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/126340
RIVERS IDE FRWY. KATELLA AVE . 55 ORANGEWOOD AVE. >~ e:: u, l- CHAPMAN A VE. e:: ~ ~ w Z 20 mtnu' l't from LON G BEACH 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. START BREAKER COCACOLACATAPULT BOOMERAN G HONDA HIMALAYAS BONNEVI LLE THE MOUNTA IN KWEST KRUNCHERS TOYOTA TOWER GOODYEAR GRI NDER Mike Goodwin . . The whirlwind force ·t hat makes things happen . . lu i J ) 1 hen the history books begin recording the leaping phenomenon called Supercross , the first chapter will be about the founder and concept creator, Mike Goodwin. An ex-rock con.. husi cert promoter, ent USl~tlC racer, hunter and motorcyclist, Good win started the whole she-bang back in 1972 when he staged the SiJperbowl of Motocross. It wasn't the race that drew attention as much as the location of the race _ the floor of the Los Angeles Coliseum, where goal posts were replaced by dirt berms, jumps, pits and hills over which 40 riders battled before 30,000 spectators. In one evening the sport of motocross gained a close cousin in Supercross. . Of the idea Goodw in recalls " I wanted to provide good entertainn'.ent for motorcycle racing fans, in the : comfort of a non-dusty stadium where paying customers could sit in . comfortable seats, eat warm hot dogs , drink cold beer and not have to hassle portable toilets and standing up all day to watch bike racing." The id ea would ha ve probably just remained an idea to anyone other than the fast-moving Goodwin. His typical work day lasts 14 hours , in which he constantly comes up with new ideas , angles , and promotions that keep his sta ff trying desperately to keep up with his laser-quick mind. Alm ost on th e verge ' of hypera ct ivity , Goodw in 's t;fforts ha ve resulted in prestigiou s cospo nsors for stadium events such as the Coca -Cola Bottlers , Goodyear , Mr. PiBB. Olympia Beer, T oyota T ru cks dS USA ancott . Even -though Goodwin's Supercross idea jelled to tremendous proportions, it. still doesn't. completely overshadow hIS other ac!tlevements. He current~y holds hunting rec?~ds d ue to hIS Alaskan bear expeditions, four world records as a spear fisherman and is an accomplished professional underwater pho~ographer. . HIS motorcycle raang tale~ts are also prov~n. After a 1O->:ear hla~us to pursue . hIS rock promotm~ busm~, ~w,m retume~ to race I.n.the DIrt DIgger s Grand Pnx, a prestlgIous rwoday ~vent that rec eives. nat~onal attention. That day ~wm fIms!ted second - ~nly allowmg. two-tl~e Grand National Champion DIck "Bugsy" Mann to slip past before the checkered flag . After a horrendous 132 mph road race crash , Goodwin controlled, orchestrated and ran his sixth annual Superbowl of Motocross from a control booth. Stretched out, stomach down on a portable stretcher with his leg plastered, Goodwin still pulled off a smooth-running and high -attended Supercross event. Goodwin was once described by a journalist as, "A gu y who goes twice as fast as a normal person, gets three times the work done in a da y, and if pressured, can do it all in hal f the time you'd ever th ink possible." • 23