![]() (Supercross would not become a part of the deal until the mid-‘80s.) West also sanctioned with the Ohio-based AMA rather than the NMA.īy this point the sport of amateur motocross in America was really growing, though the West Coast still basically ruled most big amateur races. The event still called for a hare scrambles, then a flat track race at nearby Ocala, and then the motocross finals. Peterburg-based Supersports took over the event from Ray and moved it from North Florida Raceway to a bigger place further south called Chicken Farm Raceway, near a Gulf Coast town called Homosassa Springs. Flat track racer-turned-event promoter Bill West and his St. Among the big winners were once again Jeff Ward in the 80cc classes and Indiana’s Kenny “The Missile” Blissett, who topped Ward in the 100cc flat track finals aboard a Steen Allsport.įast forward to 1977. There were some fast local boys were there too, including Mark Murphy, Brian Ward, Ricky Folsom, Dale Ellis, Doug Longwell, and Tim Eggers. ![]() Also on hand were Yamaha-mounted Jim “Hollywood” Holley, along with Wardy’s J&B Racing Honda teammates Brad Dutoit and Kurt Henricksen. The NMA’s presence had the effect of drawing many West Coast riders all the way to Florida to compete, helping put the race on the national map that was dominated at the time by the west coast-based NMA.įollowing the “Flying Freckle,” as Ward was already known, to North Florida Raceway was “Flying” Mike Brown, who came out with his trick factory Indian motorcycles, as did his California neighbors Paul Denis and Lance Moorewood. minicycle racing.įuture AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Jeff Ward’s presence that first year added enough national attention to the Winter Nationals that West Coast promoter Ron Henricksen of the NMA reached out to Pat Ray to sanction the race the following year. Rain and mud hampered the event, but both Ward and McCay would win motos and classes from one another, setting the stage for one of the earliest rivalries in U.S. They would meet for the first time at North Florida Raceway, with McCay on a Honda SL-70 converted into a race bike, and Ward riding the brand new Honda XR75-the first racing-specific off-road model that Honda ever put out. Even without a sanction that first year, the 1972 race attracted two of the best young prodigies in the country and who helped define and advance minicycle racing in the early seventies, California’s “Flying Freckle” Jeff Ward and Tennessee’s Gene McCay. It was unsanctioned the first year, but then picked up for 1973 by the California-based NMA (National Minicycle Association). Ray scheduled the event for the extended Thanksgiving holiday and called it the Florida Winter Nationals. Ray’s initial concept was to have all three disciplines-flat track, hare scrambles, and motocross-over a single weekend to crown the best all-around minicycle racers. The facility had a small flat track that ran alongside its motocross track, as well as surrounding woods for some off-road trails. Haiden Deegan Suffers “Minor Concussion” in Wild Mini O’s Crash NovemThe newest Monster Energy/Star Yamaha Racing rider was tossed from his Yamaha YZ250F during the second moto of Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C.First run in November 1972, it all started as the brainchild of a Florida promoter named Pat Ray who ran a track just above Jacksonville called North Florida Raceway.Gallery: Mini O's NovemHere are some of our best photos from the 2021 THOR Mini O's at Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainesville, FL.Insight: 2021 Mini O’s Awards Winners NovemAfter a week full of intense racing, seven different individuals took home unique awards.Watch: Live Coverage of 2022 Mini O’s on RacerTV (Saturday 11/19 Through Saturday 11/26) NovemYou can follow along with the racing throughout each day with RacerTV.The List: 2022 Mini O's SX Results NovemNow that the supercross portion of the week-long event has concluded, check out the SX results from Florida. ![]() Next: Mini O's Supercross Photo Gallery NovemSome of Chelsea Adams’ best photos from SX racing at Mini O’s.Wake-Up Call NovemResults and standings from around the world.The List: 2022 Mini O's MX Results NovemNow that the week-long amateur racing event has concluded, check out the MX results from Florida.Insight: 2022 Mini O’s Award Winners NovemAfter a week full of intense racing, seven different individuals-Haiden Deegan, Ashton Arruda, Marcus Trujillo, Gavyn Welzien, Wyatt Duff, Drew Adams, and mechanic Warren Simoneaux-took home unique awards.Exhaust Podcast: Meet Caden Braswell NovemThe Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award Winner has a unique outlook on life, and a new deal with Phoenix Honda.Next: Mini O's Motocross Photo Gallery NovemSome of Chelsea Adams’ best photos from MX Racing at Mini O’s.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |