DAVIDBAILEYMX.COM

FEATURE STORY

A Humbling Experience
While straightening up my office this morning, I found a CD and loaded it to see what was on it and turned out to be a ton of old photos that Todd Huffman from the MX Files had collected from MXA. There are some good ones I’ll share later. For starters I thought I would share this one because it’s a classic in many ways.

I had just wrapped up the Trans USA support class title, my first title as a pro and since I was out in California for the last round, which ended up cancelled, I figured I would head out to Saddleback Park for a local race. I hadn’t been there since the late 60’s to watch the Europeans with my real father Terry Martin. He heard that Joel Robert, DeCoster and company would be there so we hopped in the old Ford van and checked it out. I still remember bits and pieces. The Europeans were a lot better than the Americans and they all wore long sleeve yellow jerseys and made it look easy and fun. In 1969, my step dad Gary (pictured) became the first American rider to ever beat the Europeans on the 4th of July right there at Saddleback!

So after a tour of the magazines and some negotiating with Kawasaki, we headed out to the infamous Saturday local gig with long motos. I was pretty confident. I had my prototype green Scott goggles, some new and hard to come by Renthal handlebars and a factory cylinder and figured I’d win a couple motos, make a little money and add to my newfound confidence. What I didn’t realize was that Saddleback was like riding on cement with sand sprinkled on it, only slicker! I got smoked so bad, I don’t even remember what place I got. Jeff Jennings about lapped me in the 1st moto. You can tell my dad isn’t happy with my top 10 at a local race. I realized right away why they have a “King of Saddleback” crown.

If you have ever raced, or have a son who races, you can probably relate to this picture. I tried, but I had no idea how to ride those conditions and my Goodyear Eagle rear tire wasn’t doing me any favors.

db

For some more old school photos with commentary, checkout Steve's gems at;

http://pulpmx.directmotocross.com/content/tell-us-another-story-david-bailey