Our 2024 Honda CRF450R has spent the previous couple of months in a celeb storage. Four-time 250 National MX Champion Gary Jones nonetheless rides at age 72–and he nonetheless hauls! We loaned him our Honda check bike with the blessing of Ryan Dudek at Honda. Like us, Ryan is a giant Jones fan, however he additionally needed to have Jones as a particular visitor for Honda’s Cars, Bikes and Coffee occasion at Honda’s Collection Hall. Every different month, guests are inspired to drive or journey their very own attention-grabbing car or bike of any model or period to indicate off whereas having fun with the Collection Hall, particular reveals, the Power of Dreams Cafe, merchandise retailer, and extra. Dudek dressed up our check bike in particular graphics as a tribute to Gary’s 1973 championship on a Honda RC250 works bike, which was Honda’s first official motocross championship. One of the unique 1973 works bikes is on show within the assortment corridor.
Gary’s 4 championships got here on three totally different manufacturers; Yamaha Honda and Can-Am. His 1971 championship was taken from the Inter-Am collection, the place he was prime American. That one isn’t at all times listed within the file books, however by 1972, it was an official AMA championship. Gary gained once more. Both these years he was on Yamaha. Then Honda made him a proposal he couldn’t refuse and he gained the 1973 championship on a motorcycle similar to the one in Honda’s foyer as we speak.
“The bike Honda has on display I only rode once,” Gary studies. “It was a test bike at the end of the season. I think Gary Chaplin and Rich Eierstedt eventually raced it. I had moved on to Honda’s Open class bike by then. I raced it at the Carlsbad USGP and the frame broke–I crashed so hard! After that, Honda didn’t want to race the Open class any more.”
Gary’s profession took a giant change at that time. He left Honda, rode a non-public Maico within the Trans-AMA collection after which signed with Can-Am, the place he gained the 1974 250 Championship. Unfortunately, that will be his final. He broke his leg at Daytona in 1975 and it was an extended, tough restoration.
Honda’s subsequent Cars, Bikes and Coffee occasion will probably be on June 15. The American Honda Collection Hall is positioned within the foyer of Honda’s U.S. headquarters. The Hall shouldn’t be open on different weekends however is on weekdays throughout common work hours.
Location
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
1919 Torrance Blvd
Torrance, CA 90505
Phone: (310) 783-2000
GARY’S OTHER BIKE
Another Gary Jones tribute bike is that this 1974 Yamaha YZ360, which will probably be ridden by his son Justin Jones within the Wiseco Two-Stroke Championship subsequent week. Gary completed second within the Open class to Brad Lacky in 1972 on a motorcycle kind of like this one. “My bike back then was about 180 pounds” says Gary. We’ve seen Justin journey this bike. He might win most native professional lessons on it.
THE ARCTIC LEOPARD
New within the Dirt Bike storage this week is an Arctic Leopard. This is an organization that caught our consideration on the Dakar Rally earlier this yr. There’s now an electrical bike class. Who knew? The levels have decreased mileage, however the bikes nonetheless must race for over 100 miles on most days. The EXE800 is roughly equal to a 250 motocross bike with a weight of about 230 kilos. We even have the EXE880, which is extra like a 450. It will promote within the $11,000 vary.
The distributor for Arctic Leopard within the U.S. is now an organization known as Pinned Electric. Interested sellers can contact Braxton at [email protected].
We already had Carson Brown flip a number of laps on the Arctic Leopard. He clearly had enjoyable. But, he at all times has enjoyable!
SILVER STATE PREREGISTRATION
Entries are nonetheless open for the Best In The Desert Silver State 300–barely. If you don’t get your registration in as we speak, it’ll value you an additional $100! Click on the hyperlink: https://zone4.ca/register.asp?id=33851&lan=1&cartlevel=1
See you subsequent week!
