1977 Unadilla 500 National

[@onefishfrank9145]

Thank you Lyndon Fox! What a track Unadilla was, love seeing many of the stars of that era again!

[@charlesharper6421]

I concur. It NEVER gets tired,and I always spot something new.lyndon’s content is evergreen..

[@kahuna2]

I was at that race. Me, my girlfriend, and 2 other buddies. Marty Smith was my hero back then. So sad he's gone. RIP

[@charlesharper6421]

Lucky.. I was fortunate to have seen him race out west a few x’s..he had a style..sad how he went out, he deserved better…

[@dougharvey9766]

The Honda guys really had the Fox shocks setup nicely they where on a whole other level. Great video

[@charlesharper6421]

For sure. I was told at one point honda was going to put fox air shox from the factory.

[@charlesharper6421]

Marty was so stylish and smooth but pomeray and craft hung right with him. They were always at the front of the pack in those days. The win went through them…

[@tundratunes]

I bought my first Husqvarna, a CR250, from Pat Moroney, who used to race the 250 Grand Prix at Unadilla every year in this era. I bought his 250 right after the 1977 race season ended. I immediately took off the top end to put in new piston rings and saw he had that bike bored out to the max. It was a serious beast, went like a rocket but handled like a dream. The Unadilla experience was amazing because the track was outrageous and the riders were just spectacular. That was the heydey for those European bikes, the Huskies, Maicos and KTMs. I still have the Unadilla poster from 1981, which features a 1980 CR250 Husky rounding the track. It reads, "Global powers invade the premier U.S. track in an all-out battle to be world champion. Be there." 'Nuff said!

[@moneyontrees6]

You are Unafuckin Dilla correct. Actually the heathens early on drunk and destroying property not cool. But if you saw the races awesome. At 58 1976 first Trans AMA. Gaylon loss in fall 1980 I saw the so sad Kawasaki pits. Raced there myself 2000 to 2012. Vet classes. What a ride ! It is a place to behold !

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

@@moneyontrees6 Too bad they ruined the track. It is smooth with man made obstacles. The track in this video is gone.

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

I remember Pat Moroney as a local racer in upstate NY. He was very flamboyant on the track a-la Magoo Chandler. I think they both rode support motos at ‘Dilla in the late 70s.

[@tundratunes]

@@kurtvonfricken6829 Yes, Pat's father Jim Moroney owned the shop in Newburgh that sold Harleys and Husqvarna in the late 70's. I was a regular there buying parts and top quality genuine Husky Products, like the coolest Husky pants and jerseys. I wish I still had some of those, but I wore them all out. I agree that the track of that era seems ruined. I just watched a few clips from this year's GP and it was a bummer. The track was almost totally unrecognisable apart from the first turn out of the gate and the Gravity Cavity, which back then we called the Screw U. I am in the process of restoring a 1977 Husky CR250, like the one I bought from Pat back then. Alas, this one has the stock Öhlins, whereas the one I bought from Pat has Marzocchis.

[@moneyontrees6]

Pat in 79 rode a RM 400 in the 500cc support race. I remember the low end grunt of his short shift and major air and sideways off every jump. Fuckin awesome!!

[@Buelligan88]

I read about this race in every magazine of the day... eerie seeing it so many years later.

[@charlesharper6421]

For sure…lucky…

[@jpmorgen5726]

Third over all to Staten, behind Smith and Croft, Harley's best national finish!

[@charlesharper6421]

Good post. Rex could ride…

[@badgersworldofmotorsports511]

The 70,s was the best motocross-gr8 video!!!!! I was looking to see if my old friend Mickey Boone was in this race,but did not see him as far as I can tell-mickey was an awesome rider!!!.

[@charlesharper6421]

I’ve seen him on other KZbin content. Was he a big bore rider too..he was fast on a 125…

[@Nudnik1]

I had that CR 360 GP Husqvarna a Hiekko Mikkola replica Howerton is riding( Plate number 1 ). Light and fast bike . Purple tank .

[@charlesharper6421]

Lucky..I had a ‘73cr125 yellow tanker. It was the best bike of its day…I think I paid usd$1,399 out the door.

