I would like to slap all those who are under 30 who work in MX retail shops, when they don't know who the past greats of our sport are. What do they teach these kids in school now days! Today I was in my local No Fear store and mention the passing of Marty Moats and the kid who was waiting on me said who is he? I was like WTF! He was not only one of the parnters in No Fear and Prez of FMF appreal, but put and end to Euro Dominece in MX with his under dog priviteer win at the 1980 Caralsbad 500cc USGP! Twice last year at my local Cycle Gear store, I felt the same way when I asked if they were going to carry the One IND David Bailey replica helmets and another time when I asked if they had the Magoo video. The dumd kids were like who are those guys? I told them DB career ended at one of our local tracks that closed back in like 91 and they ask their was a track out in Huron? UUUGGG! Am I just getting old or do these kids need to be taken out back and whipped with and O ring chain? Like the song says TEACH YOUR CHILDERN WELL and if you don't know what song I'm talking about than you get a cyber SLAPPP!!!!!!!

Good lord I'm with ya all the way Smooth. I don't even waste my time anymore speaking moto trivia with anyone under 35. There are a few of us oldies on here that take our mx history seriously. Most of the kids today think Roger D. is the only euro rider that ever raced !!!!! Don't even say the names Robert, Geboers, Everts(both), Rahier, Mikkola, Falta, Weil, Bickers, Smith, Friedrichs, Eastwood, Thorpe, Smets etc,etc. Even american pioneers like Bryan Kenney, Barry Higgins, John DeSoto, Billy Payne Sr., Tim Hart, Marty Tripes, Jim West, Billy Clements, Mark Blackwell. OK, I'll stop now, but I could go on all day ya know. Pretenders today don't give a crap about our illustrious history . They just want to "bust out monster whips", and get tatoos put all over there bodies. I guess that makes you tough ! I guess all we can do is try to educate these 'individuals" and hope they don't get bored out of there minds. But it will be priceless to see the look on there face when you ask for parts for your Zundapp ! 

still42 wrote: Good lord I'm with ya all the way Smooth. I don't even waste my time anymore speaking moto trivia with anyone under 35. There are a few of us oldies on here that take our mx history seriously. Most of the kids today think Roger D. is the only euro rider that ever raced !!!!! Don't even say the names Robert, Geboers, Everts(both), Rahier, Mikkola, Falta, Weil, Bickers, Smith, Friedrichs, Eastwood, Thorpe, Smets etc,etc. Even american pioneers like Bryan Kenney, Barry Higgins, John DeSoto, Billy Payne Sr., Tim Hart, Marty Tripes, Jim West, Billy Clements, Mark Blackwell. OK, I'll stop now, but I could go on all day ya know. Pretenders today don't give a crap about our illustrious history . They just want to "bust out monster whips", and get tatoos put all over there bodies. I guess that makes you tough ! I guess all we can do is try to educate these 'individuals" and hope they don't get bored out of there minds. But it will be priceless to see the look on there face when you ask for parts for your Zundapp !

Thank you for under standing, 42. Sounds like your a fan of GP MX. I wish they put more of that on TV. I watched it last year and felt like those were tracks that I would like to ride on. I look at tracks in the US and just feel pain.

As a (more than 30) parts guy, I'd like to be second in line behind you.  However, I also reserve the right to slap stupid customers (primarily young, but regardless of age).  Like the kid that bought a TRX450R from us (actually his Grandmother did), and asked me how fast it would run.  I said something like "Probably mid to upper 80s".  He proceeded to tell me how he had an 01 RM125 that would run 165 mph (yes, you read that right) and that he was "...fully sponsored by Factory 909.  Ever heard of them?".

If it weren't illegal I would have clubbed him to protect the gene pool.  After he spent his money, of course.

Face it!!!  There just isn't that much literature out there on the history of MX.  I'm 33 years old and have a firm grasp on how the 80's went down. but when it comes to the 70's and MX history, I know about the rise of Bob Hannah and Marty smith before him.  I'm also familiar with Roger Decoster (OF COURSE), and although I've heard of others, like Jimmy weinert, Gaylon Mosier, Pierre Karsmaker ETC. I just don't know too much about them because I wasn't there or was too young to recall.  As far as these young kids???????  Why not help educate them!!!!

Great to hear that  many of you feel the same way I do. As mentioned earler. most of todays young riders care more about tatoos, doing whips, there next graphic kit [I believe graphic kits are the #1 selling item for dirt bikes] etc.

As far as educating them, you can forget about it. The xfiles is as good as it gets, and I bet most young riders would rather do just about anything else, other than watch the documentary of some of the best riders that ever raced a motorcycle. Bring back the 45 minute motos, on REAL mx tracks. Time to separate the Men from the boys.

 Doug S. [sakana] 

 

I worked at Cycle Gear for a few months before I moved and now I am moving back and will start working there again in the next few weeks. I noticed that the one other person that worked there who rode dirt was more focused on FMX than racing and really didn't have any kind of appreciation for the sport. So I understand where you guys are coming from. I'm 19 and I knew more about MX history than the manager of my store did. So it's not only the sub 30 guys who know nothing.

As far as education for young people they have to care, there's things out there to read and watch like The Great History of Supercross, On Any Sunday (although not totally about MX still an amazing movie), or watch the Motocross Files on Speed! They cover everyone, I've seen Bob Hannah, Marty Tripes, Jeff Ward, Danny LaPorte, Jim Pomeroy, Jimmy Weinart, and Roger DeCoster so far. It's a great way to pick up history.

 

Oh and The Parts Nazi

There is a company called Factory 909, if I remeber correctly they are a sub company of FMF. They mainly make stuff like hand guards, grips, levers, bars, etc. mainly stuff that goes on the bars.  They sponsored guys like Mike Kiedrowski and the Alessi brothers (when they were on 85's)

 

I do educate my son Broc on MX topics. He will turn 7 on Febuary 15 th, same B-day as Davey millsaps. He watched On Any Sunday's 1&2 everyday from the time he was 6 months untill he was over 2 yrs and still plays them every now and then. I believe those flicks have helped him uderstand racing since he's won almost every race he's entered including his first one this past year. He's been racing flat track. The races he lost are the one's were they had KTM's going against him on his PW 50. He's done one MX, but he was the only PW. He beat the only other non KTM/ Polni rider who was on a CRF 50 in moto 1, had him in moto 2, but crashed and the PW was flooded and wouldn't start in time. As soon as my knee heals and I get back to work, I want to get him a KTM asap! Anyway you can show my boy a pic of Bob Hannah and he'll tell you it's Bob Huricane Hannah. He can name all perminate # AMA riders. Yes MC all the way to Nick Wey. He loves this sport as munch as I do. It won't be a dissapointment if he never becomes a pro. I'll be happy if he still goes to Anaheim with me when he's 30 something with my grandson. I just want to enjoy this sport with him and have great memories.

I agree! HA.

Asking for permission to slap everyone under 30.....YOU GOT IT !!!  FEEL FREE TO BEGIN THE SLAPPING.

And no, I won't be able to help bail you out, but you've got my support, LOL.