Cycle News

VOL. 50 ISSUE 27 JULY 9, 2013 Howerton, Hannah, Wardy, Hansen, Bayle, Johnson, Stanton, Kiedrowski, LaRocco, Henry, Lamson, Carmichael, Pastrana, Stewart and Dungey just to name a few. And then there were the riders who broke through with impressive wins in the sand to make a name for themselves. Guys like Keith Bowen, George Holland, Danny Smith, Craig Anderson, Tyla Rattray, Matthew Goerke and Brett Metcalfe. And then the local legends who made fans proud with their performances at the Nationals – riders like Jo Jo Keller, Mike Guerra, Jim Meenan, Mark Robillard, Spencer Morrison, John Finkeldey, Joe Waddington, Keith S. Johnson, Tony Lorusso, Scott Carter, Pat Barton and Robby Marshall. But none were bigger than the Kings of Southwick - John Dowd and Doug Henry. Thousands of fans flocked to the sandbox just to see their two heroes race – local boys who made it big on the National level. When Dowd and Henry won the Southwick 250 (now 450) National back to back in 1997 and 1998 it marked the zenith of local pride. And when Dowd got on the podium in 2009 at the age of 43… well that was a day that will live in the hearts of Southwick fans for as long as they are around. Appropriately Dowd decided to retire from racing after scoring points in this year's race at the age of 47. The track has such a rich history it even produced a legendary racing photographer in Paul Buckley, the only photographer I know of to have a corner (actually two) named after him. Ever heard of Buckley Berm or Buckley Corner? It's in honor of the photographer who shot every National at the track, not to mention countless local races there. The very first National Buckley shot was the first Southwick National in 1976. He's been to every one since. Buckley shared his thoughts on what made Southwick such a special race. "I guess it's the combination of the terrain and elevation changes and the sandy soil, which was unique to Southwick compared to all the other National tracks on the circuit. Most of those are pretty hard packed. No place has the dirt of Southwick P105 and maybe because it's crammed into a tighter area you get to see more of the racing action and the riders are closer to the fans as opposed to some of the bigger tracks. "And because the track is so unique the local guys have had kind of a big advantage over the years. Guys like Jo Jo Keller winning a 500 National moto back in '82 or guys like Pat Barton who holeshot a 125 National moto and led it up until three laps to go. I think he crashed, but still finished in the top five. And of course Henry and Dowd who raced their first Nationals at Southwick." For riders and photographers Southwick could present challenges. "It was a track in the woods," Buckley explains. "And there were some sections where it would get pretty dark in there if it was a dark overcast day. And I can remember riders commenting about that. They would go from bright sunshine to then all of a sudden into black shadows and it would take you a couple of seconds to adjust." One Southwick race stands out in Buckley's mind. "I'd say the most memorable one would probably be the 1981 Southwick National. That was Howerton and Hannah fresh off the Massacre at Saddleback and coming into Southwick practically as mortal enemies. Those two got out in front; leading both motos and it was just bar to bar. It was that close and you could just feel the tension in the air. The crowd was really into it. Back then there was no Internet so people had probably just read about the battle at Saddleback and here was Howerton and Hannah going at it right before their eyes. The crowd was into it, I'd say Howerton and Hannah were really into it, and it was just an exciting race." So it's goodbye to one of the iconic races of American motocross. Long may it live in the hearts and minds of motocross fans and the racers who competed there. CN Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives

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