by Davey Coombs
40 Day Countdown To AMA Motocross Opener: 1972
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 | 4:10 PM
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As we approach the kickoff of the 40th Annual Lucas Oil Pro AMA Motocross Championship, Racer X Online and AlliSports.com will count down the days to the May 21 opener—the Hangtown Motocross Classic—by taking you through history of the world's biggest and most prestigious motocross championship year by year. As it turns out, there are forty days left before Hangtown, parts of which will air live all over the world on various television networks, including Fuel TV here in the U.S., Motors TV in Europe, and also live and free on www.AlliSports.com.
We begin our countdown in 1972, with the birth of the AMA Motocross tour.
1972
Motocross migrated to America from Europe in the fifties and sixties, and it was known for the most part as “scrambles.” The American riders of the era were no match for their Europeans counterparts, especially from racing hotbeds like Belgium, England, and Sweden. But it was difficult to learn from riders on the other side of the ocean.
That started to change in the mid-sixties when a man named Edison Dye began importing Swedish-made Husqvarna motorcycles into the U.S. Dye came up with the idea of also importing Swedish talent into the country, beginning with reigning world motocross champion Torsten Hallman in 1966. Hallman trounced the Americans, but he taught them invaluable lessons. He kept coming back, and Dye kept adding races until it become the Inter-Am Series.
Gary Jones was the 1972 AMA 250cc National Champion.
Photo: Wally Wallenberg
In 1970, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) began to compete with Dye's tour through its own Trans-AMA Series, and the “top Americans” in that autumnal series would be declared the U.S. National Champions. Turns out the top American in that inaugural Trans-AMA tour in 1970 was a University of Michigan college student named Dick Burleson, who would gain much more fame on a motorcycle when he chose to go into enduro racing full-time. The following year, the de facto national champs would be Mark Blackwell (500cc) and Gary Jones (250cc) based on their top-American status in the Trans-AMA and Inter-Am Series, respectively.
For the next couple of years the European visitors continued to dominate the Inter-Am and Trans-AMA tours, but by '72, motocross in America had grown to the point that the AMA felt domestic riders deserved their own series—to that point, no American had won so much as a single Trans-AMA race! So the idea was put into place to start a standalone AMA Motocross Championship, but because they did not want to compete with the sanctioned Trans-AMA Series for 500cc, they rolled that class’ points into the Trans-AMA tour later that fall for a grand total.
As for the 250 class, there was still some animosity between the AMA and Dye, the founder of the tour. So there would be no joint events; the AMA Motocross tour would run up until the Inter-Ams started on June 25 in Boise, Idaho, then rest until a single September finale at Talladega, Alabama. (And between national races in the summer was another pivotal moment in motocross history: the running of the first Superbowl of Motocross at the Los Angeles Coliseum, the first modern supercross race.)
The Pinole, CA native 'Bad' Brad Lackey took the 500cc AMA National title in 1972.
Photo: Wally Wallenberg
The AMA Nationals began on April 16 next to a road track for cars and bikes called Road Atlanta, right outside Atlanta. There were two championship classes that day, for the 500cc class and the 250cc class. The winners were both New Yorkers, both on Czech-made CZ motorcycles: Schenectady's Barry Higgons and Port Washington's Sonny DeFeo (Filter Publications Publisher Scott Wallenberg was there with his father to watch this historic race). The race was considered a modest success; it had nowhere near the star power of those epic Trans-AMA races, but it was a good start to something.
The second round was held three weeks later outside Memphis, Tennessee, with the same two winners, Higgins and DeFeo. Next came the Cal-Expo event held at the Cal-Expo Fairgrounds, and it was won by Swedish transplant Gunnar Lindstrom, a Husqvarna factory rider in the 250 class. NorCal rider “Bad” Brad Lackey would take the 500cc class, his first win on the march to the title.
Here's an interesting side story to the 1972 event in Sacramento. It was not held at the Hangtown facility in Plymouth, CA . Nor were the Dirt Diggers the promoter. It was held at the Cal-Expo Fairgrounds in conjunction with an actual fair. Race winner Gunnar Lindstrom remembers extreme heat, very dusty, and no elevation changes. The pits were in dry grass and a fire broke out! And the trivia question of the day...who was the promoter? None other than the father of Supercross Mike Goodwin.
Racers followed at such soon-to-be-famous SoCal tracks as Saddleback (Orange) and Carlsbad, a pair of legendary tracks won by future AMA Hall of Famers Gary Jones (Yamaha) and Jim Pomeroy (Bultaco) in the 250 class, while Lackey kept winning aboard his CZ in the 500cc class.
Swedish import Gunnar Lindstrom brought star-power to the series.
