by Nick McCabe
Where Are They Now: Rex Staten
Thursday, June 9, 2011 | 12:00 PM
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In the July issue of Racer X Illustrated, Harry Klemm wrote an article called “Building The Imperfect Beast,” about his attempt to build a competitive CZ 400 for Rex Staten at the 1975 Carlsbad USGP. As a way to continue that story, we tracked down Staten for this week’s Where Are They Now.
First things first: Rex Staten was a bad dude. He had a reputation as a tough competitor who never backed down. That rep was well earned, as he also spent time as a boxer and wasn’t afraid to throw a punch or two. He had a long career and was hitting the vet scene—and making money—long after his competitors had hung up their leathers.
Racer X: Rocket Rex, what’s going on?
Rex Staten: Not too much! Just sitting out here on a job site waiting for the inspector to come through and give us the green light to move forward. Today I’m working at Keiser Hospital on a build-out.
I understand you’re a plumber and a member of the union, is that correct?
Yes, that is correct. After I quit racing in 2000, I knew I had to do something, and so I started working as an electrician. That’s what my father did, but then I moved over the plumbing side of things pretty quick. Today, I’m a master plumber and pipe fitter with the Murray Company. They’re based in L.A., but we have job sites all over Southern California.
Staten had a reputation as a tough competitor who never backed down.
A friend says of all the hundreds of employees, you’re the toughest and hardest-working guy they have.
Well, I like to work circles around the kids. They can be a little lazy, sitting around with their cell phones and whatever else. I go in and get the work done—quick. Since I joined the union, they told me about the opening at Murray, and ever since then, it’s been go, go, go. I’ve been busting chops and taking names ever since!
Tell me a little bit about how you got started racing.
Well, I started when I was 13 years old. Basically, we would go out to the desert and camp as a family. My dad would go out and do all these big rides with his buddies. I started to get dialed in 1968 on an Ossa Supersport. Shortly thereafter, my dad said we should check out the races in Oak Hills at this place called The Club. He didn’t want me to race, but I convinced him to let me bring my bike I ended up winning that first race. From that day on, all I wanted to do was race.
You won your first race?
Yup. I had a bad start too! My dad, he tried to discourage me from racing, but I was relentless. I just kept riding and going. I also kept breaking the bikes. After a few years I got on a Maico, along with Gaylon Mosier and Rich Eierstedt. That was my first big ride.
Didn’t you have a factory Honda ride at one point as well?
Yes. In the early 1970s I was between Maico and CZ. Honda picked me up in ’74, which was the real early years for the CRs. Things were changing so quick. I won a moto at Daytona that year but then got in a first-turn crash in the second moto. But I was feeling good and went to Hangtown thinking I could win that first national. I won the first moto there and just beat everyone. But the second moto was the same thing, a crash in the first turn. I broke the pipe, rode to the pits, fixed it, and then started the race two laps down. I rode my ass off trying to make up time, but that didn’t work out—I was just too far behind. But man, I gave it hell that day and wanted that win.
Staten spent time with factory Honda in 1974.
What was it like to ride those early factory Honda race bikes?
They were good, but like all bikes back then, they broke. Honda also built me a four-stroke factory bike but I broke that thing as well. I went to Evel Knievel’s Snake River race and finished second. But then, at the next race, which was held at Honda Hills in Ohio, I broke the frame. Steve Whitelock was my mechanic, and he told me that I should ride lighter, but I just told ’em to make better bikes.
Then in 1975 my ankles were all jacked up and I was out of a ride. I rode as a privateer on a CZ and got a few factory rides with them. That’s when Harry built that bike for the story in your magazine. But at the coliseum that year, I was leading and went off the bike and over the handlebars. That crash made ABC’s Wide World of Sports and was featured on the opening sequence for like ten years with that whole “agony of defeat” thing. But I still managed to finish seventh that night, and Jimmy Ellis got the win.
You also rode for Harley-Davidson for a few years. How did that compare to the other bikes of the time?
Harley came in 1976. I was going to sign with Yamaha that year—they had good bikes and all—but then my dad got in a fistfight with the team manager down at Corona Raceway and that didn’t happen. The team manager kept going out on the track while I was racing, and my dad kept telling him to stay off the track. He didn’t know who he was, and they came to blows over it. So no Yamaha factory ride for me. The Harleys were okay but not great. They broke as well. But then in 1978, we did get some bikes from Yamaha and I was winning the Golden States. Then we went to nationals [on Yamahas] and I got a full ride after Mike Bell got hurt. The first race on the bike, I won. That ’78 YZ was so damn good—riding it was like cheating. Yamaha then hired me for the full 1980 season. I won Daytona that year, but then [Kent] Howerton landed on my shoulder and jacked me all up. I was ready to sort him out the following weekend at New Orleans, but then I got real hurt doing some TV work for Yamaha during the week and was done for the season.
