The classic bad ass motorcycle racer thread

[budman]

I still remember back in my mind that same year, a very aggressive pass by Spencer that Roberts felt was bullshit.

His ride at Indy in ‘09 on they TZ is stuff of lore.
Fucking love that.

 

[Johndicezx9]

I thought it was because he wasn't on a yellow and black bike...

 

[budman]

Wayne Rainey

From the post by John http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9974250&postcount=11
Wayne Rainey is due a little more love. Also one of my favorite racers.

Wayne Rainey was the top World Championship 500cc Grand Prix rider of the early 1990s, winning three consecutive World Championships riding for Yamaha. In addition to his accomplishments on the world championship level, Rainey was also a star of AMA Superbike racing during the 1980s, winning that title in 1983 with Kawasaki and again for Honda in 1987. Rainey's career as a motorcycle racer came to an abrupt end when he suffered a crippling crash while leading the Italian Grand Prix in September of 1993. Rainey did not let his disability keep him down. He returned to the world championship circuit as a team owner and manager.

Rainey was an amazing racer and has now taken the American Road Race series by the balls in an attempt to resurrect it to one of the best series in the world and just as important help get some US Talent back into the MotoGP scene. When Wayne raced the GP circuit there were a handful of competitive American racers. Like most of those he started on mini bikes and became and AMA Pro Flat tracker, which seemed to be the formula that took Americans to the top of the GP scene. Turning Pro at 18 he had moderate success, but quickly found his real talent was on the pavement when he started some club racing with backing from Kawasaki. At 20 he won the Novice 250 race a Loudon and shit happened quick. Kawi signed him to a superbike contract and teamed him with Eddie Lawson.

The rookie finished 3rd behind the Champ Lawson and Mike Baldwin. In his second season Rainey won six races and beat out Baldwin for the 1983 title. Kawasaki then decided to pull out of Superbike racing and Kenny Roberts signed Rainey to race in Europe for the 250cc Grand Prix World Championships. On a nearly stock Yamaha he finished eighth in the championship and had only one podium. After leaving the Roberts team he returned home and took a ride with MacLean Honda in the 1985 AMA Formula One and 250 Grand Prix Series. Despite winning races in both classes injuries held him back and he took eighth in the Formula One standings and third in 250 GP. ’86 to him to the factory Honda team to ride AMA Superbike and F-1. Rainey won six of the nine Superbike races, but was edged out by Honda teammate Fred Merkel.

Rainey bounced back in ’87 and won his second AMA Superbike Championship after having epic battles with Kevin Schwantz some of the best ever in AMA Superbike. After his season Rainey returned to flat track riding to a fourth-place finish at the Sacramento Mile AMA Grand National, his last appearance in an AMA national.

Here he is at Springfield sporting a steel shoe.

[youtube]avPhIGZHx74[/youtube]

’88 took him back to Kenny Roberts team and the World Championship, this time in the premier 500cc class. He got a win at Donington Park and took third in his debut season. In '89 Rainey won 3 -GP and was runner-up to former teammate Eddie Lawson. Rainey won the opening round Suzuka and began a solid run and won three-year GP title in a row (1990, '91 and '92.) over some very talented riders. (Lawson, Freddie Spencer, Wayne Gardner, John Kocinski, Michael Doohan and Schwantz). Rainey won 24 GP races in his six seasons.

Rainey and Lawson in a great battle in German GP 1989
[youtube]QnLKRGpctzA[/youtube]

1990 Italian GP
[youtube]cbYpHqgSqV8[/youtube]

Rainey was well on his way to his fourth-consecutive title in 1993. He was leading the championship points and leading the GP when he suffered his career-ending crash at Misano. I remember the crash not seeming very severe, but it proved to be.

 

[budman]

Gene Romero – “Burrito”

Gene Romero was one of the best-known motorcycle racers in the U.S. during late 1960s and early '70s. Romero won the AMA Grand National Championship in 1970 riding for Triumph. Known as a TT specialist early in his career, Romero became a top contender in all forms of Grand National racing and won nationals on miles, half-miles, road-racing circuits and TT tracks.

