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As the man behind the microphone, the voice of Raceway Park, Rich Trevelise has had the opportunity to interview many of today’s greatest racers over the years. He recently sent NJ Motocross a couple of his photos from his own private stash to share with you.
Enjoy.

Rich heads a round table discussion of some the days greats. From left to right: Bob Hannah, Rich, Tony Distefano, Mickey Kessler, Jay Irwin, Johnny O'mara

Rich Trevelise and Billy "The Bullet" Liles

Rich and Jeff Emig

Rich and Jeff Ward

Rich and "The Hurricane" Bob Hannah

Rich and Roger DeCoster

The Raceway Park Crew and KROC intermission winner John Thompson

Rich and James Stewart

Rich and Ryan Hughes

Rich and Ricky Carmichael

Rich and Ronnie Tichenor

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“My name is john Parker and I did race back in the day , actually  I race in the very first moto cross race held at raceway park and I believe it was oct 1975 a long Time ago I was 15years old I am now 49, I continued to race through 1980 finished in the 250 expert class , I remember Jay Irwin who ran the track back then we also practiced together once in a while in wall township NJ , I actually lived in bricktown NJ at that

Time . I knew the starter Charlie back then and also Freddy who helped out , I was no big time Hero , But I do remember Mickey , Bruce Dengler , Glenn Robbins , Just to name a few and the battles they had , I can tell you I have some great memories it was a great time of my life , everything back then was about racing for me I can remember a funny story when I was racing it was in 79 I won my first moto  it was muddy wet and had pushed my bike to the starting area early for the second raced  and then went back to my pit when I went back to race the final a guy racing in my class told me that your throttle might stick open with all the rain and mud his name was cooper his dad owned a Honda Dealership back then and dam if my throttle didn’t keep sticking open I still finished second but he won got the overall win it still bugs me till this day…”

John

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Dale Freitas is the man behind the popular Atlantic Grand Prix off road series. Here are some of his NJ Motocross memories.

Blackwood NJ Moto/Enduro 1972 -1982
First motorcycle park in New Jersey and was rented from Camden County CYO. Lasted for almost 10 years between 1972 through 1982 or so. Bob (Hurricane) Hannah as well as Tony D and team Suzuki as well as every other fast motocrosser from that period use to come there and practice.
Remember Glen Robins, Bruce Dengler and the rest of Raceway Parks South Jersey contingent.

Burlington / Florence NJ Dulty’s Woods 1968-1985
This was the area right under the NJ/PA Turnpike Bridge. Tony D started and ended his career here. this place was awesome with over 800 acres of woods and farmland that was abandoned in the early 1960’s, but became a motorcycle haven with over 20 different natural terrain motocross tracks. Team Suzuki, Team Yamaha and team Penton/KTM guys all practiced here.

Fort Dix NJ / New Lisbon Motocross Track. 1973-1976 and again in 1982-1984
This was a great track built on the base by the US Army on Fort Dix. it was a natural terrain course that ran through a pine forrest just like the European tracks in Germany. Thursday evenings where the race day and a lot of the fast locals from the period raced there. They use to use the old rubber band start. I still remember when the silver Honda CR250 Elsinore came out and everyone had one including local fast guy named Gibbon’s riding out of Honda of Pemberton.

Millville NJ / Fairgrounds MX Track 1972-1977
This track was in the middle of the Cumberland County Fairgrounds. Personally it was the most boring track ever, rode it maybe 4 times or so and if I had a chance between practicing in a gravel pit of riding the Fairgrounds I’d choose an ungroomed gravel pit… which is probably why it eventually died.

Bridgeport NJ / Bridgeport Raceway MX Track mid-1970s again mid 1980s don’t remember the years/
A lot of the locals rode this track… I went there a couple of times, but if I had a choice between Englishtown Raceway Park or Bridgeport I’d choose Englishtown Raceway Park in a hart beat!

New Egypt NJ / New Egypt Raceway MX Track mid-1970s again in 1991-1997
This track had a lot of potential and a lot of the fast locals rode here. The guy that ran Englishtown Raceway Park for a while built this track and had he had more time it could have been a great facility… only problem was both the neighbors and the new owner of the race track didn’t want motocross on the property and eventually it went away.

Just about Every Gravel Pit in South Jersey 1973-1990
Back in the day you could just pull up to just about any gravel pit in south and central jersey and there was a motocross track with people riding there… now they are either golf courses or on NJ Fish and Wildlife land.

