About a TZ750 Dirt Tracker & a World Champion Roadracer. Theme music by Mark Knopfler, from the movie "Cal", available on Vertigo Records "Steve Baker" "TZ 750" "OW 31" "TZ 750 dirt tracker" "champion frame" "Yamaha Motor Canada"
Every year like the Mission Swallows of Capistrano my friends and I would venture out to Laguna Seca to see the yearly M/C Road Race spectacle. Being a King Kenny fan my friends and I were blown away by Steve Baker's breaking abilities keeping his rear wheel about one inch off the ground when coming into the last corner before the straightaway. These were the days where you could park and camp anywhere on the track, the moment word got out Steve Baker was going to be at Laguna Seca we knew to be there 2 days ahead at that dusty dirt hill to camp out or miss out on all the Steve Baker braking circus.. Steve was a pioneer, which is now common. I always admired Steve Baker. Sincerely Dan
Thanks for the great story. Although I grew up near Mosport, I didn't have the sense to follow road racing; MX just seemed more accessible. But I knew Steve was something special (massive understatement) even then. At the Yamaha Motor Canada HQ in Toronto, I not only got to sit on one of his bikes, but I held a handful of titanium screws that Bob Work was going to install to replace the regular screws in the engine cases and elsewhere. At that time, titanium was only something you read about in magazines. As a neophyte mechanic, this seems like a big deal. Now they make mundane things like eyeglasses out of the stuff. thanks again for recounting your story. Great memories!
Super cool , gives me goose bumps and I can smell two stroke race gas like it was right in my shop , just before your phone died I was imagining him coming out of a turn with the bike breaking loose and helmet tucked eye level with the bars and the front tire offset and off the pavement as if they had traction control back then ! Great stuff Thanks for sharing
I actually asked Giacomo Agostini (who was between me and Steve) to get Sreve Baker's autograph in a pub in Silverstone village. Steve Baker and King Kenny were my heroes in the late '70's very early '80's. Fantastic memories.
i bought gloves from him november 2023 at mt.baker motorsports .he wants to be a regular guy but im still star sruck . he took time to sell me gloves .
Good to hear the story of your meeting with Steve and that he's a good guy and has time for a chat about the motorcycle past you shared a true champion still
Robert's commentary (and bravery) are legendary. No many know that Baker also rode the thing, though he didn't get that much seat time. That bike is so gorgeous!
@@360Crank Dirt version rare. I remember motorcycle film called taking it to the limit. Saw it a movie theater.85. It showed a lap of Mike Hailwood on a tz 750 riding with old school bus sized camera his helmet was miked. He was talking as he's driving the course. He's going up the mountain. Fog so heavy barely see the shoulder stripes.cant see 10' in front of you. He's say. I know this part of the course very well I'm going around 150- 160 mph. Like a Sunday drive. Amazing.