The biggest win of Romero's career came in the Daytona 200 in 1975. Romero had been racing in the 200 since 1967 and came close to winning in 1970 and again in 1971, when he was the runnerup. Romero came through with an excellent ride in 1975 aboard a factory Yamaha. He rode for most of the race in fourth. About midway through the race, he began to pour on the speed, passing Giacomo Agostini and Steve Baker and eventually taking the lead when Steve McLaughlin crashed under Romero's relentless pressure. Romero cruised home to victory. It would prove to be his only win in the Daytona 200 in 14 starts.

I saw the Martinez native at the SJ Mile several times, which was not far from the dirt track and scrambles tracks of the Central Valley where he started racing. His first national win came in 1968. Those days included all types of racing, Flat track (mile/half mile/short track) Road Racing, and TT (a type of motocross and flat track). Romero was successful at all of them. Romero won 12 AMA nationals during his 16-year racing career and one year had Evel Knievel was Romero's primary sponsor. Seeing him in “On Any Sunday” just confirmed this dude was a bad ass to me.

After retiring Gene led the Honda's flat Track program in the 80's. His heart is still in the game and he now runs a Flat track motorcycle racing series on the west coast.

 

[budman]

Mike Kiedrowski - The "MX Kied"

Mike Kiedrowski – The “MX Kied”
During his nine-year career as a pro motocross racer, Mike Kiedrowski won championships as easily as he did fans. Between 1988 and 1997, he was a four-time AMA National Motocross Champion. In addition to his titles, Kiedrowski’s career included nine top-five season finishes in motocross and six top-five season finishes in AMA Supercross. He was one of only two riders in AMA Motocross history to win the "hat trick" of 125cc, 250cc and 500cc AMA Motocross National Championships. Kiedrowski was also a member of four U.S. Motocross des Nations teams. Three of those were victorious. After motocross, Kiedrowski moved to racing off-road events for Suzuki. He was a member of the 2003 U.S. ISDE team that went to Brazil, where he earned a Gold Medal.

Ranked number 8 in the Racerxonline Top 30 he is listed above several guys we already have listed as bad asses.

Although he never won a SX Title that may have been more because of others than himself. He finished second to McGrath in ’93.

[youtube]c5Y5SNWrpek[/youtube]

Most of his success was on the Kawasaki and he did match the Iconic Jeff Wards. In 1993 he won six of the eight 250cc nationals and won his fourth AMA national title. That gave Kiedrowski a championship in each of the major motocross categories of the day: 125, 250, and 500cc. He became only the second rider in AMA racing history to accomplish that. Jeff Ward was the other

ISDT Gold Medalist – multi time AMA MX Champ and 3 time team member of winning US MX of Nations teams and landing in the AMA HOF leaves the MX Kied a bad ass for sure.

[youtube]G4dKcR-D6EY[/youtube]

 

[budman]

Mike LaRocco - "Iron Mike"

Mike LaRocco began his professional racing career in 1988, at age 17, and retired in 2006 as the elder statesman on the circuit, totaling 228 Supercross starts.
Along the way, he collected championships in the 1993 AMA 500 National Motocross Series, the 1994 AMA 250 National Motocross Series, and the 2000 Supercross World Championship.

“I was the guy who gave it everything I had every time I raced, through the whole race,” LaRocco says. “That was what made me successful—that I was always pushing myself for the entire race.”
The Indiana native raced with Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Honda, the latter as a factory-supported Factory Connection rider.
LaRocco won Supercross races in three decades in two classes, 125cc and 250cc. He says the 1994 AMA 250 Motocross National Championship meant the most to him.

Mike LaRocco started as a Pro in 1988, at age 17, and retired in 2006 as the elder statesman on the circuit, totaling 228 Supercross starts.

[youtube]pPXcY3c-BF4[/youtube]

He won Championships in the 1993 AMA 500 National Motocross Series, the 1994 AMA 250 National Motocross Series, and the 2000 Supercross World Championship. The Indiana native raced with Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Honda. He was on the 1992 MX Des Nations winning USA Team. He was known for being a hard charger right to the checkered flag. When LaRocco won the Indianapolis SX at age 33 it was a record. Not sure where I heard the “Iron Mike” nickname, as I could not find it in his profiles, but it stuck with me so I used it

[youtube]XBNMsLUsI38[/youtube]

In 1991, a 120 ft triple jump was constructed at Red Bud Motocross track in Buchanan, MI. Troyer and track co-owner Tim Ritchie decided to build a jump just like ”Kong” at LaRocco’s home track at the Red Bud track. It was later named “LaRocco’s Leap” when he became first person to clear it, doing so on a 125cc bike.

