Back in '87 I ran in the WERA 24 hour race at Willow Springs with some friends on an FZ600 and Wes Cooley was racing the factory Suzuki GSXR 1100 and he passed me twice during a 40 minute stretch in the middle of the night on the back straight like I was standing still. We actually beat them overall because they blew both engines that they had. You were allowed one spare parts bike that you could use any part from except for the frame. We covered almost 1600 miles on our underpowered bike. What fun.
@old man strength I grew up on RD250 and RD350 which were both faster than any Ninja 500. I think Keith Code was there around the same time when the GPZ550 came out. Of course since I rode a Yamaha we called them Cheap P Z's even though realistically they had better suspension with the Uni-Trak. I was running in ARRA when my buddy Steve Mikolis who wrote for Sport Rider Magazine was in it at the same time. I wish I had his job as he got to test ride and write about all the new stuff coming out. He eventually quit that gig because of children which I completely understand. Road racing was an addiction that you know you could easily kill yourself but, once you got on the bike and rode, it all didn't matter at the time.
After reading my own reply I was really not trying to put down Ninja 500's because even my YSR50 and my buddies Honda RC50 were some of the most fun bikes to ride(YSR50 better of course). I think all the major Japanese M/C companies did a pretty good job competing against each other in the 80's and even today. My FZ600 was the most underpowered of the bunch however, it was a 600 stuffed into a 400 chassis so I made all my time up in the corners which was more daring than in the straights. Keep the shiny side up.
This film clip still sends shivers up my spine. Two riders engaged in a ferocious battle, not only with each other but their own motorcycles, bucking and weaving. Nobody present could possibly know that Eddie and Freddie would win six of the next eight 500cc GP championships. AMA Superbike had become a real crucible for discovering world class talent, guys with The Right Stuff, and more of them would follow.
No electronics no super gripping tyres just man becoming master of his machine, these are the days of true riding skills and a hell of a lot of bottle, I used to love watching the Transatlantic Challenge with us British praying for rain because the Americans and rain were an unfamiliar pairing then came Kevin Schwartz he could race in the snow and still win but the best sight was Eddie Lawson on board the mean green Kawasaki racers and bikes like these are History but oh how I love history 👍💯🔥💯👌
Seems like I remember looking at black and whites photos of Lawson riding flat track for Ontario Kawasaki. I was there to pick up parts for my Centurion 100.
When bike racing was dependant on skill and guts not just on the quality or who had the best bike. Far more exciting and competitive to watch than bikes of today no question!
Looked maybe like Pacific Northwest tracks, perhaps Portland or Seattle International Raceways. Incredible how hard Freddy and Eddie were riding on that bumpy surface.
Back in '87 I ran in the WERA 24 hour race at Willow Springs with some friends on an FZ600 and Wes Cooley was racing the factory Suzuki GSXR 1100 and he passed me twice during a 40 minute stretch in the middle of the night on the back straight like I was standing still. We actually beat them overall because they blew both engines that they had. You were allowed one spare parts bike that you could use any part from except for the frame. We covered almost 1600 miles on our underpowered bike. What fun.
@old man strength I grew up on RD250 and RD350 which were both faster than any Ninja 500. I think Keith Code was there around the same time when the GPZ550 came out. Of course since I rode a Yamaha we called them Cheap P Z's even though realistically they had better suspension with the Uni-Trak. I was running in ARRA when my buddy Steve Mikolis who wrote for Sport Rider Magazine was in it at the same time. I wish I had his job as he got to test ride and write about all the new stuff coming out. He eventually quit that gig because of children which I completely understand. Road racing was an addiction that you know you could easily kill yourself but, once you got on the bike and rode, it all didn't matter at the time.
After reading my own reply I was really not trying to put down Ninja 500's because even my YSR50 and my buddies Honda RC50 were some of the most fun bikes to ride(YSR50 better of course). I think all the major Japanese M/C companies did a pretty good job competing against each other in the 80's and even today. My FZ600 was the most underpowered of the bunch however, it was a 600 stuffed into a 400 chassis so I made all my time up in the corners which was more daring than in the straights. Keep the shiny side up.
This film clip still sends shivers up my spine. Two riders engaged in a ferocious battle, not only with each other but their own motorcycles, bucking and weaving. Nobody present could possibly know that Eddie and Freddie would win six of the next eight 500cc GP championships. AMA Superbike had become a real crucible for discovering world class talent, guys with The Right Stuff, and more of them would follow.
Great times and great racers.
あー懐かしい。そして面白い。
GPマシンと比べちゃうと速度は遅くともバトルは熱いし。
なにより市販車ベースで親近感感じる。
💚 🏁 🏆 👍🏼
Track was seattle international raceway, in Kent wa.
Godspeed to Peter Starr, pioneer of motorcycle racing film-making and producer of the original footage shown here.
No electronics no super gripping tyres just man becoming master of his machine, these are the days of true riding skills and a hell of a lot of bottle, I used to love watching the Transatlantic Challenge with us British praying for rain because the Americans and rain were an unfamiliar pairing then came Kevin Schwartz he could race in the snow and still win but the best sight was Eddie Lawson on board the mean green Kawasaki racers and bikes like these are History but oh how I love history 👍💯🔥💯👌
Seems like I remember looking at black and whites photos of Lawson riding flat track for Ontario Kawasaki. I was there to pick up parts for my Centurion 100.
Riding through kitty litter on the track. LOL
eddie lawson my favorite hero !!
It was Seattle International Raceway. I was there but it seems so long ago.
I made it out there too, thanks to the good guys at the old Seattle Honda dealership. The racing was INCREDIBLE, as is seen here.
When bike racing was dependant on skill and guts not just on the quality or who had the best bike. Far more exciting and competitive to watch than bikes of today no question!
Wow big machines.....❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
That K'saki of Lawson's was so tall ya need a step stool to get on it !! GROUND/ALTERNATOR COVER CLEARANCE !!
Men muscling machines. Awesome.
Looked maybe like Pacific Northwest tracks, perhaps Portland or Seattle International Raceways. Incredible how hard Freddy and Eddie were riding on that bumpy surface.
Really incredible to see. Neither was going to yield! Eddie's move coming off the last turn stunned Freddie. He had no defense, game over.
I beleive it was SIR. Definitely the PNW area
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMA_Superbike_Championship_circuits
@@billwright1880 Pretty sure it was Seattle International Raceway. Regardless, boy I wish I had made the trip down from Canada to watch those legends!
@@jamesd2128 Yes I did some research and posted a link. They didn't go to Brainerd until '83.
He men bikes👍👍👍
Looks like Seattle (SIR)
The legend and epic race
Airborne Al Wilcox and Ed on a Kawi..........good times!
They weren't both on the bike, just to be clear......
Battle of the Titans
looks like a King of The Baggers race
Imagine what Baggers would look like on 1981-spec tires and suspension!
top class riders on a not so top class track.
Excellent!
ほ〜
これが記事でしか
知らなかった
ダート落としですか！
エディ男前。
Cool as hell, but pls no music
They lose 10 mph with those billboard number plates!
Alucinant
What was the name of this track..?
Seattle International Raceway, in Kent WA.
なんでマギーやねんw
I just witnessed the early beginnings of the ruining of race footage by playing a stupid soundtrack over engine sounds, yet another unwatchable film
He put the cry baby W Gardner in his place