1985 Baja 1000

[robertaccio]

See Huskys.... Tim Morton on a 250 Husky and some other classics on the Open Bikes (Ashcraft, LR etc).

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkuIf2j0wdk#t=112

 

[justintendo]

very nice. the golden age of when the swedes ruled offroad

 

[robertaccio]

I'm 99% sure that the bike LR was on was the heavily modified 510TX aircooled 4 stroke

 

[glangston]

I'm 99% sure that the bike LR was on was the heavily modified 510TX aircooled 4 stroke

Pretty sure you're right. George rode 250's but not sure what years.

 

[racemx904]

LR was on a 510 for sure... I remember they were staying at the El Presidente the roo next door to us.... loved watching the jetting runs with everyone south of town... he rang the neck of that poor bike

 

[robertaccio]

just for fun Ive posted this before, here's me with my 86 510TX Husky at Carlsbad spring 92 SRA GP post rain, that's my rear fender laying on the trailer, I think I lost one of my answer exhaust mufflers as well but recovered that too. Once we had her fully dialed and oiled well I would rev the piss out of it, it had a very light flywheel effect. You know they are basically a open class 2stroke bottom with engineered grafted on 4T stuff.
that bike was the basis for every big block Swede and Itallian Husky, Husaberg and all the KTM RFS motors as well.

 

[justintendo]

its pretty wild that basic block design existed in prototype form in the late 70s, appeared in production with the 81 430 2 stroke. all along it was also planned to have a thumper topend and crank designed for it. ive seen prototype 4 stroke engine from the late 70s as well..lasted up until 2002 when the italians finally stopped production and fully made the switch to their own four strokes. i just installed a 96 610 four stroke clutch cover on my 84 250, it fits perfect..

 

[Norman Foley]

its pretty wild that basic block design existed in prototype form in the late 70s, appeared in production with the 81 430 2 stroke. all along it was also planned to have a thumper topend and crank designed for it. ive seen prototype 4 stroke engine from the late 70s as well..lasted up until 2002 when the italians finally stopped production and fully made the switch to their own four strokes. i just installed a 96 610 four stroke clutch cover on my 84 250, it fits perfect..

570 and 630 SM variant stayed in production until '04. Always amazing to look at my '82 250WR and '93 WXC350 side by side....

 

[rwgregory]

I'm 99% sure that the bike LR was on was the heavily modified 510TX aircooled 4 stroke

Right you are!! LR, aka "Stroker Ace" was on a new, single shocked, air cooled 510 that day. I remember that race well as that was the 1st of 9 Baja 1000's that I competed in. I was at Santa Maria at Mex 1 waiting for our lead off rider to come in and hand off to our 2nd rider, (I was 3rd rider) when LR came booming into view in 1st overall while drafting off a 4 cylinder BMW road bike outfitted with air horns. Back in those days there were no speed limits for race vehicles on hiway sections so it was WFO while dealing with regular road traffic on the still open to traffic roads. The race course that year hit Mex 1 at Camalu and went straight south for 30 miles or so thru San Quintin and down to Santa Maria where it turned east and back into the dirt. LR, being the savvy veteran that he is must of had a friend waiting for him on his BMW at Camalu to run interference and "give him a tow" thru the traffic filled hiway section.

 

[racemx904]

Thats funny because we did the same thing for my uncle.... we were waiting at the pit my dad was in a prerunner everyone moved over as they flew thru.... only way to go down such a long stretch of wide open road.... It was a nice warning that "your" rider was coming as you see a class 8 truck coming lol love them days

 

[Cookies]

I bought Dave Chase's CR250 after either the 500 or 1000 right after the race. Used to see all those guys out at the D37 races all of the time.

 

[Up-tite]

LR's bike had my oil pump.oil cooler,exh, cam, lights and gastank.
You can see the oil cooler on the LH side looks like rad shroud.

Bike ran 115mph with cooler and 117without, Gaston could get 118 out of the Beemer as he was so small was easier to get into a full tuck. Many times I'd be waiting at a ck point when Gaston would come in would hold him while he was on the bike because he couldn't touch the ground with his feet.
Mine ran 120 think won that one in class38.

Yamaha had a Radar gun with a camera on it just checking it out, have pic somewhere.
60+ miles on the pavement was very tiring even in full tuck, one hand on throttle one on fork leg"the mile style". Goggles pressing on your face so hard it hurt.

Jimmy Fishback would lay on the bike and if he pointed his toes could pickup mph.
Remember one year Goodyear made some SPECIAL tires directional close knobbs 95-100 all the knobbs flew off the center only side knobbs were left. They worked great prerunning, raceday turned out differently lots scrambling for tires down course no prerun bike with anytire on it was not fair game.

Keep ridiing in Baja while we can
Later George

 

[robertaccio]

Just in case the Café crew does not who George was referring to from the BMW team its P to D Belgian legend the late great Gaston Rahier (the vertically challenged big balls guy in the middle). I forgot until I read his resume' he was also a 3 time 125cc MXGP Champion.

 

[robertaccio]

reprinted From Dirt Rider Magazine.
Additional praise and a salute to a brilliant racer,,,,,,,,,,,,, and for all the whiners that say that their bike is too tall and need lowering links (hahahahaa).

In early February (2005), Belgian three-time 125cc Motocross World Champion Gaston Rahier passed away from cancer at the age of 58. Life as a racer on full-size bikes had to be tough for someone 5 feet 3 inches tall, but Rahier scored his first World championship point in the 500cc class in 1968. He then concentrated on the 250cc class and won his first Grand Prix in '74. In '75, he participated in the first-ever 125cc Motocross World championship and clinched the title with eight wins.Rahier successfully defended his title in '76 and '77, with eight and seven Grand Prix victories, respectively. Then he finished second in '78, third in '79, ninth in '80 and seventh in '81. He still holds the record of 29 Grand Prix victories in the 125cc class. As a member of the Belgian motocross team, he also won the Trophy (1974, '75, '76 and '78) and Motocross des Nations ('76).In '82, Rahier's motocross career came to an abrupt halt after a terrible accident in which he almost lost a hand. He recovered, and in '83, he participated for the first time in the demanding Paris-Dakar Rally aboard a factory BMW twin-the dominant brand of the era-but did not finish because of a mechanical breakdown, though he led the event. He returned in '84 and dominated, becoming the first non-French rider to claim victory, and repeated the feat in '85. His Paris-Dakar and Pharaoh's rally victories ('84, '85 and '88) and his professional approach made rally racing more widely popular; and his open personality made him a celebrity. Those works BMWs had a 42-inch seat height and were very heavy with full tanks, but the diminutive Rahier flew on them.We haven't lost many legendary MX heroes to illness, and although not as young as Americans Chuck Stearns, Pete Snorteland or Donny Schmit, Rahier was still too young to lose so soon.

 

[Up-tite]

Robert thanks for bringing it up. Lost so many friends I just forget.
Chuck Stearns rode for me back in early 80's one of thoes who were the BEST plus was a great rider.
I'd like to tell some stories but not on here.
Donny Schmit on a CCM another great guy.
Later George

 

[racemx904]

What year was this Beemer?

This was at Tony Murphy's in Valyermo.... Hubert auriol, Rahier and another guy was up there testing..... I remember Rahier broke down prerunning because the fuel filter came apart in "the whoops"

 

[Huskynoobee]

Cool stuff gentlemen, thanks for sharing.