Dirt Bike Magazine Issue #1 June 1971

[@bryanbrowning5746]

I met Super Hunky at Lake Elsinore, circa 1975. I was 15 years old and could only afford a 1969 Hodaka Ace 100, and SO wanted a new bike. When Rick asked me what kind of bike I had, I kinda hung my head down when I told him, and he said, “that’s cool”! I thanked him for being nice, and he told me not to be ashamed that I couldn’t afford to buy the latest and greatest. He said,(paraphrasing here), “ you’re part of the club, no matter what you ride, as long as you’re having fun, who cares”? He didn’t tousle my hair like a lot of the older guys did, but put his hand on one shoulder, and shook my hand with his powerful grip, and said, “now go get dirty”! RIP Super Hunky, I’ll never forget you!

[@barrycuda3769]

Rest in peace Rick Sieman. A genuine dirt biking legend.

[@daffyduck9901]

As a 12-year-old kid in 74, I couldn't get enough dirt bikes and dirt bike magazines I read them all cover to cover and Super Hunky was an absolute Legend to me.

[@spacejaime]

I purchased DB issue #1 in June of 1971. I was 14 years old (going on 15 the next month). At the time, I already had my Yamaha Mini-Enduro modified with the only company that offered performance parts for it. The company was K&N! I had their filter, rotary power valve, black handlebars, plastic fenders (ABS) and an expansion chamber they offered - which I can't remember the exact brand - either Bassani or Modessette. I later added a JR silencer and an extended fork kit, and Boge shocks. Nobody made 14 inch knobby tires, so I had to race on trials tires against Honda's SL-70's. The off-road (only) magazine at the time was Popular Cycling (if I remember the name correctly). Just found your wonderful YT channel! Keep up the fantastic work! I'm having a blast, as I threw all my magazine collections about 30 years ago (which also included Cycle, Cycle World, Cycle Guide and MXA).

[@t-bone9403]

I had a Mini Enduro at that time, my expansion chamber was made by Jenco if I remember correctly. Also K&N filter.

[@JackF99]

I had a similar setup on my 71. I had a high compression head. I think it was by Webco.

[@JETZcorp]

I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommended Rick Sieman's book "Monkey Butt". It's basically Super Hunky's life story, but it has so many awesome stories about the early days of dirt bikes, the magazines, fights with the BLM (Bureau of Land Management), etc. It's fantastic, and quite possibly the most humorous book I've ever read. It's fantastic.

[@t-bone9403]

I have it, great read.

[@MrChassmith]

Seems to me Dirt Bike mag had a back page photo feature called "Crash & Burn". Anyone else remember this?

[@russellhelms2835]

I’m pretty certain that “Crash & Burn” was also in print way back then? I’ll have to check for my old issues, as I too still have LOTS of these in great condition!

[@markarrigoni5132]

Absolutely , maybe that came later. I remember buying some of their pictorial issues and Brad Lackey as well as Roger were my idols. Rick and Pete’s articles were a blast.

[@t-bone9403]

Of course, my brother was editor of DB for a while.

[@kickbackster]

He was a great man and a great father Rick sieman jr , we will be spreading his ashes on the Baja 1000 race course.thats what he wanted.we appreciate all the support from his fans , he is up for a AMA hall of fame this year , it's a great loss not only for use but the entire moto cycle industry

[@bananabrooks3836]

Can you give us a link so we can buy Rick's books without going to Amazon?

[@kickbackster]

I'll get it from my sis she's handling all that rite now , thanx for the support

[@teodelfuego]

My oldest brother subscribed to Dirt Bike and I obsessively read every issue from this one until about 1975. A few years ago I reluctantly threw away stacks of these early 70s editions because bugs did a lot of damage to them in the 50 years they were stored in my mom’s attic. It was interesting how familiar all those photos were from my childhood. My favorite article concerned block passing and how it “took a lot of grapefruit” to do it correctly.

[@KellyHill-gg9xr]

Mr.know it all,Krauss racing,sidewinder sprockets

[@thinkandrepent3175]

It's really interesting to see the very beginning. I own a 70cc 2stroke indian, I don't know if ill ever get it running but it has some appeal to me of just being so ancient, and I imagine the motocross adventures it had.

