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My first ride back after my broken neck. So pumped! That is Dennis Stapelton of "Motocross Action Magazine" MXA in the red hat.
My first new bike a '77 Suzuki TS 100 Dual Sport.
My first AX. You had to race either Pro or Am. I was in their with some heavy hitters from the Int. class. I made the main!
Stopping off at Valley Cycle Supply. The owner worked with my Dad at GM, and was influential in getting us started. That's my first new truck! A Toyota 4X4. They were the rage back then. Thats my bro E.J. We had our '83 RM's in the back on the way to PAL Track in Santa Clara.
This is the "MOTOFLY" Magazine Van. Our logo was all yellow & black. In this pic we had just gotten the graphics painted. The "Logo" was applied later. It just happen to be that I was racing Suzuki's in '99 & the paint scheme matched...This pic was taken in a "Private Practice" session at the HANGTOWN National track in early '99.
Baylands Raceway '88. The last year they were open. I'm glad to say, I raced the last race there. A GP format. Thats my set up that year. A '72 K5 Chevy full removable top & My Pro Trac trailer, another '80's Rage.
Airtime on the '99 Zuke.
Dinner over the '82 World Champs house. I wasn't about to leave without a pic with his FIM Award & the lid that he sported throughout the year. Bad Brad Lackey is one of the Fathers of the whole "Vintage Movement".
Face to face with the former East Coast 125 SX Champ & better know as "Junkyard Dog', the Ageless wonder & I did an interview under the Factory tent Sunday morning at the '99 Hangtown National.
A million thoughts go through your head when something of this magnitude happens to you! I had just broken my neck at the end of the first lap at the '00 Dave Coupe' Classic. I holeshot the combined Vet Int / Ex. /Pro & wadded at the end of the first lap ( Sand type cross rut) My race is still on the track at the time of this pic. Nobody even knew at this point, except my buddy's dad, who snapped the "Kodak moment". The end result: Fractured C4 / C5 / C6 - Fusion of 4 to 6 as they remove the #5 Vert. Pins / Cables & Screws - All Titanium inserted in my neck. I was out about one year. I was a very fortunate individual to not lose the ability to walk, as so many in my position were not. I would return to ride & race a little, however, I eventually got smart & quit. Why push the envelope one too many times...
This was my Team Green ride & my set up for MOTOFLY Magazine. This was '02. I ripped a nasty holeshot on this two stroke 250 against 39 fourstrokes at the '02 running of the AMA HANGTOWN National, off a concrete pad no less. My bikes always barked hard! If it hadn't been for Troy Lee - Yea... That Troy Lee, I would have won the second moto. I missed the first moto along with Jim "Hollywood" Holley. Jim & his cousin Robert ( Silver State Raceway - Nevada ) & myself were too busy bullshitting with these lady's & we missed our moto! Can youee freaking believe it. We both redeemed ourselves in the second moto's, as Holley won his Ex. class & I got second Int. class.
My second new bike. The first year water pumper from HONDA - The '81 CR 125. It seized one time due to as faulty barrel. HONDA took care of the complete bill!
My very first competition racer the SUZUKI RM 125N - What a bike - I went from a new '77 TS 100 Oil Injected two stroke to the RM. A lot of first time experiences for a 15 year old kid.
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On top of the podium at Hangtown on Am. day in '92!
18 holes with Tyson Vohland, the elder of the two, Tallon being the younger. The two Vohlands squeezed The King of SX - "McGrath" at one of the '91 125 West Coast SX rounds in '91!
Airing out the Team Green ride in '00.
I caught these pics at the right time. En route to the Hangtown National in '99, I stopped off a few miles before the track to get some breakfast at Denny's & walked right into Team Suzukis chaos! The propane tanks caught fire. Several Zuke employees were stressed, because I was their with my camera. They had pulled off & gone around back trying to swap everything out in a hurry in low key, but I was fortunate. I was cool & I never submitted the pics. I showed them to Roger once at the World Vets a few months later. This is the first time they have surfaced publicly.
After breakfast I snapped this pic off of Tim Ferry & his Wife & wrench Steve Mathis. Thats my '89 Dakota in the back with my YZ. I bought that truck in support of the CMC Dodge Truck '88 GSN's & Trans Cal, which Dodge was promoting the new Dakata. 10 years & 250.000 miles of Moto, I sold it - Still like new!
One of my good friends & best competitors John More ( #27 ) I myself ( #826 ) Do it up just two weeks before I broke my neck at the Coupe' Classic.
I snapped off this pic of Edison Dye & Roger & the World Vets in '99. It was a brawl to get in that close. That pic is MOTOCROSS!
