by Andy Bowyer
Rev Up: Unadilla
Thursday, August 16, 2012 | 12:30 PM
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PrintHello, everyone, and welcome to the Rev Up. It's a great time to be a motocross fan, folks. Last week's event at Southwick was a shot in the arm after the break, and my, my, my what a show she was! Chocked full of stories, championship drama, and intense racing, it's been a long time since I can remember being that geeked out. From John Dowd grabbing a top ten in moto 1 (which I'm not sure says more about him or less about everybody else. Ahem, he's 47), to Zach Bell yanking the holeshot of his life, to Dungey knocking a gas cap off and having to pit, to the back and forth crossover passes between Blake Baggett and Ken Roczen...
Touchdown. Scoreboard. What a freaking good day of racing. Hell, DC was running around the infield like a kid snapping instagram shots. I think the inner motocross child in all of us was dancing last weekend. I know mine was, and I'm still jazzed about it.
Now Unadilla. Ho, ho. I've been lucky to see more motocross tracks than probably 90 percent of you reading this, but the one that I always thought about like it was legend was Unadilla. I remember “taping” the Unadilla USGP's back in the early 80's and just wearing the VHS's out rewinding them and watching over and over. The mystique of Unadilla is about the atmosphere. The rolling green (natural) terrain, the black soil, and the fans. There has never been and likely never will be, a fan/rider bond like Unadilla and Bob “Hurricane” Hannah. “Buckwheat” rode that place like a rampaging beast. His style was so all-time. Hannah would kind of flap around on the bike, but his line choice and corner speed was lethal. You think it's weird thinking about Ryan Dungey losing a gas cap last weekend? How about the time Hannah won the 1986 USGP when Johnny O'Mara ran out of gas!
Lots of stories soaked into this soil.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
More memories from 'Dilla are David Pingree's holeshot debacle where he carted huge then got run over three times. Then the time Robbie Reynard showed Ricky Carmichael what pure talent can do when it is focused. But, man, that instance when Bubba landed on RC...wow. You guys remember seeing Ricky get up and stomp over to the far asleep Stewart? He was waving his arms over his head like a damned wildman, then he picked up that KX250 and threw it out in the weeds like it was the neighbor's dog poop.
More recently, that shot of Dungey and Desalle throwing simultaneous pan, plus look over-intimidator...I could go on and on for thousands of words. Unadilla is 100 percent pure badass motocross. And we're racing there this weekend.
250
This will be the weekend that Ken Roczen puts it together. I haven't claimed anything for a while and I think “Ze-German” is going to do it this time around. For starters, I think it is going to rain and be a mudder in at least one of the motos. Couple that with the Euro-esque style of Unadilla and the boy is due. That said, it's a tornado of speed he has to overcome. Blake Baggett is the man they are all gunning for. There really isn't a reason why he won't win again. I have few words for Bad Blake. He's the man right now, and this championship is within his clutches. Just a few more blocks of wood to chop.
It's the same storm as it has been all summer long from there. Will Eli Tomac get good starts and win, or will Justin Barcia? Will Marvin Musquin be a darkhorse and get it done? There is a lot more with it as obviously Zach Bell is fast, as are his teammates Wil Hahn and the returned Justin Bogle. Blake Wharton can go fast there as well.
Only a handfull of gate drops left for one of the most competitive classes we've seen in years.
The 'Dilla's massive jumps are formed mostly by Mother Nature. And that's just cool.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
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Rain or shine, Ryan Dungey is going to win out. All that will be left from this season's premiere division is a stigma of “what if's.” What if James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto, Chad Reed, or Trey Canard were healthy all series long? When Dungey wins his second 450 outdoor crown he won't care. I'll say it again, it is very cool what KTM and RD5 are putting together.
Unadilla is here, folks. I grew up dreaming about this track, and while I never got to race it, I was able to stand at the bottom of Gravity Cavity and get my picture taken. I was lucky to meet some of the local fans and see what was left of the true “Hill People.” Maybe not what they once were in magnitude, but they're still there. It just bugs me while so many parts of our sport are secluded and aloof. Why don't more people know about Unadilla? Perhaps they will after this Saturday.
