by Davey Coombs
The List: Ten Best Texans
Friday, March 30, 2012 | 3:30 PM
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With Monster Energy AMA Supercross deep in the heart of Texas this weekend, we thought we would revisit the 10 Best Texans motocross has ever known. With the help of longtime Texas race-watcher Shand Garcia of Holeshot Magazine, here's what we came up with. To check out all of these guys’ career outdoor national results, check out Racer X Online's Vault.
1.) Kent Howerton The “Rhinestone Cowboy” was a three-time AMA Motocross Champion, winning his first title in 1976 on a Husqvarna and the last two on Suzukis. Howerton was also a Trans-AMA Series Champion, as well as a member of some early versions of Team USA. He's a Motorcycle Hall of Famer, as well as the rider credited with bringing the technique of slipping the clutch out of corners to motocross.
2.) Steve Wise He was a privateer who beat both Bob Hannah and Marty Smith at a 125 National in 1976, then become a factory rider with Honda, then quit motocross at a relatively early age to go road racing, winning a Superbike race there as well! Many consider Wise to be one of the most versatile riders in all of motorcycling.
Hall of Famer Kent Howerton back in 1977.
Racer X Archives photo
3.) Steve Stackable “Short Stack” won the 1975 AMA 500cc Supercross Championship, scoring four outdoor national wins while riding for an assortment of brands, including Maico, Suzuki, and Kawasaki. Stackable held top-ten national numbers for five straight years.
4.) Wyman Priddy The “Father of Texas Motocross,” reports Garcia. Priddy was the first Texan to become a factory rider, as well as the first Texan to win an outdoor national. The Fort Worth native scored his win at the Washington, Indiana, round of the 1972 AMA 500cc National Motocross Championship.
5.) Blake Wharton He's a current rider for Rockstar Energy and the only rider in Lone Star State history to win a Supercross Lites main event—something he has now done twice, including the Indianapolis SX just a few weeks back. He's also the only rider on this list who will compete in tomorrow night's Houston SX.
6.) Kyle Cunningham Another incredibly fast young rider, Cunningham ended last summer as the fifth-ranked 250cc rider in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. While this season has been a mess so far—he has been the victim of too many bumps and bruises along the way to show his full potential—the Star Racing/VMS Yamaha rider has a lot of good races ahead of him and should be back up to speed for the outdoors.
Steve Wise finished a close second to Howerton as the best Texan.
Racer X Archives photo
7.) Danny Storbeck While some fans will remember the very fast Storbeck for the unfortunate collision with Ricky Johnson at the '89 Gatorback National that ended RJ's reign as America's best rider, Danny actually finished the 250 National fifth that day. He's also the only person ever to win three classes at one Loretta Lynn's Amateur National, as the rules were changed the next year.
8.) Dennis Hawthorne He's the OG King of Arenacross racing. Hawthorne was a very fast man back in the day, and he found a great niche for himself in Mike Kidd's fledgling National Arenacross Series, where he won multiple championships.
9.) Jeff Dement Another incredibly fast Texan, Dement rates as one of the all-time fastest minicycle racers. But his early career was fraught with injuries, and he ended up racing in Europe for much of his later years in pro motocross.
10.) Charley Bogard This kid was Ricky Carmichael's nemesis on 80s! Charley also rates high on the list of all-time fastest minicycle racers, but he couldn’t stay healthy when he turned pro, and his career results do not reflect his true potential.
And some honorable mentions: Jason Langford, Grayson Goodman, David McClain, Kirk Spencer, Jody Foust, Bobby Pickard, Dan Conway, Terry Tinney.... There are too many to list!
You may be thinking, what about Matt Lemoine? Just like Texas transplant Trampas Parker, he's a Louisiana born rider so when we get to that list, you'll be sure to see his name.
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You missed the fastest 125 rider in the state during the early to mid 70s and that was Danny Doss from Fort Worth. Danny was a pleasure to watch ride his 125 Elsinore prepped by George Banke, who may have been the first one to build a "snake pipe" before up pipes became the norm. Danny rode in a smooth, controlled style but his throttle was absolutely pinned. In about 1975 Danny took his Banke prepped Honda to 7th at Evil Knievel's Snake River race and 7th at the Mid Ohio 125 GP. I feel sure that Danny would have moved to a factory ride if not for a broken femur at the Azle track near Fort Worth.
Wise is the only rider to win AMA Pro MX, SX, and Road Racing events. He also has at least one podium (Houston TT) in GNC dirt track. Pretty versatile indeed.
