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/1543956
CNIIARCHIVES P128 "The company wanted us to ride the 250 because they weren't selling very well at the time. But they were heavy and slow, and we couldn't get them to rev, which is how Danny liked to ride. We lightened the pistons and the clutch, replaced the swingarm, and installed hand - made MX Fox forks." At Saddleback Park in 1979, Chandler and his Maico were enjoying a spectacular day in the sun, leading the exotic Japanese machinery piloted by Bob Han - nah, Marty Tripes, Jim Weinert and Kent Howerton. But it was a short-lived glory, as the mighty Maico expired, leaving Chandler a sideline spectator. "We might've won that race, but the piston locked up," DaPra - to said. "We tore it down, put it back together, and didn't have any more problems with it. To this day, I don't know what hap - pened." DaPrato said the contract promised works bikes and parts. They never showed up. Without them, he felt the bike needed to be modified to be competitive, which is where he locked horns with team manager Narayana. In early 1980, DaPrato made the difficult decision to leave Team Maico. "I told Danny, 'I can't do this any longer.' And he was scared about losing his only ride, so he stayed. But they fired him a few months later anyway." That would temporarily end the professional part of their relationship. DaPrato returned to the motorcycle business. Chandler went on to great suc - cess with Team Honda, winning Nationals along with his famous sweep of the Motocross and Tro - phy des Nations races in 1982. His success brought him back full circle, back to DaPrato, and the two men made plans to team up once again, this time in the FIM Grand Prix circuit in 1985. "We made a plan," DaPrato said. "I was going to join him in Europe as his Kawasaki mechan - ic. He just had a few more races to ride to honor his existing deal, and that was when he had his crash in Paris." Chandler would live the next 25 years in a wheelchair. Through that time, he and DaPra - to remained close friends. Two days before he died, "Ma- goo" paid a visit to his mentor and friend. "It was May 2, 2010. He had a van that he could drive, and he came over to see me. I said, 'Come out, and we can bring you into the house.' He was like, 'No, Billy. I don't even want to get out of my van.' And then he said to me, 'I'm just so tired. I'm so f-ing tired.' And two days later, he was gone." Many moto-journalists and fans eulogize Danny "Magoo" Chandler as a wild man, a rider whose throttle hand twisted too far beyond his skill level. They say he was "crazy" and "a crasher." DaPrato, who knew him better than anyone, believes that this trailer park kid, who grew up to beat the world's best and then lived 25 years in a wheel - chair, knew only one speed. Wide open. All day long. "He was like a quarter horse. He gave it everything he had for as long as he could." CN Subscribe to more than 60 years of Cycle News Archives issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives DaPrato (right) tuned for Chandler when he rode Maicos in 1979-80 and the two remained lifelong friends.