Your Collection: 1978 USGP Mid Ohio
Tuesday, June 5, 2012 | 10:55 AM
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PrintThis weeks collection comes to us from Neal Davis in Ohio.
A few items I found while cleaning; a ticket stub from the 1978 USGP at Mid Ohio, a few old school photos -- one is of Gaston Rahier in the Suzuki Pits, one is of Akira Watanabe coming over the jump, and the last is one of the two 125 starts. Also some old school rider promo photos. One from Broc Glover autographed and the other from Honda rider Warren Reid also autographed. On the back of each are some notable autographs include Bob Hannah,Tony D and Gaston Rahier.
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Great old photos, I thought nobody but me knew who Gaston was. I barrowed a set of Heckle boots, and won w/ em,....always have a spot in my heart,.....Thanks for sharing. Those in my opionion were the heydays of motocross, everyone had a bike (rm 125- $999.00 out the door),...the gate was packed, w/ bikes. Old geezers veiw.
I live just a few miles from the old track, but back in the day, I lived near Akron. Have some great memories of watching Marty Smith and the boys go at it. Always hated to race there though, it was super hard pack for Ohio and I think they used calcium for dusk control. If it got muddy, it was like grease! And if it dried on your bike, it was like epoxy the next day! I always loved the mud, but that soil was from a different planet!
@ Mr-MX
If you are at Red Bud either at the night track or up on the pro track Fri or Sun
come up and intro yourself. Early Early Sat morning around 8:00 would also
work before we get busy in the tower.
Good stuff, raced there for Lorenz Offner in '77. LOP for you young guys. Great fun
track and the fans were nuts. There was a hill where all the party folks would blitz
it and I remember bikes, tool boxes, etc falling out of the back of their pick ups. I think I was about the only straight person there.
I was there and loved it! Gaston Rahier was awesome with the fans. I also remember the damn squirrels eating thru our tupperware container to nab my mom's blackberry cupcakes. I was ticked cause back then for some reason ( :0 ), I always had the munchies....................
Went to the Mid Ohio 125 USGP and Trans USA back in 81,still have the dirt shirts t-shirt.hose were epic parties.ot to race there when it re-opened around 86-87.I remember breaking in my new 87 KX250 up on the hill on sat. and racing it on sun.There was this real heavy dude named Jeff Hillis (I think),he rode older bikes and was fast as hell.He would also show up at some indoors and do well.Gave my buddy Billybob fits.
It would be great to look at the whole picture, but I can't look at the right half of any of them due to the stinkin' ad.
@ MR-MX
I grew up in Elkhart, IN. and the Team Honda and the Team Suz team used to
stay here. They worked out of Cycle Rama. A good friend of mine Merle Anderson
was the Honda mechanic for Tripes/Karsmaker/Pomeroy/Reid. He met a gal here in
Elkhart and married her. They own a bar called Pete's Tavern. Turner, Jon R, Keith McCarthy, Rocky (deaf mech for Ron Turner) all part of the gang. Next month
Tripes and a couple of other guys are staying here as they are going to Sunset Ridge for Vintage event.
Good stuff...stop up in the tower next month and say Hi.
@Mr-MX
Thanks for the link...Honda of Michiana was the South Bend store, sister
store of Cycle Rama. Man, we used to have XR 75 races out back of Cycle
Rama. I parked DeCoster one time and He just laughed...
SEE YA AT REDDBUDDDDD!!
@ Larry Whitmore,... This is a long shot , but maybe ya could help. I raced dist, 14, ,..and dist 12 a lil (Delta) back in the late 70's. LOP jersey and a few parts, no sponsor . Question,,,The Max Moore memorial day race 1978 I was 5th in the 250b 100 degrees, I was 15 yrs old. I'm now 50 and that was the best race day of my life (cant say best can I) Allthough I had won before,(not red bud)...this race was earned. Is there anyway I could pay to get a replica of the Max Moore memorial plaques that were givin that day? Im not very computer savy so...dunno if i should post my e mail on the board.
@Joe
Max was my best friend...really tough to deal with still. I have two of the plaques
and they aren't in the best of shape. I will give you one of them if you want. See
me at Red Bud and give me your full address and can UPS it to you. Just pay for
shipping.
@ Mr-MX thanks for the earlier email about the '84 Nationals. Go into the RacerX
vault and I went 17/11 that 100 degree Sunday at Red Bud. That kicked my butt.
I remember that day well, got the second moto holeshot and held off Ron Lechien
for three laps for third. He had enough and parked my butt and looked back at me
on the ground and told me I was number one. I still laugh about it, but wished could
have done a top five finish. Got up but clutch lever broke and gave it everything I had
to card 11th. Fun stuff, though!
hope the photos brought back some good memories..i know it did for me when i found them...that was one of the most memorable times of my life...hope everyone enjoys....neal davis
Larry thank you sir!, please hang onto 1 ,it would mean alot to get it back. Even if its a replica.Wife and I plan to come to red bud from northern ontario, I married a canadian. Papers still not complete, hope to be there. Loved the whole Richie family Gene was a grin w/ his goggles on, rootin like hell for me,....I came in and said " who's the crazy guy w/ the googles on standing by the ski jump??"" Folks laughed and said "he owns the place"....always a grin. 102 hirshhorn ave Elliot lake ont, p5a 1p4 Nobody wants my idenity I doubt ;) Ill be glad to pay whatever the cost. ty larry.
steve B.
TY neil for posting the memorys....special times.
@Mr-Mx wrote
i went to throttle jockeys website and clicked on contacts there is a email adress where to send your collection to...hope this helps...neal
@Mr-MX Max was on his way to Coldwater, MI in his Pinto along with his
two '78 YZ 250's on the holsclaw trailer. Was late and tried to pass a car. Hit a dump truck head on....ironically the driver of the dump truck was a m/c road guy.
The dump truck was parked next to Max's Pinto the prior day at the shop. Max is related to the Akin Family.
Oh, yes Dave Hollis #54 and I had many a heated battle. Denny Bentley was
so smooth and talented. I think He is working at a car dealership in the Detroit area. Thanks for the kind words...I have been very fortunate racing.
@Joe if you are coming to Red Bud for National come see me in the tower.
my email is: [email protected]
Ty Larry. Max musta been otw to Branch county compition club. I raced there alot, (from reading) Won a few there 125 b. Denny bentley was the class of the A's. Hilgendorf, Horrocks, Matt crown, Alan King, Mark Hinkle, 47 Bigelow bros'. Lisa Akin , scott Hinkle, Spreeman, Surwall,.....Hicks... The mafia.