This was plastered at a couple of local tracks in Nor Cal to help me out. The report is a little off, but the intentions were heartfelt. Motoheads are good people!
Late '82 at SandHill Ranch on my new '83 RM 250. My first win on the 250's!
I've had this program for 30 plus years. I attended the "Trans AMA" in '72. Yes, as a kid I witnessed the frame of the "Man's" Factory TM / RH separate. Years later when I had Press access via MOTOFLY Magazine, I would have Roger sign it.
This was my 5 year anniversary issue of MOTOFLY. I came up with the name when I was in the hospital in January of '97 with a broken Compound Butterfly type femur break. I had purchased a boxvan & was claiming my racing on taxes & needed a name for the business. I later had Don Serrano paint MOTOFLY on the boxvan. From their things evolved into the idea of a full on full color motocross magazine, dedicated solely to Norther / Central California. It ran from '98 - '04. I did everything from page layout / graphic design / photography / marketing / distributing ..... Basically I did the whole damn thing myself. I had some contributers like 5 Time GNCC National Champion Rodney Smith. During my run I interviewed the likes of John "Junkyard Dog" Dowd ( See Pic ) / The Vohland brothers / ( See pic ) "Bad" Brad Lackey / Donnie "Homegrown" Cantaloupi / Steve Lamson to name a few. I'm proud to say that once I was up & running, we snagged advertisement from such notable companies as RENTHAL / AXO / FMF / MOTION PRO / HONDA / KAWI /SUZUKI & YAMAHA / SIDI / MAXIMA / VP & many others!
Aboard my '87 RM 250 at the '87 Trans Cal National at Sandhill Ranch in Brentwood. This when Sandhill was still the premier winter Track in the Country & CMC was still the only Fall Show In California! Check out the parking lot in the background.
Pic day & up For Sale - My '85 RM 250 served me well. From '79 up until '86 / '87 I raced only one bike & was on the two year plan. The next 15 years or so, would see me go through two bikes every year.
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1968 - 1976: Like most back then, I got my start on my older brothers Bonanza Mini Bike ( See Pic ) My first ride took place when I was about 6 years old right around 1968. I would continue to ride my Brothers mini bike, which by the way was handed down to me when I was about ten, up until I was about 12 or so. I eventually lost interest & starting reading DIRT BIKE & MXA all the while saving my coin towards that first real bike. While going through this phase I went to a couple of races like the TRANS AMA at Carnegie, which is literally in my backyard. We also went to the original Hangtown which was located in Plymouth. By the time I was a freshman in High School I would be into my first new bike. I haven't been without a motocross bike since '77 or so. |
| 1977: Turn 15 1/2 - Get permit - Buy New dual Sport Suzuki TS 100. Ride back & forth to school & in Dirt. |
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| 1978: Late Oct. '78, Dad Scores two brand new MXer's: '79 YZ 400 / RM 125. A new AMA D-36 Novice is born! Off to San Hill Ranch! |
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My first race, I got spanked! November of '78. Sand Hill Ranch - AMA D - 36 Sanctioned. Their was a full gate. Back then, the gate was always full - 30 - 40 riders all the time! My first new race bike was the SUZUKI RM 125N Model - Great Bike - My Dad purchased the YAMAHA YZ 400F Model! - Pops trophied before me on April 1st 1979 at SandHill Ranch in a two ( 2 ) hour MX Marathon! I still have the 10 inch tall plastic trophy! |
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| Believe it! He never got to see me race Pro, as He & my Mother died while I was still in High School, all before my Senior year. On my own from that point on, his guidance was enough to get me involved & focused on a great sport which helped me in many aspects of life. |
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| 1979: Jan '79 I attend SX in Oakland. The "Jammer" wins with a paddle tire! AMA bands it the next day! Hannah becomes my MX Hero! |
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| My Dad also took me to my first ever Pro SX - The Oakland SX in early '79 - The one where the "Jammer" sported the Paddle tire"! Hannah became my hero that day - With his on / off rodeo type antics & never letting go of the bars - What an animal! |
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| 1980: I Continue to race the 125 & Open Novice class at Sand Hill Ranch. I now join CMC. |
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| 1981: I sell all three of my bikes & Step up & buy the first year CR 125 Water Pumper Honda. I now race Two new tracks plus the Ranch. |
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| Purchased the first year Water Cooled CR 125 & raced it locally. |
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1982: Just out of High School for a year or two ....I enrolled in a "Welding
Trade School" Continued to ride & race. Buy a new Toyota 4 X 4! |
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1983: I attend both Oakland & Cal Expo SX races! I score my first new 250!
