OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: D project on July 03, 2014, 12:53:12 pm

Title: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: D project on July 03, 2014, 12:53:12 pm
As we have a broad range of age groups here. What year/years do you think it was at its most popular?
Did we follow/ lag behind the states a bit?
I would think 82/83?
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: Brian Watson on July 03, 2014, 01:22:53 pm
Well..on this side of the island... 1974/75... we had numbers (racing numbers) issued in the 1,000's.. so guys were turning up to races with riding number 1026 etc.. and in excess of 400 entries at a motocross meeting.. I doubt if they have been anywhere near that since..
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: bazza on July 03, 2014, 05:03:30 pm
74 to 77  IMHO
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: KTM47 on July 03, 2014, 06:45:21 pm
This is a double question.  Most popular with regards rider numbers????  Well from a Queensland point of view the period from mid nineties to mid 2000s would be it.  Queensland won it's very first Australian MX Championship (Mick Cook 125 class 1995).  Then for approximately ten years won at least one Championship each year.  This was the period of Mick, Andrew McFarlane, Peter Melton, Michael Byrnes, Troy Carrol and then later Daniel Reardon.  It is when Chad Reed rose to prominence.  It also saw a round of the World MX Championship run in Australia for three years 2000 to 2002. The Thumper Nats also was at it's best during that period.  Again in Queensland the eight round Shell Advance/Sunshine State MX series averaged between 350 to 400 riders at each round.  Also Supercross still meant something in that period.

Most popular with regards spectator numbers????  The MR MX series in the early eighties would cover that.  Also Supercross rose to prominences in that period.  Of course the prominent riders in this period were Gunter, Gall, Vandenberg, Leisk, Bell, Moates, Ellis Dack, etc.  If I have missed some riders I apologise.
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: Ktm181 on July 03, 2014, 07:13:41 pm


For NSW at least I am with Dproject, after around '83 New South took a dive, nearly no opens (for Mx), the first supercross tracks were shite, the price of bikes skyrocketed etc, you had to go to Vicco or Qld for opens by '85, there were still some but pretty ordinary in number.

Kt.
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: Ted on July 03, 2014, 07:21:52 pm
The seventies. NSW. Flood.Flood. Applegren. Miller. . Kitland. Gall. Gunter. DeCoster. Robert. Rahier. and countless more.

Thousands sitting all the way around Amaroo Park watching Mr Motocross.

Three rows of racing in some classes. It was a race in itself to get on or near the front row.
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: Simo63 on July 03, 2014, 07:36:54 pm
Late 70's through to the mid 80's in my humble opinion :)
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: VMX247 on July 03, 2014, 07:38:07 pm
The year of PK   8)

(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r259/vmx247/IMG_3381937869279_zps371386b2.jpeg) (http://s146.photobucket.com/user/vmx247/media/IMG_3381937869279_zps371386b2.jpeg.html)
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: relfy on July 03, 2014, 08:02:50 pm
Does anybody remember SUMMERCROSS at Failford ???? main straight lined with holiday makers from Forster drinking cans of KB (Great track)
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: JohnnyO on July 03, 2014, 08:40:05 pm
Late 70's to early 80's in Qld with crowds in their thousands lining Tivoli at the Mister MX rounds
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: Simo63 on July 03, 2014, 08:53:49 pm
Late 70's to early 80's in Qld with crowds in their thousands lining Tivoli at the Mister MX rounds

Late 70's through to the mid 80's in my humble opinion :)

Yep .. pretty much how I see it too John :)
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: jerry on July 04, 2014, 08:14:51 am
I'm with Ted. J
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: KTM47 on July 04, 2014, 09:20:43 am
Again late 70s and early 80s for spectator numbers.

Mid 90s to mid 2000s for rider numbers.

I was a rider in 70s and 80s and then involved as official and MX Commissioner in 90s and 2000s.  Still a rider now sometimes.

The peak for riders was the Thumper Nats period.

Kevin

Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: shelpi on July 04, 2014, 09:42:49 am
Late 70's through to the mid 80's in my humble opinion :)
Im thinking the same
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: BEARVMX on July 04, 2014, 10:22:40 am
Gidday for me 76 thru to 83 were the best years Bear
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: FourstrokeForever on July 04, 2014, 10:27:18 am
Yeah, late 70's through to the 80's would be my choice as well. Best bikes to IMHO
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: Gerard De Ruyter (Twistandshout) on July 04, 2014, 12:03:44 pm
Yes, the peak was shortly after ADB put out its first issue (colour!!!), and dropped after Golden Breed Mr MX series stopped.  Or maybe led to it.
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: D project on July 04, 2014, 12:46:04 pm
I suppose I am thinking about the bigger/overall picture.
Times when every kid wanted or had a mini bike. Race meetings had big crowds and big grids.
Think I was involved a bit late as I was into it from about 81-83 :'(
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: KTM47 on July 04, 2014, 02:33:24 pm
I suppose I am thinking about the bigger/overall picture.
Times when every kid wanted or had a mini bike. Race meetings had big crowds and big grids.
Think I was involved a bit late as I was into it from about 81-83 :'(

D project  You are thinking about three different periods

1.  Late 70s to early 80s for crowds
2.  Mid 90s to mid 2000s for rider numbers.
3.  2000s to the present for every kid wanting a mini bike.  This doesn't necessarily reflect in grid numbers at MX meetings, but is reflected by rider numbers at ride parks etc.  Also this increase probably has a lot to do with FreeStyle MX and Supercross.

Kevin
Title: Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
Post by: pancho on July 04, 2014, 03:52:42 pm
 I'm inclined to think that like most things even fads like YO YOs  and recessions come in twenty year cycles,
The first scrambles meeting I saw was at Moorebank '50 or '51, My cousin took me there on the back of his new Matcho. twin.
  I was about 12yrs old. The spectator crowd was massive. The only riders I remember were the Jarvis  brothers standing up but sitting down on there' outfit.
 This wave continued through the 'fifties into the '60s with even a major event being direct televised. It got a boost through the early '60s by virtue of being the only licenced track in NSW along with 'The Showground' meaning nowhere else to ride.
  Then it slowed a bit waiting for the next wave.
 cheers pancho.