The Fox Fifty - New York
Thursday, August 19, 2010 | 11:15 AM
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PrintWelcome to the Fox Fifty, presented by Fox Racing. Last weekend we headed to the Empire State for Round 9 of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Unadilla, and now we're going back for this week’s edition of the Fox Fifty. New York holds a lot of nostalgia when it comes to motocross—it's been on the AMA tour since 1970, when Unadilla held its first Trans-AMA race. New York also has a deep talent pool, as you're about to see. In fact, this state may be provide the toughest challenge in the Fox Fifty so far. Without further ado, here are the fastest riders from New York; please place your votes in the poll below the list.
Jimmy Weinert (Two-time 500cc MX Champion, ’76 AMA SX Champion)
Scott Sheak (Former Honda factory rider, 1997 High Point 125cc National winner)
Barry Higgins (American motocross legend and winner of first two AMA 500cc Motocross Nationals in 1972)
Paul Carpenter (Former Kawasaki factory rider)
Rich Coon (Former Honda factory rider)
Justin Barcia (Current GEICO Powersports Honda factory rider)
Carlo Coen (Journeyman privateer hero)
Frank Stacey (Former Maico factory rider)
Andy Stacey (1981 250cc AMA Rookie of the Year)
Chris Coleman (Former Team Green standout and AMA #47 in ‘90)
Kurt McMillen (AMA Motocross #28 in ‘90 and ‘91)
Bruce Stratton (Journeyman pro who held a national number for well over a decade)
Fred Vertucci (Fast privateer hero of the seventies)
Jack Carpenter (AMA Motocross #82 in ‘09)
Bobby Kiniry (Current Canadian #3 and longtime AMA contender)
Ryan Mills (Former factory KTM rider)
Phil Nicoletti (Current KTM factory rider)
Sonny DeFeo (Early American motocross hero)
Click here to check out the Fox Fifty archives.
Jammin' Jimmy Weinert
photo: Dick Miller Archive
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one of the fastest racers from the eighties was Thomas Rice. He pretty much dominated district 3 and whenever there was a pro national he would usually be top ten. I have plenty of pictures of tom flat out smoking about half of the guys on your list. I don't know what national number he had but I am sure it was around 70 or so. Hope you can add him to it.
Finally, a state where it's hard to pick just five. (Of course, I'm a biased New Yorker!) I feel bad not checking some of these guys. Pretty sure Rich C.o.o.n (believe it or not, his name gets censored with this software they're using) won a National. How about a shout out for District 3's Tommy Rice? I think he got as high as National #50, and he's still rippin' at the local races in his late 40s. And Mitch Dougherty has been running Nationals for years ... comes from a family of racers. His mom, Donna, was the queen of D3, and a mom to many of the racers (RIP).
Jay Weller is another New Yorker currently riding Nationals.
I agreen with missouri I raced against Thom Rice, He was fearless. Also raced against ****, Frank and Andy, FV. I remember announcing Carpenter at Loretta's with Erv Braun when He was racing B class. He came to Red Bud and demolished the Pro Fall Classic when White Bros. was sponsoring him. How can you not count Straton for being such a work horse privateer... good stuff and great riders from NY...sure you don't want to put Erv and his family in the hat? Ziegan told me he beat Stewart in the 65cc class, oh, yea, that was after his bike broke. LOL.
my **** was C.O.O.N. as it was sensored
3 major championships and the Jammer is losing to a 2nd year pro who has won a few races, WTF?
Richy C O O N , 100 am class '75 (?) South Cairo, NY. He won his 1st moto, I won mine for a 2nd moto showdown, till I tried to move an Oak tree with my face! Right at the top of their Screw U !
I'm having a hard time picking 5 guys from this list, I'm bias towards Kurt McMillen. I was his wrench "90 & "91. Anyone remember Tag Skinner? He wore these goofy glasses, ripped on those 23" wheeled CR 125's.
Echo Missouri16 and Sef, without Thomas Rice the list is incomplete. Not only did he dominate District 3, he held a top 100 national number almost every year from 1980 to 1986 or so. He had rides with Team Tamm, RPM along with Yamaha and Kawi support. How did you guys forget him and include Jack Carpenter and Phil Nicoletti? Cool to see 2 riders from my hometown, Coleman and Kiniry on the list. Really tough to pick 5 as there is a load of talent on this one.