Let's get ready for more. The end of the work week is upon us, and it's time to get nasty. Weather man is saying 60 percent chance of rain. Anybody ready to see a mudder? This is American motocross. Drive your ass there, or set the DVR. Unadilla time is here.
Thanks for reading, see you next week.
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Nice write up, but let's not kid ourselves when it comes to natural jumps! Gravity Cavity and the Screw U exit are the only real natural jumps left. The absolutely unnecessary massive jumps you reference are sadly man made. The sky shot and the new table top sections are far from a "natural". Go back and watch those old videos again. The track was natural, rough and for all intents and purposes, one of the top 3 in the world. Specifically, look at the big uphill. DeCoster and Stanton must flat out laugh when they here a rider say he is tired or tight! Makes no sense, bikes are 10X better, riders are supposedly in better shape and races are shorter!
Shame it has become a smooth, high speed speedway with some big hits thrown in. Can't wait to see the machines knocking down the ruts between motos. But hey, the banners look nice and the facility looks great! Don't even get me started on the flat start straight! Today's riders couldn't possibly handle a rolling start straight.
Still like to see a set a of pro style SX jumps along a straight away like old Bradshaw BLVD old Mt. Morris...... Always loved the heavy plow from the farm tractor ... Perfect racing for Saturday great temps friday some rain which will be great for saturday's race
These you draw more fans to the NFL with high scoring action pack games. These days you draw more fans to MX with high speed and big jumps.
I know if someone keeps saying 'This is Krocs race to win' they will probably be right sooner or later...
Can't wait to see the 250 WAR!!!
Nice write up as always Mr. Boyer. I raced there in the mid eighties in the 250 GP.
The track seemed much better back then. The tall weeds hid the bumps and once we pounded them down the track was 80' wide in some places. I raced the 250 GP
in '83 and the 500 support class was almost stopped because of Team Scrotum
and Team Balls with their beer can fight in Gravity Cavity. That motley crew
gave racing a bad name. Oh, don't even ask about across the street in no mans land. That year they brought a semi rig down that had "The Sound Around" stereo
rig. God, it was loud and I didn't sleep worth a sh-t to race the 45 min motos on
Sunday. Gotta give Robinson credit for taming the troops. I know it almost broke him banning alcohol. Good Stuff.
Thats right MustardDog ...Put it on black at some point you will win!! Can't wait to hear EuroMike whan he finaly does win one!!
"Why don't more people know about Unadilla?" Huh? While it was a great write up, that question has me scratching my head. It sounds like you just found some super-secret test track instead of the most legendary, highly respected track in America (at least it used to be until they ruined it). I don't think I know anyone in the sport that doesn't know of Unadilla. Some of the most epic battles in motocross history were fought on that track. I remember when I first got involved in motocross in 1974, Unadilla had some sort of mystical appeal and when you thought about the best tracks in the world, you were proud that one of them was here in the U.S. Sadly, the track is nothing like it used to be. It really doesn't seem any different than the other tracks on the circuit. Sanitized, scraped to hardpack with the bulldozers and not a blade of grass anywhere on the track itself. Back in the day, they never raced on the track more than 3 times a year (250 USGP, the national championship round and the Trans-AMA). Back then, the ground was covered with grass which was shredded to amazing mulch by the bikes, the surface was just how God made it so it was incredibly rough, unlike the smoothed out surface you see today. There is a YouTube video titled "1977 Unadilla 500 National". Watch it and see what the track used to be like. I just watched it again and thought "Why don't more people know about Unadilla...and how awesome it used to be?"
@Laker23 - you are an idiot. So funny to hear old people talk about how great the old days were. Did you have to walk uphill in the snow both ways too? Give me a break dude. Tracks these days get WAY rougher than any track your 80's heros used to ride, and our boys run it 10X faster than they did. Ever hear of old pros pacing themselves to last the full moto? That does not exist anymore. Its a full sprint for 35+ minutes. I could go on forever contesting all your idiotic points, but its just worth the time. All I have to say is... if you don't like Unadilla or modern mx, DON'T WATCH IT.