[@robertrishel3685]

Awesome! I grew up with Dirt Bike, MXA, Motorcyclist and Cycle World, not to mention weekly Cycle News. Super Hunky from Dirt Bike and Jody from MXA were my favorites for sure. Really cool that you’re doing this...I think I got hooked around 1976 or 1977...

[@Johnr37us]

I really enjoyed your magazine overview. I had all the dirt bike magazines from 1980 till 1990s. I ended up giving them to some young boys down the street and they loved looking at them.

[@markarrigoni5132]

Great stuff! Martini was also a test rider for Dirt Bike in the early days. I owned a 1977 Pursang. You stood to the side of the bike, turned the handlebars, and kicked the bike that way. I think that was common on some other European bikes. That magazine and all those riders were such an important part of the development to the sport. Being from the Midwest, it was my connection to the sport. Seeing people like Desoto, Thorwalsen, Roger crossing up on a DT-1 are absolutely priceless. Please do more from this era, even the ads bring back so many memories. You have to bring up some of Pete Szilagy’s writing and the banter between he and Rick. The 501 Maico test was a great one. Keep it going and thank you!

[@markarrigoni5132]

Martini! Sorry

[@markarrigoni5132]

Martino! Screwy spell check!

[@stephencox4224]

Whitey Martino left us in 2005 and was a member of Checkers MC in California and rated in the top 10 of all Desert Racers and Whitey was one of the riders on the cover of Issue number one of Dirt Bike,

[@George-yb7fg]

Thanks for posting! We lived and died with each DB magazine back in the early days! A couple of suggestions: 1.Read Monkey Butt, Rick Seiman's book about him, DB, and the early days of motocross and desert racing. 2. Read Malcolm, Malcolm Smith's autobiography, a great saga of the On Any Sunday Man himself. 3. Arrange to ride an "old school" Husky 400 or a Maico 501 to get a feel for what it was like. Not much suspension, no brakes, and brutal power, even by today's standards. This was back when men were MEN!

[@ddrowdy2]

My Parents used to get me a sub to Dirt Bike Magazine for Christmas when I was a kid. I don't remember exactly what years but probably 1973-78 ish. Great magazine, I loved every issue.

[@TheAdoringFan7]

Keep it real Ton, ALWAYS stay tapped! Only 21, but this is still fascinating! Used to read the magazines with my brother, dreaming about fresh parts/gear...

[@stephencox4224]

Whitey Martino was a member of the infamous Checkers Motorcycle Club in Southern California, Martino gave the Husqvarna brand its first AMA District 37 Desert Championship in 1969. He also made an appearance in the movie On Any Sunday, and he appeared on the cover of the premier issue of Dirt Bike Magazine in June 1971. Martino went to ride the Big Sky Desert Race in 2005 so now you all know who was at least one of the people on the cover of Dirt Bike Issue Number One.

[@tedecker]

My buddy bought the first Maico amongst our group of racers. The dealer told him he had every part he’d ever need. Buddy broke something and the dealer didn’t have the part. The dealer said: well you’re only ever supposed to need pistons!

[@scottspiwak9073]

Great job! As you said, I bet this does take a lot of time. This is the first one I've watched and I went start to finish. Looking forward to watching more.

[@t-bone9403]

I was at Super Hunkys celebration of life at State Farm Stadium in Glendale AZ. Got to meet and talk to Broc Glover at that event. Really nice guy. Also met Rick's daughter Cindy, cool lady. Rondo Talbot (Mr. Know It All) was there and did a speech. Also many other friends and family. I was very grateful to have been invited !

[@markr5132]

Correction, vintage bikes were/are able to land on the front as the back without damaging it.

[@markkoven9462]

Love the magazine reviews! If you can you do 1978 - 1982 dirt Bike and/or MXA that would be awesome, thanks!

[@markarrigoni5132]

I also would love to see the initial Honda ad layout for the CR250 Elsinore. I believe Pete Maly was the rider and it was shot in Trabuco Canyon. Don’t know if that spelling is correct but some of the Cali guys would know. It was multiple pages as I recall and was sort of a secret preview to the unveiling of a bike that would drastically alter the direction of the sport. I would love to see that. It may have been MXA that had the ad, can’t remember. Those times were and still are special, I hope the younger riders can appreciate where things today came from. Thanks again!

