CLASSIC MOTOCROSS PHOTO: THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Gary Jones won the 250 National Championship in 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974. Even more significantly, he did it on a Yamaha, Honda and a Can-Am (before starting his own motorcycle brand).

This photo is shot on a sweltering hot day at Rio Bravo Cycle Park in Texas. Gary’s solution to the sweltering heat? Have his dad Don throw water on him, or at the very least at him, every time he went by the mechanic’s area. This was in the era when every mechanic had a fire extinguisher in their van filled with water. They would pump it up and spray the rider when he went by—it was a lot more accurate than just tossing a cup of water at him.