Team CanAm rides again at B'ford Nats.

[Drakie]

TEAM CANAM 1974 REUNITED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CLASSIC MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP, APRIL 9-11 2010.

In a twist on the usual scenario, two of the three man Team USA CanAm from 1974 will be competing at the Preston MCC/MA promoted ACMXCs in Australia in April.

 Gary Jones, four time US AMA 250 MX title holder (1971-72 Yamaha, 1973 Honda and 1974 CanAm) and Jimmy Ellis (3rd 250 in 1974, winner of the Supercross title in 1975 both on CanAm) will be competing on CanAms at the event.

Paul Kalika the Victorian CanAm fanatic will be working overtime to prep his MX-2 for Gary and an MX-6 for Jimmy. Jimmy has raced the bike in a previous event and was relegated to second with a slipping clutch. No such problems this time though as Paul is onto and now realises the demands a pro rider puts on the bike.


While second placed 1974 team member Marty Tripes will be absent, nostalgia buffs will be over the moon to see these two legends from the 1970s carving the revitalized Broadford GP MX track. Both riders have current racing licences and ride modern bikes in competition so their speed will still be there.

 Jimmy and Gary haven’t seen each other for 25 years as Jimmy moved to Australia in the 1980s to ride KTM for Bert Flood and Yamaha for Bert’s son Trevor.

Jimmy was blown away to be invited to the event and especially to catch up with his former team mate. Gary doesn’t know that Jimmy will be there and the organizers are hoping to keep it as a surprise until the two are reunited at the previous weekends Honda Broadford Bike Bonanza.

Preston MCC have distributed ‘two for one’ spectator ticket vouchers redeemable at the gate and they will be available at any Peter Stevens shop soon and at the Philip Island Superbikes at the AMCN and MA booths. Spectator entry is $20 for the weekend but with this voucher you get two in for that price.

The boys were also Team Honda USA riders in the 1970s and at the Honda Broadford Bike Bonanza Gary will be riding Bernie Leen's 1974 CR 250 (with fluro muffler), Jimmy will be on Darren McMullins trick Mugen 1979 CR (with all Darrens period gear) but we still need a good CR 125 1973 for Brian Martin to do a few laps. Brian won Honda Australias first dirt title on board the 125 in 1973. He is famous for the crossed up mono that appeared in all Honda ads back in the day and was featured as the 'poster boy' on this site.

Gary is bringing one of the original Team Honda jerseys his Mum stitched together. That alone is worth the price of admission. The Presentation Dinner will feature Gary and Jimmy handing out the trophies so get serious; start training and get the ultimate photo op with these stars.
Don't miss this event; it's a sight never to be repeated.

[albrid-3]

Gee, that will great to see, l wish that l had my Can-am 250, l would have been very happy for them to use that bike, it was a very fast bike.

[All Things 414]

Wow!  Well done Peter....

[JohnnyO]

That's great news Drakie.. well done.

[viper42]

Good work Drakie, I still have the MX3 on offer for Jimmy if he wants, good to see you followed up and got him to come along.
Should make for an exciting event.

Viper 42

[Tossa]

hold on do i get any thanks for my assistance for something I won't be able to attend!!! lol damn.  Will be a great weekend

[vandy010]

Gary Jones!
a real icon of the sport for sure!
super cool

[Nitram]

Jimmy Ellis



Gary Jones

[Drakie]

Hey Nitram, I love the Jimmy shot! So clear. Different clutch cover too.
 Jimmy was really surprised that we were inviting Gary over as he thought no one here would know who he was! As we all grew up on a diet of Dirt Bike and MXA it was obvious to us. Jimmy's dad drove trucks for the national teams until just recently so he kept Jimmy current on all the latest gos as Jimmy has't been back to the US since coming out here. He missed Don Jones' funeral too.
You guys got the news first and I'm going to be smacked for not putting it through the regular PR channels at MA.
See you at Easter,
D. 

[VMX247]

Todays news on www.fullnoise.com.au
Motocross News
Team CanAm 1974 reunited for the 2010 Australian Classic MX Championship
Posted: Monday, 15th February, 2010 : 4:48 PM - - 439 Read
The 2010 Australian Classic Motocross Championship (ACMX), set to take place at the State Motorcycle Complex at Broadford, Victoria on 9-11 April, will feature two of the three-man Team USA CanAm from 1974.

Four-time AMA 250cc Motocross Championship winner Gary Jones, along with Jimmy Ellis will both compete on CanAm’s at the 2010 ACMX, jointly promoted by the Preston Motorcycle Club (PMCC) and Motorcycling Australia (MA).

Bikes for the two riders are currently owned by and will be prepared by Victorian CanAm fanatic, Paul Kalika, with Jones riding an MX-2 and Ellis an MX-6.

Despite second placed 1974 team member Marty Tripes being absent from the event, Motocross fans and nostalgia buffs alike will relish the chance to see these two legends carving up the revitalised Broadford GP Motocross track.

Both Jones and Ellis hold current race licenses, and still have the speed to compete with the best of them when gates drop in April, and in addition to taking to the track, both riders will hand out trophies at the Presentation Dinner.

PMCC has distributed ‘two-for-one’ spectator vouchers which will become available in all Victorian Peter Stevens stores from Monday 22 February, and can be used when purchasing tickets at the gate.

The 2010 Australian Classic Motocross Championship will take place on 9-11 April at the State Motorcycle Complex, Broadford, VIC.

Gates open from 8am
Admission:
Adults: $20
Kids under 16 years can get in FREE

For more information about the event check out the MA website at: www.ma.org.au and the Preston Motorcycle Club website at: www.prestonmcc.com.au.