tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post3406853117333261597..comments2024-03-01T05:17:40.167-08:00Comments on Yo Eddy !!: Roosting Down Memory LaneDan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15609122101907983132noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-69086984059302484722020-09-04T10:43:36.465-07:002020-09-04T10:43:36.465-07:00Was through there last year. Riding my dual sport ...Was through there last year. Riding my dual sport on some of the overgrown trails. And in the BASF parking garage. Ghost town. Also rode there back then, 40 years ago in high school and college years, while living in Hopatcong. They should have left the property as it was. Ruined prime riding space. The old whooped out rail bed was my favorite. Now it's Continental Drive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-66969059392615447312020-08-25T06:59:08.815-07:002020-08-25T06:59:08.815-07:00i can even see the track at the old sand pits, and...i can even see the track at the old sand pits, and trails we rode to get there. All long gone now, but this is very cool to see again after 40+ years. Anyone else having fun mentally riding again:) ? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-23591061711348271582020-08-06T06:43:57.173-07:002020-08-06T06:43:57.173-07:00www.historicaerials.com is a great site for aerial...www.historicaerials.com is a great site for aerial photos that go WAY WAY back. Seems the 1979 aerials are the clearest for the areas mentioned. The site is a bit clunky, and they want you to buy the images therefore they watermark everything, but it works fine for strolling down memory lane. Spectactular!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-84085353413300457702020-07-29T13:46:38.393-07:002020-07-29T13:46:38.393-07:00Great times. I rode the same areas from 77 to abou...Great times. I rode the same areas from 77 to about 83. Everything interconnected and the journey was half the fun. Anyone remember the sand pits off Openaki road in Denville? It had a large sand pit with a track, some nice table tops and a big old broken down dozer in the middle. I had a 74 DT100, then a 76 CR125 Elsinore, 77 RM250 and then a 82 YZ490. Fun times. I close my eyes and im there... the smell of the woods, the bell-ray blue smoke in the air, sliding on the helmet and the feeling of excitement... it all comes back. <br /><br />Man i need to buy another bike and just putt around on the trails again. Thanks for the memories.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-11896685234412513392020-05-24T13:20:10.052-07:002020-05-24T13:20:10.052-07:00Anyone of you Stanhope locals remember an Alan Ric...Anyone of you Stanhope locals remember an Alan Rich back in 1975? Or a kid named Dai Calcagne of Denville? I am working on a project and know they were both connected with Bicycle MX races in the Stanhope/Denville area in 1975 maybe 1976. Im trying to find out exactly where the races were held and get in touch with anyone that raced them.<br />Maybe the races were at the Stanhope Pits? I know they added a second downhill track, do not know if it was at same location or a different spot.<br />Please feel free to email me at bulletproof2000@live.com <br />Thanks ErickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-15604433217490477102017-12-05T21:28:34.712-08:002017-12-05T21:28:34.712-08:00Thanks for the shared memories, it was a great era...Thanks for the shared memories, it was a great era. The amount of riding areas in northern New Jersey, mind boggling to think back on. Plenty of access with no hassle, never to be repeated.Dan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15609122101907983132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-16257876691783337072017-12-05T21:25:30.194-08:002017-12-05T21:25:30.194-08:00Thanks for checking out my blog and sharing your N...Thanks for checking out my blog and sharing your New Jersey memories.Dan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15609122101907983132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-56847116826882422332017-11-13T07:34:33.786-08:002017-11-13T07:34:33.786-08:00I remember the building in the first pic was at St...I remember the building in the first pic was at Stanhope, near the front on the other side of the tracks. That was the main motocross. I used to ride from Pershing Estates down to a friends house on Waterloo Dr. We took a trail that ran along Waterloo to some back road - all down hill - past the junkyard, across the tracks and along on what's now International Dr. until we got to the pits. The cops left you alone unless you rode on the main roads. You inly got busted if you didn't take off into the woods. I road all back in there. There were more trails than you could count. There were two challenging hills there: "Deadman's V" and "by Monster Hill". Monster hill wasn't as steep as the 'V' but very sandy and difficult to get up. There wasn't a lot of room to get a head start. The 'V' was straight down and straight up the other side. You had to carry enough speed to make but to the top but after you did, it was a sharp turn to the right or you smacked a tree :) Thanks for the memories.