[@charlesharper6421]

Brad ride one like that too, very rapidly…

[@Nudnik1]

@charlesharper6421 Yes it was like a 250 but more power light weight. I had a few Husqvarna in 1980s also before KTM bought them . Mine never broke down. 1982 250wr in Enduro and hare scrambles was excellent .

[@charlesharper6421]

@@Nudnik1 I inherited my younger brothers ‘71 penton 125six days when he dropped down to the trailbike (100cc) class. It was brand new barely off of the showroom floor and he had very little time on it. It was a good move for him as he was just too physically little to be racing in the 125cc class .his bike that he started his 125cc class racing on was a leading link Sachs 125,so he wasn’t flourishing. Right off of the bat the 100 yam was much better suited for him and the competition in the 100 class wasn’t so far superior to the skill he possessed. Back to me. I used to ride that penton every day after school and I realized I could ride after spending time on that thing. Didn’t hurt that it was among the best bikes in its class in those days. I never raced it but put many trail-rides on it. My only complaint as certainly anyone who’s’ ever ridden a bike with a Sachs power-plant would be the insufferable #of neutrals packed into those Sachs trannys’’.i always had a thing for pentons and ktms’ from that era.thanks for jogging my memories…..

[@pursang833]

I would have loved to seen Pomeroy take that bike over for the GP's, he would have been the 500 World Champion without a doubt in my mind. The most naturally rough track we had and that uphill to the orchard was a killer. It's a shame they started to rip it and add man made jumps. I know they say they have to keep up with the bikes and rider skills but it took away the personality of the place. Thanks for posting this and others from that era lfoxracer!

[@charlesharper6421]

Yep. He certainly would’ve been right in the thick of it. Wasn’t the deal that he would ride a Honda overseas . What ever happened to that..

[@chad756]

That was an awesome video, thank you for sharing it. I can not believe how fast those guys were going back then.

[@charlesharper6421]

And stylish. Marty smith was 2nd to nothing. Always in the thick of it..

[@gerard321111]

Great video!! Bob Hannah DNF’d. I recognize Kent Howerton on the Husky, Jammin Jimmy Weinert on the Kawasaki, Tommy Croft on the Honda and is that Steve Stackable in the Maico. Wow, great times.

[@charlesharper6421]

Heroes all…

[@charlesharper6421]

Yeh. You can see him pushing the yam back to the pits…

[@mcgoodle]

Those factory Hondas from '77 could probably still win some local races today. Those things were incredible. I read an interview with Jim Pomeroy where they asked him what was the best bike he ever rode, and he instantly said that it was the bike in this video.

[@rong4189]

So cool! Thanks for posting these vids man! All my heroes when I was a kid! And those Fox Airshox, they were like 'MX Jewelry' back then, love it!

[@lfoxracer]

Thanks! It's nice to feel that dragging all that Super 8 camera gear around was worth it!!

[@charlesharper6421]

We had some. Brother and I shared them. Used them for desert and mx. I think we got our money’s worth out of them…

[@charlesharper6421]

@@lfoxracerwe’re all blessed by your skill, acumen and talent as a KZbin publisher. Videos from this era is extremely rare. I never get tired watching your submissions. The AI clean up you did on them boosts them to a new level of fantastic. We’re spoiling for the rest of your catalog to be upgraded..

[@AmishStud98]

Marty Smith was #9, Tommy Croft #16, Jimmy Weinert #5, Kent Howerton #1, Tony Distefano #3, Jim Pomeroy #102, Steve Stackable #6, Bob Hannah #2, Gaylon Mosier #13, Billy Grossi #21, Rick Burgett #8.

[@JSP2350]

+Jim Bunch Gary Semics #5, Jimmy Ellis #19, Chuck Sun #16, Rich Eierstedt #11

[@Steez51]

The number plates of my youth. I still associate my mental images of those heroes with those exact numbers. Remember? They called em "trick numbers" and everybody had to have em'

[@Kawiboy]

Talk about a line up 🔥🔥.. What a track 👏💪✌️

[@charlesharper6421]

Gary semics was #5…chuck sun was #21..#16 was Tommy “tomahawk” craft.. billy “sugar bear” grossi was natl #14…

[@mcgoodle]

Maicos, Huskys, even a Can-Am or two. I even saw a Bultaco! And they were still (pretty much) as fast as the Japanese bikes. Ah, for the good old days.

