J
ohnny Campbell and I recently hosted the Handstands at
100mph Baja/Desert Motorcycle Racing Reunion and Celebra-
tion. Its goal: To commemorate and honor the history of this
quintessentially American form of motorcycle racing. We wanted to
pay homage to the clubs, racing organizations, machines, legends
and champions, and in the process, hopefully inspire future gen
-
erations to take on the challenge. As with any get-together of old
friends and associates, the topic invariably turned to which teams
were the best, who won the most races, and how the super teams
over 50 years of Baja/desert racing stack up. I attempt to answer
that question. But first, you must embrace the unique aspect of
CNIIARCHIVES
P98
BY SCOT HARDEN
DESERT DUOS:
The Top Five Baja/Desert
Duos of All Time
(Left, right)
Malcolm Smith
and JN Roberts
teamed up to
win the Baja 500
in 1971. The duo
also won the
very first SCORE
Baja (Mexican)
1000 in 1967.
long-distance Baja/Desert mo-
torcycle racing as a "team" sport,
as well as the inherent complica-
tions of racing as a "team."
Motorcycle racers aren't team
players by nature; it's just not
in our DNA. Relying on another
rider and sharing a motorcycle
in competition is unnatural. The
exception to this is long-distance
off-road desert racing, classic
races like the Baja 500/1000,
Mint/Las Vegas 400, Best In
The Desert, SCORE, NORRA and
HDRA races. From their incep
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