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-55913509490367283872017-09-21T06:38:38.550-07:002017-09-21T06:38:38.550-07:00Nice to know there is a whole lot of nostalgia ass...Nice to know there is a whole lot of nostalgia associated with dirt bikes and bikers who frequented the off-road sites they knew as Mine Hill pits, Stanhope pits, etc. Their memories were focused on dirt bikes, whereas my memories are about the sandy outwash plains and deep sand deposits known as kames. The Lakeland Area of Northern New Jersey was heavily glaciated and much of the deposited sands were dumped there after the glaciers receded about 25,000 years ago. Sand and gravel extraction companies knew that and opened up "sand pits" long before most of us were born. By the way, I was raised in Netcong and spent plenty of time in the places that are mentioned. Dick Pellekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12911570843311651544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-39104730885865274732014-03-09T14:19:58.863-07:002014-03-09T14:19:58.863-07:00Hey Bruce - great to hear from you. I didn't ...Hey Bruce - great to hear from you. I didn't realize you purchased that '78 Maico 250 from Todd. I don't remember the history of that '78, thought it was borrowed from someone. Todd also bought a new Maico 250 in '79 if I remember correctly. All of us scoring a new bikes that year. Me, a '79 Suzuki RM125. Kevin, a '79 Maico 450 and Todd the 250. Good times. Cool to see your comment on here!Dan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15609122101907983132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-82651735683491489772014-03-05T16:38:32.689-08:002014-03-05T16:38:32.689-08:00Dan, The picture of Todd in the air on the 1978 Ma...Dan, The picture of Todd in the air on the 1978 Maico 250 Magnum is the bike I purchased from him. Great fun bike sold it to purchase a used Honda CR500 from someone living in Netcong he wouldn't sit on the bike again because he crashed it and was never getting on it again. I test drove it like I stole it. Sold! Sold! Sold!<br />Bruce G. from RandolphAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-4323064620173335882013-06-10T17:33:32.294-07:002013-06-10T17:33:32.294-07:00Leanne - thanks for the comment. None of those na...Leanne - thanks for the comment. None of those names ring a bell and I don't remember any girls riding back then. Sorry! I may have met some of the folks mentioned, but they weren't in my riding/friends circle.<br /><br />My main riding pals were Kevin McGatha, Todd Mazzola (from Randolph), Don Harrower, Bob Frantz (Mount Arlington), Dave Sweeny (Roxbury) - and other folks as well - many who we'd see at Mine Hill pits (etc), but their names escape me now. Many folks rode back then.<br /><br />I do remember reading about the kid killed by the wire off Route 10. Ouch, not good.<br /><br />I used to ride from Mount Arlington to many places: Berkshire valley woods, Mine Hill Pits, Roxbury pits, Stanhope pits and surrounding woods in Allumuchy. An incredible set up at the time. We also rode a killer nice practice MX track in some field in Hackettstown. It was a land access free-for-all back then, no one seemed to care. An era never to be recreated.<br /><br />I did a ton of riding in the area from '77 to '81 or so. From '76 to '77 rode Mine Hill pits from Randolph - where we lived before Mount Arlington. Over those years, rode a '74 Suzuki TM125, '76 Honda CR125, '79 Suzuki RM125. Fun times and good memories.Dan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15609122101907983132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-2679578556754675782013-06-10T02:44:46.330-07:002013-06-10T02:44:46.330-07:00I'm also from Mt. Arlington during the same t...I'm also from Mt. Arlington during the same time and used to ride with a pack of guys afterschool and weekends : Billy Perhacs Billy Fields the Seilers Wayne Gutwein Bob Nock all come to mind. I Had an yellow RM 125. Rode so much without sitting thatt my knees are shot. Used to ride from Mt. A to Allamuchy & Berkshire Valley & the pits. I remember a kid named Chris Hussney? getting killed by a wire across the track near Cliffs ice cream. Man those were good times. I don't remember many other girls riding do any of you? eally wish that I had some photos- still have a helmut also yellow. Thanks for the great photos that are here!