DITTO!!! "3 major championships and the Jammer is losing to a 2nd year pro who has won a few races, WTF?" Bunch of diapers on here. Barcia has lots of talent but learn your history and respect the Jammer.
Agreed, forgot to add above. Jammer is the run away winner of this list. 2-5 are too close to call. Barcia has a long way to go before he is a lock top 5'r.
Can't wait to see Florida and the dissent on here. FL riders could not buy a factory ride in the 70's no matter how fast.
Stu Anderson "70s Bultaco rider, National # 93, Pat Maroney of Moto X Fox.
Jammin Jimmy is great, plus dont forget about the Frank and andy Stacy, great riders !
How could I forget Pat Maroney ?!
Carlo Cohen held a 2 digit National # for a few years back in the 90's.
I raced against Scott Sheak, Chris Coleman and bruce Stratton on 85's.....saw Rice & Coen ride and my bro and I did McMillens motors for a few years (Camaioni Pro Racing).....thru my years there were some fast a $ $ New yorkers.....maybe not deservng of the list, but DEF worth a mention......shout out Rob nessel, Jimmy Woolridge, Tim Lemire....Chris Coleman was SICK on an 85....I mean SICK!!!......and when he went to big bikes......OMG.....when I say sick, I mean perhaps not right in the head......He jumped some things that WERENT meant to be jumped!!!...miss watching that #554
Yea there were a few left off the list but that's because it would go on for a bit. I've got tons of great memories racing with & against Colman, Stratton, Rice (fast & dirty) Billy Silvero, Brian & Paul Austin, the Pinny boys, Westfalls, Matty & Ron Drake, Steve Hess out of Bath, Bill Denmin, Mike Dries, Tim Brill, Brian Years... D-3 & 4 had tons not to mention the D-34 crew
I can't find the spelling anywhere, but does anyone remember Mario Masherelli? He rode the National circuit around '79/'80. His father was part of the Broome Tioga management. My memory's a little fuzzy on this, but didn't the dad die when the heavy equipment he was using to work on the track rolled over?
this list is incoplete without Pat Maroney's name on it he could beat everyone on this list besides Barcia he was national #47 and won the dilla supportt class for pdq. he was the white night
I watched Pat moroney at e-town on the PDQ white bikes....pretty stylish for back then....and also I recall that yes mario was killed when the dozer he was working in maybe stalled.....and rolled backwards down a hill and the rolled over killing him....thats my recalling of the story as well.....
oh yea and i left mt morris with scotty sheaks' #26 jersey the year he won in the mud....still have it...also got Damons that year when he was the 250 winner in the mud.....left with both winning jerseys.....and still have them baby!
Racer X, You have to do over and add Pat Morony!
Pat Maroney, He really should be on this list! Sef, Was the family that ran Broome in the late '70s, Mascarellis, the name you were thinkin' of? Tony Mascarelli ( spelling probably off) was the son and he was hard to beat at his home track. I was working at Maroney's Cycle in '78, Pat and I are the same age. We had some good times working for his dad, Jim. I once had to drive the shop truck out to Broome to pick up Pat cause his box van crapped out, I got a HUGE speeding ticket but we had a great Italian meal courtesy of Mrs. Mascarelli. Pat was a extremely talented rider, ahead of his time style wise. Learned alot from him!
You may be right, McMoto. Tony the son, Mario the father? They were definitely Italian!
Billy Silverole...did he ever turn pro? He was picked as a can't miss when he was an amatuer.
How could you leave out Tom Rice. He was forth in the nationals back when he was sponsered by RPM. He would wax most of these guys. He was the New York Express if you remember back in the day. Who the hell did the reshearch for this. Colemon Vertucci and Stratton would tell you they couldn't touch him. 2nd in the support class at Unadilla on a 500. He was fast when everyone rode the same class. Half of these guys struggled to make the main and Rice would win the qualifier. Do your research my friend.