Left out Rob Van Winkle.....ICE ICE BABY!
Like DC said; Texas is definitely one of those states with WAY too many fast guys to list, but at a quick glance, the name that jumped out at me for at least an honorable mention is Billy Whitley! He had a pretty good career racing and like someone else I know, had an even better one after as a team manager ;-) He accomplished a lot in AX, both on and off the track (and SX too).
Paul
That's a good list, but there were a ton of guys that could've been in the honorable mention column from the 80's and early 90's. By the way, Hawthorne is still kicking our over 40 asses in Oklahoma. Wish they would put a last sentence on these lists for each guy about what are they doing now.
When are they gonna do the ten fastest riders from Rhode Island?
No Jody Weisel? He DID win a CMC #1 plate in the '80's............
@ SmartypantS, do they have ten guys that rode motorcycles in R.I.???
Having seen Howerton, Stackable and Wise race many times (especially the first two), I would've rated Stackable ahead of Wise, but the blurb on Wise in the article is still pretty impressive. And although your 'Vault' could be wrong, I doubt it, as I was a big Stackable fan (growing up 30 miles south of Austin), and I don't think he ever won a championship (you say he won the 500 title in 1975). The Vault says he finished well numerous years, which I remember, but never #1 in any class.
http://vault.racerxonline.com/rider/steve-stackable/points
I guess we now know carlsbad is Jody Weisel. He did make it in cycle news (a photo) racing on a road course while he still lived in Texas I think.
I guess we now know carlsbad is Jody Weisel. He did make it in cycle news (a photo) racing on a road course while he still lived in Texas I think.
woah woah woah... where is Josh Demuth...?
Great stuff guys. Steve Wise was always my favorite but Rhinestone Cowboy was my first Texas hero, drew a pic of him in high school that I still have. In later years, Steve Wise came onto my radar, won a bet at Unadilla when he won the GP over Hannah. I did Kent's pic one better,helped Steve write his biography, :-) you will be pleasantly surprise d when you read it. And inspired too.
Hey a pretty good job on the listing there DC, Although I might put Hawthorne above just because I think Dennis placed in the top 10 iin National points mmore years than Storbeck. Now I gotta go to your (had a Perry moment) site with all of the national listings to check that out.
When I came down from MO. in the fall of 73 I think it was, to race the TLC 5000, I was pretty impressed with the people that showed up racing. Yes I think ya could have lmentioned a few more for honorable mention ya there have been a few fast people from TX..
Mark Rakestraw was from Arkansas, he moved to TX in the early 80's Van Winkle won the GNC Tx series in the 125 intermideate class. I think it was 78j not sure but there were some pretty fast gus in that class. So he tell everyone he won a national championship?
So i raced against the likes of Hawethorne, Whitley, Cooper, Tinney, Langford, ect... in the mid 80's You guys totally whiffed on Carroll Richardson who anytime he showed up destroyed everyone!
I believe Josh Demuth hails from Ohio and then moved to Texas. He is in the same boat as Lemoine and Trampas Parker -- spent much of his life in Texas but he wasn't born there, and that's what the list was about (sorry I did not clarify better in the intro). Thanks again to Shand Garcia for the help!
DC
MX Sports
I believe Josh Demuth hails from Ohio and then moved to Texas. He is in the same boat as Lemoine and Trampas Parker -- spent much of his life in Texas but he wasn't born there, and that's what the list was about (sorry I did not clarify better in the intro). Thanks again to Shand Garcia for the help!
DC
MX Sports
You forgot Hunter Hewitt!
I used to practice with Dennis Hawthorne and Terry Tinney at the Lake Grapevine ORV area. (Actually I rode the same direction on the tracks they laid out, cutting the track numerous times to keep them in sight!lol) I will vouch for them as wicked fast. And they better watch out, cuz I'm over 50 now and still riding, and I might cut the track and keep them in sight again!:)... Don Buckner (ASA Pilot)
DC - - I think its a little premature to put Wharton and Cunnigham in the top 5-10 - - their careers need to play out more, much like Hunter Hewitt and the other Texas youngsters coming up. Danny Doss and Jeff Dement should be listed ahead of them at least. Howerton is not only Texas' (although he is originally from Colorado I think) greatest MX racer, he is also one of America's greatest MX racers period. Jim Myerson from the OC P.S. No JodyCross Action...? He was a Hodaka factory rider you know.....