[@keithmilne6281]

Bultaco at 5:50

[@vicentemena947]

Tienes razón de la BULTACO y minuto .9:32 una MONTESA Cappra que Buenos tiempos del motocross Grandes ciclistas y Bicicletas👍🇪🇸

[@mcgoodle]

@@vicentemena947 Gracias, senor. La Montesa Cappra estaba una maquina linda. 1977 estaba un ano fantastico.

[@charlesharper6421]

Sadly a time thats come and gone….

[@charlesharper6421]

@@mcgoodleel VR replica…

[@billyt4526]

#102 Jim Pomeroy Caught a glimpse of Jimmy Ellis on the can-Am #1 Kent Howerton #9 Marty Smith #2 Bob Hannah #5 Gary Semics #21 Chuck Sun #11 Rich Eierstedt Bultaco #13 Gaylon Mosier #16 Tommy Croft #3 Tony DiStephano #7 Danny LaPorte #31 Rex Staten on a H.D Holy cow! that has to be rare footage! #6 Steve Stackable (I think) Great footage - thanks!

[@charlesharper6421]

Ellis was #19…stack as written was #6…

[@jhheintz450]

As always Lyndon thanks for posting these. Bums me out that track is nothing like this now. I can still smile and feel lucky I got to be there in those days. Seeing the HOF riders push it for 45min motos Vs what we have now is no comparison

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

The little “S” shaped switchback from 2:50-3:00 was a cool obstacle. Gone forever as it is widened and flattened out.

[@wailingbones]

Slow motion & no sound make this mystical, vintage motocross movie AWESOMENESS !

[@mcgoodle]

Howerton rode that Husky like a 125; just peg it and let it go where it wants. Marty Smith had so much "style" in how he rode that he could be recognized without a number or name. Just think about how many fast guys were in this race. I really enjoyed re-watching this.

[@charlesharper6421]

I concur. never gets tired…

[@JoeMoto43]

I was there, Stackable won his 1st national that day. Yes Pomeroy would have a been a force on 250's in Europe, not sure about 500's though. The Euro field was deep with talent & Lackey was a major American contender at that point finishing 4th behind Mikkola, DeCoster and Wolsink. My thoughts, Honda should have sent Bimbo to Europe in the late 70's for 250 GP's instead of keeping him here to battle Hannah. MX history would have been altered significantly in 250 GP's. R.I.P Bimbo we miss you.

[@charlesharper6421]

Different day.. Marty smith won.. stack won in ‘76

[@charlesharper6421]

Not so fast. Don’t forget “bimbo” roosted on the world at the 1st moto of the ‘77 FIM 500cc USGP carlsbad becoming the 1st American to ever win a moto at that prestigious event. With the right bike and support pomeray had the chops to win in the FIM 500cc mxgp series. He’d already proved it..

[@charlesharper6421]

Stack won the national in ‘76…r/d won the trans am in ‘76..two totally different races…

[@muzzmatrix]

Howerton has the #1 Plate from his 1976 500cc championship. This is a 500 National.....no Euros in sight throughout this film. Man, those were the days, eh?

[@charlesharper6421]

I concur

[@chadkimmel8957]

Easy to spot those Marcos, gotta love em!

[@charlesharper6421]

Yep. I had an mc250…cool bike…

[@711pro]

they need to bring back a big class like the 500cc

[@georgedavis9411]

711pro they have it took over the 250,s you know 450 F is that big enough for you the new 450 s have more GO. Today than the CR500r did.bam

[@waynemarcotte1654]

Less or more speed...less or more suspension...doesnt matter. Racing was at its best pre 81

[@usarmywarcollegesaidisrael2910]

Great footage.

[@JSP2350]

There are no ad banners lining the track. How will I know what to buy?

[@maico125]

Maicos holding their own against the mega dollar Hondas!

[@chadkimmel8957]

maico125 I thought those old 440’s could do much more than hold their own, like kick ass.

