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Ep. #10 Broken Hearts and Busted Chains

May 28, 2020
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Ryan Hughes, 1995

It’s rare when the loser gets the magazine cover, steals the spotlight and becomes a legend. Ryan Hughes did all three on a hot summer day when he lost the 125cc AMA Pro Motocross championship to Steve Lamson. But he didn’t win over the crowd because he finished second overall. It was because he kept going at the exact moment most would find no reason to.

“Broken Hearts and Busted Chains” is the story of September 3, 1995 and why Ryan Hughes decided to push. It’s the story about why Wyatt Seals wanted to borrow a chain. It’s about why Chris Hultner decided to break from Steve Lamson’s championship and shoot what became one of the most iconic photographs in motocross history.

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https://www.wewentfast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Broken_Hearts_WWF_3.mp3

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Ep. #9 The Curious Life of Terry Pratt

Brett Smith

Former racer turned bookworm and story teller. Will work for tacos.

wewentfast

Motocross & Supercross History
The paddock of an @promotocross race circa 1978/9. The paddock of an @promotocross race circa 1978/9. Looks a little different, doesn’t it?  ⁣ ⁣ Just lean that factory OW Yamaha against the paneling, no big deal.  ⁣ ⁣ Photos: David Lack  ⁣ ⁣ #vintagemotocross @yzingerz @vintage_yz @motocrossboxvans #yamahamx #thisismoto #Yamaha #wewentfast
Adam Cianciarulo is the first 450 rookie to win hi Adam Cianciarulo is the first 450 rookie to win his first AND second @promotocross overalls in back to back races since Ken Roczen did it in 2014 (Hangtown/Thunder Valley: pics 2/3).  ⁣ ⁣ Only one 450 rookie (including the old 250 class) has ever gone 3 in a row after winning his first. Who was it and what year?  ⁣ ⁣ @adamcianciarulo @kenroczen94 #thisismoto #backtoback #adamcianciarulo #promotocross #wewentfast
Here’s some context (and an answer) from the pos Here’s some context (and an answer) from the post on Sept. 18 (the Brad Lackey hat in the trash).  ⁣ ⁣ The hat pic was taken on August 10, 1980. Brad Lackey didn’t win the 500cc World MX title until 1982 on a Suzuki. But he came so, so close on a Kawasaki in 1980.  ⁣ ⁣ Lackey came into the 12th and final round of the 1980 500cc World Motocross Championship trailing André Malherbe by just one point in the championship (215/214). So of course you’re going to print championship hats, right?  ⁣ ⁣ The race was at Ettelbruck in Luxembourg. Malherbe was #3 and Lackey #4. Lackey actually had the points lead after 10 rounds but when Malherbe swept both motos at round 11, it left Lackey with the slightest of disadvantages.  ⁣ ⁣ Being a Belgian, Malherbe definitely had the crowd behind him and he used that to his advantage. According to reports in both Cycle News and Motocross Action, Malherbe assisted Lackey off the track at the end of the start straight in moto 1. Lackey came back to 5th.  ⁣ ⁣ In moto 2, Lackey and Malherbe clashed several times. Lackey knew he had to finish a couple of spots ahead of his rival. Malherbe even waved to the FIM jury to tattle on Lackey for the rough riding. He also taunted Lackey, which was captured in photos by Jack Burnicle (images 2/3).  ⁣ ⁣ Late in the second moto, Lackey hit a tree (one account said post) and finished 10th.  ⁣ ⁣ Malherbe rode 3-3 scores and the title. Another hero of the day was Roger DeCoster who went 1-1 in the final MXGP of his career.  ⁣ ⁣ Lackey after the race: “I don’t know whether to come back next year. It really depends on what offers come in. If I can earn more money back home racing cars, drinking beer and enjoying myself, then I will. I’m not stupid!” ⁣ ⁣ Big hat tip to @tonyblazier for scanning this photo and fixing the page break.  ⁣ ⁣ Ah, and the winner of the contest from Sept. 18 is @blue_eyed_bastard ⁣ ⁣ #bradlackey #badbradlackey #80smoto #vintagemotocross #vintagemoto #kawasaki #wewentfast