Staten not only raced in America, but Australia and South Africa towards the end of his career.
At that point, your American career was starting to fizzle, but you went on to race for a long time and earned some good money, right?
Yeah. In 1981 I got a deal in Australia to race there. Then, in 1982, I went to South Africa and raced there from 1982 through the 1985 season.
How was the money back then?
It was good, but nothing like it is today. In 1974, when I rode for Honda, I made $75,000. Back then, that was good money, as you could buy a house for $20K. I always made a few bucks, but did real good when I raced in South Africa. I had a contract for $150,000 per year plus win money that paid me $3,000 per win. By that time I was getting up there in age, so that was good money for me. But back then, there were times that I rode three classes a day—and that’s when the motos were forty minutes! But when you’re in good shape, it’s no big deal.
So you came home at the end 1985 and retired?
Well, no. I stopped for the 1986 season but then came back 1987. Broc Glover loaned me an old bike and I started riding again. I went to the Vet World Championship and won, and I starting hitting all the big vet races and good contingency races. By 1993 I was doing off-road and desert stuff with Team Green while running a little shop called Rocket Rex Racing. I did that all the way up to 2000, but then my stepson got hurt real bad while racing in the desert. I basically quit after that and decided it was time to move on. But I won my last race on one of those VOR 503s. I’ve been off the bike around eleven years now.
Wow, you had a long career! That’s pretty intense, considering you were at the very top level.
I turned pro at 16 and went until I was 46. I had over 2,000 professional wins in my career, if you can believe that. You know, I was thinking about coming back. Ronnie Lechien took me out riding not too long ago but my hip was really bothering me. If I can get that replaced, I might just come back, but we’ll see. The hip, it hurts like hell, and I don’t take no pain pills or anything—I just leave it and deal with the natural pain. Riding was too much for it, though.
Do you still do any training to stay in shape?
For sure. I ride a mountain bike almost every night. I quit training for eleven years but recently started up again. I want to get down to 190 pounds, then I might make a sneak comeback. I’ve lost 20 pounds so far and have been doing some mountain bike racing. I gotta tell you, that stuff is absolute hell, man. Those guys can really pedal. All those little scrawny guys go buzzing past you on the hills!
Where are you living now?
Right now I have my house and shop out in Apple Valley, but when I come down to work during the week I stay in Fontana with my mom. She’s 82 and I help her out a lot around the house. Also, there’s good mountain biking in the area as well, so I can ride after work. But I drive into L.A. every day or wherever the work takes me.
What’s your opinion on racing today?
I went to Anaheim and Phoenix this year. That Stewert guy needs to think a little more and not be so berserky with his riding. I’m not sure what he’s thinking. Why would you want to come out and do a big endo when you’re leading and obviously so much faster than everyone else? One thing I have to say is that back in our day, we rode and raced everything. Back then, if they were giving away a free tire to the winner, I raced for it! The sport has changed a lot, though. Today the bikes are really good compared to what we had. But I see that a lot of the kids are spoiled. But they can make a lot of money, so that’s good for them, I guess. It seems like a lot of them want to party. I don’t drink and don’t smoke and have never touched that stuff. Kids get involved in that stuff and it goes to hell real quick.
It also seems like today kids run wild. Parents come home from work and are tired and don’t want to deal with the kid, let alone take him or her riding. And today, if you spank a kid because he was acting up, you could go to jail. When I was growing up, my dad said, “I took you into the world, and I’ll take you out.” And you know what, I was scared shitless of him. And it went both ways. My competitors were scared of me and thought I was crazy. That wasn’t the case—it was just that I was real serious, and for sure tough. If I came up to a slower rider, I would scream and yell to get out of my way, and if he didn’t, I would hit him.
Staten is now living in Apple Valley, CA.
You raced all over the world during a time when the world was not as open as it is today. What are some of your favorite memories?
Man, I learned a lot, stuff like driving on the wrong side of the road and the metric system. In Africa, I would leave from my house down into the bush and ride. But I’ve seen it all, especially over there. The face shield, the makeup, all that stuff. Those people over there, they don’t take any shit. Also, all the bikes over in South Africa ran alcohol because of a fuel shortage. It took some serious work to get them to run right! Racing in Holland was very cool as well, as was pretty much all the European races.
Rex, thanks for your time.