[@charlesharper6421]

@@chadkimmel8957you got that right. Take names and kick ass

[@lyndongriffiths3028]

Great Vid, The bikes and tracks where so tuff back then, if the current stars Roczen, Dungey, Gjaser etc had to ride those bikes and tracks they would be surprised big time. 500 two stroke takes no prisoners. The tracks were rutted and bumpy because of the bikes. 60's and 70's riders have their own stories. If your'e a young rider on your 2017 250 4 stroke masterpiece of modern technology, dont think you aint like these guys, in 30 years time your kids will be on their "Tesla E hover mx bikes" thinking you look slow but you'll be saying "back in my day tracks were rough". Just my thoughts.Read more Show less

[@samjohnson6128]

1 2 3 Tony D ....multi time

[@charlesharper6421]

Hurricane too, Gary jones..broc glover, mark barnett

[@NGC2392Eskimo]

I was there. An amazing track.

[@1622yamaha]

this is a fantastic video!!!

[@timobrian444]

This track is rougher then and they had 4 inches less travel. I think Bubba should watch this clip to see what real men rode on. Can you imagine if these babies would have to ride on this track today.

[@eseer3587]

1:05 the fence falls from all them leaning on it 😂

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

Good eye!

[@jmzochsnrtr]

Guess this was right before they invented the 'talkies' movies eh? lol... Thank you very very much for this!!!!!

[@H3avyHaul3r]

wow, you couldn’t call unadilla a mx track in 2021 compared to this.....not much X in mx today

[@toxsickdog]

Real Motocross Before it all went to shit.

[@alancochrane1289]

3:25. Hannah proves he's the greatest

[@charlesharper6421]

He won moto one… dnf’d moto 2… Marty smith went 2-1 for the o/a…

[@charlesharper6421]

😮how so…

[@motokev2727]

Great video

[@holeshot413]

thats a ROUGH Track= real motocross

[@yabbadabba1975]

Back in "the day", Unadilla staked, and I mean STAKED, out a different track on this hundreds of rolling hills. No bulldozers, few man made obstacles if any, and just a bitchin', great traction, fun day of racing. Sigh......

[@870Rem12gauge]

Back then they didn't clear all the rocks off the track. A 2" rock might fly up and hit you in the face.

[@bluegull1541]

77' I was rippin' it on a Kaw KD-100.

[@grabir01]

Power was not an issue.. Wow!!

[@74greendragon]

AYE!, great footage foxracer, is #102 @ 1:46 Jim Pomeroy? Great footage!, Smith was #1, was 16 T.Croft? Thanks. gd74.

[@charlesharper6421]

Smith was #9

[@charleswinters7129]

I was at that race.

[@1ls376]

does anyone else remember the company that made the numbers on the bikes? I think he raced Dallas/Ft Worth Texas area back then. O'Brian

[@MrWgm250]

Still run ONeil numbers, I think they were called

[@stevenperry9713]

REAL MOTOCROSS

[@gerard321111]

Was that howerton on the #1 husky? And Hannah out of the race early mechanical.

[@charlesharper6421]

Yes

[@motokev2727]

Those CR500s were fast

[@ianmangham4570]

Kaplan America loves it

[@troydeck5081]

man that is to kool dilla dont look like that today bet the pros today b like f... this and on a 500 2t fo 2 45min motos now thats REAL MOTOCROSS

[@rrstieb]

Who was #11 on the Bultaco at 4:50? Palmeroy?

[@lfoxracer]

That's # Kent Howerton on his Husky

[@rrstieb]

Woops I meant at 5:50 .. sorry

[@lfoxracer]

Not Jimbo, not sure though

[@lentomlak]

It's Rich Eierstedt

[@MrWgm250]

Kenny Zart I'm guessing

[@petemack4534]

#11 on the Bultaco at 5m52s, that Rich Eierstedt?

[@lfoxracer]

It's Rich Eierstedt, yes.

[@charlesharper6421]

Yes…

[@mwallace5031]

100% agree!

[@benrodeheaver701]

Went to high point that year and overheard a Honda mechanic saying to Semics "No! I was joking about my shower, get out of there!

[@bobbydale1938]

Who in the Hell thumbs down this? ? What Fools! !!

[@lfoxracer]

Hey, a few years ago I was accused of posting a video produced by Fox Racing (no relation) as my own! I was told I stole it from Fox, even when I sent the guy a photo of the original Super 8 400' film reel, he threatened to report me to KZbin!

[@e5m956]

Ha.. I was born in '77. It wouldn't be until 1996 when I first went to 'Dilla.

