Richard Chambers

I was saddened and shocked to read that Rich Chambers had died yesterday morning. Rich was racing at the first race that I ever competed in at Bridgehampton, Memorial Day weekend, 1972. My memory is that Rich was punished for some indiscretion by being forced to start the push start race on his 125 Yamaha facing backwards at the back of the grid. He simply stradled the bike and when the flag dropped, he lifted the bike up and turned it around and paddled it into starting. He may have won the race. He was such a warm and gregarious racer and always helping his fellow racers. In Sept., of 1973, I, like many others got to Charlotte Motorspeedway for the AMA national late and had to camp outside the track. In the morning, Rich was running around shouting 'vamos' at the top of his lungs to wake us all up and get us in for practice. He was an incredible trackside mechanic and used to carry a big vise mounted on a pedestal which he called 'Victoria". One time at Summit Point, Rich Schlachter fired up his TA250 Yamaha on second call and it made this odd chirpping sound. Chambers immediately recogonized that as a leaking head gasket and grabbed breaker bar and socket and reefed down on the head bolts while Schlachter was pleading "torque wrench". But, the chirpping noise stopped and Schlachter probably won the race. Many years later at an AHRMA race at Daytona, a fellow stopped me in the paddock as I was pushing my H-D ERTT and said that he had raced that bike. He didn't mean a bike like my bike, but that actual bike before I owned it. He ended up sending me photos of him on the bike at Summit Point and there in the backround of the photo was Rich Chambers bikes identifiable by their number and Union 76 paint job, as Rich was sponsored by Dave White, owner of White's Truck Stop on I-81 in Raphine, Va. For years Rich would share his home grown reefer, which he called 'Raphine Red'. One year he was annoyed to find that some kids had ripped though his secret grow on dirt bikes and mutilated the plants. But, he found that that year's crop was the most potent ever and reasoned that 'what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger'. He went on to race a TZ750 in AMA Formula 1 and KZ1000 in Superbike and was always one of the top privateers. After he stopped racing, he started announcing at races, especially at Daytona. He was good at it because he knew all the players intimately and knew racing intimately, though he sometimes got so excited that he mixed things up. We all looked forward to be interviewed by Rich if we go on the podium. After AHRMA Daytonas ended in 2020, Rich would still come east to spend time with his good friend Bob Coy, and announce at the USCRA's Loudon event. Last April, I spent a couple of days with Rich and his wife Laurel in their Hollywood home between the AHRMA races at Willow Springs and INDE M/S Ranch and my friend John Stein arranged a visit with Phillipe De Lespinay and his fabulous collection of 50-125cc road racers. Rich was so excited about these bikes as he had a deep love of the histoy of the sport. r

Track count update 4.0

In April, I flew out to California to race at Willow Springs and the next weekend at INDE Motorsports Ranch, Willcox, Az. Whiie I've raced at Willow Springs many times, I've never been to INDE before. It's a very complex and challenging track, being 2.75 miles long with 21 turns. I found it hard work, but had a couple of close wins in the 350GP class and two 2nd places in the bump up 500 Premiere class. I was quite concerned with the wear on my rear tire after Saturday's 350GP and went into tire conservation mode for the 500 race. I tried to find a new tire or even a used take-off, but didn't. I ended up flipping the tire over on the rim to get the less worn side on the right for this clockwise course and ended up turning my fastest lap of the weekend on the last lap of my last race Sunday on a tire that I thought was worn out. INDE Motorsports Ranch make track 123 that I've ridden on.

race bike count update

Last night I realize that somehow I forgot racing my '75 Silk 700S in 1976 & 1977, a bike I still have. That makes the bike count at least 135.