He is rated #17 on the RacerXonline top 30 list.

In 2010 LaRocco became Team Manager for the GEICO Honda Supercross/Motocross Team, which has won a title each year.

 

[budman]

Let’s give Kevin Schwantz a little more barf love for being the bad ass he is.

Schwantz

Schwantz started as a Motocross racer but when he got his first taste of road racing at an event through the streets of Austin he won and decided to make a switch. In 1984 the successful club racer got a shot at a test ride with Yoshimura Suzuki Superbike team thanks to John Ulrich. Yosh brought him to the AMA Pro Roadrace scene to race the West Coast Nationals and that meant the FJ600 he had been racing would be replaced by a real race bike. It did not take long to prove Yosh made a good choice as he won both legs of the 1985 Willow Springs AMA Superbike National.

In ’86 he took second in the 1986 Daytona 200 behind Eddie Lawson. Broken bones left him 7th that year just like the year before.

The 1987 Superbike National Championship brought him face to face with his longtime rival Wayne Rainey. The two went at it with Schwantz winning five out of the last six races. Rainey won the title, but Kevin was not done trying.

In ’88 he started strong by winning Daytona 200.

[youtube]ujPF-mGGqnw[/youtube]

Suzuki quickly brought him to its 500cc Grand Prix team and with stunning results as he won the opening round in Japan. He had a few one off wild card GP’s before, but now a factory rider he had his eyes focused on winning a World Championship. Guess who joined Team Roberts that same year – Wayne Rainey.

The late 80’s and 90’s were the most competitive years for US Racers and Schwantz and Rainey had many battles. His Suzuki may not have been as bad ass as the Yamaha or Honda’s, but Kevin rode crazed and scored his fair share of victories. It also left him on the deck.

His successes took him into the AMA HOF.

Victory in the Italian GP (foreign language but good racing)
[youtube]Ss6nWXyI85o[/youtube]


His determination took him to 500cc World Championship in 1993.
[youtube]UBiC6mGcqcY[/url]

’94 left him hurting and in the 1995 season Schwantz retired with 25 Grands Prix wins. That put him second on the list of wins for US Racers behind Eddie Lawson with Rainey one behind him.

Schwantz vs Rainey
[youtube]jLuMZMskRCE[/youtube]

You won’t see another 34 on the GP grid because the FIM retired it.
BAD ASS!

Schwantz also help designed America’s newest circuit "The Circuit of the America’s"… I was there that first year when some shit show went down and a lot of people were wearing "Free Kevin" T Shirts in support of popular Texan.

 

[number_6]

I still remember back in my mind that same year, a very aggressive pass by Spencer that Roberts felt was bullshit.

...

https://twitter.com/manuelzza/status/507575949655674880

 

[budman]

That just looks like Kenny went wide which would make my minds eye memory wrong. Did Spencer bump him off?? Tweet is in Spanish so.... what say you 6?

 

[number_6]

You can't tell from the pic, but that is supposed to be the pass at Anderstorp where Freddie bumped him off on the last lap.

Dennis Noyes' tweets on it:

The two went out into the wet grass ... Spencer, with longer legs except for the situation and recovered the asphalt first. This incident, still discussed, not only decided the 1983 World Cup but caused Roberts' hasty withdrawal.

It is called the "invisible overtaking" (Freddie to Kenny in Anderstorp 1983) pq no clear images remain. They did not touch but the two left

 

[budman]

Thanks.

34 years blurs some things.
Maybe not so much in this case.

 

[budman]

Pat Hennen - America's first 500cc GP Race winner

Pat Hennen was the first American to win a 500cc World Grand Prix road race. His victory at the 1976 Finland GP paved the way for a flood of American riders who would come to dominate the sport. Hennen began his career in 1972 as an AMA dirt track and road racing competitor. His rapidly rising career was ended prematurely by a crash at the Isle of Man TT in 1978. Hennen’s short but brilliant career was an inspiration to all American road racers of his era. He proved that an American could win in the highest echelon of motorcycle racing at a time when few thought it could be done.

