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/1540547
I n Norse mythology, Val- halla is a celestial place re- served for only the mighti- est of Vikings. Here, the god Odin welcomes those who he deems worthy of sharing the afterlife with him, and together they spend eternity in battle, an ideal heaven for any Viking worth his grog. These fabled warriors' voices can be heard in Led Zeppe - lin's "The Immigrant Song" in the lyrics, "The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands, to fight the horde, sing and cry, Valhalla, I am coming." On this side of Valhalla, there are few things in this world that are better for off-road warriors than motocross in the autumn season. Cooler temps, changing colors and the realiza - tion that, at least for folks in most parts of the country, their dirt bikes will soon be silenced by the hammer of old man winter all help bring about a rejuvenated appre - ciation for moto. For a few years, America was blessed to have the sport's very best ride in the Trans-AMA series, the fall series that stretched out over nearly three months at tracks across the country. In 1975, the Trans-AMA kicked off in Flowery Branch, Georgia, at the Road At - lanta MX track. It would wind its way across the USA, from Geor- gia to New York to California, with Midwest whistle stops along the way. The Trans-AMA was truly an American series. But perhaps in name only, because, at the time, no American had ever actually been crowned Trans-AMA champion. In fact, only one Yankee, Jim Weinert, had ever even won a series' race, back in 1973. Weinert had been waiting nearly two years for another American to join him in his lonely club. When the first moto gate dropped at Road Atlanta on September 28, 1975, it was Brad Lackey on his Husqvar- na leading the way, with Gary Semics, Marty Smith, Gaylon Mosier and Weinert follow- ing. A bit farther back in the pack was Bultaco's Jim Pomeroy. Quickly slicing his way through the field, he was soon on Lackey's rear fender. At that time in MX history, the title of Motocross World Cham- pion meant what it said, so two racers who wanted to be the best left these American shores and headed to Europe, where the Grands Prix wars were be- ing waged. Brad Lackey and Jim Pomeroy left behind easy pickings in America and took their lumps, eating roost from Roger DeCoster, Gerrit Wolsink, Heikki Mikkola, Joel Robert and other European stars, hoping to someday become World champions themselves. Now back in their homeland, it was clear that the two men had learned much from their masters, and they were now serving up earthy roosts of their own to both DeCoster and Wolsink. Lackey CNIIARCHIVES P132 BY KENT TAYLOR Pomeroy was the second American rider to win the overall in a Trans-AMA MX race in 1975. The first was Jimmy Weinert, a couple of years earlier. Bob Hannah was the first American Trans-AMA MX Champion in 1978. Europeans dominated the early years of the Trans-AMA series, but in 1975 at the Road Atlanta round, two Americans stole the show. THE 1975 TRANS-AMA SERIES