Several of us mentioned Rice already. Known him since '79/'80. Talked to him as recently as late this Spring (and helped him start his borrowed bike on the line at U2). He was a talented guy, but I really don't remember all the results you mentioned, crossedup. Fourth in the Nationals? Actually, I remember he and Coleman having heated battles on the D3 tracks. Vertucci was older. As a fellow D3 guy, I've always been a fan, but I'd like to see your "research."
As long as we are including others not on the "list" but worth mentioning, we need to include Pat Kendrick, Danny Field, and Paul Harvey, all of whom raced the local NY nationals in the 80s.
After the first 3 round of the nationals back when he rode for RPM he was like forth overall in the standings but didn't follow the rest of the series out west( only factory riders were ahead of him at the time). The year didn't end that way but that is still pretty impressive.
Tom Rice was the fastest rider in the 80's hands down. He borrowed bikes to ride at Unadilla and still finished top 5 in the support class. Nobody in district 3 was even close.
Sonny Defeo has got to be in the top 3. He won two AMA 250 Nationals in 1972 as a privateer in Memphis and Atlanta. Barry Higgins won his only two 500 Nationals on the same days at the same tracks. In 1970, Sonny as a 17 year old High School student placed 10th in the Trans-AMA Seris won by Joel Robert and featuring the best riders in the world and the US. Sonny was 3rd overall American ahead of guys like Brad Lackey and Jimmy Weinert. Sonny blew away everyone in New York many many times in local races, usually spending most of his time on the rear wheel. He was the first American factory racer for CZ at age 16 together with Brad Lackey. He had a long career racing Nationals, Trans-AMA's Inter AMA's. In his prime only Weinert or Higgins could touch him in New York. Anybody on this list besides Higgins or Weinert equal these accomplishments? Know your motocross history!!!
Did a little more research. So these guys that people are voting for never won any National Races with the exception of Justin Barcia. These guys everyone is voting for like Scott Sheak (racing mostly 125's) and Paul Carpenter never won a National Race. For example Paul Carpenters highest finishes ever on the National Scene is a 5th place and 6th place. I am sure good guys and outstanding riders. However, comparing all the guys on the list with Jimmy Weinert is ridiculous. We know the numberes 3 National Titles and the first American to win a Inter Am Race against the Europeans. Weinert has 7 AMA National Wins. Sonny Defeo and Barry Higgins each won two AMA Nationals. Sonny and Barry finished top ten multilple times in Supercorss, AMA National Motocross and Inter AMA. So how can people vote for these other guys who can't shine the shoes of Weinert, Defeo, Higgins and the Stacy brothers. The numbers don't lie. I rode with Sonny and Barry and saw Weinert live. Big timers.
Okay, here are the facts, the numbers. Scott Sheak one AMA National Win, Justin Barcia one AMA National Win, Sonny Defeo two AMA National Wins, Barry Higgins 2 AMA National Wins, Jimmy Weinert 7 AMA National Wins 3 National Titles. No one else on the list has any National Wins. Weinert also had multiple Supercorss race wins.
More information. Weinert 4 Supercorss Wins, Jusin Barcia 2 Supercross Wins, Defeo 9h overall 250 class 1975 Supercross Series, Higgins 4h overall 500 cc class Supercross 1975.
Sorry, I was a little off on Jummy Weinert's numbers. He won AMA Outdoor 2 National Championships with 16 AMA total outdoor wins. He was National Champion runnerup twice. Jimmy won a Supercross Title was Supercorss overall runner up once and 4 Supercross races. Weinert also was 5th overall in the 1975 Inter-AMA and 3rd overall in the 1976 Inter-AMA going against the Europeans.
Hey McMoto,
Thanks for remembering me! That was a long time ago. I gave it up after 2 years for jazz guitar.
Tag
So here are the facts. Total number of AMA Outdoor race wins by a New Yorker.
Justin Barcia is actually listed as being from GA. The numbers don't lie. Of course there are other factors and races such as the InterAMA, Supercorss etc...
Jim Wienert 15 wins - 89 races
Sonny Defeo 2 wins - 23 races
Barry Higgins 2 wins- 10 races
Justin Barcia - 1 win - 24 races
Scott Sheak - 1 win 86 races
Paul Carpenter - highest finish 3rd
Frank Stacey - higest finish 2nd
Andy Stacey - higest fnish 4th
Ryan Mills - higest finish 2nd