Hennen started racing when he was 15 in Northern California. Flat Track and Scrambles led to road racing. Hennen’s brothers, Chip and David built him a race bike and in ’73 he raced in the 250 class. Hennen’s first major win came a year later at Daytona when won the junior(Novice) event on a Yamaha. I first noticed Hennen when he won the Novice class at Laguna in ’74. He went on to win the series that year.

What I did not know that Hennen set off for New Zealand and Australia in the winter. He did well, but I don’t recall if those got any ink in Cycle News. Hennen signed as a factory rider with Suzuki. Hennen did well his first year as a Expert and was part of American team for the Trans-Atlantic Match Races, the year the USA beat Great Britain for the first time.

In ’76 Hennen put the Suzuki on the podium of the Daytona 200 behind Johnny Cecotto and second-place Gary Nixon. Hennen also finished second to Kenny Roberts in the 250 race.

From the AMA HoF
“No matter how unexpected Hennen’s 1976 Daytona 200 finish was, it paled in comparison to what he pulled off in Imatra, Finland on August 1, 1976. That was the day that Hennen raced into history by winning the Finish Grand Prix to become the first American rider to win a World Championship 500cc Grand Prix road race. So unexpected was his victory in Finland that organizers didn’t have a sound track of the U.S. national anthem. Hennen wore a cowboy hat on the podium – a tribute to his father who was once a professional rodeo cowboy – much to the delight of the European photographers”.

Hennen’s career changed drastically when he was essentially financially forced to race the 1979 Isle of Man event. He was just two points behind Roberts in the title standings when he had a 170MPH life changing crash. His chance to be the first American GP champ ended right there and so did his career. He, like Barry Sheene refused to race the TT that year. The dangers were just too high, but Hennen was sponsored by a UK Suzuki team and the TT was a premiere event that was very important to them and they withdrew their transporter from Hennen because of his refusal. Without a transporter Hennen could not continue on the GP circuit and finally succumbed to the black mail tactic.

Hennen had just posted the first sub-20-minute lap and was leading the race when he crashed at Bishopscourt. Hennen suffered brain damage and still suffers impairments. I used to see him in the middle 80’s at NorCal Suzuki in Mt. View, which was owned by a Road Racer friend of his. He looked weak, but his smile was strong. I recently was doing a project in San Carlos when the client found out I rode motorcycles told me her best friend was with a top racer who was hurt seriously. I blurted out Pat Hennen before she could even say who it was. She said yes, did you know him? I said I met him, but did not really know him…. And he was bad ass.

1977 Trans Atlantic Race featuring Hennen, Grant and the legendary Barry Sheene
[youtube]NNkdZSg-m0M[/youtube]

 

[budman]

Barry Sheene - UK and GP Legend

Adding onto John's post this bad ass also deserves a little more love.

Sheene’s father Frank sponsored road racers when Barry was a lad. He started riding a mini bike during those early years and helped his Dad work on the bikes in the family garage. Eventually he talked his Dad into letting him race and that launched him into UK stardom.

In 1970 he was the British 125c champion. ‘71 he finished second in the 125 GP series even though he suffered the first of many career injuries.
Sheene became a spokesman against dangerous race tracks and the Isle of Man that would end the career of his Suzuki Teamate Pat Hennen.
His first Grand Prix win coming on that bike at Spa in Belgium

Sheene rode a Yamaha in the 250 cc World Championship in ’72, but once again injuries hurt his chance after a crash at Imola left him basically sidelined. In 1973 he rode a Suzuki and won the newly formed Formula 750 European championship. In 1974 Suzuki introduced the RG500 and he did well finishing sixth in the World Championship.

His now famous 170MPH crash at the 1975 Daytona 200 in the 1975 broke his left thigh, right arm, collarbone and two ribs, yet he recovered and was racing in just seven. He got his first 500 cc win at the Dutch TT later that year.

1975 Documentary - Daytona
[youtube]2Wmxus6kgMg[/youtube]

He became a superstar in 1976 when he won five 500cc Grands Prix and the World Championship. James Hunt won the Formula 1 Championship that year too and the pair of the well known playboys were rocking the world.