There are a few others that I missed, but back in it’s day there was a lot of motocross opportunities in New Jersey, now a days all the old guys ride in the woods with tagged motorcycle and with bikes like the street legal Husqvarna TE250, 310, 450 and 510 as well as KTM 450 and 520 EXCs you can ride all that land that we all use to ride on legally.

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Here are some great NJ Motocross Memories from the Vital MX Message Board

From Max Power

“the bounty the Raceway on Mickey K. I forget how many races he won.But Raceway put a monetary bounty on him for the first guy to beat him in a moto.1980 I think.Kenny Adams on a Maico was the man to do it.”

From mxnick

“Riding some of the endless sand tracks in 91/92/93/94 (and later) off exit 63 in the wintertime with Dengler and Rostien and a host of other really fast local dudes..”

From MX72

“Racing Millville Fairgrounds in1974 and having Jimmy Ellis showup with his dad. He gave all the experts a head start and still smoked everyone.Him and his dad were some of the nicest people you could meet.”

From mxtweeker

“Beating Larry Ward in 92 at NJ state championship race. Running 3rd to Emig and Ryno in 97 Kroc 1st 250 moto..”

From bogdan912

“My first race on a cr80 in 2000, didn’t have a number so they gave me K9. Got smoked but had fun. Later that year I endo’d over the plunge when it was bigger and broke my collarbone – first broken bone.”

From Dirtysmile56

“I had my first race at Raceway Park mothers day 1986 I was 13 yrs old and scared shitless, there were three 40 man gates in the 125 novice class, I went to my first moto and accidentally lined up in the 125 am moto , I actually finished somewhere in the 20th place range and when I came off the track my Dad waved me right back to the starting line to go in my correct moto, I was completely exhausted but went for it, I think I got around 18th place out of a 40 man full gate. The next day and a few days after I couldn’t even move I was soo sore. That was 22 years ago and I’m as hooked now as I was then. I also had some of my best riding memories riding in the sand pits around Millville and Port Elizabeth in the late 80’s and early 90’s in the wintertime when PA was frozen solid w /Baba Booey and our crew , we would go down every weekend in the winters and find/make sand tracks all over the pine barrens. I broke my wrist twice in the barrens, once at Port and once at the pit off of route 9 just south of Manahawkin. Do any of you guys remember the riding area there? That place had some great training grounds, some of the biggest narliest sand whoops I have ever ridden and some giant jumps , especially the one in Manahwkin, there was this giant double through the trees and I pondered over it for weeks and I finally nutted up and went for it and crashed so freakin hard, I completely dislocated my wrist ,my hand was turned sideways and then had my buddies drive me back to Norristown Pa to get to the hospital. Sorry for rambling, but yes I have many great NJ moto memories.”

More from mxnick

“That one pit in Manahawkin was by far one of the best places and popular places to ride in the Pine Barron’s. It was so whooped out and just seemed to go on and on with endless whoops and berms.

I also remember one time i pulled into the place and there were Buffalo walking around and the place was fenced off. Man, that was a strange scene.”

More to come soon. Enjoy

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“March of 2000. My first motocross race ever, and it was at Raceway Park, NJ. Not being able to sleep the night before, rolling up to the entrance gate in my truck with the bike in tow, I had butterflies in my stomach the size of crows. I signed up for 125 novice and collegeboy on my trusty 1999 YZ125. I watched the pros like Barry Carsten, Joel Dengler, and Brian Carrol with his American Flag jersey flying through the air as they hucked the original “Psycho Double”. I remember saying to myself, damn those dudes are siKK! I remember Scott Lukaitis on a CR250 #9(yellow plastic?)

I lined up for my first moto ever, the gate dropped, and I pinned it into the first corner, and SMASH, I crashed into a 5 guy pile up, and broke my thumb, and tore ligaments in my right hand. I tried to race, but it hurt too bad. I just watched the rest of the day, hurting, but proud that I finally got myself out there and raced at Raceway Park. It was a dream of mine since my father raced at the drag strip across the way, and I always rode my little Z50 over as close as I could get, to watch the moto.

I’m looking forward to 2009 being a great year of racing at Raceway Park. I took the past 2 seasons off and did not race, except one time at Atco. I plan on building many more NJ Motocross Memories.”

Danny Campora Raceway Park 2006

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This is your chance to share your NJ motocross memories with the world.

Send us your story and we will post it in the NEW category for our readers memories.

Email us at scott@njmotocross.com