Desert racing ain't no joke... You're one heartbeat away from being a hero, or dying. ...and when you think you're really haulin the mail and a guy goes by you at 2X your velocity, reality hits hard. Watching Smith and Ashcraft doing a buck-ten and lofting the bike a hundred feet between gears is something you'll remember for forever.

I remember the premier of the original film at California City GP. This guy spent close to a year filming D-37 races. It brings back a bunch of childhood memories as I spent ever weekend at a race somewhere in the desert. It was great to see my Dad, Dan Smith, Dan Ashcraft, Art Knapp, Bill Saltzman, Chuck Miller tearing it up back in the day. I remember that get off Dan had at one of the last Check Chase point to point races in 1981. I am not sure how he didn't break anything.

Meanest machine I ever rode was a 390 Husqvarna, back in the 1980's. That 390 husky made my Kawasaki KX450 seem weak. The KX450 wasn't weak!

70"s and 80's Motocross was awesome. I'm almost 60 now but in my teens I raced motocross at Indian Dunes and Saddleback and took trips to Bell mountain with my Dad and Grandpa just such amazing times

@stevesmith756

3 ай бұрын

Probably saw you at all three areas. Rode Bultacos back 70’s early 80’s

I grew up pitting these races with my mom and sibs for my dad. Loved it. He rode for Freedom Honda, Craigs and some others. His name is LaMar Walker. He later went by Joe Freedom.

@troymattingly3071

5 жыл бұрын

Wow, Talk about Cool Family Fun!

First time I came down to the SoCal desert, with my 250 Bultaco woods enduro setup, I was being blown away by 100 Zundapps. My top speed was around 50mph.

Me my brother and my Dad are all probably on that starting line somewhere. We missed very few races back then. So.Cal. M/C forever!!

Great video my grandpa starting racing back in the late 60’s with the sunland shamrocks and my Dad started in late 70’s currently to date my family is still racing AMADistrict37 awesome video!!!

Desert racing is scary stuff. I got lost in the desert at sun down and I thought I was going to die. I found are campsite as the sun was setting below the mountains.

From "The Desert Racers" VHS tape. I still have a copy of it, and just made it into a DVD. This was at the peak of my own desert racing years. I've even on the tape briefly, on a CR250R. Those sure were fun times.

I did motocross in those days, but now that I'm in my 40's I race desert and love it.

It's cool to see my uncle Dan in these videos. Thank you for posting them!

wallays nice coutrycross riding wid the good music at background, remember the earlier times of yougth

Holy moly! I think I saw myself in it at 2:52. I wore a white jersey with 2 vertical stripes and had a cloth flapper attached to the back of my helmet. I wish I could see the name on the pants.

I rode enduros in my teens in NH and was a frequent to the tons of old logging roads and fire roads and my right knee and back is partialy screwed from riding a Honda elsnore 250 AIR COOLED!! If I had to ride a bike again I would not pick another ..Best bike I ever had

@Machi74005

5 жыл бұрын

I always heard those 2 stroke Hondas had big power.

boy I missed the 80's

That desert gets in your blood! believe me I know!

All Hard MoFo's Back then- Never Underestimate the 'OL Bigbore Strokers IT465 & YZ490's Are Frikken Insane Death Machines as to the 500cc CR,KX & Huskys Ect 💪 - The Old ones Felt More Violent than the Later Models Imho!🙏 *Respect*👍😉🇦🇺

Back when men were men. Proud to say I owned a 1982 CR125 when I was 14. Had to get a running start to hop on it it was so big.

Looks like Barstow to Vegas. Raced it 83, 84, & 85.

@terryturner3050

2 жыл бұрын

Rick Jones 88 over alled and friend of mine.

@DanielLibutti

3 ай бұрын

Crashed hard in the 84 BTV. Ended up with 40 stitches in my left leg.

this is so cool I was racing against those guys and recognized a bunch of them even saw my bike in it. This was when it required a brass set and strength anybody can do it now the bikes are so plush.

@troymattingly3071

5 жыл бұрын

I rode a 1974 KX450 for a trail bike, when I was in my late teens. We raced our buddies across the gas pipeline in Southern Indiana. Just kids loving bikes but it was great fun.

i raced this race, hurt my arch on my foot and bent the shank in the boot. my foot sweld up like a blow fish when i took my boot off!

Anyone who mocks these "antiquated" machines is a spoiled little punk who's had their tushies pampered by modern technology. This video is great!

@troymattingly3071

5 жыл бұрын

If They mock, They do so in ignorance.

To bad these days are long gone only 35 years from now will the teen riders of today mature enough to understand why we still watch videos from so long ago and still get on a bike and race when you see the broken down and taped up bodies of the over 50 class try to remember that we were flying through the desert before you were born and were still racing

@troymattingly3071

5 жыл бұрын

That's cool, Man! I was a trail - riding teenager back then.