Of the rest of eight-round “standalone” 500cc races, Lackey would win all but one, losing only to fellow CZ rider Wyman Priddy in Washington, Indiana. A bigger story was Lackey’s switch from CZ to Kawasaki for the last round, handing the class title to the Japanese brand that was just getting started in motocross here in the States. Gary Jones and Bultaco-mounted Gary Bailey would exchange wins in the last four 250 races, but the Yamaha-backed Jones had the upper hand in the final rankings and became the first true AMA Motocross Champion in the 250cc class.
Jones added to his laurels by also taking the overall in the Inter-Am Series, which also incorporated 250cc equipment but was struggling at that time to attract top international talent. While European stars like the veteran Torsten Hallman and fellow Swedes Arne Kring, Hakan Anderson, and Arne Lindfors took race wins, Jones and his 16-year-old counterpart Marty Tripes each took wins—Tripes in the first Los Angeles Coliseum race aboard a Yamaha—signaling the growing competitiveness of the young Americans.
For the 500cc class, their results kept going as the Trans-AMA tour got rolling on its own—and then ran into the buzzsaw of European greats like Ake Jonsson, Roger DeCoster, and Heikki Mikkola, who shut the Americans out of the podium, let alone the winner’s circle.
When all was said and done, Brad Lackey was the lead American by far. Runner-up in the standings—based on his performances in the Trans-AMA tour, for which he jumped over to a German-made Maico motorcycle since Yamaha was not yet making big-bore bikes—was Gary Jones.
All told, the first AMA Motocross Championship was enough of a success to bring it back for 1973. The Hangtown Classic outside Sacramento has remained on the schedule every year since, albeit at a new racing facility. As for the champions, Gary Jones and Brad Lackey, their names grace the trophies given to the championship-winning OEM each season to display for one year, Jones in the 250 class (which now resides at GEICO Honda following Trey Canard's win last year) and Lackey in the 500 class (and currently on display at Rockstar/Makita Suzuki based on Ryan Dungey's 2010 championship in Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross).
1972 AMA 500cc Motocross Championship
4/16 Atlanta, GA Barry Higgins, Schenectady, NY CZ
5/7 Memphis, TN Barry Higgins, Schenectady, NY CZ
5/14 Sacramento, CA Brad Lackey, Pinole CA CZ
5/21 Orange, CA Brad Lackey, Pinole, CA CZ
5/28 Carlsbad, CA Brad Lackey, Pinole, CA CZ
6/11 Washington, IN Wyman Priddy, Ft. Worth, TX CZ
6/18 Lake Tahoe, NV Brad Lackey, Pinole, CA CZ
9/2 Talladega, AL Brad Lackey, Pinole, CA Kaw
1972 AMA 500cc National Standings
- Brad Lackey, Pinole, CA 2030
- Gary Jones, Hacienda Heights, CA 829
- Wyman Priddy, Ft. Worth, TX 750
- Rich Thorwaldson, Cerritos, CA 726
- Jim Pomeroy, Yakima, WA 665
- Bryan Kenny, Cleveland, OH 582
- Jim Weinert, Middletown, NY 542
- Mike Runyard, West Covina, CA 513
- Gary Chapin, Cayucos, CA 496
- Mark Blackwell, Mission Viejo, CA 480
1972 AMA 250cc Motocross Championship
4/16 Atlanta, GA Sonny DeFeo, Port Washington, NY CZ
5/7 Memphis, TN Sonny DeFeo, Port Washington, NY CZ
5/14 Sacramento, CA Gunnar Lindstrom, Sweden Hus
5/21 Orange, CA Jim Pomeroy, Yakima, WA Bul
5/28 Carlsbad, CA Gary Jones, Hacienda Heights, CA Yam
6/11 Washington, IN Gary Bailey, Torrance, CA Bul
6/18 Lake Tahoe, NV Gary Jones, Hacienda Heights, CA Yam
9/2 Talladega, AL Gary Bailey, Torrnace, CA Bul
1972 AMA 250cc National Standings
- Gary Jones, Hacienda Heights, CA 995
- Jim Weinert, Middletown, NY 781
- Gunnar Lindstrom, Sweden 775
- Peter Lampuu, Finland 430
- Bob Grossi, Brookdale, CA 430
- Mike Runyard, West Covina, CA 428
- Bill Cooke, Carlton, OR 376
- Robert Harris, Windsor, NY 373
- Sonny DeFeo, Port Washington, NY 310
- Tony Wynn, Sherwood, AR 304
2011 MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Is that Tommy Hahn in the background with Gary Jones??
I would love to know more about the Lake Tahoe event... Does anyone know anything about it? Never knew there was even a track up there....