[@JackF99]

The off-road park in Trabuco Canyon was called Escape Country.

[@williamamacker3119]

Excellent video of this old magazine do you have any more in the 70s be very interested in seeing them and thank you for the video 💯☘️🇺🇸🤘

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Yes I do

[@williamamacker3119]

@@TheMotocrossVault thank you and please more 70s issues from 1970 to 1976 or even 1980 bikes were so cool during this era and thank you for all your great videos they are awesome 💯☘️🇺🇸🤘

[@deborahchesser7375]

My favorite mag of all time, the mailman was scared to approach my house because I’d be waiting to mug him with my new issue

[@tappedout300xc]

I have that mag in pristine condition and signed by Rick (RIP).

[@dirtyburd71]

I wish i had kept all the magazines i collected during the 70s. Little did i know (and mom certainly didn't realize) how valuable those pages would become!

[@robertmayer2071]

1973 first time i got my hands on db magazine

[@daffyduck9901]

The chopper movement was in progress before the movie Easy Rider. And guys made their bikes into Choppers because they like them not necessarily for the movie bro

[@tompeavy5357]

Before Rick work for dirt bike he wrote for a chopper magizine

[@take5th]

There was a fellow who wrote for a magazine in the 70s I used to read and once wrote an article about dirt bike simulators of the future, how the screen flashed pine forests, and the ‘bike’ twitching, leaning, and jinking on pneumatic actuators that clicked, hissed, and clattered along the ‘trail.’ It was written better than that! I feel his vision is about to be fulfilled, would love to read that again or find out what happened to the writer. His name was, from memory, Peter with an Eastern European last name, like stryzniek or something similar. He also sketched himself with long hair, big nose, sideburns, unflattering for sure. Any idea?

[@markarrigoni5132]

I think you are referring to Pete Szilagy who tested and wrote for Dirt Bike in the early days. His column was always hilarious, except for the one you are referring to. I thought maybe Super Hunky May have written it, can’t remember. Szilagy later was editor of the offshoot Motocross Action before Jody Wiesel. Rick Sieman and Pete Szilagy were always arguing about CZ vs. Maico and that made for great writing. Pete was a member of the Angry Armadillo Race Team and had a great t shirt collection. One other of his articles I rennet was “The Cheeseburger’s Revenge. He later moved to Texas and worked for a newspaper I believe. Thanks for bringing it up!

[@daffyduck9901]

RIP Super Hunky 🙏 3rd gear pinned forever brotha ✊

[@Insanebikers1]

Hi, love this channel,grew up with the likes of Kawasaki AE80 and old KDX175 / 250...do a segment on the KDX175 if you can please.

[@hiker2742]

I agree, so did i also the kx!

[@KellyHill-gg9xr]

I always liked the look of a Open face helmet. A bell magnum 4 team green paint scheme with white oakly goggles anda Scott venturi mask with roll offs and a flo green visor.SWEET!!!!!

[@moe92870]

Whitey Martino was in On Any Sunday... Bruce Brown mentioned him in the movie in the dessert scene.

[@markarrigoni5132]

They had that great footage with the camera on the bike flying through the pucker bushes, kind of like an early Go Pro.

[@jessebiggsjr5762]

The guy on the right side is a rider, don't know his name, but I think he is/was a member of the famous CHECKERS desert racing team at the time. I judging by the checkerboard pattern on his helmet. I'm NOT 100% SURE, but I do know that checkerboard pattern was their logo, anyway, judging by that is where I'm coming from. If anybody else knows any different, please lemme know!!!! Thanks,

[@marktheaardvark7208]

Man I miss the 70’s and 2-stroke dirt bikes, Had a 125 CZ, great handling bike.

[@bananabrooks3836]

Roost in peace Rick.

[@darrencarroll1865]

I was wondering if you knew a way of getting ahold of an old copy of dirt bike magazine I think of the year was 1978 picture was of an off-road side car crash? Thanks for any info you have

[@AlanHooker-r8j]

I grew up reading Dirt Bike magazine. There wasn’t anything else to read , for dirt bikes or moto-cross. ! They did a lot for the MX & dirt bike development. I remember many of the races shown on this video. Yeah , I’m old . Used to ray myself. Miss it …….cept’ for the injuries ‼️💯😂

[@jeffperkins9204]

Dig all of your content, Thanks!

