Trans-AMA 1973: VMX Challenge back on the table ...

[Doggy Digger]

[jerry]

I think too early for Tony D. Might be Mike Runyard although it kools like Tony D. J

[vmx42]

Tony D was never that skinny. He was still on a CZ in 73. I agree it looks more like Mike Runyard.

But the Morris Maloney fans will be chuffed he got a mention.

I have a copy of that poster and it has the names of the riders, but doesn't point to them on the poster. So you have to guess the less well known riders. There are 33 riders and only 28 names supplied.

Noted on the poster and missing from your list are: Bruce Baron and Tim Hart.

I hope that helps. But I have no idea who the missing 5 riders are, that is one for the OzVMX brains trust.



Sorry Rog, I have just looked again and you have Tim Rice labelled, but that is actually Tim Hart. One writes a pretty good musical and the other was a factory Yamaha rider…  So of the known names, only Bruce Baron is missing. I remember him being very tall and skinny which probably doesn't help much…

And I don't think Jim Ellis was racing with the big boys in 73. Looking at the poster I don't think it is him?

[jerry]

Bloke next to Bauer might be Billy Clements. J

[cappra]

This was a poster that Torsten Hallman used to show all the riders who wore his gear..Picture was taken at Arizona Cycle Park.
Poster is available at amsracing.com

[vmx42]

Not sure about Marty Smith. He was still a SoCal local on a Monark in 73. Not sure it even looks like him.

Also not sure about Gaylon or Rick Burgett…

But I do like the curve ball of sticking a CZ Factory Mechanic in there to mess with the punters trying to work this out. 

[jerry]

I dont think that could be Marty Smith. Too early in his career? J

[JohnnyO]

Yeah i don't think that's Marty Smith either but i think Gaylon is right and rode a Honda back then.

[firko]

i think Gaylon is right and rode a Honda back then.   

I thought Gaylon was on Maicos at that time John? I also seem to remember remember Gaylons hair being longer and straighter.

[cappra]

On the actual poster there are 28 names at the bottom.
There are 33 people shown.  The names at the bottom are:
Willy Baur, Sylvain Geboers, Roger Decoster, John Desoto, Billy Clements, Jim Cooke, Billy Grossi,
Mark Blackwell, Wayne Boyer, Morris Malone, Bruce Baron, Jim West, Mike Runyard, Rich Thorwaldson,
Rich Eierstedt, Mart Tripes, Dewayne Jones, Peter Lamppu, Brad Lackey, Jimmy Weinert, Tim Hart,
Adolf Weil, Pierre Karsmakers, Taro Suzuki, Mike Hartwig, Jim Pomeroy, Bob Wright and Gerrit Wolsink.

[jerry]

Which one's Firko. J

[cappra]

2nd from bottom left is a very young Marty Smith ....total rookie Honda team rider....so he got the same color shirt just no print yet...(125's had just come out and Honda stole Marty away from Monarch/Gary Blanton. in San Clemente, California)..

[Doggy Digger]

I still reckon guy re-labeled as Burgett is actually Jimmy ELLIS.  (Burgett appeared later, in Hannah's backdraft)

And I feel that the guy labeled as Marty SMITH is:
A/   Too tall
B/   Too non-muscly
C/   Seems to have a full-blown moustache

I believe Firko was on tour with The Band that day, or out to lunch with Blondie ...

(Not that any of this really matters.  The main thing is to keep distracted from one's working day!!)

[huskibul]

    Other than the hair he doesnt look at all like marty ! Willi Bauer was the man to beat that year in US and europe

[motomaniac]

Gaylon was on team Honda , although strange that he has a different jersey to the other team riders.
Burgett was a private CZ rider before getting on team Yamaha so it could be him but I dont think that it is.
Marty Smith won his first 125 title in 74 , so some people think that he rode an open bike in 73 and them went back to the 125's  - come on guys. Besides it doesnt look anything like him . His hair wasnt even that long at that time.