TMW
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Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Harley-Davidson Motocross Venture
For those interested in a little history Harley Davidson did make a MX bike and raced it and Rocket Rex Staten was their primary rider. Read the story
below. From Cycle News:
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Fatboy
Senior Nomad
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Thanks! Even then as a teenager I never expected them to have anything comparable to the Japanese and the waning years of the Maico's and Husky's.
They always seemed like a weak effort.
Raced opened-class Husky's in the early eighties and you really had to be on current machines since there was so much change from '77 to the mid
'80's.
Some the best times was watching ol' Dick Mann at a local track such as Argyle (sp?) out of Dixon or up in Marysville.
Then there was O'Show at Hangtown on his Mugen Honda and watching crazy 'Magoo' before his big accident.
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basautter
Senior Nomad
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The posted link does not work for me. Can you list the web address? I remember those from the 70s!
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wessongroup
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Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Thanks much ... it is an interesting history on "bikes" and a form of "racing" which was very different from what was going on in the States in the
50's ...
The bikes today are amazing ... looking back at what was around in the 50's ... :big grin:
and of course cars too
[Edited on 11-30-2014 by wessongroup]
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Gulliver
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What few today realize is how much had happened with U.S. riders between say 66, when the first european riders showed up for some demonstration
rides, and the seventies, when some U.S. riders could actually stay with the best.
There was an international FIM motocross at Gold Bar in Washington State in 69. I showed up with my stock Pursang expecting to run in the support
class. But because I was carrying an FIM senior license for road racing, I got thrown in with Aaberg, Hallman and the like. Total slaughter.
I figured I had nothing to lose and the track was a foot of muddy turf so I decided that the berserker route was worth a try. Get in front and be so
stinking out of control that it would be dangerous to pass me. Ha!
I led for two laps and then they figured me out. Gone. I got fifth but I think Aaberg lapped me. Or someone did. I looked like the mud monster.
We all went home and started really training.
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msawin
Nomad
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Location: Grass Valley,Ca / Tripui
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harley x
I remember watching Rocket Rex and Marty Tripes at Hangtown in those orange and black jersey's, ripping on those lead bikes. Way cool. That same year
I tried to win on an Indian motorcycle in T.T racing at Sacramento Friday night tts.. same results. Dick Mann yes, Argall park, and East St.
Marysville. Magoo was the best..... the old years of moto.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Why adding the 'M' TW?
Is it a Tacoma World thing?
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BajaNomad
Super Administrator
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It's an software upgrade "thing". One-character and two-character usernames are an issue (among other things, as you are well aware!).
Thank you for your continued understanding, patience and support.
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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Quote: Originally posted by BajaNomad |
It's an software upgrade "thing". One-character and two-character usernames are an issue (among other things, as you are well aware!).
Thank you for your continued understanding, patience and support.
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OK... TW's handle on Tacoma World is TMW (as everyone abbreviates that forum as 'TW')!
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John M
Super Nomad
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Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
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Doug -
I sent you a u2u a couple of days ago, did you get it?
Sorry for the hijack
John M
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TMW
Select Nomad
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Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Yes Doug helped me get back on. After the Nomad problems I couldn't log on and it turned out to be as simple as adding an M.
Doug is the man.
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
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whaaaat??? no mention of Larry Roeseler and Bruce Olgilvie racing a slightly modified one in the '75 Baja 500?
great article! thanks!
and winning for a 2nd overall!
[Edited on 12-2-2014 by willardguy]
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
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Malcolm Smith .. .Husqvarna
[Edited on 12-2-2014 by wessongroup]
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Fatboy
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 6-28-2005
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Quote: Originally posted by willardguy | whaaaat??? no mention of Larry Roeseler and Bruce Olgilvie racing a slightly modified one in the '75 Baja 500?
great article! thanks!
and winning for a 2nd overall!
[Edited on 12-2-2014 by willardguy] |
Looks like a Rotax motor in that thing....Larry could finish in the top 5 on ANYTHING in his day it seemed the dude was awesome!
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
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"Looks like a Rotax motor in that thing....Larry could finish in the top 5 on ANYTHING in his day it seemed the dude was awesome!"
yup, larry knocked hodaka off its perch riding the H-D trailbikes. novice to expert at 14 in 17 races! amazing!
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fishbuck
Banned
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Registered: 8-31-2006
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I worked at a Harley shop back then and each shop got 2 for the floor. I bought one at dealer cost and raced it for a year in New England. The
suspension was only ok but the motor was very fast and could out drag race any stock bike at the time. It turned well too. I won a few races with it
and had fun.
My last hoorah as a teenager and then into the military
I think they were made in Italy.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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