Kxpwr18 & Laker23, the points you're both making is not making any real comparison. Yes the tracks were rough in the 80's, as was the suspension and yes its rough nowadays too, with more speed.....but they're better suspended today, so whats the final point?..can we agree that's it all relevant to time, track and machine? Either way both generations had to be fit to race MX.
@ localexpert
Good points on both sides. The track was rough back in the day, but MX bikes didn't handle as well or was as fast. Now it is groomed and it gets rough, but in
a different way. The bumps back then stayed in place. And you don't think we ran
full out for the time out there...tell that to Hannah and He might punch you in the
nose. And they were 15 min longer motos...
I'm not sure if I would call it the "good old days" and I still race and enjoy myself.
And whoever thinks the tracks weren't rough back then...well I got some prime real
estate on the ocean in Nevada. And they are rough now days for sure. Different times, different bikes, but you still put your pants on one leg at a time
@ localexpert
Good points on both sides. The track was rough back in the day, but MX bikes didn't handle as well or was as fast. Now it is groomed and it gets rough, but in
a different way. The bumps back then stayed in place. And you don't think we ran
full out for the time out there...tell that to Hannah and He might punch you in the
nose. And they were 15 min longer motos...
I'm not sure if I would call it the "good old days" and I still race and enjoy myself.
And whoever thinks the tracks weren't rough back then...well I got some prime real
estate on the ocean in Nevada. And they are rough now days for sure. Different times, different bikes, but you still put your pants on one leg at a time
Kxpwr18, iwas kinda thinking the same thing while reading Laker23's post, but seriously, why did you have to call him an idiot?? he wasnt bad mouthing anybody, just stating his MOTOPINION.
kxpwr18...laker23 is not an idiot but maybe you are inexperienced ....you CAN'T go on arguing points because its obvious you never had to drag your a*s around a non national Carsbad or Saddleback for 2 45's + 2 on a fuC&*^ 400 Husky....and trust me you don't want to ,but its what we had and we raced as hard as we could,,,.....I've raced the old and I ride the new and you have no idea what it was like...it was just as much fun , just as hard and just as dangerous...one real difference though is we had some respect for those who came before us...those days are obviously gone...and BELIEVE me kid there were more than a few guys who could go bell to bell back then on that junk , don't even think that sh*t just started... unfortunately for you and your pajama looking gear and brand new everything already works perfect bike , you will probably never even see or ride a natural terrain track or you might get what we're talking about.........
Laker23 is spot on. I have also watched Unadilla deteriorate into a speedway instead of a historical MX track. I believe the riders were better than. The racing is lame now compared to years gone by. Being old has nothing to do with our opinions except we saw the great racing there and you didn't. These guys today couldn't shine the old dogs shoes. If you weren't there to see it why are you yaking.
ToneWall, As a product of early MX, (started in '72) I'll back you up 100% on your comeback to the newbee
I was part of the original "Hill People"
Tommy Hahn crashed this morning. Word is he has a broken back and an injured neck. Expected to make a full recovery..
@ TheChosen1,, Referring to your first couple sentences, is EXACTLY why RC can NOT be called the GOAT.. Pretty hard to tell how RC would have done against Hannah, Bailey, Lechein, Ward, O'Mara, ect ect...
Made the trip from the West Coast last year to finally see the legendary track. Will never forget RC standing up Tortelli in the screw u turn, with a casual look over and then motoring away. Or Bubba letting Reed go by just to pass him again. I think Reed was talking smack all year. This place is a must see if your passion is MX.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_n2m0N3LpQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtQC0xLjiqo&feature=related
See for yourself it has nothing to do with anyone's age. I still enjoy the event, but I stand by my point that the track is an absolute shadow of its former self. 45 + 2 on a rough natural track trumps 30 +2 on far superior machinery on any of today's over groomed outdoor SX tracks (except for Hangtown, RedBud and Southwick). There is no track on the current circuit as rough as Unadilla (and many others) was.
@tonewall- amen brother! Anybody who rode carlsbad or saddleback in the day with those old bikes, they know the difference!
I got severe forearm pump by the 2nd corner.....just watching Laker23's '77 Unadilla video.