[youtube]wW6_THfEt-M[/youtube]

[youtube]1VQYM7JeEKQ[/youtube]

Sheene won the Championship again in the 1977 taking six victories. Sheene's battle with Kenny Roberts at the 1979 British Grand Prix at Silverstone was noted as one of the greatest motorcycle Grand Prix races of the 1970s. I searched for a vid, but had no luck

In 1980 Sheene left the Heron-Suzuki factory team and switched to a being a privateer on a Yamaha. In 1981, Roberts was the reigning World 500cc Champion (3rd time in a row). Sheene's win at the 1981 Swedish Grand Prix would be the last win for a British rider in the top category until Cal Crutchlow's won the 2016 Czech Republic GP. He finished 4th that year.

A crash at Silverstone where Sheene hit a fallen machine during practice for the 1982 British Grand Prix ended his hopes of becoming a world champion again. He retired in ’84 and passed away in ’03.

Sheene lit up the UK with his long hair, good looks and bad ass racing life.

 

[budman]

Stephane Peterhansel - King of Dakar

With Dakar 2018 looming it made sense to add the King of Dakar to the thread.

Stéphane Peterhansel made his Paris to Dakar Rally debut in 1988 and has won the event six times in 10 tries on a bike (1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, and 1998) and thirteen times overall including the last two years. To say this guy is a bad ass is taking things lightly.

The Frenchman may be more famous for his car work of late, but he is the most successful motorcyclist of all time in the event. Countryman Cyril Neveu won the first ever and Cyril Depres, both have 5. What is it that makes the French so competitive? Depres has moved to cars also and only Marc Coma, who has 5 can catch Peterhansel. He last won in 2015 and is the race director now. Not sure if he is still entering or not?

Event winners:
1979: C. Neveu
1980: C. Neveu
1981: H. Auriol
1982: C. Neveu
1983: H. Auriol
1984: G. Rahier
1985: G. Rahier
1986: C. Neveu
1987: C. Neveu
1988: E. Orioli
1989: G. Lalay
1990: E. Orioli
1991: S. Peterhansel
1992: S. Peterhansel
1993: S. Peterhansel
1994: E. Orioli
1995: S. Peterhansel
1996: E. Orioli
1997: S. Peterhansel
1998: S. Peterhansel
1999: R. Sainct
2000: R. Sainct
2001: F. Meoni
2002: F. Meoni
2003: R. Sainct
2004: N. Roma
2005: C. Despres
2006: M. Coma
2007: C. Despres
2009: M. Coma
2010: C. Despres
2011: M. Coma
2012: C. Despres
2013: C. Despres
2014: M. Coma
2015: M. Coma
2016: T. Price
2017: S. Sunderland

[youtube]DVskFW2QcDM[/youtube]

More on 2018

Barf thread for Dakar 2018.

 

[budman]

Malcolm Smith - American Moto Legend

Malcolm Smith was a pioneer in off-road motorcycling. He gained fame for his accomplishments in the Baja 1000 and for his gold-medal winning rides in the International Six Day Enduro competitions, but by far his biggest claim to fame was being a star of the influential 1970s motorcycle movie, "On Any Sunday." The scenes of Smith play-riding with his buddies, which included popular actor Steve McQueen, showed people across the country just how fun motorcycling could be. The movie helped launch an explosion in the popularity of off-road motorcycling in America.

One afternoon in the mid-1960s, a gentleman came into the shop and asked to talk to Smith. That man was Edison Dye. He was importing a spindly-looking, Swedish-made motorcycle called Husqvarna and he wanted Smith to race the bike. Smith, reluctant to give up on his "sponsored" ride with Greeves, was at first reluctant to accept Dye’s proposal. Two things changed Smith’s mind: The Husky turned out to be a great dirt bike, and Dye promised to pay Smith’s way to participate in the International Six Day Trials (now called the International Six Day Enduro), something Smith had dreamed about for years.

From his Hall of Fame legend induction – Funny guy!
[youtube]iyA-Oc6fVco[/youtube]

Smith first raced in 1953 and was a part time racer for a while. He worked in a moto shop after getting the job after continually being caught raiding the dumpster for parts thrown out.

1966 brought Smith to his first Six Days in Sweden. The SoCal rider had never ridden in the conditions that greeted him. He crashed a bunch, but pressed on and earning a silver medal. Smith also had success in the Baja 1000 in 1967 and his name became synonymous with Husqvarna. Smith was busy preparing his Husky and studying a guidebook to Baja. teamed with the legendary desert racer J.N. Roberts, the pair finished first motorcycle and took second overall. Several missed turns took away nearly a five hour lead. The historical story of his ride home had no doubt made for many laughs. After sitting there for 8 hours a truck hauling live sea turtles to Ensenada picked them up. There was no room in the cab, so Smith rode on top of the sea turtles for three days.

