Silverdome Supercross 1988 Pontiac, MI Day 2, 250cc

[@jro341]

This was my first supercross. I wanted to race after seeing this.

[@eatcommies1375]

Insane how “soft” the suspension looked back in the day. Thanks for posting this!!

[@GearheadRob319]

the suspensions were very soft.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

That is because the tracks used to have bumps in them,---not just tall jumps.

[@diggs7252]

RJ just charges so hard the whole race! These guys were so good for their time true legends of the sport

[@jameschang8122]

man this brings me back to the days that i road dirt bikes back in the day

[@Gus1966-c9o]

Loved Lechiens riding style back in the day , he was a cool dude .

[@zukins5003]

Thanks for bringing back my youth memories..they were my idols. 2strokes forever!!!

[@nancysmith9487]

Amazing how suspensions have improved, adjustable, thicker to soak up more, but have to thank all the sponors, track personal,builders,flaggers,starting gate,models and most of all, all those and these race fans... those guys are legends as those before them were riding on bike with practically no suspension... Hats off to them and those females as well, back then don't believe they had as much factory support... good job

[@rex.d4810]

As smooth as a mayonnaise sandwich! No 4 strokes...those were the days. 2 stroke forever

[@yamaharaptor01able]

Ever and ever.....BRRAAAAPPPPP!!!!!!

[@EarthSurferUSA]

My buddy and I (RIP Kenny Daugherty) were racing amateur later that Sunday night, and we were standing at the fence looking down the first double jump after the start straight. After seeing Lechien clear it in practice, (while we were standing there), I said to Kenny, "I think we can clear that one.". His reply, "I think you're forgetting who we are watching.". Good point.

[@justlucky8254]

I miss the days of amateur supercross. I used to go with my dad and his friends for the Seattle supercross in the Kingdome and they all raced amateur supercross on 500's. Still have my dad's 1st place trophies from Open B I think in like 86 and 88.

[@jeffriggs6703]

Kenny was a good dude... Damn....jeff

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@jeffriggs6703 He sure was. Was a good friend of mine. He was about to run pro in enduro, and he should have known better than to be speeding over a hill. We finished this race very late, got on the road home about 3 in the morning, and took his Dad's van home for the 4 hour ride to Scottville. We get around Branch, US10, and he is passed out while I am driving. Deer all over the place, herds in about every field, Then I see a train of them crossing the road. I hit the brakes, but they were grinding. I could not stop. I see a gap between 2 deer about van wine, and nailed it. Missed them. Ken wakes up during the pass, and says "Good driving", and went back to sleep. Good old days. I am Doug Johns. How did you know Kenny?

[@user-Dr.]

Yup, in 77 I was watching the pros, about half of them were taking the washboards two at a time, thinking I could do that, on a 75 KX 400, second lap, in 3rd looking at the lead, here we go, did a wicked over the handlebars, bike about crushed me, but I got up and made it back to 4th, no more double woops for me.

[@oz2strokeman116]

Just loved seeing Lechien looking so stylish. Commentary certainly deserves a mention. Thanks Heather.

[@nancysmith9487]

Commentators,camera work,clean up crews,snack stands,race gas and electric and those who were not mentioned great job...

[@racingfuel28]

Am I the only one cracking up at all the analogies the commentator is making?🤣🤣

[@scottpeters5260]

I used to race thru out central Florida in the 125 B class in the mid 90's. I was fairly successful and used to ride with friends that were ranked nationally. Once at a track called Dade City after the races were over, me and my buddies were standing around sharing our race stories. Standing next to me was a guy I'd never met, when my buddy said " Hey you know who your standing next too? He said my friend Ron Leichen. I about fell over! LOL Super cool guy.

[@davidatwood2619]

"Hes as alone as Jimmy Swaggert" HA!!!! Love it!

[@minibikemafia]

"Hes riding as smooth as a mayonnaise sandwich" classic Huffman😂 "All over him like a Krishna at the airport" 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Lex-Rex]

This announcer could make curling sound exciting.

[@barrywilsonjr8049]

I was at this race I was 19 years old I miss the Pontiac silver dome it’s gone now great racing back then

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I was a little kid from Pontiac area when they built it, but I only entered it for SX races starting in 1986. I remember as a kid, my buddy told me, "If you wear roller skates, open your jacket up like bat wings, and open the door to the dome, the wind will blow you across the parking lot.". :) I can't believe my life was longer than the Silverdome.

[@justlucky8254]

My how things have changed. You won't see riders chasing tropy girls and literally pouring champagne on them, and the trophy girls doing the same, anymore. Larry Huffman was the best announcer ever.