@yamalink...lmfao ...on that I can so relate...haha....
@Laker23- cool video links!
Laker23....the track is smooth because it looks good on TV to have the riders pass by the camera going real fast....I get it.....don't like it though.
Oh, and don't bother trying to teach these kids anything about motocross. Don't you remember when we were 16 years old and we thought we knew it all?...I do.
I do wish they would go back to 45 minutes plus 2 laps though (again, no good for television they say). The racing was much better when a guy like Hannah would come from last and make a pass for the win in one of the final corners, Can you imagine how many wins someone like Mike Larocco would have if they still had 45 minute motos then? Sure would have made the racing more exciting for the fans.
Oh, and guys, don't believe that the riders don't still pace themselves somewhat. When Baggett picks up the pace at the 15 minute mark, what do you suppose that is called? Pacing yourself maybe? Duh....
It's funny, me and my buddies were at Unadilla last year listening to these kids next to us talking. I looked at my buddy and said, "man, I wonder if we sounded that stupid when we were kids"....he said, "yeah, I'm pretty sure we did"...I said
"yeah, but not THAT stupid"...He said "Well Ok, maybe not me and you", "but he did" (as he pointed to my other friend).........some things never change
I don't think the tracks were rougher at all back then, I've seen many recently that are much rougher than those 2 old races. I also think the pace is much faster now.
@davidl ,you don't think the tracks were rougher...but were you out there? NO,,,of course the pace is faster..ya think? Did you ever go to any 500 USGPs and see what the track looked like after Hekki Brad Gerrit and Roger were done pounding that old cr*p around it all day...i doubt it....Unadilla was like a dream to some of the tracks of that time.....the Pros ALWAYS have pushed the bike and their ability's to the edge and tracks got incredibly rough without the benefit of modern suspension....plus the wheels were on those bumps ALOT more than modern jump-fests...its really not a contest...its tuff out there and it always has been...seeing as we old guys have to suffer through not having the satisfaction of racing INCREDIBLE bikes in that time at least respect we ACTUALLY were out there and your just talking out your a*s.....plus those bikes with stone wheels handled horrible and your feet hurt afterwards.....
@ griffter
You and your Buddies sound ike the original Bevis and Butt Head !
http://www.btinternet.com/~teamhighlander/sounds/hehheh.wav
@ Larry Whitmer what up you old elkhart lake racer.............
I got a good laugh out of Kxpwr18's post.
I remember back when I knew everything.........
With his mentality, maybe he should quit 'cause in 20 years everybody will tell him he wasn't really doing anything difficult compared to "today".
No respect little nimrod has probably never seen the inside of an airbox, much less split a case.
Pitting out of the back of a truck is probably cruel and unusual punishment to those types.
I almost forgot,
"this is K-Roc's race to win".
Dam Hahn broke his back today..........................That guy is like Kinard hurt all the time! Good luck on the recovery
83 was a crazy year at Unadilla. I'm a local and I hung with the Hill People for a couple of years. We used to sneak in from the backside with help from the Pittsfield Fire Department. Those were memorable times. I loved the track back in the day, and remember when the riders would rip up the sod to get it going. I still like it now though, but it definitely is a different animal. Looking forward to some good racing this weekend.
@George...do I know you... ? @jimi I got the shot the 2nd moto in '83.... and led first lap second moto. You got any pics from this event? Give you Red Bud passes if you do...
@larrywitmer-Sorry, I wish I had pics from back then.
http://www.motoxaddicts.com/2012/08/16/tommy-hahn-injured/
@jim well ok see me in tower next yr at bud will give you full access passes. You too George... you earn respect from pro racing...either early on or current pro racing. Either then or now we put it on the line..its called respect then and now. It seems we have lost respect in many ways.
@ chosen...its called passion...heart...and wanting it no matter back then or now. @Carlsbad raced at Carlsbad back in the day. Damn it was tough due to lack of good track eqipment. But you raced the hard packed track and throttle control, clutch and brake was so important. Now the four stk' s go wide and pin it. No disrespect but these bikes make it so much easier to go fast. It still funnels down to your heart and desire.
