Those were the days. We didn't realize we were living through a golden age.

My favorite times were watching Smith and Hannah battle it out in the 125 Nationals.Then Hannah and Howerton banging bars on the 500s.When I got Hannah's autograph, he told me he was signing it backwards and laughed.I was just a kid so I didn't know what he was saying.Then when I looked at the signature, his name BOB HANNAH is spelled the same forwards and backwards! Lol He was messing with me.

These were the days of real racing. Riders would literally break each other's legs if it meant finishing in a position that would pay enough just to get to the next race. These days riders are more than happy to just follow each other instead of taking big chances. Big money has ruined motocross.

6th grade

Same brother hope you got to fulfill your dreams!

The Hurricane nuff said

Bob Hannah could have rode anything! Those Hondas were definitely fast!

Loved Jeff Ward, I had a KX80 and I thought he was the deal!

The Bomber Barnett

Absolutely went to many races in so cal.

I disagree. He is constantly making wild exaggerations and saying things that are actually not true.

Hahaha 😂 Larry "Loud mouth Huffman" I turned the volume off. He's an absolute douchebag. Unbearable ..

dave Scopes wrong

OK. Most

I love the sound of a big ole thumper though. Something about a 450 hitting the rev limiter is awesome

Although a field of 2 strokes is truly magical, so is a field of earthquake machines. Also they make way more power and we'll never go back to a 2 stroke so long as racing is about going fast..

@@djjazzyjeff1232 I know what you are saying but for me personally I prefer the sound of the 2 stroke. Especially at a motocross meeting.

Wide000 for sure. This is real racing, and unfortunately it ain't ever gonna be like this again.

Wide000 no doubt bro. These guys where freaking warriors. Bottomed, cased, and bounced all over the track wide open!

Wide000 That’s a perfect way of putting it 👏🏻 I love this era of motocross

But they were the best of the day. I missed the first decade of the sport in the USA, but for a decade before this race, we got to see how the factories competed to these highly sophisticated machines, from 3" of travel, air cooled, drum brakes, dual shocks, and coffee table like handling. These bike were the top shelf,----and we knew it was fact. I don't think the new guys are enjoying that kind of advancements, and I don't want to have to be tied to the internet to ride a dirt bike. :)

I agree mdo686; Evil Knevil, if he learned how to do whoops and bermed turns, (while complaining about the ruts), could win at today's SX,---on his Harley! I could have designed today's SX tracks on the 2000 Motocross madness 2 video game track editor. They are boring---from a ex racers point of view,--me. Might have been a better race if Ward and O'Mara had not fallen in the 4th straight. Rickey Carmichael would have won then, (if fallen in the first lap),---and now. Bow to the GOAT young man!!!! :)

"20 LAPS THROUGH THE MUD, THE BLOOD, AND THE BEER!!!!!" Larry Huffman

Hahahah then they show him and he has pretty normal shoulders.

Larry Huffman A.k.a. Super mouth was the best

LoL, considering, at least in my neck of the woods, catching a motocross race on TV was a very rare event in those days, having an announcer like this made watching these races even more exciting.

Sounds like he's zooted.

Craig Willis It is a 500cc 2 stroke dirt bike, like the rm500, kx500, cr500, Maico 500 etc

Craig Willis I mean it is a 4 stroke

Craig Willis it was a flat track bike hence TT!!

You're Dad sounds like a Great Man...! Lucky to have had him.. 👍

2 - Stroke Racer I didn’t mean it like that, I thought you didn’t know he was dead so I didn’t want you to upset the kid

thats why they where good riders. not racing or riding on perfectly made and maintained tracks

So true...Half the track is whoops and a lot of flat faced jumps with not a lot of room to get speed or rhythm. The suspension looks real soft too. I have respect for these dudes, but it shows you how far our sport has come with bikes and track building, especially in sx.

The goal was to throw the riders off the bikes . Never for speed .

