Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125757
ABOUT BOB GROSSI o ROBERT WILLIAM GROSSI is recognized by "",ny as being America's top motocrosser. Most persons base their opinion upon the "",jor events he has won and his young age, 21. He began motorcycle competition near his S4nta Cruz, Calif., home and took up scrambles, very big in Northern California. Repeated defeats "",de Bob even more competitive and when he discovered motocross he knew he had found his thing. He never e"perienced race-preventing injuries until this year, although he broke his jaw in 1968. In late 1969, Bob began "",king himself known outside his local area as his style developed. The foUowing year ... Ol N ~ C ~ w Z W ...J U >- U he made excellent strides, winning more than just a few of the West Coast's biggest annual events and he wound up going to Europe for the Motocross des Nations. Rain, bike troubles, etc., "",de Bob ~ first taste of the European scene a bit tainted. But· when he returned, he hew he had to go bac/c. He picked up the Inter·Am series against the Europeans in the FaU of 1970, riding that pri"",rily because Edison Dye, the promoter for the events, was also his sponsor at Med-Intemational in La Mesa, Calif. It was an unusual series with often-times a pair of events going on the same day hundreds of miles apart; thus it became difficult to determine Top American for the entire series. But, when the finale lided itself up with most of the Europeans who had been riding the Trans-AMA series at S4ddleback in early December, Bob Grossi took First American. When 1971 dawned, he had a bright year ahead, or so he planned. He remained home on the West Coast, a place he seldom treks from, and began preparing for the European return for the summer Inter-AMA Series and then, later in the fall, his voyage to Europe for the American Motocross Team. Tuning up, he won the Dirt Diggers North M.C. 's Annual Hangtown MX for the second year in a row. Several weeks later, he campaigned in the AMXT's two-event series of benefit motocrosses at Indwn Dunes and Carnegie Cycle Park., doing e"tremely well in the latter as it rained heavily. Less than a month later, he pocketed 11800 at Evel Knievel's big bash in Idaho. In mid-June, the Bishop M.C. holds Mammoth Mountain its annual Motocross and Bob, nearing the best CYCLE NEWS The Cycle News office will be closed from DECEMBER 21 th ru JAN U A R Y 4 One of Orange County's Largest Stock of KAWASAKI Motorcycle Insurance Financing Available Master Charge - Ban kamericard 543-9688 • • • leThe direction-s are easy," Patty said When he saw the camera, Bob erased his smile and took on a serious attitude. Tuner John Preston makes a few adjustments before Bob took it out again and crashed. • • 'J~ ,,~ ~ BlILTACO, INC. BAY AREA 1352 Centinala, W. Los Angeles ~"Q_'".Y·"'''"".'"'Y''''' (213) 826-1856 .. Most Powerful . .. MAleC .. .. COOPER MOTORS West of Mississippi MOTORCYCLES & PARTS By John Bethea uJeez, Bob, you're harder to undress than the baby!" Bob kept his moaning inside and just slowly eased his bad arm out of the red and white flannel shirt. Patty was seated on the floor directly in front of him carefully removing the long-sleeved shirt with precision. That could be expected, she had already received several months experience because of his last crash. After I drove him home from the hospital, Bob carefully plopped himself onto the courch in the living room of his newly purchased home in Brookdale, Calif. a few miles north of San ta Cruz. "I'm gonna milk this thing," he softly said with a smile. Bob never, it seems, talks very loud. "Watch...Hey! Patty! You're gonna have to feed me, my arm hurts." Patty didn't agree and while the pair struggled now on the floor, I couldn't help but remember what happened th e last few days... ij;J S;¢' 'i iiiii KAWASAKI ONLY 16295 51.nel.rel SA ~~tt4(1) -. - DRACO'S MOTORCYCLES "Bob's been lucky physical conditioning of his career, showed up. Suddenly, it was allover. Bob's younger brother, Bill, crashed during practice and snapped his left arm. Bob decided to take over the ride in the 125 class and during the first moto, after a poor start, was working his way up to the leaders when another rider went down and Bob unavoidably smashed into him. A compound fracture splintered his left arm and his hand was "",ngted, apparently from dipping into the spolces; some 60 stitches were required to close up the wounds. Less than a month later, Bill was again back racing but Bob was forced to spend his next three months spectating. During this time, Patty, his wife, gave birth ~o Robert Preston Grossi, and his young son helped pass the time. The Inter-AMA series came and wentj Barry Higgins traveled alone over to Europe to team with Bryan Kenney for the AMXT; Bob stayed close to home, running daily to stay in shape, and patiently waited. The Europeans returned on September 19 for the First Annual U.S. Grand Pri" at Carlsbad, Calif., and Bob watched with disappointment. The ne"t day, the cast was removed and he could bend his left arm for the first time in more than three months. It took several weehs of hard training before he was back in competitive shape and when he returned, he started winning again. He won another and another. Hopetown arrived and with it his major test. He succeeded, beating Werner Schutz and picking up 1/000, "",king 1971 his most profitable season. During the final mo to, however, he slid out and badly twisted his knee. When he returned to his pits, he hobbled off his bike and nearly fea on his face_ Water developed so he had it drained, hoping it wouldn't be too bad because he planned to pick up the Trans-AMA circuit, now heading for Puyallup, Wash. He rode it but the leg held him back and he finished 16th overall in some hot company. The knee began to heal up nicely, his arm was nearty 100-percent; Camegie Cycle Park was Event No. 11 and Bob was e"cited with anticipation. Friday prior, he went out to test his Husky and did a double endo, breaking his wrist and. badly bruising his shoulder. For Bob Grossi, both a profitable and painful 1971 season came to a pre"",ture end... 110 E. Santa Anit. Ave. Bwbank, Ca. 91 502 .. '" .. CD :: DO . !!: tI'll p---------------------~ I cycle Charms I I I I I I 2.95 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I LET EYERYOIIE KNOW YOU'REA RIDER, WEAR A CYCLE CHARM BRACELET. Made from miniature cycle chain and chrome plated. 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