Motorcycling
Pioneer Passes
P
aul Hunt, one of the great pioneers
of American motocross and off-
road racing, passed away at the age
of 86.
Hunt cut his off-road and motocross
racing teeth in Southern California and
competed in his first ISDT in 1964 in
East Germany. He also competed in
the ISDT in 1970 when it was held in
Spain, the race that was featured in the
movie On Any Sunday.
One of Hunt's biggest accomplish
-
ments was finishing second to Tor-
sten Hallman at the 1966 Hopetown
(Corriganville) Motocross, which was
regarded as the first International Mo
-
tocross race held in the U.S.
During his racing days, Hunt com-
peted in several biggies, including the
Mexican 1000, Greenhorn 500-mile
enduro and the Catalina Grand Prix.
Hunt was a member of the Scram
-
blers MC and later the Dirt Diggers
South MC. In the late 1960s, Hunt
helped organize and was the first
president of the California Motosports
Club (CMC). He was also an accom
-
plished mechanic.
Hunt was a long-time member of
the Trailblazers and was inducted into
the Trailblazers Hall of Fame.
Hunt recently lived in Paradise,
California, and was a victim of the
devastating Paradise wildfire in 2018
that destroyed the small community in
Northern California. Hunt's home and
workshop were destroyed in the fire
along with his collection of more than
20 vintage off-road motorcycles.
"His motorcycle collection could not
be replaced," wrote Trailblazers Presi
-
dent Don Emde, "but I was proud of
our Trailblazers board members who
WIND
IN THE
P56
Paul Hunt was one of
the first Americans to
compete abroad well
before motorcycle racing
was popular in the U.S.
He passed away at the
age of 86.
supported the gesture to replace his
Hall of Fame medal that we present-
ed to him at the 2019 banquet. He
didn't have much else at that point,
and I knew it meant a lot to him. We
were proud to have him as one of
our members and past honorees and
always will be."
CN
