Motocross Master | Heikki Mikkola | 1978 French 500cc Race

[@trumpetmano]

My Dad rode for Maico and then Husky in the mid 70's. My brothers and I were my Dad's pit crew. My Dad's Husky broke down and Heikki and his crew were one parking spot over in the pits in Unadilla, New York. Heikki sent his guys over and they fixed my Dad's bike. They were the coolest.

[@mikejohnston4858]

Who is your Dad?

[@carlo6230]

That Gen.was the best. All of them. Adolf Wiel for Maico, Falta for CZ. Incredible time it was.

[@santiagobenites]

Heikki Mikkola was so smooth! Brad was just hanging on half of the time, and both guys were absolute class acts!

[@wheelieking3976]

Real tracks and riders.

[@russellhelms2835]

and the women were TONS better in that era too! 👌

[@tappedout300xc]

One of my favorite racers of all time. Legend.

[@easydailytrades4205]

Love the almost natural terrain track.

[@illkkan]

That track looks so crazy in every way

[@micksterboone4517]

Thanks for sharing this! I loved watching the 500's growing up.

[@eduardabarros1594]

Big machine,and strong men.Is beautiful,more motocross antigue.Please.. I not speak English,Im so Portuguêse, Congratulaçions...It,s very good..

[@jeffrakotoarison792]

...I was there at this time !!! Crazy old times !!!👍👍👍

[@russellhelms2835]

Women were better then too👌not this new breed of girls…

[@toddpillow3074]

1974 was my big opportunity to follow the GPs all across Europe. I was a huge Mikkola fan and was thrilled when he won the 500 series. Heikki personally gave me a used/damaged bolt from his bike. He saw my expression when his mechanic threw the bolt in the trash and so HE PERSONALLY RETRIEVED THE BOLT AND PRESENTED IT TO ME. A little act that had a lasting impact on me; I knew he was a genuinely nice guy. I always felt a little guilty for favoring Heikki over Roger…

[@markb7067]

The track looked like concrete. A far cry from expectations today.

[@christianpetit9347]

Grande époque du motocross 😊des vraies pistes et des 500 d'usines. Pas comme aujourd'hui les circuits de motocross sont des autoroutes lisse comme une table ❗

[@Nudnik1]

I had a Husqvarna 1975 CR360 GP Heikko Mikkola purple 🟣 tank. Thats the bike he became famous initially on ..

[@jiffjiffernson7292]

My dad still has a Husqvarna 1975 CR360 (74 World GP winning) Mikkola replica. Bike has 1- 2 hours on it. It's essentially a fully red tank however. Turbine power - they just keep keep driving to redline - not like typical big bore. Just b-ful in their build.

[@michaelhutchinson4021]

I had one of those too. Put a WR flywheel on it, a skid plate and a 3 gallon Vesco tank on it and raced cross country races. Good bike, but I liked my 78 390cr better as it had 10 inches of suspension. Loved all five of the Husky's that I had.

[@Nudnik1]

@@michaelhutchinson4021 ever ride the automatic green tank 360? Crazy. I raced Husqvarna wr250 in Enduro new England tight woods . Had a CR125 also . I miss the Swedish made bikes. "Husq varna " means house by river in Swede. 👍

[@My_Op]

Magnificent showmanship

[@racebiketuner]

Mikkola spent a lot of time on the seat. It's good for a little more traction but very hard on the body.

[@rockypup1968]

The real hard men of moto x ...

[@jamieteal2107]

👍

[@brentroussin6777]

Oh those dudes can ride they make it look easy wow I wish I could ride like that back in the day I tried .!!

[@andrewhills6535]

Legends

[@jjinthedark]

circuit de Gaillefontaine en France

[@whatitisbuddy9785]

Rough track, no suspension, tough men

[@danblekeberg2470]

Back in the 70's, the Fox air / oil shock was the best. No spring, like the WP stock fork.

[@racebiketuner]

Yup. Very hard to for privateers to procure when they first came out. I got mine with one of those friend-of-a-friend deals. I was King Shit of my local track until everybody else had them. Ha ha ha.

[@vicentemena947]

Joder que tiempos cuando los ciclistas eran Maquinas. Y las bicicletas eran tractores con fuerza. Y los circuitos .Montañas rusas. Sera que tengo 60.ciclos. leyendas. MIKKOLA. DE COSTER. LACKEY. ETC.ETC. hoy las bicicletas. son colchones de plumas. Y los circuitos parecen pistas de asfalto . 🤷. No se igual estoy un poco loco. Y el Dos golpes . Ese olor gasolina ⛽ y Aceite .😢😢