[@sissygoog9456]

Rest in peace, super hunky The man fought for us to ride dirt bikes The real McCoy

[@joesephknoettgen3551]

The motorcycle racing coverage was CycleNews in earlier days.😊

[@bill3641]

Anyone have info or memories of Dodge and Ford vans being split down the center and widened for hauling bikes back in the 70's ?

[@mrn3779]

Looking for a copy with Jim smith on the starting line at beenham in a pre 65 race

[@ericmiles1852]

Its "whitey" martino. He was the featured desert rider in the ON ANY SUNDAY movie.

[@scamlikey]

It started it all the first issue. Thank you for all the kind words . I got some footage of his memorial service in the Dez. His last ride. As well as some speeches from fans at the Arizona service. This hit me pretty hard not only did I loose a father but we all lost a legend

[@cheapmoto15]

The idea of the raked front end on choppers was to make them more stable on the highway. Alot of it was just looking cool, but they started doing it for those long coast to coast trips. It's the same idea as how on a dirt bike you want the forks to be more vertical to make the bike handle better turning

[@bobbyphillips2538]

The shootout? Bottom line: The Maico could read your mind, and thru corners it went wherever you WISHED it would go. With almost no rider input. It required carefull experienced setup and maintenance to complete races. It also needed you to steal a set of Husqvarna wheels (a simple bolt on swap,no mods needed) to replace its fragile hubs and rims. Once these things were done it was the best machine for the intelligent,thinking type rider. The CZ was HEAVY, but not slow, handled well and was robust and hard to break. Privateers loved them. Husqvarnas; loong wheelbase and a head angle that was not at all steep plus a power delivery best described as "churning" with no "hit" and a bit less than the others made it very good on fast, high speed , hard packed tracks such as Carlsbad but forced the rider to adopt "different" methods of cornering in order to get through corners with the rest. It could be done but one needed to either brake slide the rear into a turn before gassing out or you could slide in, hit a bank or curb to force the long machine into another direction. Other riders also worked well and were softer,and less fatiguing also. All these Husky traits could be worked around,riding one was a different job. All these traits,though not the most desirable for motocross , made the Husqvarna the top bike of the time, if you wished to win in a Desert race. Now , my sidecar experience. Once when I tuned the TZ700 sponsored by Ocelot Enginnering,( a small local SoCal Suzuki shop,now magically morphed into industry giant Chaparral cycles) formerly campaigned by Road Racing prodigy Pat Hennen,(now off to Suzuki) its current owner acer, John Serra (former 250 Amatuer national champion) turned to me in the 78 I think, Daytona pits, and asked me how I'd feel about racing the following year as the passenger . If I agreed ,he would convert the TZ700 into a sidehack.(A horrific sin if you ask me!) Not real enthusiastic as Johns style of wide open and insanely fast style of entering a corner, went counter to my wide arc, smooth radius style used by those who wished to live. But rather than suggest he was out of his mind,which I knew, and I am certain "the voices" tried hard to convince him of the truth of the matter, I deflected his question by offering the mature and practical suggestion that, I'd have to give it a spin, turn a couple laps and see how it went." Surprised at the delight this idea fueled in John,I became very uneasy. But, I shrugged it off as a life threatening endeavor well avoided. Not quite. As I went about my TZ race prep, up pulls the maniac on a borrowed TZ750 sidecar race bike. Oh damn,I know whats next! Knowing argument to be futile, I immediateley embraced the test ride and put all my focus into a crash course in "monkeyism" that took the time it took me to get into my racing leathers, dribble a few drops of urine down a leg , and put on my brand new, just unboxed helmet. Brand new... that becomes important soon. So I approach the machine which sits about "2 1\2 off the asphalt, features for my comfort and safety a tray, yes a tray, very similar to the serving tray with the rough surface designed to provide a non slip surface area to avoid the catastrophic slip of a soda off and into ones ones lap where as we now know today, junk resides that the Golden arches must choke up millions to recompense the horrors endured. These also featured a lip or curb to prevent foodstuff sliding off. Well the makers of the almost identically sized platform I was to be killed upon, (or falling off "upon") apparently held me in less regard than a ice cold refreshment as the postage stamp sized tray I was to cling to at 170 +mph had no texture, no lip or curb, was good enough to offer a cutout on its inboard side that if I over shot when inserting my fingers , (curled to avoid filing off my prints,nails and bones off to the first joint on the pavement passing by at 150 +mph and"2 1\2 underneath the hole I needed to grip to avoid being killed at the first opportunity available, would if I missed and went in toward the machine, be either entangled in the spokes or cut off in the chain and sprockets. Okay,that covers the dangers of a right hand corner. Pull myself up off the oily death tray by the slot near the bike, brace my left boot against a tube about the size of a soda straw, and drape my upper body as far over and across behind the lunatic trying to kill me as is needed to avoid a "turnover" .This is hard to judge laying across the back of a 150 mph motorcycle seat,but it lets you know in no uncertain terms if you have not hung off head down to the track using the swingarm as a handle while wishing your boots were lead filled to keep them down. You sometimes brush the track surface with the helmet just above the viewport, if you are doing this correctly. For a left turn you grab the drinking straw on the left edge of the tray, and with a hip hopefully on top of the fender over the 3rd wheel ,you hang your upper body off to the inside of the now left hand corner where your shoulder scuffs the track,as the following machine amuses itself by nudging your back with its front tire.Your helmet fills with the smoke and smell of the burning fiberglass of your new,out of the box helmet as a 2 x 4 inch area is ground off in the initial left turn. Oh,and by the way,its an oddity peculiar to this formof reckless behaviour arguing with physics that the turn ,,,wait for it... must be initiated by the monkey\passenger\victim. If the pilot turns the bars without his victim in proper position , not a damn thing happens other than going straight with the wheel turned, often a bad thing. It was an exiting introduction to the most insane way to die short of climbing sheer rock faces with no rope. Which I presume is only terrifying once you are falling. Not so my 5 lap terror filled experience. Would I recommend it. Only to someone I hated,or to the Mother Load of wherefore all the "crazy" genes of all motorcycle racer nut jobs glean their slice of insanity, and that is , and could only be,of course,Guy Martin, of Isle of Mann fame.

