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Author Topic: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?  (Read 5249 times)

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Offline D project

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Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« 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?
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Offline Brian Watson

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Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« Reply #1 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..
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Offline bazza

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Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2014, 05:03:30 pm »
74 to 77  IMHO
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Offline KTM47

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Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« Reply #3 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.
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Offline Ktm181

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Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« Reply #4 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.
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Offline Ted

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Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« Reply #5 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.
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Simo63

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Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2014, 07:36:54 pm »
Late 70's through to the mid 80's in my humble opinion :)
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Offline VMX247

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Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2014, 07:38:07 pm »
The year of PK   8)

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Offline relfy

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Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« Reply #8 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)
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Offline JohnnyO

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Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« Reply #9 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
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Simo63

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Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2014, 08:53:49 pm »
Quote from: 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

Quote from: Simo63 on July 03, 2014, 07:36:54 pm
Late 70's through to the mid 80's in my humble opinion :)

Yep .. pretty much how I see it too John :)
« Last Edit: July 03, 2014, 11:20:53 pm by Simo63 »
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Offline jerry

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Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« Reply #11 on: July 04, 2014, 08:14:51 am »
I'm with Ted. J
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Offline KTM47

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Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« Reply #12 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

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Offline shelpi

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Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2014, 09:42:49 am »
Quote from: Simo63 on July 03, 2014, 07:36:54 pm
Late 70's through to the mid 80's in my humble opinion :)
Im thinking the same
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BEARVMX

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Re: Motocross in Aus, when was it at its peak?
« Reply #14 on: July 04, 2014, 10:22:40 am »
Gidday for me 76 thru to 83 were the best years Bear
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