Cycle News Archives
COLUMN
Without Vic Wilson, we might not have some of motocross’ greatest memories.
By Kent Taylor
Live long enough and you will sadly get to witness the departure of the incredible people who have made your world. Those who were fortunate enough to have been part of the halcyon days of dirt bikin’ in the USA are mourning the passing of Vic Wilson, the man who helped make the name Saddleback Park synonymous with motocross racing here in America, who passed away July 12 [Read more here]. Wilson is remembered elsewhere in this issue. Let’s take a look at just a few of the moments that helped transform a few Southern California pasture acres into a legendary racetrack where heroes were built.
In 1971, Saddleback Park hosted the final round of the first-ever Trans-AMA, a fall series that brought over many of the best European riders to compete in events across the country. Seeing Roger DeCoster, Joel Robert, Dave Bickers, Sylvain Geboers, Adolf Weil, Heikki Mikkola and others going head-to-head was an unusual occurrence to begin with, as these riders were committed to racing in either the 250cc or 500cc World Championship series, yet here they were, duking it out on the same day. Only in America could race fans see the best battle the best. In 1971, it would be DeCoster taking the win at Saddleback, but the series’ championship would go to his teammate and fellow Belgian Sylvain Geboers. The top American in the series was Husqvarna rider Mark Blackwell, who would be honored with the title of 500cc National Champion for his efforts, though he finished only 14th in the final Trans-AMA standings.
Americans are more than just fast learners. They would become very fast motocross racers as well, and by 1975, they were now challenging (and winning) these very same Trans-AMA events. Many of the top European racers were electing to skip autumn in America, and when the series wrapped up at Saddleback Park, it was 18-year-old Tony DiStefano on top, winning his third consecutive event. The championship still went to Suzuki’s DeCoster, but Tony D and his fellow young Americans made it clear that they were no longer racing just for top American honors.
The 1975 event also became a day that will live in infamy for MX fans. Maico rider Jim West crashed hard near Saddleback’s famous Banzai Hill, suffering fatal internal injuries. West was the first pro motocross racer to lose his life in AMA competition.
Saddleback Park was a sprawling riding facility, and in 1977, savvy promoters decided to use the property to help determine just who was the very best motorcycle racer in the world. It was the first (and last) Motorcycle Olympiad and riders like Malcolm Smith, Bob Hannah, Jim Rice and David Aldana competed in a variety of events, including motocross, flat track, road racing and drag racing. Each rider even had to serve as his (and her, as dirt track’s Diane Cox also took part) own mechanic. The Olympiad champ was Husqvarna’s Kent Howerton, who won the title despite scoring no actual victories in any of the events.
In 1979, the AMA’s National Motocross Championship calendar included a stop at Saddleback. It had been a long six years since that series had visited the famous park, and while the event took place on April Fool’s Day, the racing was all business. In the 250cc class, Maico wild child Danny Chandler wowed the crowd with an exhilarating first moto performance that saw the crazy but highly skilled redhead go mano a mano with Yamaha’s Bob Hannah. Hannah was the reigning champ and was already well on his way to repeating, but “Magoo” Chandler was giving the Hurricane all he could handle and a bit more on this day. Double jumping was something of a rarity in 1979, but on that day, Chandler was leaping a two-jump section in a single bound, forcing Hannah to join him in the race to become Superman of Saddleback. In the end, a fragile Maico machine would eventually sideline Chandler, but not before he won the admiration of the crowd—and earned his own track namesake, the “Magoo Double,” for his efforts.
Two years later, Hannah would find himself in another Saddleback battle, one that should’ve come with iron breastplates and jousting lances. Hannah and Kent Howerton (now on Suzuki) spent a good part of the 250cc National that day engaging in moto-fisticuffs. Each rider took his best shot, ramming, jamming and cramming the other, with Hannah eventually getting the overall win. The Saddleback confrontation set the stage for a season-long battle between the two titans of MX.
In 1984, the famous racetrack held its final AMA National, which saw Honda riders Johnny O’Mara, Ron Lechien and David Bailey sweep the three classes. On September 7 of that same year, the great racetrack fell silent, with creeping development and buzz-killing progress being the culprits. Today, the property is an old adobe ghost, occasionally coughing up a nut or bolt or an old plastic premix bottle. But in the memories of thousands of racers, fans and weekend joy riders, Saddleback Park will never die.
Thanks, Vic.CN
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