@@magapickle01 I don't think it was built to purposefully make riders crash. They were just in their infancy of learning how to build tracks and were trying to make them competitive and challenging...I'm not baggin on the old school dudes at all...it's just changed and evolved along with greater technological advances in both bikes and tracks. I know it would be tougher to race a sx track on a 2 stroke compared to what I'm racing now.

@@Peanutdenver i road on alot of tracks in the northwest but on an yz and cr 80 until the 90s when i got my first 125 . We had to ride those same dam whoops and half the time you goal was to clear as many as possible and hold on to the bars for whatever was left . Im glad those days are over . Id fall apart if i was doing that at my age now

J V Yeah, use to be far more popular back then , and bikes were more RAW fun and affordable, todays delicate overpriced junk is a laugh.

@@TheFykle Supercross is more popular now that it's ever been and any bike you can buy off a showroom will out perform 2 bikes back then. Sorry man, just because you feel like it was "better when you were there" doesn't make it a fact. I'll go toe to toe with you right no on my Honda 450 against any bike you like from the inception of motocross, 20 laps, and you get a 5 lap head start. What kind of topping do you want on your ice cream when I'm at the finish waiting for you?

@djjazzyjeff123 wow, that was impressive, and the ice cream cone joke? Super original! I believe Mr Moo didnt mock current equipment, he merely stated it was overpriced and delicate. Im sure you are the fastest guy at your local track and had a season filled with zero mechanicals, and finished the season with the coveted #1 plate in your class ( probably multiple classes with #1. Hopefully you got a call from a factory team, accepted, and have a garage full of shiny four stroke wonderful unobtanium.

@@glenpiro313 "bikes were more RAW fun and affordable, todays delicate overpriced junk is a laugh." If that's not mocking modern equipment I'll kiss your ass.

djjazzyjeff123 You dont even sound old enough to know what it was like prior to 2000 let alone what existed decades before it, you just keep telling yourself you’re a world champ lmao

I agree 💯 make motorcross Great again

thats y i dont couldnt handle it & couldnt evan watch a lap

@@donaldperkins6148 Would love to see it come back Those commentators made it great too.

Did this same guy do the voice for rock n roll racing on snes?

Was the best he would bring whole place on feet. Remember coliseum, rose bowl, Anaheim. Great times then riding next day

Wish I was there.

You're an idiot

shadows faded how so

shadows faded who hurt you

@@shadowsfad3d Did u turn gay?

Such is the artform. Miss announcing like this.

Old Wisdom I’m certain that’s mean gene!

The one and only Larry Huffman

👍

@@camday2043 Who's mean Gene ?

Mark Me , From WWF,

That was the one I think I was at and there was a streaker you remember that?

Those charges from back of the pack were insane....and the big screen up top in the stadium showing the words: The national weather service has just issued a Hurricane warning.....

Racing is racing. They all ride the same track. Speed don't mean squat in terms of excitement. Not to me, anyway. I've ridden the old bikes and modern as well. To me it was more fun back in the day. And safer, too.

LARRY HUFFMAN THE MOUTH MISS HIM...

I had one of those and it ran good. Some mexicans ripped it off and it wouldn't start because the carb was in my garage for a rebuild. So they set it on fire with a full tank of gas.

@@jamienichols6277 there are about 40 million more Mexicans now...

@@Citadin Isn't it a shame SMFH

looks like gatorade

moron

Same..he WAS Yamaha

chandler

canalloopy

shultz

Ward

Jim "Jammer" Wienert👍

My Dad took me I was 16 years old and the most memorable part was the streaker! 😂 But I thought Hannah went down and came back from behind to win it till I just seen this video so I don't know I must have been wrong this whole time. I'll never forget. My Dad was awesome!!

I agree. During this era, racers wanted to win, not draw stupid big paydays and say "for sure"a lot.

No, this is shit, superross in 2020 is so much bettee

@@gothryuk5948 you lost your damn mind. Late 90s was the best era. These jerkoffs now are all cry babies that worry about their go-pros and social media clout.