Thanks. Motorcycles were good to me. I never got in trouble because of them. When I was 13, I said I would never have long hair or tattoos and that I would never drink. Even today, I have never done any of that stuff. When I won at Daytona, my hair was a little long, but that’s it. I’m older now and wouldn’t mind to do it again, but there’s no way my body could take it.
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Rocket Rex was one of the toughest racers ever! 2000 wins... wonder how long it would take any of the current racers to get there? Here's to hoping he can do a few more vet races!
WOW, Rex Staten. Far out - cool interview
Rex you are a true Americian Motocross Hero, old school and tough as nails.
Great memories of you and that CZ at Carlsbad USGP in 75. That CZ was a tank and weigh sometime like 240lbs. DeCoster's Suzuki was less than 200lbs. If I remember correct you pulled the holeshot and almost won that day against the world's best. 'The Rocket'
I shoulda used that Kawi launch control thingie
Great story on Rex in RX magazine. If my memeroy is correct I met Rex in the early days riding then a Pro Tec TT500 built Skip Clark and crew. Also saw him racing in Austrailia. Really enjoyed the story how Rex and Harrys struggles with the old CZs. The early day bikes were crude.
Nice touch with the 'Speedometer/Tach' look atop the old HD Forks.
Seriously though..., the original B@d@ss of American Motocross.
We still love ya, Rocket!
Where is Ernesto Fonseca Now! Haven't seen him in a while is he still with team Honda? Check-out the Cool Fonseca Model Bike Kit on Ebay, speaking of.
Watching Rex Staten back-in-the-day at muddy RED BUD Trans-AM, (76-77?), while standing outside a slow corner on the track, my buddies and I actually heard him yell at a lapper to let him by..., and it worked! He was feared, did intimidate others and whole a lot of fun to watch. Tenacious in the mud too.
The bike hes riding with the canisters on the forks isnt a HD, its a Yamaha. The YZ's came had them in 76, they had a hi and low side on them and they replaced the springs inside of the fork and kind of like Fox Shox they used air pressure as the spring. I never really cared for them but they sure looked trick!
Im sorry KG I was mistaken, that is a HD but those are the 1976 YZ canister forks on it. My Bad :)
I camped next to Rex at a desert race in Idaho in 1998. Him and his wife told stories all night at the fire. He said he almost died one time after a crash where he didn't go to the doctor for a day or two until it was almost to late. I think it was internal bleeding.
His wafe was really funny and his step son was there to.
I think that's Brad Zimmerman with his back to the camera with the "Popular Cycling" jacket on
Rex "Billy Jack" Staten almost punched me once. I think. In '76 those Harleys broke all the time, Rex had a reputation as hard on equipment, and a Cycle News article had speculated that maybe Rex wasn't the ideal candidate for Harley. He WAS hard on equipment and rode like a guy who was maybe meant to ride rodeo. Then again; since they (HD) were trying to develop/toughen up the MX bikes, perhaps he was the perfect guy. Maybe this was in his head when I asked my stupid question..... Race was (I think) a National in Kentucky. He broke in the first moto while doing well. Buddy and I are walking along between motos and Staten is too, crossing away just in front of us. I said, "Too bad, you were really flying out there," he thanked me without looking my way. What I said next I meant well, but it came out all sideways (hey, he was a big-time star) and it came out as "You think you will break that Harley again 2nd moto?" Oh man.... he wheeled around with an arm out and it looked pretty much like he was gonna wack me(us). My buddy believed enough to jump back and hit the ground. I didn't, mostly out of surprise, and because I thought that when he turned enough to see me he would realize I was quite a bit bigger. In retrospect, it probably wouldn't have mattered to Rex anyway, but that was why I just stood there not reacting. He kinda pulled up and stood there giving me an evil glare (and man, could he do evil glare. Dirty Harry could take lessons). Then he looks at my bud rolling on the ground, me trying to explain what I really meant, etc., just shook his head and walked away. As he walked away in his Harley leathers (pants), no shirt, and leather flat cowboy hat, it occurred to me that he was MX's "Billy Jack" and that I almost got my arse beat. Maybe.
Was lucky enough to watch Rex race at least 50 times at Saddleback. Rex, Jim West, Tarantino, Scott Gillman, Burnworth, Bell, Hannah, Ward. He was harder to get pass then a fat lady in line at McDonalds. Was very lucky to grow up near Saddleback and race and then watch some of the best local pro talent around. Once Hannah took him out in a corner. When the moto ended Bob had to swerve as Rex was holding a crescent wrench at the track exit to the pits. Rex never did like losing. He rode that Maico like a baddass. Always felt like he was the local guy taking on all the new kids coming up. You had to earn your stripes by beating the local legend Rocket Rex. You were the man Rex and it sounds like you still are.