We are gonna see the 450's get out of third gear....woooooohooooooo! so excited for the outdoors!
Nice to take a trip down memory lane. Reading magizines such as Popular Cycling ,Modern Cycle, Dirt Cycle,and Cycle World had me stripping the lights off my 1970 Suzuki TC 90 and making a track in my pasture, then getting my first real mx bike, 74 Suzuki TM 125 Challenger, now forty years later I still read mx mags, RacerX my favorite, to follow what is still my favorite sport, my pasture track is better than ever and I still race on occation on my 08 Suzuki RMZ250 in the over 50 class. Motocross been verry verry good to me. Motocross Rules!
I was in a race in the mid-'70s and lapped Higgins. Then I went down to Florida (Higgins lived in S. Georgia) and he lapped me! LOL! I traveled down there with hardpack tires, not knowing that the track was sand. What a difference the right tire makes!
It was nice to see Tony Wynn's name. What a cool guy. I remember him schooling everybody at the Houston Astrodome, showing them something they'd never seen - what I affectionately call an "Arkansas Start," because all the pros in Arkansas knew how to do it and did it at every race. The AMA changed the starting gate setup promptly after that so nobody else could do it. Most tracks in America gradually changed their starting gate setups so people couldn't do an Arkansas Start. Credit Tony Wynn for taking it mainstream.
How cool will it be for us old school moto dudes to take a 40-year trip down amnesia lane? If this doesn't get you in the mood, you better find a new girlfriend!
I just want to say that I think Mike Runyard is a great guy, and I'm bummed that they changed the rules on him and snatched the national title from him. True, Karsmakers came over and won on points. Karsmakers should rightfully receive the title. But when the rules said one thing and they changed them up to take the title away from the guy who played by the rules, I can feel for the man. He never complained though, not that I know of. Seems like Runyard dropped off the face of the racing Earth after that. He became a very accomplished Hollywood stunt man, stunt coordinator etc. I never did like it how he was practically somehow inadvertently portrayed as a bad guy for almost taking the title when everybody only wanted the points leader, Karsmakers, to receive it. Runyard didn't do anything wrong. It had to be a heartbreaker though.
Oh yeah! One more thing. It's Peter Lamppu, not Lampuu.
Great article! Fantastic job! Those were really special times, I wish there were full-on films that could really capture the flavor of those days. There's no way for people nowadays to feel it in color and imagine riding those bikes when they were the trickest thing ever seen on Earth.
Whatever they feel about those days, somebody 40 years from now will feel the same way about our top national pros and their bikes from 2011.
Jairtime, good eye, my bad! I typed this up on the airplane out west last night and missed that. Peter once taught a motocross school at Appalachia Lake after the Inter-Am there on his Montesa. It was pretty damned cool.... Thanks for reading this, guys.
Tomorrow, 1973 and the arrival of the Elsinores!
DC
MX Sports
I too am intrigued by the fact that there was a National at Lake Tahoe. This is the first time I've heard of it and I grew up in the area and still reside there. Do you have any more info on that race Davey?
Great article!
Davey, That is a great article! Thank you for the education! tw
Great article Davey! Keep the memories flowing!
DC - - Kudos on the excellent article. Interesting side note about the 1972 AMA season: Defending 500 #1 plate-holder Mark Blackwell, along with the incredible Bob Grossi (and Billy Clements I think) were racing the 500 GP's in Europe on very trick factory-prepped Husqvarnas. And their team manager in europe? Rolf Tibblin.
Nice DC ! This article brought a smile to my face, thanks. .Should of showed the Lackey picture when he was rocking the peace dove.
JImM
Thanks!! What a fun read Davey. Looking forward to more. Love our history.
Who is the guy next to Gary Jones with the Camel Toe?
How many guys remember the name Bill Silverthorn. In 1966 Edison Dye gave him and a guy named Malcom Smith the first two Husqvarnas in the US. Two years later , 1968 later Bill became one of the the first two Americans to compete in Europe. Later that year Mr Dye brought Robert and that crew over and motocross exploded.
JimM
Thanks, DC! Remember how Lamppu was known in Europe for being the fastest rider anywhere in foggy conditions? I remember reading about him going faster through heavy fog, where you can hardly see your front fender, than anybody else. Seems like they said he was 20 mph faster than the other guys, and they wondered how he could still see.
Those Montesas were just beautiful, I loved the looks of that Cappra 250 VR (Vekhonen Replica).
I started racing before the Elsinores came out, and what a special time for those of us lucky enough to be racing at that time to see Honda turn motocross upside down with the CR125 and CR250! Can't wait to see your article!
