Motocross photos from the 80`s.

[VMX247]

I'm also a Facebook fanatic and know a fellow enthuasist of the name of Brent Kerr on FB whom has a shit load of photos and knowledge on the 70 & 80's.Can't wait to meet up one day. 
Anyway I found the below pic at Tivoli, 1st Aboriginal Australian MX Champion Peter Bronch and got me thinking of our indigenous riders.Where abouts ??
Now days we have a plentyful supply of Kiwi Maori riders.The photo is from Andrew Baileys collection while he was sorting though for the Qld downpour.

[firko]

How about a rider named Chad Reed for starters?

[Captain Bilko]

How about a rider named Chad Reed for starters?

Indigenous?

[JohnnyO]

How about a rider named Chad Reed for starters?

Indigenous?

I think so

[Captain Bilko]

Yeah and I'm a calm, well adjusted chap......

[firko]

Article: AN (AB) ORIGINAL IDEA: REED FINDS HIS ROOTS SUPERCROSS: TRIBE'S SPONSORSHIP REVEALS MORE TO AMA RACER.(Sports)
Article from:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) Article date:January 19, 2008Copyright
Byline: Keith Lair

Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Little did Chad Reed know that a sponsorship would connect the motorcycle racer with his roots.

The process began when the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians joined with L&M Racing to form Team San Manuel for the 2007 supercross season. Reed, who will try for his second consecutive AMA Monster Energy Supercross victory at Angel Stadium tonight, is Australian.

He also is an Aborigine -- his maternal grandfather is full-blooded Aboriginal.

Yet Reed said he knew little of his roots until the San Bernardino-area tribe became his team's primary sponsor.

"It's kind of cool," he said. "It makes (the sponsorship) more meaningful. As a kid, I never really did a whole lot of the Aboriginal stuff. I did a lot of camps and stuff, but I never really got into it too much because of my racing."

The 25-year-old Yamaha rider teaches safety classes and riding skills regularly on the reservation. At nearly every stop on the supercross series, Reed and teammate Nathan Ramsey go to an Indian reservation to do clinics and sign autographs.

"I've learned what they're about and it's very similar to the Aboriginal thing," he said. "I feel like I missed out a lot as a kid in Australia, but I've learned a lot more now then I did then. What the kids have here is a lot like the Aboriginals."

Not surprisingly, a shared bond has developed between Reed and the tribe.

"It really makes for a great relationship," said Jacob Coin, the tribe's director of public affairs. "It's shown evidence in what he says and does. The kids understand where he comes from and can relate to him because he's indigenous, just like them. He's shown that life's not a waste and if he can reach for his goals, he can win in supercross. Our kids can, too.

"He's a very good fit."

The sponsorship is certainly the strangest in all of motorsports: The tribe is not trying to sell a product.

Sure, pundits say, there is the casino. The tribe advertises its casino on television, radio and in print. But the team does not have "San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino" on its logos, jerseys or on the side of its hauler, only "San Manuel Band of Mission Indians."

"Mostly, you're selling a product," team manager Larry Brooks said of sponsorships. "Ours is not that way at all. It's more a way of life; a way to live your life. It is to keep focused and go after a goal and that you can always achieve it."

Coin said Live Nation, which promotes the supercross series, questioned him when San Manuel made its first foray into motorsports.

"They couldn't understand that we weren't selling a drink, tires or a truck," he said. "It's very different. They couldn't figure us out.

"Our message is that of goodwill, to understand how to succeed in life, to be disciplined and lead a clean life.

"You have to do that if you're in a 20-lap main event. You can't be out partying the night before. You have to be working hard and stay disciplined. That's what Chad and Nathan do and show."

Reed, who is tied for the series lead with James Stewart, said it's his easiest sell ever.

"Usually, you get out there and say the tires are good, or the bike's good, or whatever," the 2004 series champion said. "It's pretty easy because what they mean and what they want to come across is very easy and very natural. They want you to be a better person. I grew up in Australia, a long way away, had a dream as a kid to come race in the U.S. and as it turns out, they want you to dream big and achieve big goals, too."

Brooks said a friend was building a motocross track on San Manuel's 820-acre reservation -- there are now three on site -- and he approached the tribe seeking a two-year sponsorship.

"I knew they wanted to get involved," he said. "We pitched the idea of having a supercross team. They wanted their kids to be involved in something and to be focused; to look up to others. This kind of went along with what they wanted.

"This is definitely not a mainstream thing. Going in there, I was thinking pushing the casino. But they don't want to push the casino at all. That's not what they're trying to advertise. They're trying to advertise good living and the positive things in life."

Brooks said the team and tribe have already made preliminary discussions about a long-term deal. But to all involved, it seems like some of the tribe's long-term goals have already been realized.

"They've taught safety," Coin said. "The kids now ride with their helmets on and take better care of their bikes. They're learning to keep focused on their goals."

And not just at San Manuel. The team held two clinics last weekend in Phoenix for Arizona tribes. It had a clinic Thursday at Loma Linda.

It's as if every Indian nation has a vested interest in the team.

"I don't think they were really looking to (sponsor us)," Brooks said. "It started small, but it's huge. The tribe shows up at all the events now. I don't think they really knew what they were getting involved with. When they went to Toronto (for the first race) with us last year and Chad won and Nathan did well, they were like, 'Oh my gosh, they did great.' They were on the podium holding trophies and such. It just escalated from there. I don't think they knew the level that it would end up to be."

Not even Reed knew.

"We met with all the guys and the people on the reservation and immediately my first memory is falling in love with the kids," Reed recalled. "The kids were super-normal cool. I guess they have a lot of things you have dreaming about as a kid: Your own land, your own rules and that kind of stuff.

"It's kind of evolved into a pretty big thing and a big family."

[email protected]

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

"I've learned what they're about and it's very similar to the Aboriginal thing," says AMA rider Chad Reed. "I feel like I missed out a lot as a kid in Australia."

[Captain Bilko]

That still doesn't spell indigenous to me (although it probably helps for tax purposes). Sorry. 

[firko]

He also is an Aborigine -- his maternal grandfather is full-blooded Aboriginal.

That does it for me .
Or this. http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/motor-sport/chad-reed-an-unsung-hero/story-e6frepn6-1111117771659

[Brian Watson]

Whilst nothing really to do with the photos......when you mention indigenous riders....don't leave out our own Flyin' Freckle....Jeff Leisk....