Posts
321
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Birmingham, AL
US
Edited Date/Time
9/14/2020 7:40am
Anyone remember this track and some of its faster racers?
During the mid to late 70's some of the better racers included:
Pete Tanner, Scott Logston, Tommy Wicker, Andy Palafox, Maybe McIntyre, and Dean Ulve.
Occasional guest riders included Steve Wise and Carlos Serrano.
During the mid to late 70's some of the better racers included:
Pete Tanner, Scott Logston, Tommy Wicker, Andy Palafox, Maybe McIntyre, and Dean Ulve.
Occasional guest riders included Steve Wise and Carlos Serrano.
You know the ways of the Force. Those two you speak of rode crazy enough to make a seasoned Special Forces Vietnam Army Colonel take to drink.
The Shop
I worked for Sherman Barnett at Yamaha of El Paso in the 75-77 time frame. I rode a Yamaha YZ360 (pre-monoshock days) and raced Open Amateur at Bordlands many Saturday nights. I wasn't one of the fastest racers, but I had a great time.
I remember those Yamaha air forks with the huge chamber on top. It seems like a few 'big names' came through the shop back in those days, but I don't remember who (like that's the only thing I don't remember).
I also used to drive to Deming occasionally and race at the 'flat' track up there.
Ran across this post while looking for info on Borderlands - Google Earth shows but bare traces of the track remain, and the Deming track I can't find at all.
Joined the Navy in 1977 and left El Paso. Never competed again. Sold my YZ and a Honda trials bike I was competing with - we used to do the observed trials thing out in the rocky hills by the Sun Bowl on Sunday afternoon.
Thanks for reminding me how many years ago that was!
Where in El Paso was Borderland track? I would like to check out on Earth Google also. I figured it would be developed by now. Guess not.
The Saturday night races were awesome. My favorite part was "Suicide Hill" near the scoring tower.
I can't figure out how to send you a Google earth marker so create a new placemark in Google Earth and copy and paste these numbers into the lat/long.
31°51'56.06"N
106°38'43.14"W
That should put you right there.
You're right - Saturday nights were awesome - I've never seen a fully lighted track since then. Now nothing remains - not even a light pole. If you scroll back through the history view, in some of the older shots (2003-4) you can see better the remains of the track, I think.
Those hills were awesome - I was there when they built the lip on 'Suicide Hill' that required you to sail the top - no cruising into the downslope. But that drop was incredible, and the landing was as smooth as silk, unless you really sailed it and landed on the flat. I've got a few stories about that.
I also really liked the back straight that ended at the first major uphill after the start. I remember rubber band starts, a forward folding gate when they upgraded, and most of all, trying to tap it out in 5th gear on the back straight.
That was motocross.
Don't remember if NMA series held a 76 event, but I seem to recall a few 'big name' events during that time frame. i may have some posters/flyers in my box of antique 'stuff'. I'll have to dig through it.
Powered by a Buick V-6 swap we did in the driveway, and jacked up package built from scratch - back in the day pre four-wheel drive mini pickups.
Not sure which I miss more, truck, bike, or just El Paso.
Pit Row
You are stirring up old memories.
Nice looking Datsun and sweetheart. We had an old 1972 red Datsun pickup that we took to the races. Body looked like your truck. Our truck was stone stock with the 1600cc engine. Speaking of trucks, did you know Phill Latrell (sp), he had an old school bus with the seats out to hall lots of yamahas to the races. He rode with the bars down low.
Also, did you ever race at Stahmann's Farm in Las Cruces? Randy Stahmann was fast there. The Stahmann's made money in the Pecan Farming business.
I remember the name Randy Stahmann, definitely the Stahmann's farm - I remember riding up there at least once, maybe two or three times. i spent more time at Stahmann's buying pecans than i did racing, i think.I vaguely remember the Latrell's bus. I don't think I knew Phil, but I do remember someone that rode with an odd tilt or bend to the bars.
Of course that was back in the days of Maicos, CZs, Bultacos and a few I've forgotten, so odd bends were more the rule than the exception!
We were from the northeast side of the mountain, so most of my riding was out there, plus we had 80 acres just north of the Texas border in New Mexico off Anthony Gap road, so we spent much of our time riding the gas-line roads and cow trails.
Around town we rode at Casner range (back when it was desert) and out between 54 and the railroad tracks behind the big discount furniture store, and would often ride down the railroad to what we called Tank Hills, across the tracks from the military golf course.
When I google Earth El Paso, it seems like most of where we did our riding is now built up. Up here in Michigan, you almost can't ride off-road unless you are on an 'official' trail with your trail permit. Seems odd that back in 74 we just pushed the bike down the street to Trans-Mountain, fired it up, and rode all day without ever getting arrested.
I used to ride to Andress High School about once a week, up Trans-Mountain, and through the power line right of way to a friend's house by the school, leave it there all day, and ride it home at night.
Life sure seemed simpler then.
10/10/76... I was 16 and waiting on delivery of my YZ250D.
I still wish that I had my old yz125C.
Derrick Wedding was a fast Husky rider from Longview that rode quite a few nationals I believe. He is still racing the over 50 class down in the NTX area I believe.
I'm mostly a spectator now. Watch hare scrambles and supercross. I'm looking forward to seeing the Atlanta Supercross on 2/23/13. Thanks for posting the cool pictures. Last one looks like 1979 yz250.
Post a reply to: Borderland Motocross Track, El Paso