70's -80's Flat Track THE STARTING LINE

The 70'sand 80's were a great time to young and alive in America- not perfect -- but pretty damn good. If your sport was flat track motorcycles- it was even better. A lot of these pics were nationally known racers or champions AND some of the pics were of local races-- they are perhaps even better images. A couple are from 60's or 90's and a few newer than that. They were taken at the “starting line’ of races or just prior and some were taken in the first or second turn. Hope you enjoy- - if they are on the line their eyes and posture tell the story

Still photo montage of Vintage Flat Track. I do not own the rights to theses photos-- most originally published by the old "Cycle News" or other print magazines of the 1970s or 80's and a lot have been 'scarfed' off the internet - -others publicly posted by users of various forums. There may be a couple of pics from the late 60's, 90's, 2000's in this tribute - but if you were part of this - it does not change the vibe. This video is not monetized. The only folks that can make money on this video is You Tube (advertising) and music producers of background music used (royalties paid by You Tube). Kudo's to the old 'Cycle News' and individual Photographers who captured- these moments. 40 or 50 years ago - who knew we would still be around to enjoy them- some us are not.

Special thanks to Greg Pearson for use of his father’s pics! A few of the individual professional photographers from the era are still around (2019) - some of these photos are undoubtedly theirs-- They are still (or were) selling a lot of pics they sold at the tracks back in the day-- If you were a racer- you knew them-- If you are descendant (unfortunate) you could contact them with your racers number and tracks they rode- they maybe able to hook you up with some pics of them. Three I know of are-- Bert Shepard ( the eastern part of the US was where he took most of his pics); Bert has a Facebook page; And Dan Mahony ( the western part of the US- I believe he specialized in)-- Dan has a Facebook page--"Mahony Racing Photos"- His photos are first rate; and Mitch Friedman- an excellent photographer on the West Coast. Mike Stuhler (Stu's shots and FB) photos can be described as art and James Grant's of the newer era are just as good..