Larry Huffman..."The Mouth of Motocross."

@@mickeybeahl2233 did you see cameron mcadoo crash on Tuesday? He endoed into the face of a tunnel jump and then did a front flip WITH the bike. They had to red flag the race. One of the worst crashes, but he ended up getting the OK from the medical staff and got to the gate before the restart and pulled the holeshot and finished in third! Or how about jason anderson getting landed on top of in his heat? Again just on tuesday, and he was cussing out alex ray about it, then got back on his bike and passes a bunch of people but still had to go to LCQ. In the LCQ he passed everyone there to get into the main event and also got a top 5 in the main event.

Mikeal Brailsford I was thinking the same thing!

The Yellow and Black is very cool ...yamaha should never have gine blue

@@dominicsosa7405 they were kind of encroaching on Suzukis territory... Yamaha is white, Carla would have disapproved! www.xt500.co/rip-h-kan-carla-carlqvist-t7175.html

I think you mean Yamaha yz490...Say what you want, there is as much riding skill today as there was back in the day...maybe even more. Today's bikes are more sophisticated and sound way better. Why would anyone want to experience a 500 two stroke. I have and they're stupid to ride. I'm 57 by the way and had a 1984 yz 250 out of the crate and many other bikes. Four strokes rule.

@@eduardosampoia5480"they are stupid"? Please elaborate. They were pushing the limits, focusing on speed. Back then it was jump and get the bike back to the ground asap to continue to accelerate. Now its a show of speed and air time. Its really apples to oranges. Its similar to the B class in rally racing. The bike companies pushed power to the limits until 1. The bike engine over powered the frame, brakes and suspension . And 2. Were to fast for the tight tracks. The crowd changed as well with more ways to watch it, like KZfaq etc... and then evolved into as much show as go. Nothing wrong with either of them. Both are different just like how bikes are built. Like i said then it was for all out speed. Now its higher longer jumps and speed. Easier mantaince with the 4 strokes. Which is cool in a way but in another way an art is being lost while another is being gained. What i mean is, back then you had to jet your carburetor depending on the track, change the reeds, now its plug it up to a computer and read the performance graphs and set new fuel and ignition parameters. Both cool just like the old bikes and the new. Why i think modern bike riders should ride the old bikes is, its cool to see how the new bikes got to be from where they came from. Yes old bikes suspended sucked, not smooth with power delivery etc... but at the time they were the newest, latest and greatest. Just like the bikes we ride today will be old, weak, and less smooth compared to future bikes. I have no problem with bikes of now, but riding old bikes as you have, should give you a smile thinking how guys could ride the "stupid " bikes full out. Some of them shorter then you. Like Jeff Ward i believe mid 5 foot. 5'6 -5'7 ish and under 120lbs. Yet they would climb up on a 500cc two stroke bike that damn near came up to their mid chest, ride it flat out. That alone is impressive to me. Maybe because I'm 6'3" and at my super motocross days was 175lbs. It was a wild ride for me, let alone for a 5'7" tall 115lbs guy flat out.

@@johnnyturbo8460 I agree with most of what you're saying. But 500 two strokes are stupid dangerous. They have a very narrow and explosive power band. The only reason they get more air time today is because of better bikes, suspension and frame, and more riders in the industry and they just keep pushing the limits. Have you seen Eli Tomac ride lately. He is a master. I don't agree that people need to experience the old technology to appreciate the new. That being said nothing smells quite like 2 stroke combustion. You can't beat a bike that you just kick and ride without having to fiddle with it. Just like cars. Cars practically don't need tuneups nowadays...unlike old vehicles which had carburetors and points and never ran well especially in winter.

