LOOKING BACK ON THE CLASSICS! THE APRIL 1975 ISSUE OF MXA

Holding court in the inside front cover was an ad for the new 100cc version of the 125cc Hodaka Super Combat (called the Super Rat MX). Offering such features as: “Low-type exhaust with ‘straight through’ silencer, thick foam seat for easy rider movement, malleable alloy levers with rubber covers, plastic number plates and fenders, alloy body shock absorbers with cooling fins, single-rate springs and forward mounting position. Not shown: portable center stand, fender mud flaps, tool kit and owners manual.” Of course let’s not overlook “Hodaka’s Trick Cylinder” that used an “Alumiferric Fusion process to eliminate problems inherent in all-iron and all-alloy cylinders while retaining the best features of both.”

And just in case you think the Hodaka brand is all but forgotten, make plans to attend the Hodaka Days every June in Athena, Orgeon, which was the hometown to the unique brand.

ONE STOP SHOPPING AT ONE OF THE BEST OF THE ALPHABET COMPANIES

Of all the SoCal alphabet companies back in the ’70’s, DG (along with FMF) was definitely one of the most prolific in churning out both go-fast accessories and future National Champions (including Bob Hannah, Broc Glover & Mike Bell). DG got it acronym name from the first name initials of the company founders; Gary Harlow and Dan Hangleven. All heads would turn in the SoCal pits when the DG team truck showed up. The bike that helped put DG on the map was of course the Honda Elsinore and DG would offer everything from radial and porcupine heads to swingarms and even monoshock frame kits.

A full-face helmet wearing Billy “Sugar Bear” Grossi was featured with an in-depth interview, and on the eve of the 1975 season the newly signed factory Suzuki rider was poised to do well following the previous season that saw him win a 250 National for Team Honda, before eventually breaking his leg at the 1974 Superbowl of Motocross. Billy was the younger brother of Husqvarna rider Bob Grossi and he had already enjoyed time as factory Kawasaki rider before being signed to Team Honda as a long-haired 18-year-old rising star. In the interview, the future Carabela and Husqvarna factory rider, spoke of his desires to win both National and World Championship titles. Grossi would go on to score plenty of podium finishes, but alas, neither of those title winning goals would ever come to pass (he led the 1975 AMA 500 National Championship on points going into the famous “Battle of New Orleans”race.

Billy Grossi quote:“…I was training with everybody at the Honda place. And riding ? I was riding about twice a week.”

THE BAZ INTERVIEWS UNCLE DONNIE ON HIS LATEST PROJECT

Looking for more speed out of MXA’s 1975 Suzuki TM125, MXA went in search of some tuning expertise at FMF. For only $115, FMF would port your barrel, mill your head and build you a pipe. What we learn about the science of porting and pipe building? “The pipe makes the biggest difference,”  said Donnie. “The porting sets you up, but the pipe makes it happen. You can get the biggest charge in history to your combustion chamber, but if your pipe doesn’t send that compression wave back just at the right time, all your power just drains out the exhaust port.”

THE 1975 TRANS-AMA SERIES WAS A WET ONE

Adolf in the wet and dark weather at Lake Whitney. This snap  shows how hard it was to shoot photos in a thunderstorm.

The April issue covered four events of the 1974 Trans-AMA series, starting with the Lake Whitney, Texas, round. Roger DeCoster took the 500cc class with Maico-mounted Texan Steve Stackable doing a great job by finishing third at his “home race.” Seven different brands could be found in the top 20 results. Just the week prior, the same storm system that inundated the Texas round also hit the St. Louis round, which was the cause of the notorious Edison Dye cancellation. Above, factory Maico pilot Adolf Weil splashes through a Texas puddle on his way to a fifth overall finish. Husqvarna-mounted Kent Howerton won the 250 Support class. (Of note, current Factory Effex owner, Bryar Holcolmb, finished 13th overall in the 500 class.)

Trans-Am Quote: “San Antonio Support rider Kent Howerton’s absolute domination was more thrilling than a pint of bourbon at a Dallas Cowboys game. Kent, to use the vernacular of the area, chopped some tall cotton.”

WHEELS OF MAN GEAR & MARTY TRIPES’ TEAM CAN-AM FIRING

The April 1975 issue closed out with a Wheels of Man helmet ad. WoM was a clothing company made famous for their nylon MX pants and sponsorship of Marty Tripes. Coincidentally, there was a news item in the same issue that announced Tripes’ dismissal from the Can-Am team because he wouldn’t give up his WoM sponsorship deal. Imagine, a clothing company holding sway over a factory deal? Whoda thunk it?