Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Hangin' out with By Jim Bowman Before the 1981 AMA Trans-USA Series, Danny "Magoo" Chandler had a reputation for being a good, but reckless, Pro motocrosser. The name Magoo was synonymous with horrendous crashes mixed wi th awesome displays of . showmanshIp. Magoo was aImost unbeatable locally, even 6 when he crashed, but his performance was just too erratic to gain him respect on the National scene. Then came the 1981 Trans-USA Series. Magoo accepted an LOP/ Honda support ride for the series and cleaned up his act enough to win eight out of the 10 1110tos, sweeping the entire series with five overall wins. Heads turned in wonder at the "new Magoo" and Honda gave him a production CRI25 for the 1982 CMC Golden State Series to see if Magoo really was serious. Chandler shined again, this time taking runner-up behind Johnny O'Mara, who had the advantage of riding a factory RC125. Confident after the Golden State Series that Magoo was serious, Honda gave him the works ride that Chandler needed to prove his worth. Chandler didn't take well to Supercross, but finis'hed sixth in the 500cc National MX standings and suddenly rose to ,popularity in the public eye by win- ning the USGP at Carlsbad, all four motos o~ the Trophee and Motoc~oss des NatIons events and the televised ABC Superbikers' race at Carisbad. His latest wins were at an Italian Supercross on Dec. 11-12 where he took second in the 250cc Pro class and first 125cc Pro for first overall. We flew into Sacramento, CA, and drove east for about an hour to get to Magoo's home in Foresthill. Foresthill lies on the border of the El Dorado and Tahoe National forests and the "business district" is a onestreet, 20-second affair when driving through. The houses in the area are set on lots measured in acres and often the only indication of residence is a dirt road, which might just be an old Ipgging road or a Iireroad. Visiting a flashy rising motocross starin ,this kicked-back, country setting started out as an interesting contrast and turned out to be an exciting day. We jumped out of the rent-a-car at Magoo's new home in the woods and were immediately shocked by a sense of awkwardness. We were familiar with Danny in the racing environment, but the green trees, pin,e-needle carpet and fresh, crisp air were a striking contrast to the bright red, yellow and green racing affairs we associated with him. We were still bouncing at the city pace and ended up almost tip-toeing to the door in our new surroundings. Danny was wearing hiking boots, bluejeansanda Honda T-shirt when we arrived and he introduced us to his girlfriend Tracy Davy and her brother Martin, who both live with Chandler in the house he'd bought only six weeks before our visit. We received the grand tour next, which started with the swimming pool and jacuzzi in the back of his two-acre lot, and passed the snowmobiles (his, hers and guest's), the four Hondas, the Toyota four-wheel drive truck and ended with a tour of his threebedroom, two-bath home. Away from the race track and the pressures of competition, it was real easy to get to know Danny. He likes people, his toys and getting together with other people and playing with . the toys. He has a bicycle that steers with both wheels and he likes to go out with his friends and go fourwheelin', gold mining, snowmobiling, fishing and sticking (a single snow ski for powder). Chandler's boyish, almost unending smile is caused by his abounding energy and his creative ability to use that energy to get the most out of life. When he isn't physically active with . one of his sports hobbies, his mind is most likely reding ~if~ pl~J.l~ for Jti~ next project.. I-le likes to kid and tease his friends and get them to come along with him and have a good time. He likes the company and can take a joke as well as give one. He's definitely one for hangin' ouL After the tour, the same Magoo who had won $25,000 for winning theSuperbikers'race, went sneaking into Tracy's purse for a little money and smiled as he was sternly told he could have only two dollars. We jumped into the Toyota and took off to hang out. Our first excursion was one of the many off-road trips we would make that day in Danny's truck. Danny's dog Endo was riding in the back and would do an amazing job of surviving all the day's activities. After finding no one home at a friend's house, we went into town to get a couple of cans of soda and a can of snuff for Danny. After leaving the s~ore, Magoo spotted a few friends across the street and we drove over to say hi. We jumped out in the cool air with jackets on and Danny talked to his buddies about his new snowmobiles and the general happenings around the mountain forest area. After taking his fair share of kidding from these friends, who were all perhaps 10-15 years older than him, we hopped into the truck at the same time as one of the "older" gentleman. Then, right there on the main street, he and Magoo matched front bumpers and hit the gas. The awesome power of the diesel fourwheel drive truck was too much for the Toyota and we were pushed back about 30 feet before the trucks parted and we hit the road again. We headed up the mountain towards Danny's father's place and only stopped once to take another fourwheel excursion: We found Danny Sr. changing tires on his daughter's VW and Danny Jr. immediately banished him from the project and took over. Danny Sr. has a bad back and Magoo didn't want it to get worse. We finished the project and went inside for coffee and a chance to look through some old photo albums. Danny Sr. and Jr. both laughed and reminisced as they thum~d their way through the photo albums. Magoo started riding at five and was so short when he began racing at age nine that Danny Sr. finally took to setting Magoo on milk crates at the starting line because Magoo would have so much fun roosting his father that he'd forget about the race. We found Danny sober and serious only a couple of time's during our visit. One of the times was when.he proudly pointed out an autographed picture of his idol, Brad Lackey. Danny's face was easy to read at this point and only communicated respect and admiration. He told us how he once sat next to Lackey at a race and began peeling the mud off Lackey's boot and pressing it into little squares before tossing it aside. He was doing it without really think about it. Danny and his father kept on flipping through the album pages and eventually changed the subject to four-wheelin'. Danny Sr. boasted how he could lose Danny while fourwheelin' and Magoo countered with his own defense. We then warmed ourselves by the wood-burning stove (the only heating system) and hit the .road again. While we were driving, Magoo told us how his parents had never bought a house because they had spent all their money on Danny's racing. Magoo was a little more serious now as he talked about all the growing up he had to do and some of the pains involved. "It really hurts him (Danny Sr.) when he doesn't think rm trying; it (Contin~ed to page 8)

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