Great Stuff DC! I love that old stuff.... Keep it coming! Vintage rocks!
Davey, very interesting and compelling read. I did not know about the race at Cal-Expo in Sacramento, which was the same facility that was shown during "On Any Sunday" as the Dirt trackers raced for the #1 plate, and Jim Rice going down in turn one during heat race action, which I was at that day as a kid in the stands. Cal-Expo is also hosting one of the Dirt Track Mile events this year, during the Grand National Series. Also I did not know about the Jones and Lackey O.E. trophy that goes to the winner of each class of the years.
Good job Davey, hadn't heard the names or thought about a couple of those guys for years! Looking forward to the rest of the stories.
I had no idea Brad Lackey was on a Kawasaki for only one race of his title run that year - a bit like two years later when Marty Tripes was on a Husqvarna for most of the 250 national series, then signed with Can-Am - give the Canadian brand credt for his 2nd place in the series.
Anyone know anything about the track in Washington, IN? had no clue about a national that big in IN.
It's going to be live on Fuel but not Speed? I don't even get Fuel, that sucks. Guess I'll have to watch the one on alli...
The sacramento Mile in on any sunday was at the old state fairgrounds sacramento off Stocktom blvd... 1970.. I remember because we climbed up the trees to the second level window to get in free.. As for Cal Expo Pro Motocross it was actually just behind Cal Expo state fairgrounds in the river basin around a small lake. I grew up in River Park just across the river so the American River was our riding area.. We even took the first motorcycle trip around the Calexpo mile one night when under construction till the worker lights came on.. . I rode the Cal Expo Amature day on my friends 360CZ that had siezed up rear shocks and later in my race the axle shifted and lost the rear brake . The power was fun but it landed like a ton of bricks.. The lake tahoe Mx race was held in Carnelian bay Sand pit on the north shore .. It had a massive uphill start. I remember I ended up in the 250 nov class that had all the fast guys so only placed 5th... Had to rejet to even make my DT2MX yamaha run... Great times.. specialed
Good read DC. Brings back many thoughts of my MX beginnings!
good read, I also don't get fuel tv, sure don't need to see bubbles distrubed world, why put the nationals on that network, give them to speed, probably be much better broadcast
yes DC what a good read! Also now I think I know who the old guys are on the posts here. I started racing in 72 on a 100cc Yamaha green tank enduro with nobby tires. could not keep that stock air filter on so bike kept breaking. Finnaly put an old green foam "sock" filter on and got my first trophy 5th place on that peice of wore out junk at Quincy Ill.against the pentons and Hodoka's and such. I still have that trophy.
PS: I think I still have that Dirt Cycle mag in a box somewhere.
Excellent article. I just missed Hangtown in Plymouth by 1 year and have been to every Hangtown National at its current location ( Prairie City ) and will be there again this yr. Look forward to more articles, THNX Davey
p.s. image standing on the edge of a National track that only had ribbon stretched between wooden stakes, people actually created the track outline, and actually getting roosted lap after lap, so b!tchin !!! The smell in the morning when 1st practices started, the BEST!
Thanks gang, and Fuel is where the first moto will air live, as well as live at http://www.allisports.com, so if you don't get Fuel, and you're chatting here, you can certainly get to see them online! The second motos will be split between SPEED and NBC, and if you live in Europe, Australia or Brazil, or even Israel, you will see them live on various channels.... MotorsTV in Europe biggest of all there.
Thanks for reading these. I am working on 1973 right now with some extremely rare photos...
DC
MX Sports
DC, Nicely done - great insight.... and with Wyman Priddy's win - Texans were put on the moto-map!
Gary Jones worked construction for my uncle years after his MX Championships and the AMMEX experiment. I recently became reaquainted at a race at Glen Helen and what a nice, genuine guy! Some things don't ever change! I'm very happy for him & his that the industry has a place for him because we all owe that family a debt of gratitude.
A big difference from today's "mini dads" and other dysfunctional Moto-families.
DC, I think you're on to something here. This article / series is going to be a Home Run!
Lots of guys who've welded frames, sanded points and brazed shocks are going to love the next few days.........While it was my father that was part of this generation, I thoroughly enjoyed being a wide-eyed child in this era. Great time to be alive!
Great read!! Just a little before my time, I started when I was 9 in '75 on a Kawasaki G4TR100, great little bike!! The only 2 things from that era I don't miss are points and drum brakes!!!
I was just thinking, do any other stick and ball sports publication ever go into the history of their sports like that of MX. I am sure there is some publications that do this, but I do not read them as intensly as I read about MX and of-road. Keep up the good work Davy, Thanks