I want the IT490 fast as hell even today im 35 and I like the old big bore 2T any day over the 4 puke.

@troymattingly3071

5 жыл бұрын

Watch motocross and listen to those 4-stroke engines. Sadly, the bikes sound like high compression farm tractors. I love to hear 2-stroke bikes racing! Vintage racing on KZread is my favorite...

Hair bands and Hare and Hound racing ! I think I had hair for brains in those days. . .

@BillMenchen

4 жыл бұрын

Yep. Me too.

Dang man, thats fricking awesome footage. those guys were hauling ass!

Chasing the bomb. Did it a few times with JN Roberts, Carl Crank and other notables. I was not in their league though and was quickly left in the dust.

@troymattingly3071

5 жыл бұрын

Dean, I admire You for taking that ride. You put in the work to race and that is a very good accomplishment!

Good days. Still have the old Husky, and she comes out once in awhile.

my dad finished 8th overall in the 1974 barstow to vegas on a bultaco 360 pursang

Soooo rad! Great video, thanks! My gen growing up and riding out there. Dig the name, and still my favorite place to camp out at Lucerne. 👍👍

Dudes form at the 4:35 mark is perfect

Haha you guys def. had it harder than we did in the 90's but it's those dual shock guys I feel sorry for. I heard they were all sterile after one season.

@vmchunks I'm over 50 also and my 1974 SC500 two stroke was a real man's dirt bike on steroids as well, I loved that YELLOW THING!

@troymattingly3071

5 жыл бұрын

As a teenager, I rode a 1974 KX450 for a trail bike. I'm sure your 1974SC500 was a mean machine.

I would like to see James, Chad, and all them other siseys that wont even race the outdoors do that........ That was when men were men. Thank you for the clip.......

yeaaa now that's racing going ballistic on our Husky 390's hauling ass.

those were the days YC 495

Good old days KTM 495 's 123 miles an hour

CougarButtes thank you for the trip down memory lane. I have such fond memories of great men like Rick Sieman Super Hunky,our Sahara Club and his constant insults to my never ending love affair with the YZ 490 motor. The amount of money I had to spend trying to make that bike competitive was the topic of many Mister Know-it-all's. 110 IS OFF THE CHART FOR THAT ERA. Can you tell me what Brent Wallingsford was riding that day?

raced dra d-37 had a ball sure miss doing that

I'm sure my dads somewhere in some of these clips!

air cool rules

The dead giveaway are hundreds and hundreds of Bella Moto 3s the helmet that changed everything

My next bike 1982 Maico 490

@troymattingly3071

5 жыл бұрын

That Maico 490 will probably be a monster to kick start, but it will be worth it. I have seen those many times on KZread and they are looking awesome!

Sex, drugs, rock&roll and racing!

@hostilerosstyle Cool..i raced there in Open Expert YC 490 best place i had over all was 36th in my class i finished best 12th.. hard race need lots of Pit Hlep..

Bell moto III

@LiveinHim4ever Your Dad did a great job indeed. where was this filmed? My brother Butch Laswell was a pro desert racer in Nevada in the 70s 80s 90s. The bike I remember the most was a 1981 Maico 490. He raced with guys like Jack Johnson, Scott Harden..

Awesome vintage video. Do you have video we can use? We're doing a feature on Jack Johnson and could use some vintage motorcycle racing footage. Would be happy to pay you for it.

@CougarButtes

7 жыл бұрын

This footage is from a movie called "Desert Racers." If you can't find it I can try and get you a copy.

@jlt7438

5 жыл бұрын

jack johnson, max switzer, bobby davidson, scott harden, ben maze, leroy kyger, casey folks... MRAN. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. I always thought jack johnson was faster than JN Roberts. I saw a guy on a 125 DKW get second in the Barstow to Vegas and he was impressive too. I think his name might have been Brooks...

@troymattingly3071

5 жыл бұрын

@@jlt7438 Great memories of strong men and machines!

@BillMenchen

4 жыл бұрын

Its from the movie "Desert Racers."

My pops at 0:08

The time of this appears, to me, to be more mid 70's. Probably 74 to 76 is my guess based upon noted bike models.

I'd do the 3 wheelers class

hi. which is the name of the song? very good video 100% vintage ... cool

I wonder if John Davis from Acton is there somewhere on his KTM. Anybody know?

ooppsss YZ NOT YC give me a break i'm a old man..

There was rock n roll in the 80's ? Not much huh?

That's right, if you're not mixing gas, you're not hauling ass...

its gotta be 82-83...i saw an 82 YZ water cooled 125/250....new updated radiator on front of bike...not like the 81.....

Holy moly! I think I saw myself in it at 2:52. I wore a white jersey with 2 vertical stripes and had a cloth flapper attached to the back of my helmet. I wish I could see the name on the pants.