The Silk in the pits at Bridgehampton in 1976. Photo by Creighton Demarest

Race bike count

Having just updated the number of race tracks on which I've ridden, I tought I'd take a stab at trying to record the number of different machines that I ridden on those track. It gets fuzzy when I've ridden more than one example of the same make and model. How different do thay have to be? I've ridden AJS 7Rs from 1951 through 1062, plus 7R motors in custom chassis. So inevitably this will be a bit of a rough count. Also, the year of the bike might be a bit appoximate. '70 Kawasaki F-5 Bighorn '71 Ossa Pioneer '72 Yamaha TD3 '60s? CZ 125 twin pipe "72 Yamaha R5C '73 Yamaha RD 350 '74 Yamaha TZ250 '76? Norton Cosworth Challenge '62 AJS 7R '75? Ducati 860 GT '71 BSA A75R '59 Matchless G-50 '77? Kawasaki KZ1000' '75 Suzuki RE5 '72 Harley Davidson XRTT 750 '74? Harley Davidson XR909 '72 Seeley G-50 '80 Suzuki GS450 '81 Harley Davidson/Rob North XR909 '68? Harley Davidson-Aermacchi ERTT '80 Yamaha TZ250G '81? Harley Davidson XR1000 '79? Suzuki GS750 '79? Suzuki GS1000 '81? Kawasaki/Moriwaki 600 '79? Ducati 950 '81 Ducati TT2 600 '70 Harley Davidson ERTT '62 Norton Manx '62 Matchless G-50 '83 Ducati TT1 750 '60 Honda CB77 450 '67?Yetman Ducati 250 '71 Rickman Zundapp 125 '71 BSA B-50 DMS '72 MV 350-4 '73 MV 500-4 "67 MV 500-3 '71 BSA B-50 Dr.John '77 Yamaha TT500 DMS '88 Suzuki Katana 600 '86 Husqvarna 40WR '88 Yamaha FZR600 '70 Greeves Griffon 380 '84 Honda XL 350R '54 AJS 7R3 '39 Velocette KTT 471cc '71 Greeves Griffon 380 QUB '80? Honda XR200r '71 BSA Rocket III 867cc '90 Britten V1000 '67 Kawasaki A1R '51 Velocette KTT 350 '67 Triumph Daytona 500 '67 Benellli 350-4 '70 Velocette Thruxton '72 Yamaha TR3 '72 MV 350-4 '73 MV 500-4 '67 Stevens Velocette 500 '72 Seeley 7R '63 BSA Goldstar Cronshaw '53 AJS 7R '69 Ossa 250 '5? Norton ES2 '6? ABSAF Goldstar '6? Ducati 250 Tatlock '6? Ducati 250 Hogben '6? Suzuki 50 Smolenski '73 Aermacchi Giannini '90? Yamaha SRX6 '66 Harley Davidson CRTT '66 Suzuki T-20 '54 AJS E95 Porcupine '77 BMW R75/5 '6? Bultaco Sherpa T '57 Vincent Comet 'Red Flash' '6? Norton Manx Maurice Candy '6? Ducati 250 Jon White '71 BSA B-25 '69? Maico RS125 '6? Yetman Honda CB77 350 '52 AJS 7R3 '71 BSA B-50 Davidson '6? Ossa Stilleto 175 '73 Aermacchi 350 Bungay '6? Ducati 350 Germain '6? BSA Goldstar 350 Roevear '6? Butaeo 175 '74 Yamaha TZ250 Waters '7? Rickman Montesa 250 '7? Honda Yoshima 492 '00 Bimota SB8 '6? Ducati 350 Sinclair '73 Honda CB175 '6? BSA Goldstar Halem '6? Parilla 250 '7? Honda CB750 '63? Harley Davidson CRTT '75? Honda CB175 '6? BSA Goldstar 500 Rosevear '51 Velocette MAC '46 Moto Guzzi Dondolino '68 Beale Benelli 350-4 '8? Yamaha RZ 350 '7? Yamaha DT1 '7? Honda 550 '7? Honda XL/CB 250 '51 Triumph 500 'Bid D' '73 Honda CB175 Bateman '0? Ducati 748R '0? Ducati 749 '73 Yamaha TR3 '77 Yamaha TZ350 D '6? Ducati 350 Drake '6? Yamaha CT1 Latimer '6? Ducati 350 McCaw '7? Yamaha DS7 '7? Triumph 500 Morris '6? Harley Davidson 350 Hollingsworth '67 Harley Davidson 250 Hollingsworth '6? BSA A50 R '8? Ducati TT1 840 '60 Surtees Spl. 7R '6? Arter Matchless G-50 '67 MV 350-3 '5? Vincent Grey Flash '5? Vincent Comet '7? MV 500-4 Kay '50 Moto Guzzi Falcone Spl. '51 AJS 7R '62? AJS 7R Kirby '6? Alan Taylor Spl. Lyster/Velo '6? McIntyre AJS So, I figure I've ridden at least 134 different bikes on race tracks, most probably more and I've race many different AJS 7R & Matchless G-50 and Honda 160/175 and probably haven't kept them all straight.