Ten years after his first attempt at the Six Days Smith returned and earned his first gold medal. He did that seven more times and that made him the most successful American rider in the history of the Six Days competition to that point.

It was “On Any Sunday” that brought him fame and finally made his mother proud of her “motorcycle racer” son.
And here is the classic On Any Sunday bit.
[youtube]L-xrKE9rClg[/youtube]

His father was way older than his mom (way) as he noted in his Hall of Fame legend speech and would not get to see his boys great success. The movie also launched Malcolm Smith Racing and Malcolm went on to great business success.

When I was MC'ing the Repsol hospitality tent at the first Indy GP I was lucky to interview him. He was such a nice guy. I should dig up that video and post it up. Pressed for time he kept talking and totally impressed me when he quickly jogged away to catch another commitment. Dude still had wheels!

Malcolm is a legend for sure and he wrote and autobiography … I should read it.

He is still organizing Baja Rides via Malcolm Smith adventures. Amazing.

Here is the highlights from 1998
[youtube]2ieOmu31xyc[/youtube]

Malcolm… you rock...the best.

 

[budman]

Dick Burleson - The Enduro Master

From 1974 to 1981, Dick Burleson won eight consecutive AMA National Enduro Championships, a record so extraordinary that it may never be broken. Burleson’s total domination of national enduro earned him the nickname "King Richard." In addition to his incredible domestic record, Burleson also won an amazing eight consecutive gold medals in the International Six Days Trials (now called the International Six Days Enduro). Among American off-road racers, Burleson is one of the all-time greats.


Burleson started racing motocross in the late sixties turning pro in 1970. Burleson finished fourth overall in Trans-AMA Motocross Series and was top American which gave him the title of American Motocross Champion. Burleson also began competing in AMA National Enduro events and in 1971, John Penton invited Burleson to race on the American Trophy team that was competing in the International Six Days Trial at the Isle of Man. A DNF left him unhappy but stoked to represent the USA.

’72 brought Burleson to the ISDT again he earned a bronze medal. In 1973, Burleson was again part of the American team that earned our only ISDT Silver Vase victory. Burleson began riding a prototype Husqvarna 350cc after the ISDT and found the more powerful 350 perfectly suited his riding style. He ended the ’73 season by winning three-straight AMA national enduros. The next year Burleson won nine national enduro victories and his first AMA National Enduro Championship. Burleson earned his first gold medal and was the highest-scoring American later that year at the ISDT held in Italy.

Burleson continued kicking ass in 1975 winning his second national enduro title and another gold in ISDT. He kept winning until he retired after the ’81 season with 60 AMA National Enduro events wins, eight Enduro titles and eight ISDT gold medals.

Dick's AMA HoF Legend intro video

[YOUTUBE]GbkeraR-lFk[/YOUTUBE]

 

[dtrides]

Tanks for fleshing out Dick's accomplishments, it was on my to-do list.
The man certainly deserved more than I gave him.
DT

 

[FZ1MinesRdRipper]

I'm pretty sure Schwantz crashed in this picture. Spencer used to plow the front leaving big black marks entering some corners. Love the old guys of GP racing...real studs.

... I actually switched to Pepsi ...

[YOUTUBE]3HXqZh5oTK0[/YOUTUBE]

Kevin Schwantz AMA HoF:
http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=268

‘82, ‘84 and ‘93 ...

[YOUTUBE]lQxKAFyUHYU[/YOUTUBE]

The 1993 Syracuse Mile with AMA HoF
announcer Dave Despain ...

Ricky Graham AMA HoF:
http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=6

 

[FZ1MinesRdRipper]

Anyone remember John DeSoto the "Flyin Hawaiian"

Hey Budman...remember this guy John DeSoto The Flyin Hawaiian? I watched him, Dick Mann, Rodger Decoster and other old timers at a scrambles/motocross race at Carnegie Cycle Park. The Flyin Hawaiian was really flying. I was just a young lad. The good old days for sure. Read the article below about John DeSoto. Old guys rule.

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=158

 

[budman]

Sure I remember him and his ear to ear grin.
From the early “modern” era of MX. He made Hawaii proud.