Gary Pustalek and Freddie Ephrem at Florida Winter AMA

Here's AMA referee extraordinaire Freddie Ephrem and Husky open class rider Gary Pustalek, sharing some winner's circle photo ops after the race. I loved hanging on the circuit at Bill West's Florida Winter Series.  So much history, good times and a great vibe at every race.  Life was good.

Marty Smith caps a career

I came onto the scene during Marty Smith's final years on the National circuit; he was finishing up riding for factory Suzuki. I always enjoyed watching him ride and getting quotes for my Cycle News articles.  He was respectful and friendly and made me feel welcome in the sport. Class act, always was, always will be.

Mike Bell makes a great face while berm busting

Here's more facial expression for your enjoyment. Mike Bell goes open face and lets us see how it looks when you're rocket fast and hungry for a win.

Loupi has gunfighter eyes

Sorry I haven't been posting. University and family issues come first. But as an interim measure, I'm going to post a couple of nice shots without a lot of comment.

Here's an opportunity to get inside Donnie Cantaloupi's mind, as he sets a brisk pace at the Daytona Supercross. Just take a deep look into his eyes. It was hard to get these straight on shots with the short lenses I used in those days. But in this instant, the shot was on the mark.

Tight shot of Glover and Barnett at Daytona

I used to love getting up close and personal on the race track, which allowed for tight shots and a crisp view of the riders and machinery.

Check out this infield straight photo of Broc Glover (11) using the inside line to edge out Mark Barnett (10) at Daytona International Speedway.

What is so appealing to me is the simplicity of it all. Note the uncluttered air cooled cylinders and once again, the open face helmet lets us into Broc's world via facial expression.

Yes, bikes were slower and riders stayed closer to the ground. But I would argue that when you have superstars like Glover and Barnett wheel-to-wheel, the competition was never better.

Broc Glover pulled big air at Daytona

Here's another photo that supports my theory that moto stars in the early 1980's got big air...it's the Golden Boy, Broc Glover, catching some sky off an infield jump at Daytona.  Heck, the guy must be at least eight (8) feet off the ground!

I'm not going to apologize, Broc and the other factory stars, in their day, gave just as big of an adrenaline rush as today's X Games Step Up competition.  Sure, step up dudes are getting few feet higher, but in my day this was more than what we needed, or expected.

Great racing and entertainment comes in many forms and packages...I sure enjoyed the show when I was covering the circuit in what I know were very special years in my life.

Kent Howerton started the freestyle craze

The more things change...the more they stay the same.  Maybe Kent Howerton was 25 years early, but there's no doubt in my mind that in this shot, he's attempting to set up for a 360 degree flip! Just check out the body English and front end correction and I'm sure you can agree he's ready to blip the throttle and pull back hard...

OK, maybe I do live in a dream world, but in its day, the top factory riders were super heroes.  We loved it when they'd "get air" and it was just as exciting then, as  what is produced now. Bottom line, these guys generated great racing (better racing than today?) and packed in crowds all over the USA. I am proud to have been part of that wonderful era in the sport.

Rick Johnson is on the gate and looking relaxed

I used to love taking pre-moto-waiting-at-the-gate shots.

Here's Rick Johnson back in the days of open face helmets, with his Scott goggle/face protector combo waiting on the handlebars...just how cool were those Scott face masks?  Think Bailey wore them more than anyone.  On a 1 to 10 scale, those things were an 11.

That's Dave Hollis in the Fox jersey...and the umbrella holder looks to be none other than Ron Heben, who went on to be a successful racing director for several other companies.

Can anyone name the guy in front wearing the Yammy shirt?

It's fun to look at Retro MX racing shots...but seeing the personalities up close brings back vivid memories.

Steve Martin was good at every sport

Here's a shot of the good life in MX...it's Honda "B" team factory rider Steve Martin in Florida, posing with a friend and his Corvette.

Steve was a big part of the scene in Florida MX.  His father, Steve Sr., was part of the management team at Cycle Springs Yamaha...I never met a more friendly, welcoming gang.

The one thing I remember about Steve...in addition to his prowess at MX...was an overall positive and happy attitude. And the guy was a natural at sports. Water skiing, tennis, whatever the game, Steve could do it well.

I admired something in most every racer I ever met.  Steve Martin had a lot to admire; it wasn't hard to like this guy.

Freddie Ephrem was a cool AMA referee

I lost the top edge of this neg, must have been at the end of a roll...but nonetheless you get to see the image and why it matters...three important MX people are in the shot (left to right):

1) Freddie Ephrem was a great racing personality, former flat tracker and long-time AMA MX referee.  He loved each racer like his own child, but that said, he could give a rear-end chewing that made any rules-breaker take heed.  Freddie never lost his ear-to-ear grin.  He passed away in 1989.  Great dude.

2) Kent Howerton. Big name in the sport.  Gave Bob Hannah fits.  I am finding a bunch of frames with the Hannah/Howerton duel.  More to come.

3) Ben Cheatwood.  The eternal Honda rep who bleeds red.  Honda Ben.  This guy has been a PA announcer at over 1000 races (I made that number up, but it's a lot of announcing).  Good guy who helped me immensely during my Cycle News days and on occasion would drag my sorry behind to enduro events...even when I was riding a KLX 250.  Thanks Ben.