[@tommybritton9273]

Keep up the good work my friend 👍

[@paulyelle9485]

I have the original first issue i bought it for $1 back then. I collected them up to 1979.

[@markr5132]

For the record Rickmans came with the engine of your choice installed by them. They were not motorcycle kits where you "cram your own engine in the frame".

[@KellyHill-gg9xr]

I judt heard you say you are in northern Virginia....i grew up racing district 13 . Did you race white oak,SME greens raceway, Elizabeth city?budds creek,aquasco

[@Jrockilla137]

Might have to move to northern canada to find open land but there are the bugs and bears so...

[@bigtime474]

I got to see Joel ROBERT Roger DeCoster,et al at 15 at BellyAcres in Oklahoma

[@Jrockilla137]

Yeah! I enjoyed this format :)

[@joebauer7357]

Whitey was a a famous desert racer in the California desert watch online watch on any Sunday and they talk about him briefly in that movie you know the one with Steve McQueen and Malcolm Smith you were born in 1969 you stated in this video I was born in 1963 at that time I was 8 years old my father wrote a Husqvarna and most of his friends did one of his friends wrote a CZ that friend 3 years later designed the Honda Elsinore his name was Georgette rich pay attention in class

[@paulyelle9485]

I think the bikes on the cover is Greaves and Husky

[@fatboy2smoker841]

Pretty cool throwback 👌

[@pursang101]

Snap the front end off? oh that was always happening.

[@deborahchesser7375]

Daisy High Torque publishing I think it was

[@take5th]

I think I found him: Pete Szilagyi, mxa magazine.

[@thomfult7956]

The one thing choppers had in common with dirt bikes is the would be going off road at any time.

[@Veryfastslowcar66]

16 from aus, love you vids man keep it up:)

[@psychosneighbor1509]

Nice. Thanks for this :)

[@jeffv.akaonsjeffke9865]

Zundapp is a german brand. As a kid still living in the netherlands it was quite normal to see zundapp scooters and mopeds from the 60 & 70. Regarding side car cross, it has been a big thing in europe, and.still is in eastern europe. Bultaco got bankrupt in 81. I believe that kickstarter goes forward on that matador. Not unusual on spanish bikes of that era. If I'm correct MZ was hungarian.