Track Count update 3.0

In 2024 I added two new tracks to my track count. 25-26 May, 2024, I raced at Nelson Ledges near Garrettsville, Ohio. It's quite remarkable that I never raced there before in the 52 years I had been racing. I was certainly well aware of it, as it was quite legendary for the 24 hour M/C race that was held there for many years. And, it was certainly no further away than many other tracks that I raced at regularly. The track became quite derilic but a few years ago, new owner repaved the track and uprated the facilities. This was the first time AHRMA raced there and I very much enjoyed it. Track 121. Then on 7-8 Sept.,2024, I raced at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pa., also know as Pittrace. I had raced at this location several times when it was known as BeaveRun, but in 2011 the track changed hands and by 2015 the track was extended. I enjoyed the old BeaveRun, but the bit that was added is fabulous and very challenging. Track 122.

Track count update 2.0

In June, 2016 I posted all the tracks that I had ridden at with the date that I had first ridden there. The total was 115. Since then I've ridden at a couple more, so here's the updated list: Bridgehampton, N.Y., '72 Loudon, N.H. Bryar, '72 Noduol (Bryar 'backwards') '72,'73? NHIS, '90 Summit Point, W. Va., '72 Pocono, Pa., '72, '73? Virginia International Raceway Full circuit, '72, '73? North circuit, '01 South circuit, '09 West Palm Beach, '73 Daytona 3.81 mi.,'73 1.6 mi. Infield, '81 1.74 mi. Infield,'85 1.76 mi. Infield, '87 3.56 mi.,'90 (95?) 2.85 mi.,'02 3.51 mi., '09 Dade City, Fl., '73 Dallas, Tx., '73 Charlotte, N.C., '73 Gainesville, Fl., '74 Road Atlanta, Ga., 2.54 mi., '74 With modified 'gravity cavity, '98 With turn #3 chicane, '03 With modified turn #12, '09 Lakeland, Fl., '75 Thompson, Ct. 'Version 3', '76 1.7 mi., '16 Ontario Motor Speedway, '79 Sears Point original, '79 Current, '13 Road America, Wl. Original, '80 Current, '08? Lime Rock Park, Ct., '80 Talladega Super Speedway, Al.,'81 Laguna Seca, Ca. Original, '82 GP., '97 Shannonville, Ont., Canada Nelson, '82 Pro, '99? Roebling Road, Ga., '83 Mid-Ohio, '83 Blackhawk Farms, Illinois, '86 Watkins Glen, N.Y., '86. Mosport, Ontario, Canada, '88 Heartland Park, Topeka, Ks.,'89 original, '89 current, 2021 Talladega Grand Prix, Al. Original, '91 Current, '13 Grattan, Mi., '91 Rockingham, N.C., '92 Las Vegas, Nv., '93 Seattle Intl. Raceway, Kent, WA., '93 Putnam Park, In., '94 Gateway