Marty Smith The Big Interview Episode One 

I also enjoyed growing up in south Florida in the 70's I remember knowing when the magazines were coming. I rode dirtbikes where the Hard Rock stadium is today. We would go back home on Saturday afternoon to see if motocross was on the ABC wide world of sports.

Same for me MXA magazine from 1979 forward. Except for me it was Brad Lackey.

My very first of now forty bikes was a 1975 CR 250 Elsinore crime and red tank. I got it in the fall of 1981. What a wonderful time

those bikes are some of my dream machines. 1979 was the first year i fully got into MX and i was crazy about those bikes,,readind Dirt Bike and MXA.

I took almost 20 years off, (running a 2-stroke engine building business), and got a 2019 YZ250 2 stroke in 2020. Super tall, top end type of engine (to try to feebly keep up with a 450 on a modern MX track, ain't happening) and Batman school of art plastic had me working on it for 3 years, to get the bike the way I want it. I have never had to do so much work on a bike, to make it god for something, as the new YZ 250 2-stroke is not really good for anything, (too tall and bad power curve for off road stuff, and too slow for MX.). 1.75" shorter (seat and .75" off the suspension), got the height perfect for a 5'-9" tall rider, with good motor mods for much better low end power, some Ronnie Mac work done on the plastic (with a 2014 front fender,---do not buy OEM in that case,--total junk twisted.), and finally, the bike is great for something,--the woods. Motor mods if anybody is interested,----- in boosting the lower end to make this a much more fun bike to ride. You will love the power, strong and controllable, still revs pretty good. Probably lost 500 top rpm. Wish I would have put a tachometer on it before and after, but I didn't, like a dummy: :) 1) V-force reeds. More and lighter tension pedals allow them to open earlier, for better crank case fill at lower rpm's. The stock reed upper "reed pedal stop place", block off the 5th transfer port (the reed port) about 50%. With out that you get better cylinder filling at the back of the cylinder, and if you are not running enough octane (at least 93 for the stock bike), that will be the first area to be damaged by detonation because of the hot lingering exhaust gasses still there. I also opened up the tunnel to that port by 1mm on the sides to help flow a bit more and, but did not change any port window shapes. friendly

2) FMF Gnarly pipe. A friendly lower rpm pipe than stock. so the bottom end does not have a ht that is too much. 3) Lowered the cylinder by not using a cylinder base gasket (used "3M Nitrile rubber/gasket adhesive #847 brown" through a syringe for a good bead, on clean surfaces, to seal the cylinder.). This lowers the exhaust port to better match the lower RPM FMF pipe, and adds more compression. Needs 100 octane fuel or better. 4) stock jetting on the stock engine is so rich, I am surprised I was not fouling plugs, (always black and wet). These mods, (most likely from the hotter, higher compression mostly, but other engine mods effect jetting too.), with the stock jetting is pretty close to perfect here in Michigan. The lower end power also---makes the MX14 scoop tire work a lot better. By the time the stock engine made power, you were already moving pretty good, and just about any decent tire will work. But with more low end power, you can really see/feel the difference on acceleration, short shifting with no bog even in the sand, (and pulling the front end up a bit in the sand for the next gear, which I have never had happen with pout a paddle tie in the past, even with great engines.). The mods are easily reversible,----so give them a try. Doug @ ESP, (Earth Surfer Performance) in Michigan

Good stuff you never forget things like that, back in the late 70s I was racing a local race at Hangtown. In the morning they had an open practice with 250cc pros and intermediates combined. At that time, I was a top 3 250cc intermediate MX racer in Northern California. In the open practice I was clipping around the track at what I thought was a pretty good pace and I was going down this one big downhill in 3rd gear wide open on my 1979 YZ 250. On one lap about halfway down the hill Danny Magoo Chandler flew by me on his 250 Maico like I was standing still, and he was riding on the rear wheel doing a wheelie almost completely vertical with his bike as he zipped past me. Man did he serve me up a big slice of humble pie, I remember when I got back to the pits, I told my dad about it and I said that guy is an absolute lunatic.

​@@2011buddylee oh yeah, "Magoo" was crazy fast. I believe that was before his Honda day's ?

@@TrailRat700xc Right that was before he started racing a Honda, I always loved watching him race never a dull moment, crazy fast when he was on it and absolutely fearless. I remember watching a vid with Ricky Johnson being interviewed several years ago and he said that he didn't like it when Magoo was anywhere near him on the track, because of Danny's crazy wild intense riding style.

@@2011buddylee I don't think that contract with Honda lasted that long if my memory serves me right. Can't remember what bike he was on after that ?

That is not surprising to me. I don't think any of the pro racers, maybe even today, have a "better than thou" attitude, especially after retirement and life reflection. I bet, in the same conditions, you could have "sat and chat" with any of them. IMO, this sport was a stand out and special for the people who did it. It was a pretty friendly bond overall.

You made an excellent video, memories, thanks.

Do you remember Jeff Vidic?

Donnie Emler might not have meant the pipe would be slightly de-tuned. There is variance in part dimensions from any manufacturing process, and when you make 20 cone pipes by hand, the chances are they have a hard time controlling the variance from pipe to pipe, knowing the tuned length can vary maybe 1/8th inch if he is good.

And "the first" 125 Hero.

Way better than dying in a hospital. With a body full of tubes.