NAME,
NEW PLACES
HANGTOWN, 1982 HANGTOWN, 1982
VOLUME ISSUE JUNE , P147
who were then caught, tried,
hastily convicted, and hanged by
their necks until they were dead.
These scofflaws gave their last
full measure to help the town
score its nickname, so it didn't
seem quite right when, after sev
-
eral years, the race was moved to
Sacramento, and the Hangtown
name went with it. It was like set
-
ting up a concert in a concrete
parking lot and calling it "Wood-
stock" or putting a "Chevy Blazer"
badge on a station wagon.
But even in a new location,
the club continued to put on
a good race, and in 1982 they
faced a hearty challenge from
the undefeated champion by the
name of Mother Nature. "Rain,"
wrote CN in their April 7, 1982,
issue, "turned the normally dry,
slick track into a gooey, slick
track. Toward the end of the day,
though, the racing line dried a bit
yet retained enough grease-like
qualities to send the unwary into
the thick glop."
By 1982, professional moto
-
cross in this country had already
cycled through a couple of eras
of MX legends. Gary Jones, the
first 250cc champ, was long
retired, and the second champ,
Tony DiStefano, had also hung
up his race leathers. Jim Weinert,
Pierre Karsmakers, Marty Tripes
and other '70s stars were out of
the sport. Newcomers like Ricky
Johnson, Scott Burnworth and
Donnie Hansen were now lining
up alongside a few '70s veterans,
