then on his YZ'S........turns out 33 yrs later, wish we had 30 bob hannahas. Yes Marty moates did ride for L.O.P. back then....i used to get porcupine head, few other things from LOP....shattered shoulder at Delta, and they had to cut my LOP jersey off, I was more bummed about that at the time laying on the infield,,,,1978.
watched hannah almost lap 2nd place howerton,hangtown78 on a 250,on a rough ass sand track ,his first full year on a 250 outdoors..if you saw him its no surprise he won that much,, oh and yes, the comp was still very tough, and 45 min motos......hangtown 78 the guy was pinned and still pushing at the end of 45 min moto..pushed just like ricky, all the way to the end,and didnt take shit from anybody, no doubt the 2 best outdoor riders..out of many greats.
Totally agree with the Barcia / Hannah thing.
Hey Cmac,
You could say the same thing about Stanton and it doesn't matter.
Those were all the top Pros for that era and Hannah was the king, just like R.C.
or R.J... Professional athletes, you got to be a joke or on crack!
I think they could have all 12 rounds in a row on the perfect seasons and RC would have still done it. At worst, he'd still have more than five weeks in a row. No way of ever knowing. I guess why they call it bench racing.
Hannah use to run 10 miles a day and do 2 45 minute motos - - - a few years later only Bailey, O'Mara, & Barnett trained like that. The Hurricane said he wanted to win so bad, that the training and racing was simple for him, because he knew nobody else was doing that kind of work. Later on, O'Mara trained a chubby RC, and the rest is history.....
Seen bob indoors and out, the things that sticks in my head,pontiac 1978...WFO thru 5 ft deep whoops, gets bucked off halfway through ,(still hanging onto the bars) takes 2 -3 strides, somehow hopped back in the saddle,,,,never let off the gas. Nope.....dunno how. Hard to say how an RC vs Bob would go. We will never know.