Extreme Sports Pioneer
Brad
Lackey 2010
Once again I headed to Sandhill raceway in Brentwood CA out in
the Sacramento Delta. I was really looking forward to this
event because it takes me back in time to the Hopetown Westlake
era. When I came up here last year I was blown away .
The bikes are way pristeen. I had hoped to have one of my
Sachs DKW’s ready but alas no! When Lori Lackey told me who
was going to be the Grand Marshall I knew I had to get there
somehow.
Gavin Trippe
Gavin was responsible for a host of accomplishments in
the MX world. He promoted the Trans AMA at Carlsbad and
started the Superbike Series that later went to Europe and came
back as Supermoto. He ran the Friday night races at the world
famous ASCOT Park in Gardena. Gavin also published
“Motorcycling “magazine for years and has done so much to advance
the sport in the US and world. Thanks from all of us who
raced your events and are involved in MX because without your
efforts who knows if the sport would have grown into what it is
today!!!
John Rice
John had been racing a lot of scrambles and TT for
years until MX landed in the states. By the time I met him he
was already wearing the signature striped rugby shirt for which he
is known . He was very fast and I would listen to him and
Chuck Daly discuss the track we were racing and the tuning that was
necessary. John is probably one of the nicest guys you could
ever meet and was free with his advice. I had spoken to him
last year at his daughter Tami’s wedding at this same event.
I asked him if he remembered telling me to wait until after the
races to party? He answered that Joel Robert had
told him the same message. I do remember Robert with such a
big lead that he stopped next to a spectator having a beer and
getting a couple of gulps down before taking off again!! My
hero!!! I took the advice and guess what my results
improved dramatically!! Thanks for all of the great ON ANY
SUNDAY racing and for so much helpful advice!!
Tami Rice
Greenhill is one of the racers who took women from
the Powder Puff class to the full on MX er’s of today. Not
only is she a Legend but she hasn’t rested on her #1 laurels.
She has been continually involved with women in Motocross around
the world. Racers from Europe head stateside and she hosts
them exposing them to all of the tracks in the neighborhood.
Tami has followed in her father’s footsteps in that she is very
helpful to the up and coming racers. These days you can find
her at the vintage races competing against her husband Rolf in some
cases. They also do a lot for the Legends and Heroes tour at
the western Nationals and Supercross events. All of this
vintage stuff takes me back to a way cool part of my life.
It’s really been fun to step back in time!!!
Joe Leonard
Joe had been coming to Brad’s event for years
and I was really anxious to present him with a recognition.
The first time I had heard of Joe he was driving in the Indy 500
for Andy Grannatelli pioneering the new technology Turbine
Car!! Joe lapped everyone twice before coasting to a stop
only a few miles from the finish!!! The following year
they imposed restrictions but Joe was again waay out in front only
to once again coast to a stop very close to victory. I
thought we were witnessing the dawn of a new era and that we would
all be driving these machines before too long but it never
happened. I will never forget those two races and those who
saw the turbine in action will not either. Indy’s come
and go but that red wedge shaped car that whirred is imbedded into
our PSYCHE. Joe came from the motorcycle world. I was 1
when he won his first Grand National title which he again claimed
the following year(1954) and again in 1958. He