Down here in Oz back in the early 80's I drove from Sydney to Brisbane ( about 1000kms) to watch one of the first Supercross races in Australia. Mike ( to tall ) Bell and Rex came out for it. They blew the Aussies of the track. It was the first time we had seen anyone go through woops three and four at a time. There was a straight up table top and Rex was jumping straight up the wall of it and letting go with both hands in the air which for that era was sensational. The heavens opened three quarters into the night and washed the track away. Great memories. Rex, Jimmy Ellis and the great Marty Moates came to Australia after that and stayed and raced in our National series.
They don't make em tougher then Rex! I just restore a HD mxer. Would love to have him sign it.
What a vicious animal. Brings tears to my eyes.
Ah the good ol days!!!!!!!!! When men were men and the bikes were junk. It really took alot of work to muscle those bikes around. They had plenty of speed and horse power, but didn't handle too well. Also those 500's had a lot of vibration. Your
hands would be trashed at the end of day. Some of those guys were animals out there. Its what it took! We have gotten spoiled with todays modern bikes, though I wouldn't trade them in for the bikes of yester year. Its cool to see some of you guys bringing up names and riding places of the past.
I kicked Rex's ass once...if you don't believe me, check out the link to watch (or listen, so since the video is kinda dark) he and I talking about it recently. It's actually pretty funny, I had him all worked up over it! Rex was as badass as it gets, on and off the track. We passed out some awards that we voted on in our Old SoCal Pros group and Rex pretty much swept them all! He won for "All time SoCal Badass", "Richard Ramirez Night Stalker" (for the rider most dominant at his local night track-Corona) and "Widest Bike" (for Hardest rider to pass). These awards were voted on by his peers, all of us guys that raced against him, and Rex beat out some tough opponents, most of whom were also at the party. Good times! Here's a link https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1340483071079
I was there at Corona that night when Bauer and Rex went at it-- Man, GOOD memories! I also saw Rex this year at A2- and he's still the same old Staten. Great article, thanks!
He used to come into town bang my sister and we would run on the beach for training...... I was like 10 years old. Oh the memories.
Rocket Rex was a true Bad A**! It was about winning not whining back then. Perfect Season? If you came close someone T-Bone you just to be the guy that prevented you from doing it. I think he was being too kind when he commented about the Harley's.
Thats just wrong about your sister
Mid Ohio Trans-Am, Marty Tripes and Rex Staten were the factory Harley-Davidson riders.I was a young teen roaming the pits between motos with a fake pit pass scoring autographs.I got Marty's autograph then asked him where Rex was ,Tripes grinned and said sorry we have to keep Rex in a CAGE between motos!Marty then took me back behind the team truck to Mr.Staten.It would not have surprised me to find Rocket Rex in a cage.Still have those Autographs.
Rocket Rex was and still is my favorite rider, and I would love to see him come back and try to kick my ass ! Bob Hanna !
Rocket Rex was a total badass back in the day. i raced against him many times at the CMC Saddleback and Carlsbad races and Friday nights at Corona raceway. i never beat him at the CMC races but i did manage to beat him twice for the overall at Corona. I think the main reason i beat him at Corona was because i knew if i didn't stay ahead of him he would take me out big time when he passed me. having Rocket Rex behind you was never a good thing.
Very cool and interesting interview!
By far the best interview in a long time!! 2000 wins damm!!
You had better double-up the panty liners if you plan to get into a first turn with Rocket Rex and Ron Lechien, and I don't care who YOU are, or how old THEY are.
Rex is definitely one of my heros ! Glad to hear he is healthy and happy !
Great Read!!
funny about the fake pit pass.... my dad and I were at a race and he wore his gear to get in the pits.... we hung out and he grabbed a beer and then walked over to a few people we knew including Bill West... the AMA official..... you can imagine how it went from there......
One night at (early '80's) Corona the pros left the gate, they held the intermediates for a long time. I knew before we left the gate they would be lapping us. I knew Rex was there and was going to move over after the corner, Fell right in front of him in the corner he ran inro my bike and fell and it cost him the overall vs. Zitterkopf I think. He never said anything to me but I a, still hoping to meet him someday. Andy was the nab when I raced intermediate. Vince McMahon when I raced pro.
**Andy was the man
Best interview...
Rex, we really do not want you back in the VET class anymore! LOL !
I saw Rex and his wife @ a MTB race this last weekend... she killed it in the woman's class.. P.S. he still is a bad dude after all these years...