Park, E. St.Louis, Il., '94 Willow Springs, Ca., "96 Atlantic M/S Park, Shubenacadie, N.S., Can., '96 Deland, Fl., '97 Stafford Springs, Ct., '97 Gunstock, Belnap, N.H., '99 Carolina M/S Park, S.C., '99 Cayuga, Ont., Canada, '01 Frontierland, Loudon, N.H., '01 North Florida M/S Park, '02 BeaveRun, Pa., '03 Barber M/S Pk., '03 Sandia, N.M., '04 No Problem Raceway, La., '04 Autodromo St. Eustache, Quebec, Can., '04 Thunderhill, Ca., '04 Gingerman, Mi. Original, '05 Current, '16 Pueblo, Co., '05 Miller M/S Pk., Ut., '06 Portland International Raceway, Or., '10 Motorsport Ranch, Tx., '11 NOLA, La., '13 The Ridge, WA., '13 NJMP, N. J. Thunderbolt, '13 Lightning, '14 Calabogie, Ont., Canada '16 Hallet, Ok., '18 You'll notice that the above is only circuits in North America, so now I'll add public road races in North America: Steamboat Springs, Co.,'84 La Carrerra, Baja, Mx., '86 Delmar, Ca., '96 Maybe Deland, Gunstock, & Frontierland should be in this category. Now we go to overseas circuits Caldwell Park, Eng. Club, '75 Full, '86 Darley Moor, Eng.,'75 Donnington Park, Eng., National, '81 GP, '86 Brands Hatch, Eng., G.P., '82 Indy, '89 Oulton Park, Eng., '81 Mallory Park, Eng. Original, '82 With 'bus stop', '89 Adelaide International Raceway, S.A., Aus., '85 Mallala M/S Park, S.A., Aus., '85 Winton, Vic., Aus., '85 Circuit Paul Ricard, Fr., '86 Autodromo Riccardo Paletti, It., '86 Snetterton, Eng., '87 Assen, Nl., Longer, '87 Shorter, '99 Misano, It., '87 Knockhill, Scotland, '87 Pukekoe, N.Z., '90 Ruapuna, N.Z., '90 Autrodromo de Linas-Montlhery, Fr., '96 Nurburgring, Ger., '96 Eastern Creek, N.S.W., Aus., '98 Artic Circle Raceway, Norway, '98 Tsukuba, Jpn., '02 Jurby, I.O.M., '13 Phillip Island, Vic., Aus., '14 Finally, the overseas public road courses: Mountain course, I.O.M., '82 Villa Real, Portugal, '84 Dundrod, N.I., '84 Brno, Czechoslovakia, '84 Oliver's Mount, Eng., '95 Total:118 I plan to race at High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, Co. this coming weekend and, assuming that happens, will make 119 race tracks I've ridden on. 2-4 June, 2023 I rode at my 120th race track: Motorsports Park Hastings in Hastings, Nebraska. Posted by Dave Roper at 8:47 PM Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest 4 comments: AnonymousMay 7, 2022 at 4:42 PM Impressive!! ReplyDelete Dave RoperMay 7, 2022 at 4:52 PM And I did indeed race at High Plains Raceway 23-24 April, 2022 making 119 different race races I've ridden on. ReplyDelete

