Dan's Hopetown G.P. Stuff

I had the good fortune to attend the Dirt Diggers' Hopetown GP twice, as a spectator in '69, and as a rider in '71. This event was held on a movie ranch owned by Bob Hope in Simi Valley. This was the classic Southern California motorcycle race..very cool.

The famous Gene Cannady takes the checkers in the 125 expert/amateur race in '69.

This is one of my best racing photos. That's two of my hero's, John Rice #6 wearing his six-days helmet on the Sachs, and Jack Morgan #3 on the Hodaka starting the 100cc Amateur/expert class.

The 250cc Novices await the start of their race in '69.

Nothing terrified a desert rider more than water..and this mudhole at Hopetown was a tradition that scared us desert guys.

Another view of the infamous Hopetown mudhole.

Here's the start of the 126/200 all classes event at the '69 Hopetown--won by Steve Mudd on a Yamaha.