[@charlesharper6421]

You missed the golden era. Too bad…

[@tonithompson9086]

No such thing as "groomed" tracks back then. The rougher the better says Bob Hannah.

[@rrstieb]

Awesome

[@muzzmatrix]

Got Fox Shox?

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

I was at the 1977 Trans AMA race. It was a rainy day. October 9. Roger D won. This was not that race: too dry, no Europeans, and the trees are too green.

[@abadwillys]

yes, i was there too, it even snowed that day, have pics from then , wish i could share

[@kimkleiner8456]

I wasn't there but i wish i could remember which Unadilla race i did attend. The race i went to was definitely in '77 i am thinking early August? We didn't arrive till late Saturday afternoon and it was hot. Sunday morning it poured. First moto most of the field wasn't able to complete a lap because there was a section of track that went down a ravine to a off camber 180° and then back up the hill. Rover D and a Dutch or UK rider on a 4 stroke 250 Honda were the only riders that could get back up the hill! I think a lot of riders and fans were deeply disappointed especially those that chose to sit in small grandstand at the start/finish but it was the best moto-x i ever saw. Lot of S. Cal teenagers got served some humble pie that first moto by incredibly smooth Roger D. and what's his name Eurodude with the flatter powerband of his privateer 4-stroke. Could it have been a 250gp? I wanna say a national cuz it was mostly Americans. If anyone has footage of that race please upload. Probably already here. Sorry i should have searched.

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

@@kimkleiner8456 The first USGP raced at Unadilla was July 1978, so it couldn’t be that. Before then Unadilla hosted a 500 national in the Summer and the Trans-ama/USA in the fall. If it was Summer it must have been the 500 National. But if Roger and the Europeans were there it wasn’t a national so I don’t know.

[@charlesharper6421]

You are correct sir

[@charlesharper6421]

@@abadwillysme too

[@daredevildaryl2645]

1977, why are there a shortage of monoshock bikes?

[@bobbydale1938]

daredevildaryl yamaha patent, these bikes are pure factory from bottom up )) $$$$ $

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

Kawasaki unitrak. late 70s then Suzuki full floater around 1980 then Honda pro link early 80s

[@charlesharper6421]

Only yams…

[@charlesharper6421]

@@kurtvonfricken6829KTM pro lever… maico sand spider… ce zet…bultweako..beta… came up with one…husky too… cagiva…

[@xxTyphoid]

The whole track is whoops

[@Steez51]

7 was Laporte and 8 was Burgett?

[@charlesharper6421]

You’d be correct sir….

[@chuckchagnon627]

now thats raceing,

[@yz125motorider]

sooooo, no tech 10's?

[@1MRTHOM]

is there no sound, or am I messed up,lol?

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

No sound

[@Steez51]

Hannah 2-Stackable 6- Howerton 1- distefano 3- Semics 5- Sun 21- Eierstedt 11- Mosier 13- Ellis 19- Are we sure this isn't the 77 Trans-AMA race?

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

No Europeans.

[@charlesharper6421]

Positive. No euros in the vid. ‘77 ama 500cc national race. Marty smith posted 2-1 for the o/a..hurricane went 1-dnf’d for 8th…..

[@al8061]

No jumps? Were these guys scared?

[@bobfanucci8849]

We didn't have these Cadillacs they race today. Our tracks weren't groomed. It was long, tough racing that beat the hell out you.

[@bretmuldner]

Thank god, jumps are boring!

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

Actually this was a European style natural terrain track. There were jumps because of the terrain but nothing man-made.

[@johnbaker4107]

This video would be 250 class white # plate!

[@husky500cr]

I even see a Harley Davidson at 0:20.

[@charlesharper6421]

Aeairemacchi

[@lynch3088]

@timobrian444 And 45min motos!

[@Maico700ccm]

geiler sound

[@2strokin70]

Is there no sound? Wth

[@lfoxracer]

Sorry 1977 was super 8 movies with no sound, a rew of my later films had sound when I bought a new camera and could afford to spend about $14 to shoot 3 minutes and 20 seconds of film per cartridge!

[@Tide12NC]

Furman Gray #503

[@charlesharper6421]

Warrior, Alabama…he was also an ana 125cc national mx championship contender …he led that race for three death defying laps…

[@Steez51]

Smith was 9

[@emileetschanz4451]

fv