<br />Leanne Keefer BechdelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-12314422575503968292013-04-08T12:42:11.999-07:002013-04-08T12:42:11.999-07:00Probably missed it by a few years. I rode there wi...Probably missed it by a few years. I rode there with a buddy who was friends with him in the late 80's and early 90's. Pretty sure the track was there for quite some time beforehand. We would ride quads on Route 80 in the snow. That was scary. Banshees and snow do not mix. Hope you get a dual sport. They are still a blast for doing a little bit of everything. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-39565290170853180162013-04-06T01:20:18.652-07:002013-04-06T01:20:18.652-07:00Whenever I do score another motorcycle, will be a ...Whenever I do score another motorcycle, will be a dual sport. I'd also dig doing the vintage motocross AHRMA scene.<br /><br />Mark Pillion's track? Plus in Randolph - interesting - but never heard of it. Might be a bit out of my era. Traded my '79 Suzuki RM125 for a '73 Yamaha RD 350 in 1981. Dirt bike daze pretty much over for me. Owned a '78 Yamaha DT175 for a short time in '84, buzzed some local trails with with it - and seized it on Route 80...Dan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15609122101907983132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-68461712991689702712013-04-02T07:57:30.967-07:002013-04-02T07:57:30.967-07:00Had a bunch of sport bikes too. Have come full cir...Had a bunch of sport bikes too. Have come full circle I guess. Best times had on a dual sport in the beginning. Started with a 1983 XL600R that I would ride up the track to PA and home on Route 80. Now do the same on my DR650SE. In between at least a dozen dirt bikes that found their way to all the cool spots we both rode at. Did you ever ride at Mark Pillion's track in Randolph? He always had a great track intertwined with the backyard powerlines. And all the visiting MX pros to NJ would hang out and ride there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-33782116934375759352013-03-29T22:29:41.878-07:002013-03-29T22:29:41.878-07:00Joe - your name doesn't ring a bell at the mom...Joe - your name doesn't ring a bell at the moment. Friends and I rode Mine Hill Pits a lot, from 1976 to 1980 or so. Were probably there at the same time at some point. I basically grew up in Randolph, then family moved to Mount Arlington in '77, while I was in high school. <br /><br />From Mount Arlington - could ride to Mine Hill Pits, Stanhope pits, and other areas - via woods and railroad tracks. Pretty cool era, long gone, never to return.<br /><br />My last dirt bike sold in 1984 or so. Owned a few modern sport bikes, up until 2006. Now nada. Two wheeled thrills via bicycle remain.Dan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15609122101907983132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-74998294078902492182013-03-28T11:30:45.338-07:002013-03-28T11:30:45.338-07:00Maybe... Name is Joe Dachisen. Lived in the Hopatc...Maybe... Name is Joe Dachisen. Lived in the Hopatcong from 1979 til 2000. Lived earlier in Rockaway and moved back there after leaving Hopatcong. Rode in the Kenvil pits all while living in both places. Still get around on my DR650SE to investigate the old fun spots. Still have a mint 2001 CR250R that doesn't get ridden as much as it should these days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-32383819293482523882013-01-05T23:02:20.505-08:002013-01-05T23:02:20.505-08:00@Jim. Wow - pretty cool you're from the same ...@Jim. Wow - pretty cool you're from the same era and place. Thanks for checking out the post and leaving a comment. I have very few photos from that time, we rarely lugged a camera around - too bad - would be great to view 'em now.<br /><br />Our main spot was Mine Hill Pits. I started riding there around 1976, while in high school and living in Randolph. Friends and I would push - and yeah, ride a bit - our dirt bikes over there, cutting through Mine Hill. Railroad tracks then connecting to another pit area in Roxbury, as well as easy dirt riding access to Kenvil for pizza, the Dairy Queen, or D+H Suzuki.<br /><br />Family moved to Hopatcong area in '77. From there, I could hit woods right down the street, fun riding on its own, plus connect to Mine Hill Pits via woods and railroad tracks. I could also ride over to Stanhope Pits and Allaumuchy from the house. A killer set up of woods, practice motocross tracks, connected via railroad tracks - including blasting through Netcong on the tracks - as I did the same.