[@johnnycash578]

no need to say literally its not what the word is meant for

[@nancysmith9487]

Almost for those spectacular mechanics making bikes work and keeping them going Family's and friends

[@davidatwood2619]

I love how Larry always makes a point to let us know when someone is a ginger. "The flying freckle"

[@paulkarp958]

If you watch the whole video he ain't so nice to the 60cc winner max , alot of pressure on kid about an ex girlfriend at 11 years old .. crazy how video exposes

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@paulkarp958 That was common to make a kid blush about a girlfriend. That before all the anti heterosexual moments. Kids today, at these ages, get their sex surgically changed. I think I will take 1988.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

That before all the anti heterosexual movements.

[@danspiro231]

Would love to get 82 to 95 national on dvd

[@SOLDOZER]

"Look at those ruts, I think I just saw a German soldier stick his head out of one". Haha!! You could not say that today. You would get fired.

[@adventurefilms]

LOL, I thought the same thing

[@psychosneighbor1509]

"Ron Lechien about as subtle as the Israeli army when he's on the gas..." lol. WTF is he talking about?

[@markreiber4457]

I know I'm laughing my head off dudes to much

[@cyruszaire6473]

I dont mean to be so offtopic but does someone know a tool to log back into an Instagram account..? I stupidly lost my account password. I love any tips you can offer me!

[@vincenzogenesis4556]

@Cyrus Zaire Instablaster :)

[@cesarramos4]

Anybody remember Rick Ryan The ONLY Privater who won the Daytona Supercross back in 1986 I think

[@tedulmer7880]

Pouring rain helped him 😉

[@jeremiahschneider587]

These best bikes to ever touch dirt.

[@ryanbarker4422]

That's cool that Anaheim is the opener to this day.

[@mjrydsfast]

Until 2021. I miss it A1.

[@KevinLong-o3u]

I think that was best battle I can remember seeing between watd and Johnson

[@mguarin912]

Crazy how different the suspension action is compared to today.

[@jeffalessi6317]

This announcer is like the silent assassin when he calls out riders, licheon when's he's on he's unstoppable but when he's not he's the slowest rider out there..... Then the ward comment made me die, "maybe it will finally be different, ward like so many times we have seen this year will lead then let Johnson catch up n let him pass him n then finish there" awesome announcing back then

[@cathyhall3956]

drops him faster than an idaho thermometer

[@kcwilson1105]

Jeff Alessi iguvfutkl xdrtyuik,popppppoppopopppppppopopppopopopopoppopopopopopopopopopopopopopopoppppppopopoppopooppoppop

[@charliemike13]

Cathy Hall in January

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Healthy Jeff Alessi at 34 years old, dead of a heart attack, 10-2-23. Highly suspected to be another "covid nationalized medical murder". People die early when living under a dictatorship. Not a matter of opinion. Is a matter of life and death. RIP young man.

[@raoulduke3770]

Larry Huffman is the Rodney Dangerfield of broadcasting

[@user-Dr.]

Don't know where you people get this footage, I raced there as an amateur 76, 77 and 78 on a 75 Kawasaki 400, talk about a bull in a china cabinet, in 77 I did a really nasty looking over the handle bars in the washboard woops, got up to finish 4th, they ran that wipe out for the next 3 years as the Silverdome event was coming up each year, you could see the number plate of my bike 895, I've always wondered if the ad could still be somewhere.

[@johnnycash578]

jeff ward was the ricky carmichael of the 80's solid as a rock he did not get tired

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Similar, but a different motivation made RC the 15 time champ GOAT. I figure it out during RC's interview with Ping (the Ding), on the whiskey throttle show. RC said he was terrified to lose. Now go back to grade school where he was a short, fat, ginger kid who got bullied in school, (because they all were bullied). My guess is the bullying stopped when he started winning amateur championships. That is why he was "terrified to lose, scared to death." Go figure, grade school bullying made RC the GOAT of MX. Show that to the school boards today. :)

[@minibikemafia]

"Hes riding as smooth as a mayonnaise sandwich" classic Huffman😂 "All over him like a Krishna at the airport" 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@tomselick6983]

Smooth as a mayonnaise sandwich 😎

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I raced this track after the pros were done Sunday night, (ruts galore), and was terrible on it. But I was clearing one double jump after going under the tunnel. It was the jump RJ crashed on. hahahahahahaha :) Weird.

[@ryanbarker4422]

He said he was looking down at the bike. No he was ducking from the roost off the bike in front of him.