@@eduardosampoia5480 yes they were dangerous, that's one huge reason you don't see them being made anymore . They were/are dangerous. Which alone raises appreciation for them and the riders capable of pushing them to the limit. Yes i have seen him and many new fast riders. It's just a different kind of fast. As you stated the old fast was scary "stupid"at best, the new is a much more enjoyable fast. It's a different kind of rush. One was based of fear and speed and the new is based on usability. Both cool just different. Both have introduced amazing riders. As far as carburetor tunes and jetting, it was definitely a more hands on mechanical time. I'm not saying its not now but then it was more tune by ear, by the feel of the exhaust as it thumped on your body as you hovered over the engine while you played with mixture screws, jets and reeds. It's awesome to me to see how far its come and at the end the goal is the same (to make the bike as good as it can be) yet the path to get there is different. (Mechanical vs computer) . I agree the older bikes don't have the same fun factor and the new bikes don't share the same fear factor . But both are a blast and a great path for their own rush they provide.

I recently bought a 2006 yz 250...although it was fun I much rather a 450 4 stroke...iI almost made the mistake of buying a 2001 cr500. They definitely sre awesome but I've snapped out of 2 stroke mode and am now hardcore 4 stroke.

I was at that race in Houston.I loved Rio Bravo too and Houston had some local fast guys.I also remember seeing Hanna and Smith battle at the 125 Nationals at Lake Whitney.Then years later Hanna and Howerton battling it out at a 500 National at Whitney.Those were the good old days.

Mickey Pizzitola was one of the fastest 125 and 250 experts at Rio Bravo back then.We would go eat at his parents BBQ joint.I remember Derek Wedding, Shawn Kelly and several more guys from there.

"we got a high school drop out in 5th that's willing to do anythinggg to WIN and not be a loser the rest of his life!! Hannah!! Bailey! Here comes Blubber boy for that chicken wing win! Wooaahh!!!"

Yes

I was thinking same

Hahahahahaahahahahahahaha

He sounds just like George Blaha. George used to be the voice of the Detroit Pistons in their hey day. He's also the announcer (a great one too) for the Michigan State University Spartan football team ... despite the fact that he graduated from the University of Michigan.

Yep, the old 'elbow grease' is all they had...only a few technical advancements. No carbon fiber. No titanium alloy. No nitrogen gas shocks. (Hydraulic front forks were a new thing, but not dialed-in) No billet alloy. No steering stabilizers. No high flow reeds, production pipe, or short levers. And, "mullets" were not mainstream yet!

I remember reading a article in motocross action said that when kawasaki came out with the uni trak suspension everybody's time improved by at least 3 seconds or better

This sport is dying. There won't be any motocross 30 years from now.

It smelled like piss and $9 beers. It needed to be blown up.

I agree it was a dump. Had no idea this was at the silver dome until I read the comments. I was their when it failed to blow up the first time. It did not leave without a fight

Where was this race held?

@@TOMVUTHEPIMP Haha. 👍

Not me...I went through the 2 stroke phase and appreciate 4 strokes much more...plus they don't even come close to the pollution 2 strokes make.

@@eduardosampoia5480 U probably drove mopeds.

@@cockroach5717 I had a 1984 yz250 out of the crate my friend.

@@eduardosampoia5480 And I bet it beat every 4 stroke on the track.

That's not an arena...

This track was longer than the modern SX tracks.

@@foobarmaximus3506 Why is that bad? I think that's also a good thing because the shorter the lap times the quicker they get to lappers, which have been a problem in recent years, they got to them too fast and they're still all bunched up.

I agree, it'll now be Downtown at Ford Field if it comes to fruition. I'd say maybe Comerica, but Baseball starts in early April, and the Michigan (Pontiac) Supercross was always in mid-late April. Little Caesar's Arena will still be hosting Red Wings Hockey *and* the Pistons, so Ford is my call. Hope it comes back to the "D". Addendum: I was at this race and took some cool photos of Hannah and Bailey. Then seeing Hannah in the pits not looking well at all! Head dropped between his knees after catching his breath.

The problem is the Ford Family nixed it because Toyota is a title sponsor. Stupid but very credible.

Just build a track where the Silverdome once was. LOL!!

Alex Brillant yeah larry is comedy!!