An '83 RM. Sell the CR 125. Race only CMC 250 Novice now. |
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| My first real win! CMC 250 Novice at Sandhill Ranch. A day race where the gate was - 35 plus riders! Went to ( 2 ) AMA SX events that year - Oakland & Sacramento. |
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| 1984: See my first National at Hangtown! Sneak into pits. Meet Wardy! The Bomber is fast! Snag a Bel Ray Banner! Score new '84 RM 250. |
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| My first overall series win. Baylands Raceway Summer Series. - Qualified for Main Event at AMA Arena Cross 250cc AM. ( Sandwiched between Lamson & Tallon Vohland on Start Gate of main Event ) You were either signed up as 250cc AM or 250cc Pro....At the time, Lammy & Vohland were two of the countries top MX Amateurs! |
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| 1985: Score new '85 RM 250 & ALS 1 JT Helmet! Race first AX at SF. Win my first O/A at Baylands! Now racing 2 -3 times a week. Knee Surgery. |
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| 1986: Buy all new KTM 250! Bad move at time. Sell & back on an '87 RM 250 by Sept. Race only night MX all year. |
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| Purchased the New KTM with USD Forks & White Power Shock Suspension! Looked trick, however the machine was a neutral finder in mid air - Not good! Raced the AMA Cow Palace Arena Cross on the bike - Made the main event - Scary ride! |
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| 1987: VIP of KGB Radio & Team Suz. at San Diego SX. Meet Hurricane & the O'show! Mech. Pass at '87 USGP. Get "O'Shows Jersey"! |
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| Raced all Summer / every Event ( 2 ) nights per week at Baylands Raceway Night Motocross - Finished top three ( 3 ) in the 250 Jr. Class. |
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| 1988: O'Shows Tech. J. Felt points me to MMI in AZ. Race '88 TUF RM in 250 Int. Meet Ping & Button! Attend 500 USGP. Meet Wolf! |
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| Top 10 Golden State Nationals / Top 10 Trans Cal Nationals / CMC 250 Jr. |
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| 1989: Yr. 1 1/2 later I Grad MMI. Factory Yam. & Hon. Top 3 in Class. Score new RM 250 & Dealer Wrench Position. Top 3 SX Series AZ. Hannah stops by Factory Yam. Class. We chat up & he signs a few things for me. |
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| Raced in Arizona all year. finished 3rd O/A in three ( 3 ) SX Series at YUMA Speedway 250cc Int - McGrath was their all three events ( Pro class started in front of us on all 3 races ) - Big money spent on track design & build. Graduated from Motorcycle Mechanics Institute. Factory YAMAHA / Factory HONDA Certs. / Advanced Course Grad. |
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| 1990: Wrench at Honda Dealership. - Continue to race. Score new '90 RM 250. Race Jet Skis. Attend San Jose SX. O'Shows last Nor Cal SX. |
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| +25 Am. Trans Cal National Riverfront Park. 1st Place. Hired to run YAMAHA Service Dept. DealerShip for one ( 1 ) Year. Job offer to wrench for Kieth Johnson for the AMA 500cc Nationals - Passed on it. Johnson was a top 20 National level rider at the time, he hailed from the East Coast. |
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| 1991: Run Service at Yam. Dealer. New RM 250. 3rd degree pipe burn on back! Attend San Jose SX - The Doctor Wins! his only ever SX! Knee Surgery. Also 3rd degree pipe burn on back. |
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| Ran Independent Race Shop for entire year. - Raced 250cc Jr. Class '91 GFI Winter Nationals - top 10 in Series. Top 10 AMA Hangtown National Mud Fest +30B. |
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| 1992: Tweak back in get off - Need Chiro work for 6 months.... |
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| 5th O/A GFI Winter Nationals - 1st Place +30 Int. & 1st Place 250 Jr. CMC Trans Cal Spring Classic. - 1st Place O/A AMA HANGTOWN National +30B - 3rd O/A 250 Jr. AMA Arenacross West Coast National San Fransisco Cow Palce. Qualified & finished 7th O/A AMA SX AM Day Main Event 250 Jr. San Jose Spartan Stadium. - Qualified +30 Int. Mammoth Mountain Main. - Top three ( 3 ) In 3 classes at CMC Trans Cal Nationals +30 Int. / +25 Am & 250Jr. - Finished Top 10 250 Int. GFI Fall Series & Top 3 +30 Int. |
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| 1993: New RM 250. Win CMC Spring Classic. Win White Bros. World Vet multi. classes. Top 3 GFI Fall. Top 3 Hangtown multi. classes. |
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| Top 10 GFI Winter National +30 Int. Top 3 both days in two classes both day at the "WHITE BROTHERS VET WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - +25 / +30 iNT. Top 3 GFI Fall Series +30 Int. |
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| 1994: Jump on new 250 YZ! Race multiple classes from now on till I quit. Race 2 -3 times a week. Kenny Zahrt & I crash. 80 stitches on me! Take rock in shin - 25 plus stitches. |
