I started riding dirt bikes in the mid 60's.
Somehow despite my dad's love of auto racing we started out in karting and ended up in bikes.
CLICK HERE to view my pictures and some of my recollections of the past on MX racing though the years. There is a lot of vintage MX stuff here
Our first bike was a 60cc Bronco. Next up a Bridgestone 100 which got plenty of use between my dad and my brother and I.
From there my dad bought a Yamaha DT 250 I think around 1971 or so and from there we went through a few Bultacos (total pain in the ass bikes). I had a Husqvarna for a while and a Suzuki 100 that we turned into a race bike. From there the whole family ended up on (what else) Honda Elsinores. Look though the photos above for a copy of the original bill of sale. Under $1000.00 for my race bike. WOW!
My brother and I raced for the Detroit Honda Stores for quite a few years. I think between 1974 through 1977. It was at that time that after years of trail riding in Northern Michigan my brother and I began dominating Hare Scrambles in Michigan. If you look through the photos we built some pretty nice race bikes. Note the Proto Exhaust Pipes, DG aluminum swingarms, we made a ton of mods to these bikes and ended up with some really great handling bikes that were quick. I have to thank Greg Engels who supported us during this period.
In 1975 I headed off to fulfill my military obligation. Of course I did quite a bit of racing in the great Northwest with the Honda (which was stolen one night from the barracks). I purchased a Yamaha YZ 125 shortly there after. Look though the photos above for a copy of the original bill of sale. Bikes were CHEAP back then!
Mark and I really started flying in 1977 and went on a roll in 1978 winning the L/W Team championship after I came home from Ft Lewis. We won every race we entered that year except one.
My brother and I had a great year and a kick ass time. We started off some 100 plus points behind the class leaders and by winning so many races caught them by yearsend and won the championship as well as top 10's in other classes.
After 1978 my brother and I went our seperate ways.
In 1979 I landed a sponsorship deal with Dynamic Cycle who at the time was the team to be on in any form of dirtbike racing. Owner Mike Connors was the biggest Yamaha factory support program for the area and Mike was just the best guy to race for. My other sponsors included Griffs, Hi Point, Super Seer, Lubri Tech, Lectron, MXL, Electro, NGK, Duralube, and Carrera.
I spent a lot of time with the Bigelow brothers and Steve Ellis and that helped my riding a ton. All had or would go on to win AMA National Amateur motocross championships.
I on the other hand prefered the longer distance races and ran the 3 hour Hare Scrambles for the team with Dick Plowman.
I was one of a handful of Michigan riders to wander down to the first (unoffical) National Hare Scrambles which was put together by Hi Point and Penton Imports.
The race was to be held on January 16th and in this area that could mean anything from 60's to sub zero weather.
The day prior to the race there was a nasty snowstorm and the race was held in sub zero temperatures in the snow.
Thankfully then Hi Point Racing manager Larry Maiers hooked me up with a bunch of cool stuff including the newest item a set of hand guards (well kind hand guards). They saved the race for me by a least keeping my hands pretty dry and kept the insane wind off them.
The trickest part of the race were the river crossings and trying to keep from getting frostbite. I spent most of the race chasing Barry Higgins and the Penton clan. I was the top Michigan rider at the finish and despite what many thought was a second place for me I was awarded fourth. Still a great result in such horrible conditions.
I went on to win a few more winter tune-ups in Ohio before heading back to the Distict 14 series which I won again in 1979.
I ended up getting hurt pretty bad mid year and by the end of the year I was done. I was broken up a bit as I never let my back and broken ribs heal properly and I burned out just as I was getting on par with the fastest riders in the Eastern and midwest area.
I guess there comes a time when you know the motivation is gone and I knew that it was no longer there and that I needed to take a break. I decided it was time to retire.
My brother went on to win the AMA National Hare Scrambles Championship in 1981 (I believe).
And so that was the end for me in the dirt bike arena. I did some trail riding through 1981 with my dad and I've been on a few dirt bikes over the years since but pretty much hung up persuing speed in 1979.
I have to say a big thank you to my brother Mark. The great relationship we once had has long since gone away and although we have not seen each other in 3 or 4 years, we had one hell of a good time during the era we spent racing together. If I could re-live any part of my life it would be that window from 1974 to 1979. We had youth and just the right amount of aggression to do what we needed to do to get to where we wanted to go. Thanks to Mark, Ed Sheldon, Greg Engels from the Detroit Honda Stores, Mike Connors from Dynamic Cycle and anyone who helped me out doing this period of my life.