Good read on a great person!!! I raced that Golden State Series in '78 as a novice, Rex was on top his game!!! He used All of the track and seemed intimidating to say the least!! good to hear he's doing well!
Thanks Rex, you did wonders for South African MX, as a 15 year old watching you smoke the South Africans was awsome, looks like Tyla is retuning the favour. It would be good to have more american riders come over to SA and ride, always good to watch you guys.
Always liked Rex, The Harley thing is most memorable to me. My parents were all Harley folks. I rode the "jap junk", think it was 78 when the harley 250 rolled into the showroom. They hurried me to cement city Harley to get one . Id read all the tests on it. They weren't good. I rode it around the parking lots and gave it back, said no thank you. Looking back it was the dumbest move I made. Shoulda took it, Some cat named spider wilson took two and cheery picked niles sports forum all yr. I found myself in the USMC shorty after.
In "96 I raced the vet pro class at Mammoth. Rex Staten lined up right next to me and he kept leaning over his bike pretending to check something, but really he was just leaning against me, trying to intimidate me. I have to admit, I was intimidated! Once the gate dropped, he was gone, I never saw him again!
Awesome article Rex!! I miss seeing alot of these types of reads as we had a ton of really great guys back in the day that are still very inspiring to hear from!! Any chance I could reach you somewhow...e-mail...etc??
I would love to talk to you sometime...congrats on keeping life real all these years pal!
"Rocket Rex" Staten, the toughest motocross racer of all time, bar none. Rocket Rex is the best! 2nd is Hekki Mikkola, 3rd Hakan Carlqvist, and...
Great interview! When I was 12 I was selling newpaper subscriptions to earn money to buy my first pair of leathers. Our group was selling in the Fontana area one day when I walked up to this house with a garage full of bikes, etc. Turned out to be Statens. When I told his mom why I was selling newspaper subscriptions she was so nice and tried to find some leathers in the garage that would fit me but they were all way too big. Typical moto mom though trying to help out! Nice lady!
rocket rex wheelied around saddleback start hill@wheelied down banzai hill,ill never forget that--on a maico i think-not even stewart would try that-=- 60 years in racing your in my top 5
I remember when Rex Staten was racing here in South Africa, man he was quick, he dominated two years in a row and was only stopped when fellow American riders Jim Tarantino, Larry Wosick and Brian Meyerscough moved here and plyed their trade on the South African scene. He was a bad ass :)
Brett Richmond Natal Province South Africa
My name is James Filippi ... I grew up in Fontana on Etiwanda Avenue in 70's and I remember Rex Staten used to ride where my brothers and I would ride once in awhile ... and man was Rex incredible with his bikes ... fastest motocrosser I had ever seen... smooth too! Real Fast! ... I wanted to also note a motocrosser named Tim Hoover who my brothers and I grew up with in Upland, CA along with his brothers Jim and Donny ... Tim Hoover was absolutely incredible and in my opinion Tim was way before his time... Wow... at Corona Raceway... I do not think I ever saw Tim Hoover lose one race! Really... not one race do I remember him loosing... The last race that I was told about that Tim was in was in Mammoth where George Baker told me (who I think George was in the race in Mammoth also and George was not slow either! )... George told me ... "Tim was fast that day and Yamaha was about to sign him... he lapped the field up to seventh place and won the first moto! ... and in the second moto was run over in turn 1 and broke his neck"... I was extremely sad to hear this because we all knew Tim Hoover was as fast if not faster than the Bob Hannah's or Broc Glover's of the world! We knew he was!
I remember at Hangtown in the mid or early 1990's I was video taping the event and my camera DNF'd during practice. Rex let me borrow his camera for the race. His camera DNF'd during the second moto. I was way too chicken to tell him at the end of the race. And since he was a bit tired from racing I didn't want to bother him with the details I just put the camera back in its case and kinda snuck away. I knew it was wrong but I was sure he would have punched my face in. I had to live with this for a year as I avoided him at the 3 or 4 races we both were at in that year. The following Hangtown I knew I had to come clean so I went to his pit area and told him I really needed to talk to him. We went off to the side of his van and I told him I had broken his camera the year before and I wanted to make it right. He looked me in the eye and then just started laughing. Apparently he never noticed or it really hadn't broken so he thought it was kinda funny. I said to him, "So your not gonna sock me up?" He started laughing again and says, "No. So do you need to use it again?" I looked at him and shook my head and replied, "Hell NO!" You just don't know terror until you spend a year looking over your shoulder wondering when he's gonna pop up get you!!! True story. Rex, you are #1 and you will be forever.