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| Raced all year - multiple classes - Raced GFI / CMC / & AMA. Raced Intermediate across the board - 250 Intermediate / +25 Int. & +30 Int. Finished in the Top 3 & Top 5 in the GFI Winter & Fall Series & did the same with CMC in the GSN's & Trans Cal Nat'l & Spring Classics. Finished Top 10 250cc B / +30 B - Hangtown National. |
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| 1995: New '95 YZ 250. Same song & dance.... Great year - Win Nor Cal Vet Championships Vet Masters. - Win GFI Fall Series. Top 5 at Hangtown 2 Classes. Make main at Mammoth.... |
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| This year was the same exact outing as the '94 season. I raced every weekend & was healthy the whole year. |
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| 1996: New '96 YZ! GFI Vet Pro Compound Femur! Out 6 months. Back at Trans Cal Hollister. 3 classes. 6 holeshots. 3 2nd O/A's. Back! Were back! |
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| Won the opening GFI Winter National "30 Int. & took 5th 250 Int. The 2nd round I moved to "30 Pro, ripped a holeshot first moto - 2nd lap - Compouned my Femur. Two weeks in the hospital - Life Flighted out. Return to race Trans Cal National in October. Raced three ( 3 ) classes - Holeshot all six ( 6 ) Motos - Took three 2nd Place O/A finishes! |
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| 1997: Dislocate Shoulder - Shoulder Surgery needed. Crush Ribs / Puncture Lung / Break Collarbone in another get off. Also, hematobia operation. |
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| Won +30 Pro Class / Club Moto Summer Series. Built my dream Box Van. |
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| 1998: New '98 YZ 250. Win Local Sat. Night MX series as Vet Pro. - Start "Web site mag. to compliment MOTOFLY magazine. Still Wrench. |
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| Won +30 Pro Class / Club Moto Summer Series. OTHG Expert Class National Top 3 - Both Oatfield & Hollister. +25 Int. Oktoberfest Series O/A. |
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| 1999: New '99 RM 250 from Magazine deal! Same song & dance. Work full time. Wrench / Race / Produce Magazine & Online Mag! |
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| Raced all year every weekend once again had an injury free year. Won several local +30 Pro Class races. |
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| 2000: New KX 250 - Magazine / Team Green ride. Same song & dance till 12.03.'00. Break Neck at Coupe' Classic. C4/C5/C6 Paral... |
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| Same as the year before. Every weekend - All year long. Unfortunately, The Dec. 3rd Dave Coupe Classic, would see me break my C4 C5 & C6 in my Neck! They fused C4 to the C6 & removed the C5 Vert. Many Cables / Screws & Plates inserted as well. Out untill November of '01. |
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| 2001: In Hosp. 12.'00 till 03.'01. Start to Continue with MOTOFLY Magazine around 06.'01. Retirn to work & riding 10.'01. Bad year! |
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| 2002: New '02 KX 250. Return to racing. Move down to Int. Take top 3 in GFI Winter Series +30 & +35 Int. Many injuries, now spooked! |
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| Out all year - Broken Neck! |
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| 2003: New '03 YZ 250. Turn 40. Holeshot moto 2 at Hangtown Natl'. Troy Lee of "TLD" passes me two turns from checkers. That's about it... |
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| Turning age 40........ The grind & injuries / Plus the intrest in the publication are burning me out. After practice at the Sand Hill Ranch round ( August '03 ) I loaded up & called it quits! Enough already! I havn't thrown a leg over a bike since! |
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| 2004: Oct. of '03 last mag. is printed. Shut down Web site. Hang out till around Jan. '04. Sell bikes. Make my mind up to quit racing. Done! |
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| Early in the year, I sold both of my YZ 250's & my publication. Took up Golf. Played many 18 hole rounds with former Factory Rider Tyson Vohland. |
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| 2005: Built my dream shop! |
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| 2006: Put my business plan into motion. Originally was HURRICANEYZ. Cont. to build inventory. Tools / Parts / Design...... |
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| Started "BACK IN THE DAY MX" Choosing to go with YAMAHA's from '77 - '84 had a lot to do with my dad's purchase of his new '79 YZ 400 Back In The Day..... Face it the YZ flat rocked in this era! I spent almost three years getting the business ready for it's public opening in August of '08. |
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| 2007: Cont. with buis. plan. Start doing small jobs. Web site is built. BACK IN THE DAY MX is born. Web site opened Christmas '07! |
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2009: The approaching month of August, see's "BACK IN THE DAY MX" approaching it's first full year in business & is holding steady.
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