[@garylivingston9052]

I have this issue,is it worth anything?

[@anthonytvchannelyoutubecha1301]

Shout tu you

[@ocjon1965]

maybe you could help me with something . . the debut issue of transworld MX was in march 1998, had Mc grath on the cover - covered the superbowl of MX 1998 - i lost my collection of MX mags .anyways...i am on the table of contents . .a massive holeshot . .day qualifier . . can you see of you have that issue ? . . .thanks

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Jon T I have it. Shoot me your email and I will track it down.

[@ocjon1965]

@@TheMotocrossVault it also . .could have been racer X , the 1st edition premiered in 1998 - and its 1st race was covering the LA supercross in 1998 ! . (mc grath was on the cover-very artistic picture) one of the 2 mags has it. . it was a day qualifier , totally sloppy mud fest . . . my # was 975 - later switched to #333 . .i think it was table of contents ! . .thank you ! . . .you can catch me at ' overspray@yahoo

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Jon T Check the other videos on my channel I just did a full review like this of Racer X issue one

[@ocjon1965]

@@TheMotocrossVault it's not on a video , it's in a magazine . . Feb March range 1998 ..

[@ocjon1965]

@@TheMotocrossVault I see what you meant. Do you cover every bit page?..if it was racer x . .it would be the debut issue March 1998

[@bananabrooks3836]

"What the hell do l know"? Well do some research on MZ/Suzuki Walter Kaaden Ernst Degner etc why didn't ya?

[@flynbrian529]

HIS NAME IS WHITE "Y" MARTINO WAS THE #1 GUY RIDING DISTRICT 37 TOUGHIST DESERT RACING AT THE TIME AND STILL IS . THEN CAME JN ROBERTS

[@jeremywalters2205]

I dig it👍

[@dirtyburd71]

Rick was The Best!!!

[@dirtbikedave]

i dig it

[@GS-zv3qn]

Cool look back, bikes are still changing, now electric is the next big deal, went from four strokes then 2 strokes then back to 4 strokes now no strokes with electric

[@bobbyblenio4571]

I Have this Mag !!!…is it Worth $$$…?

[@mperhaps]

Motocross Vault can we start by learning how to pronounce Super Hunky's name. IT'S SIGH, SIGH RICK (SIGH)MAN. SPELLED SIEMAN

[@evo5349]

Could you show the tests off the Honda 1979/80 CR250 would love to see what they said Please. Ta!

[@mxtv1258]

Most of the magazines loved it. Red engine was cool but most of us had a hard time with the left side kickstarter.

[@evo5349]

@@mxtv1258 Its just I was 15 and got a Yamaha YZ250e and loved it but the farmer I worked for was friends with a Engineering company boss so he brought one and brought it over to the field we would ride in and the red engine looked great and at the time would get dirt bike mags but never got one with a test so that's why I asked. I remember it was the thing to get Fox air shocks for them as there was always adverts for them in the back off Dirt Bike. It was a fast bike but didn't seem to handle as well as the Yamaha in the corners but was slightly faster at the top end as I remember. I was always found off the Maicos 490 twin shock and was offered a ride on a brand new 1978 440 but as I remembered it was to tall for my legs at the time so said I would just watch but he and a mate where running them in for the Irish championship on the week end and it was last summer evening and I loved the smell off Castrol R30 great memorys.

[@FRANKO-iu3dx]

TRAIL RIDER came out in 1970. The FIRST dirt bike mag.

[@stephencox4224]

The Issue I missed in Australia we got issue number 2 and whilst I wrote to Hitorque Nancy from memory was the person running the office and sadly because of the method in the day was shipping by sea by the time I tried to get the missing issue #1 it was all sold out. Well do I remember Rick aka Super Hunky and the infamous GYDBT aka for those too young to remember that wass probably one of the first uses of ackronyms in modern history outside of military circles and stood for "Great Yellow Dirt Bike Truck"which from memory was an El Camino those were the days RIP Rick who departed for that great post race meeting and pissup (Beer Session) up high above where all the good guys end up at least Rick will not run across any BLM clowns up there they are all down below roasting marshmallows