[@abpob6052]

That uphill 180 degree left turn is waaaay harder than it looks.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

No, it wasn't. I raced on that track very badly, and it was the easiest part of the track. The only place I was fast. :)

[@krissimon2502]

Lmao at those comments. Those were the best years to be a teenager

[@shanerr7252]

Lechien and ward are smooth both have a modern riding style

[@fkhan577]

I wish they showed the 80 expert race from the year before. Team Green riders Brian Swink and John Kitsch battled for the lead for all 3 laps on their DMC KX80s. It was just as good as the pro race if not better.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I was there, but don't remember that race. I would love to see that vid also. But also in Pontiac 1987 was Lechien's Sunday ride, and man was he fast, (visually faster), and smoked everybody soundly. It was great to see him on a good day. :) RIP Brian Swink

[@bluepainter1562]

It was 80 sr at intermission. I raced in it. It wasn't very fun u recall track was difficult on and 80

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@bluepainter1562 I raced that track also after the pro's were done. They did no grooming at all. I was on a 86 YZ250, and it was no fun for me either. But that was early in the year, the snow was just leaving, so it was like my second "ride" of the new year. Do you remember that guy who would take your picture on the track, and send you a tiny copy to sell you a bigger framed pic? I should have gotten it from him. He caught me almost crashing over a double after going under the tunnel, but it looked like I was just whipping it. :)

[@voodootele]

That guys Dad is a REAL heavy weight!! LOL.....Ah the days before political correctness, I remember them fondly

[@bella0167]

Don't know if the front number plates are big enough.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Before transponders. It you got 6th, but you were scored 9th,---the number plates were not big enough. :)

[@keithsage1593]

I think I was there..if not most before they closed and raised the Silverdome.

[@SuedeStonn]

Ricky Johnson pulled an asshole move, he drove Jeff Ward off the track to take the lead @41:43. Johnson was a great racer, all the talent and drive in the world, but dirty to.

[@chapsteronetime2000]

This commentator got some oldie but goodies huh!! Lol😮

[@MXRiderFiftyTwo]

Ron Lechien wearing a Gold chain....How Gangster

[@ricklane8342]

Jim Donovan the voice of the Cleveland Browns currently sounds like Huffman .

[@SOLDOZER]

The terrible suspension made great racing.

[@Dartht33bagger]

Why was Jeff Ward not wearing a full face?

[@55tmilam]

Wardy didn’t convert to a full face until late in his career I think 89

[@vintagemxer9165]

Need moguls in today's SX like here - and a section going into the stands.

[@kunoyedwarner2054]

Yac town💪🏿

[@ryanbarker4422]

This announcer is funny.

[@augieh6146]

39:39 look at all them fans getting into it

[@ratcamaro]

That was the weirdest 60cc interview in history.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

We used to encourage heterosexual relationships back then. Weird huh?

[@JRBaer]

i was there

[@MechShark]

The commentary from the 80s and early 90s vs. what we get today is a hilarious juxtaposition. Our whole civilization has become so dumb.

[@markward6076]

Johnson will blame it on his bike.

[@Racer997]

Larry Huffman was so cringeworthy with his lack of depth and silly catchphrases and adjectives. The sport has evolved since the days when selling to the non-fan was more important than selling to the real fan. @40:44. “…and the dirt is soft, it’s not hard at all.” Nope. It’s pretty much loose top hardpack much of the way around.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I would rather listen to Larry Huffman than "squeegee lips propaganda weegee" pushing masks and electric bikes for the state.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

"Non-fans" never bought this sport, ever. If you did not ride, or the family or GF of a racer, you were not a fan. I have taken several non-riding friends to a pro race once, never twice. The stands were full of bike riders/racers. Since there are not nearly as many bikes sold today, the stands are pretty empty by comparison. I do see a few fans who never rode/raced today. But their knowledge of the sport is pretty low. Now, how could you say the sport has evolved, when there were 10 times more USA people buying bikes before 1986 compared to today? This sport because of the 1986 production rule, and the EPA force with the 4-stroke engine, has never been so unhealthy. Michigan used to put out a good number of factory riders. All our old trial and tracks are grown in today, and Kelly Smith was the last factory rider out of Michigan from over 20 years ago. This sport is almost dead.

[@georgemicheal9036]

Just think if Jeff Ward was on a CR he would of been as good as Johnson

[@dominicsosa7405]

yeah cr had the edge ..but i still love kx

[@EarthSurferUSA]

You probably have a point. It was the best bike of the time, and that is because Roger DeCoster made it that way. What ever factory that man worked for, the bikes and the racers turned to gold,--still to this day.

[@nancysmith9487]

Construction,farmers

[@SOLDOZER]

They look like they are 40 years old. LOL.

[@MatthewC137]

that's because soy wasn't a dietary staple among men back then.

[@johnnycash578]

broc wearing pink so ballzie he was an animal i was at the southick national i think he got a 4th wearing the #44 he never lost sight of rick j these guys are in crazy good shape people who dont ride will never get it its nothing short of WAR

[@jeffalessi6317]

801

[@mrrandom55951]

the commentary for this years supercross sucks (NOT RC, the other guy). Bring back RALPH!

[@johnnycash578]

looks like rc is gettn some later in the motorhome what a life to bad it all goes by so fast

[@johnnycash578]

chicken was an animal i wonder where he is today

[@johnnycash578]

if lechien didnt party these guys wouldnt stand a chance

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I am not sure how true that is, but sure it has some merit. He was having a good time in France before the 1988 MX Des Nations, with Roger DeCoster and the entire team worrying about race day,----and look what happened. He schooled the world.