<br /><br />I remember the gulch in Stanhope Pits, though we had no official name for it. I also remember getting chased off Stanhope pits in 1980 (or so) by the local police. They just politely asked us to leave, but I knew that was the beginning of the end.<br /><br />When I think back on it, an amazing set up for riding. It was a cool era for dirt bikes in general, never to be recreated. I'm glad I was part of it.<br /><br /><br /><br />Dan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15609122101907983132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-53892256594176382092013-01-03T23:17:59.160-08:002013-01-03T23:17:59.160-08:00Cool post! I too grew up in the area (Netcong) an...Cool post! I too grew up in the area (Netcong) and rode dirt in the 70s and 80s and have been looking for pics of the Stanhope sand pits forever! Those pits were magical on a Sunday back in the day with so many strange and killer bikes. My main hangout was Port Morris and the Cutoff or blasting through downtown Netcong on the tracks through the Graveyard and Dynapak pits to the Big Pits. I would love to see more pics!. What was the giant gulch called in the Pits like Deadman's V or something? I miss that place. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00578564398864596950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-91005308205963594722012-08-18T00:30:30.497-07:002012-08-18T00:30:30.497-07:00@Anonymous. Thanks for checking out my blog and r...@Anonymous. Thanks for checking out my blog and riding down memory lane. Sounds like we rode the same areas during the same era. Do we know each other?<br /><br />That area and era were really fun, amazing amounts of places to ride with no issues, and part of the dirt bike boom of the '70s. Never to be recreated - glad I was part of it.Dan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15609122101907983132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-42367881768773525842012-08-15T12:44:24.374-07:002012-08-15T12:44:24.374-07:00Cool pics. Glad someone had a camera when you guys...Cool pics. Glad someone had a camera when you guys rode. Brings me back to easier times. I and all my buddies grew up riding in the Shanhope and Kenvil pits in the 70's and 80's. Lived in Hopatcong, where you could get anywhere by a trail or the old rail bed. I know the pain when they starting patrolling Kenvil and excavated the Trade Zone to ruin another prime spot. Still ride when I can. Used to ride up the old Lackawanna Cutoff to Portland PA. Not the same, but still a good day out. Times have certanly changed. Bet there are still kids who know the hidden spots that are still around. Good for them. It was a great time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-39442203223628049542011-12-27T18:06:02.986-08:002011-12-27T18:06:02.986-08:00@Jim. Thanks for checking out the blog post. I k...@Jim. Thanks for checking out the blog post. I know for a fact I'd totally dig it. I hit a AHRMA motocross race over the summer to watch - looked like huge fun.<br /><br />Closest area for dirt motorcycles is about an hour from me. Being a family guy with an 8 and 12 year at home, time is tight, as well as money. I will dabble with this stuff once again, just not really possible at the moment.<br /><br />As mentioned, I'm also a bicycle nut. Can ride from my driveway to a few hundred acres of single track (open to bikes, not motos). My 12 year old son and I ride quite a bit. He's also become the fairly experienced racer. It's all good.<br /><br />With any luck, over the next few years, I'll score a vintage motocrosser to play with. Play ride/practice maybe twice a month, then hit some local vintage races. I'd be 110% happy with that.Dan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15609122101907983132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-19479891004687857332011-12-27T17:08:34.988-08:002011-12-27T17:08:34.988-08:00Don't just dream. Mountain bikes are cool but....Don't just dream. Mountain bikes are cool but... in my view dont come close to the feel of a motocross bike. I say do both. I am from your era been riding and racing since I was 10 years old. I am 51 now and still ride dirt bikes.As well as street. All be it a little slower and not a willing to do the doubles and triples that in my younger days I might have at least attempted. Just ride within your means and I gaurentee you will love it. JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645169994371315314.post-71260561835262321482011-01-09T09:29:54.187-08:002011-01-09T09:29:54.187-08:00My friend in Canada lived by a dealer that couldn&...My friend in Canada lived by a dealer that couldn't give away their stock of RZ500s in 1985, they had like 12 of them. I went to buy one but backed out at the last minute. Damn.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348714993146314107noreply@blogger.com