@Thahn32
I got airlifted from @His956Facility in Texas people. Where is unadilla coming from? So far-dislocated shoulder and broken T-3.
Tonewall, Yes I was out there in the 70's til now. I raced then and still race. I remember those tracks and watched just as close as I watch now. I have never seen any rougher than some of the current tracks after our boys have tore them up. The only thing that gives is our bikes and suspension are worlds better. I don't believe that our racers today are one bit less tough. I think we got by on way less back then and had to work more for less but the racing is just as amazing and brutal today as it ever was. Marty Smith, Rick johnson, omara, Hanna were my hero's then and RC,RD,RV are now. I firmly believe that whatever the conditions our mx racers will push it to the edge to win and always will. That goes for the 70's and today.
If you think Im talking out my **s I race today in the over 50 class in tx and have loved this sport since the early 70's I can't race pro any more but have pitted and sponsered riders since 2008 at the nationals. Ive walked and rode the tracks then and now and you will never convince me they were rougher then, less prepped YES, more natural terrain YES, but not rougher and not tougher. Most of your posts are pretty good but don't get upset when our opionions differ, and don't tell me where i have and havent been or done.
Well? Is Stew racing or not?
@Laker23 Great video.
The highlights were O'Mara's Daisy Dukes and the Boyesen commercials. I bet most people watching MX these days don't know what a reed valve is.
@davidl ...who said todays riders aren't tough or the tracks aren't rough...not me....YOU said the old tracks weren't as bad and I was just stating why I thought anyone who was REALLY out there would KNOW thats just not the case...it just seems to me anybody racing then would know better......since you state you'll 'never be convinced" and the tracks you rode I guess were smoother and nicer than us So Cal guys got to ride on i'm just wasting words....... .......
http://youtu.be/ru3t5zEaj3A nice smooth well watered track and this is when suspension was actually starting to get GOOD...
cool race and track ! I have only been their once, I know you didnt say it but you told me I wasn't there and was talking out my **ss and you were wrong. Clearly not as well prepped as todays nationals and reminds me of some torn races that we do out here- 40 rider gates and 1 hour from gat to checkers.
I was replying to the guys that were saying tracks were way rougher back then compared to the well groomed tracks of today and I was simply stating that they are just as rough and tough today as then. It seems the deeper you rip and water them the rougher they are by race time. I race a series out here I love because we get to race 6 different tracks with everything from rocky to hardpack blue groove to deep sand - every track is different and challenging.
I laugh at what we race as old farts now in ameture mX - 5 laps per moto and we are looking for the white flag by the third lap !!
I know a guy who is so stuck on the old school mx... Hannah, Bailey, O'show, Donnie Hansen ect.. he stopped following it after that era. I told him about RC and he wrote RC off. I realized at that point the guy is a dope who doesn't really appreciate the sport.
I, like others here (@davidl, @tonewall, etc.) have had the opportunity to watch the sport grow from what it was in the '70's to what it is today. I, for one, think that the one consistent aspect of professional motocross from then 'til now has been the talent and dedication of the top pros. I don't think that's ever been in question. You could take Roger DeCoster, Marty Smith or Bob Hannah in their prime and (with some prep time and practice) put them on the line in a modern national and they would be competitive. And you could take Ryan Dungey, Chad Reed or James Stewart and, with the same prep time and practice they would have been competitive back in the '70's. The real issue here is not whether the track were rougher back then, some of them weren't (take Honda Hills, for example), it's whether or not Unadilla was rougher back then and UNQUESTIONABLY it was! If you want to know for sure, watch @Laker23's links. The track was insane. And I can tell you from my own experience watching professional racing at trackside, then and now, that those guys rode just as hard for 15 minutes longer. Unadilla definitely weeded out those who couldn't cut it. The track was brutal. And the guys who won there were animals. That's just the way it was.
Hey if you go get robbie kneivel and have him put the wood to the old harley or indian that daddy eviel rode over caesars palace he would crash and burn also
I'll call him you 2 skid marks go atch !
@mxmofo1: Guy you need to just give that argument up. ANYBODY who is honest knows that RC is in a class by himself outdoors. What more could a man do???? Just quit with that silly stuff....