Track Count update

In June, 2016 I posted all the tracks that I had ridden at with the date that I had first ridden there. The total was 115. Since then I've ridden at a couple more, so here's the updated list: Bridgehampton, N.Y., '72 Loudon, N.H. Bryar, '72 Noduol (Bryar 'backwards') '72,'73? NHIS, '90 Summit Point, W. Va., '72 Pocono, Pa., '72, '73? Virginia International Raceway Full circuit, '72, '73? North circuit, '01 South circuit, '09 West Palm Beach, '73 Daytona 3.81 mi.,'73 1.6 mi. Infield, '81 1.74 mi. Infield,'85 1.76 mi. Infield, '87 3.56 mi.,'90 (95?) 2.85 mi.,'02 3.51 mi., '09 Dade City, Fl., '73 Dallas, Tx., '73 Charlotte, N.C., '73 Gainesville, Fl., '74 Road Atlanta, Ga., 2.54 mi., '74 With modified 'gravity cavity, '98 With turn #3 chicane, '03 With modified turn #12, '09 Lakeland, Fl., '75 Thompson, Ct. 'Version 3', '76 1.7 mi., '16 Ontario Motor Speedway, '79 Sears Point original, '79 Current, '13 Road America, Wl. Original, '80 Current, '08? Lime Rock Park, Ct., '80 Talladega Super Speedway, Al.,'81 Laguna Seca, Ca. Original, '82 GP., '97 Shannonville, Ont., Canada Nelson, '82 Pro, '99? Roebling Road, Ga., '83 Mid-Ohio, '83 Blackhawk Farms, Illinois, '86 Watkins Glen, N.Y., '86. Mosport, Ontario, Canada, '88 Heartland Park, Topeka, Ks.,'89 original, '89 current, 2021 Talladega Grand Prix, Al. Original, '91 Current, '13 Grattan, Mi., '91 Rockingham, N.C., '92 Las Vegas, Nv., '93 Seattle Intl. Raceway, Kent, WA., '93 Putnam Park, In., '94 Gateway Park, E. St.Louis, Il., '94 Willow Springs, Ca., "96 Atlantic M/S Park, Shubenacadie, N.S., Can., '96 Deland, Fl., '97 Stafford Springs, Ct., '97 Gunstock, Belnap, N.H., '99 Carolina M/S Park, S.C., '99 Cayuga, Ont., Canada, '01 Frontierland, Loudon, N.H., '01 North Florida M/S Park, '02 BeaveRun, Pa., '03 Barber M/S Pk., '03 Sandia, N.M., '04 No Problem Raceway, La., '04 Autodromo St. Eustache, Quebec, Can., '04 Thunderhill, Ca., '04 Gingerman, Mi. Original, '05 Current, '16 Pueblo, Co., '05 Miller M/S Pk., Ut., '06 Portland International Raceway, Or., '10 Motorsport Ranch, Tx., '11 NOLA, La., '13 The Ridge, WA., '13 NJMP, N. J. Thunderbolt, '13 Lightning, '14 Calabogie, Ont., Canada '16 Hallet, Ok., '18 You'll notice that the above is only circuits in North America, so now I'll add public road races in North America: Steamboat Springs, Co.,'84 La Carrerra, Baja, Mx., '86 Delmar, Ca., '96 Maybe Deland, Gunstock, & Frontierland should be in this category. Now we go to overseas circuits Caldwell Park, Eng. Club, '75 Full, '86 Darley Moor, Eng.,'75 Donnington Park, Eng., National, '81 GP, '86 Brands Hatch, Eng., G.P., '82 Indy, '89 Oulton Park, Eng., '81 Mallory Park, Eng. Original, '82 With 'bus stop', '89 Adelaide International Raceway, S.A., Aus., '85 Mallala M/S Park, S.A., Aus., '85 Winton, Vic., Aus., '85 Circuit Paul Ricard, Fr., '86 Autodromo Riccardo Paletti, It., '86 Snetterton, Eng., '87 Assen, Nl., Longer, '87 Shorter, '99 Misano, It., '87 Knockhill, Scotland, '87 Pukekoe, N.Z., '90 Ruapuna, N.Z., '90 Autrodromo de Linas-Montlhery, Fr., '96 Nurburgring, Ger., '96 Eastern Creek, N.S.W., Aus., '98 Artic Circle Raceway, Norway, '98 Tsukuba, Jpn., '02 Jurby, I.O.M., '13 Phillip Island, Vic., Aus., '14 Finally, the overseas public road courses: Mountain course, I.O.M., '82 Villa Real, Portugal, '84 Dundrod, N.I., '84 Brno, Czechoslovakia, '84 Oliver's Mount, Eng., '95 Total:118 I plan to race at High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, Co. this coming weekend and, assuming that happens, will make 119 race tracks I've ridden on.