Hammer and Tongs Round 1 - Vintage Motocross Action

The Hammer and Tongs race series officially kicked off last weekend, that be June 1st if you're sporting a calendar.  This being a four race series for vintage motocross aficionados and hanger on types - like me - who was involved with motocross, back when these bikes were the latest two wheeled weapons of berm destruction.

Ah, the memories of riding and racing with friends.  The sound of two-strokes and the smell of pre-mix in the air, a mere 35 years ago.  Time flies when you're getting old.  Back to reality...

My involvement now revolves around spectating and pointing a Nikon D7000 at these blur of memories and the people involved.  Fantastic to see folks restoring and putting these now vintage bikes to use on actual dirt.  Cool grassroots scene of folks involved.

This race series held at Pacific Raceways located in Kent, Washington.  I've been to Pacific Raceways for previous car and motorcycle road racing events - first time visiting the motocross area - nestled behind the road course, complete with large fir trees as the backdrop.  Nice.  Welcome to the Evergreen State.

To give you the brief primer, bikes are basically broken down into two race classes.  Vintage class for pre 1974 models.  This being before the long suspension travel revolution.  Evolution class for long travel bikes, '75 into the '80s.  Specific details on the Hammer and Tongs website, if you're so inclined.

Due to work commitments, I had only had a few hours to attend and grab some photos.  CJ who runs this moto shindig, recognized me and officially deputized my access behind the fence.  Full access to the course as Joe Photographer.  Awesome.  CJ previously used some  of my photos from his vintage show last January on his site (additional photos on my blog).

Enough babbling.  Even with the limited time, I shot the insane amount of pics.  I attempted to narrow 'em down to something semi-resonable.

Enjoy...

Upon arrival, quick walk through the pit area - this restored and obviously used Maico caught  my eye first - very nice.  Maico manufactured some serious and well respected machines for the era.  They still look very capable and fantastic to old school me.

I get a huge kick out of this bike, Yamaha XS 650 twin motocrosser.  Welcome to Crazy Town.  Incredibly well done construction.  I've photographed this bike at other events, first time seeing it action today.  Dude was super fast and must be Superman to throw this thing around - fun to watch.

Clean Hodaka waits patiently for some track action.

Very nicely turned out Kawasaki KX.  Aluminum swing arm, Works Performance shocks, black rims - all adding the updated touch.

Early Yamaha MX 250 time capsule.

Race ready CZ ready to roll.

Great looking pair of '74 Suzuki TM125 models.  Closer inspection of the one on right, reveals Webco head and trick looking reed valve kit.  As I've mentioned in previous posts on my ol' blog, I owned a '74 TM125 back in the '70s as the teenager.  I have a serious soft spot for these bikes. 

Can-Am resting on what we all seemed to use in the '70s, the old milk crate.

Let's move on to some vintage class racing, shall we?  The shorter travel bikes in action...

Kawasaki KX lays down the roost and smoke trail.

Red on brown.  Old school CZ and rider styling on the course.

Eye on the next corner.  Racing 101 - vintage, modern, cars, bikes - racing is racing.

Minus the modern safety gear, this could be 1975 instead of 2014.  Vintage Husqvarna chases down the vintage Kawasaki.

Yamaha MX 400 blurs the senses and camera.

Yamaha XS 650 twin power at work.  As previously mentioned - Crazy Town - but fun to watch.

Yamaha MX 500 throws down (up?) the roost.

Vintage corner carving in progress.

Husqvarna CR chases down Suzuki TM.  Film at eleven...

Berm panorama.

CJ enjoying the spoils of his work.

Last corner dash to the checkered flag.

Now on to some Evolution class racing, Evo for short.  Longer travel suspension, more power and faster speeds.  Still vintage era racing, but a bit closer to modern motocross...

Honda CR rider clears the table top.

Yamaha YZ roosts out of the corner.

Trick looking '79 Suzuki RM 400 with equally nice Yamaha YZ in pursuit.

Bultaco rider WFO.

Sweet looking circa '77 Suzuki RM 250 in action.  I dig the older metal gas tank, changed to plastic from '78 on.  Technical tidbit to amaze your friends with. Or maybe not...

Super clean Husqvarna and kitted out rider mid slide.

Husqvarna rider catches some air, while course marshal seems unimpressed...

Welcome to the Pan 'N' Blur department.  Honda CR and ATK pilots demonstrate.

Yamaha YZ frozen mid jump, monoshock at the ready.

At the later edge of what's considered vintage, water cooled and disk braked Kawasaki KX shows modern performance.

Maico 490 rider lays it in.

Power wheelie out of the corner.  The Kodak moment.

Suzuki RM 370 berm shot. 

We now interrupt Evo class action for the kid's race.  Some on vintage bikes, others on modern steeds.  As long as they're having fun, who cares what era of bike they're on - it's all good...

Young rider styling on the vintage Honda XR 75.

Future of the sport in action.

Round 'N' Round we go...

Blue skies above and brown dirt below.  Great childhood memories being created.

We now return to Evo action, already in progress...

Color coordinated Yamaha YZ 125 and rider square off the corner.  Note the Simons fork, the stuff '70s dreams were made of...

Later era Maico 490 points in the right direction.

Racing is racing.  Vintage era bikes or not.

Husky rider airs it out, greenery as the backdrop.

There you have it, a glimpse into the day's events.  Cool gig, had a blast even with my limited time.  Next race is July 5th and I plan to attend, camera in hand with memory cards waiting to be filled.

These vintage events click in my defective mug - mixture of visiting the past, living in the present, gawking at vintage iron, chatting with like minded folks - combined with photography interest.  Not a bad combo.  

See you next time…