3:55 Did he really say that Barnett is a street fighter and a high school drop out? I think it is an outdated manner to present a race imo... :)

Yeah that was classic! Someone would probably throw a fit if he did that today!

Alex Brillant Ya Ya Ya know

Wide000 no p.c. shit back then

I was thinking the same thing.....but you said it funny as hell..good one

LOL

I had an 83 RM250 back in the day. Drum brakes front and rear were garbage even when new and properly adjusted. Forks weren’t bad, shock like a pogo stick. Ergonomics compared to today would be a joke. But... power was surprisingly fun and responsive. The bikes were so simple and cheap to keep running. I had an 08 YZ450 that despite being 25 years newer and obviously much more capable was a little intimidating and actually less fun in some ways.

The only difference is that you could smell the 2-stroke bean oil live. And it was loud.

I am 50 and ride a KTM 450 SF-X at a Supercross track. Age is in your head.

I fully agree

4 strokes are cool but nothing beats the sound and smell of a 2 stroke

I miss everything about this time period. Bikes. Chicks. Food. Friends. Music. Cars. Everything.

A good point you made for me to comment about is "The tracks designed for slower speeds.". I think 4-strokes would have fits with some of the slow sections of some of the 80's courses (like slow whoop sections), and, as the 4-stroke cheater bikes took over, (like man can't make both engines competitive), it evolved into a 45 sec/lap lap time "Flying Freeway". SX is boring to me today. Thank God for the nationals.

Yup nowadays the snowflakes would cry and whine they were being treated bad. Then they would run and complain to an official and say their feelings were hurt. Shameful really. Its competition not patty cakes.

Johnny Turbo nah it’s just boomers like you making it sound like that Ok boomer

@@jacobfrancisco7580 topical response some a snowflake.. 1. Im not a baby boomer, I'm gen X. 2. you want to do something? Go give blood, do your part as a citizen.

@Sinister Veritas Yes, you are describing the Snowflakes of the Hilary Clinton voters years back. 100% correct. Because even TIME Magazine is agreeing and posting there was massive fraud in the 2020 elections.

@Sinister Veritas LOL So you are saying you are happy with biden so far?? I would tell you so stay focused but you are not even sure what to look at with your head so far in the sand.. Hell even his own party is saying biden shouldn't have the nuke codes. They already trust Trump more then their own party. 2 years OR LESS and I bet biden will be pulled from his presidency by his own party just like they planned

I raced in the Dome a couple of times. I'm from there also.

Sebastien Carlus so true

People didn't care about their hair in the 80s? That's news to me

@@JoelSmithR1 ...more concerned, that means they were were concerned but that was not the most important.

Sebastien Carlus and launch control on their bikes. Lol

Okay boomer

I didn't go to that race until 86, raced there in the amateurs in 88, and had not missed a race there since 86. I have a lot of great memories, (and a bad one, GF problem, wanted to talk about the relationship after a couple beers, just before the main gate dropped. I found another seat and met her at the car, but she did not want to talk on the way home. lol). Does it feel to you, that when the Silverdome was torn down, some of your memories were torn down too? I miss those days.

I had a Scott face mask in 75, attached to goggles. I so remember it cause I had my two front teeth knocked out from a rock for inadvertently not wearing it in a race. Bell came out with their first moto star full face in 76 thankfully!

Those days were like the American Muscle car era. Very special because they were more free market and true competition. It was a great era of motorcycles we grew up with in the early days of MX in the USA. We will take it to our graves, and mourn for those who still live.

Announcer: Larry "Super-Mouth" Huffman.

58 and getting back into some aggressive tail riding. I know guys in their 60's who are still fast as heck here in Michigan. I would like to sell an alarm clock that sounds like a ripping 2-stroke 250cc bike on a national track, and have it give off a puff of castor smoke. Can you think of a better way to have to wake up? :)

Those 1983 RC 250 Honda "works" bikes were not very good. Fast motors, but not easy to ride. The forks sucked.

Yes, it is no more. I was there.