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/126464
o 00 (j') ..... I-< p., < King of the one-tlo-fives By Mike & Anne Adair 18 l Broc Glover, Yamaha's three time 125cc AMA National Championshzp MX Series titlist, has built a personal record in MX in recent seasons exceeded only by his teammate Bob Hannah. Glover was not born with a silver throttle in his hand. He started riding young and climbed the'ladder from family support to private sponsorshzp and finally landed backing from Team'DG. From there the ladder of success led to a Yamaha factory contract in 1977. That same year he won his ji'rst one-two-five title. A t a bit over six feet tall and sporti~g curly blonde hair, Glover would more likely be picked out of a crowd as a college student than an MX star. Conversation comes easy to Glover. He likes to talk and has some interesting ideas about what he would like to do in the nearfuture and what lies down the road for him. The following conversation took place following the third offour rounds in the Florida Winter Warmup MX Series. A t this point he was well on his way to carding both the 12.5 and 2.50cc championshzps. The following week he did just that and then returned to his home in California to prepare for the ji'rst round ofthe Supercross Series. . How did you get your start in racing? I started racing on a Kawasaki 100 Green Streak back in 1974. We had the frame modified with an extended swingarm, lay back shocks and a set of Ceriani forks. It wasn't badl I only raced a few times, then my parents went through a divorce. Things were tight for a while, which kept me off the track. Finally, I started riding some amateur events again, just making enough to keep the bike together. I got right back into it, though, and quickly advanced to the 125cc class. There was only one prQblem, my bike was a 100. I rode some local San Diego races on the 01' Kaw in the 125cc class - even took a second on it! My older brother Mark knew a man named Jack Lutz who had a new Honda Elsinore and no one to ride it. Mark introduced me and I got to ride the Elsinore that weekend. I was really excited. After I won the first race, Jack continued sponsoring me until I got my Pro license. He couldn't teach me anything about riding, but he taught me a lot about other things. He's really a great guy and a good friend. What was your most important early race? We hit the Snake River race that Evil Knievel put on. I got a fourth there and won a motorcycle. I still wish they had that race, it was greatl After that I turned Expert and my dad (Richard) remarried. His air conditioning business was going well and he wanted to help me out with my racing. Did you and your dad work together? Dad was really mechanically inclined and taught me all about working on bikes. We did our own wrenching until I started getting team support. We hit the Southern California circuit on a purely stock bike; just put rear shocks on the Honda. He told me, "You're not a fast enough rider to ride that bike as fast as it can go." We were in some fast company - Marty Smith, Tommy Croft and a lot of factory riders would show up at Saddleback and the other tracks. After six months we got the bike going really fast. One day I got the holeshot and led Smith and Croft for four laps until the chain broke. Did you stick to the .local tracks? No, that's something my dad believed in. He knew that I had to be able to ride all kinds of tracks and hauled me all over. You see it in southern California like you see it here in Florida. Some guys are unbeatable on a home track. Take them away and they fall to pieces. It helps to travel and ride these guys tracks. You learn from them and say, 'Hey, I can take that line faster. tool' Riding in southern California helped mc get a name, 'cause they notice you down there. Did you start getting support from a manufacturer then? We went to Honda, then talked to Yamaha. They were giving away a few bikes, but they thought I was too young. We ended up buying a monoshocker ourselves. It turned out to be a mistake, but we learned a lot from that bike. I had to ride my burt off on that thingl Honda was winning all the races back then, but DG noticed me on the Yammie. We got together. Bob Hannah made a deal with Suzuki, but had a two National race contract with DG left. They said, "Look, take the bikes and Rocky Williams and hit the local races." Those bikes weren't as good as my old Yamaha. Kel Carruthers had helped us with the engine on the first one and we had one of the fastest Yamahas around. That DC ride, though, was the first time I got my foot