Contest closed. WINNER: @overgrip96 Wow! You’r Contest closed. WINNER: @overgrip96 Wow! You’re all so rad. Thank you. Now I’m going to reward one of you.  ⁣ ⁣ Double tap that photo and tag three friends who enjoy a good moto story as much as you do. I’ll randomly draw one username give away a We Went Fast t-shirt AND a card to save $50 off your next MotoSport.com purchase.⁣ ⁣ I’ll leave this open until Monday at noon (eastern) Sept. 21. ⁣ ⁣ When I started this account back in 2014, it was just a place to catalog my childhood racing photos. But then I learned that my story is also your story. I’m looking forward to bringing you all even more stories going forward. Thanks again. ⁣ ⁣ -Brett⁣ ⁣ #wewentfast
CLOSED: Congrats to @blu_eyed_bastard on the win! CLOSED: Congrats to @blu_eyed_bastard on the win! Contest! Who can tell me what’s wrong with this photo? Double tap that pic and throw your answer in the comments (right or wrong, doesn’t matter).  ⁣ ⁣ I’ll randomly choose a winner and send you one of my vintage sticker packs.  ⁣ ⁣ Meanwhile, a Brad Lackey trucker hat rots away in a Luxembourg landfill... ⁣ ⁣ #bradlackey #timemachine #80smoto #vintagemotocross #wewentfast
Gotta be the buttery style of Brad Lackey: August Gotta be the buttery style of Brad Lackey: August 29, 1976, Motocross West, New Orleans, LA ⁣ ⁣ This was the last AMA Pro Motocross race Lackey ever competed in. That’s hard to believe, right? Bad Brad always reserved time for the Trans-AMA races in the fall but he was busy trying to win the MXGP series during the spring and summer.  ⁣ ⁣ In 1976, Lackey raced for Husqvarna and competed in half a dozen AMA Pro events in the United States. At Motocross West, he finished 4th in the first 500cc moto and 10th overall. His teammate Kent Howerton won.  ⁣ ⁣ 📸 David Lack ⁣ ⁣ #bradlackey #badbradlackey #vintagemotocross #louisianamotocross #thisismoto #promotocross #husqvarna #wewentfast
Danny "LaPorta" must be the long lost cousin of Da Danny "LaPorta" must be the long lost cousin of Danny LaPorte. Or… the person who printed Danny’s jersey is from Barcelona.  ⁣ ⁣ This photo made me laugh because I can relate. You ever have a gear company or screen printer mess up your name on the back of a jersey or butt patch? Please share if you have.  ⁣ ⁣ I have. And damn, I wish I could find a photo of it. In 1991 I picked up sponsorship from O’Neal. It was an exciting day when the boxes of gear arrived and I unpacked them. I tore open the packages to see my name on the back of a jersey for the first time ever.  ⁣ ⁣ EMITH ⁣ 809 ⁣ ⁣ Except my last name is SMITH! Lots of laughs that season. To this day, when someone asks me my name over the phone, I spell out my last name, which my wife thinks is funny and odd.  ⁣ ⁣ I raced with that gear for the entire season. The second photo is me wearing the gear. Can’t see the jersey lettering but you can admire my incredible off-the-back style that propelled me to D-14 glory.  ⁣ ⁣ Why did I mention Barcelona? Because La Porte is French for “The door” whereas La Porta is Catalan for “The door”. Catalan is a language spoken in the Barcelona region of Spain.  ⁣ ⁣ #michiganmoto #90smoto #kawasaki #KX80 #wewentfast
When anyone buys a shirt from the shop I ask for a When anyone buys a shirt from the shop I ask for a photo of the tee in action. We Went Fast fans are the best.  ⁣ ⁣ Thank you for taking the brand on your vacations, ride days, date nights (I’m looking at you, Jake), through the airport, to the NASCAR Races (check out legend Bryan Smith with some guy named Erik Jones) and more. I appreciate you all so much.  ⁣ ⁣ Want to join the team? wewentfast.com/shop or direct link in bio.  ⁣ ⁣ Share the past, relive the fast.  ⁣ ⁣ #wewentfast
The bikes were supposed to ship that day, Septembe The bikes were supposed to ship that day, September 11, 2001.  ⁣ ⁣ Mike Brown’s KX125 was in the crate at Pro Circuit. It would have been Brown’s first trip to the Motocross of Nations. He never got another chance. ⁣ ⁣ Ricky Carmichael would have raced the Honda CR250R for the very first time at the race, which was scheduled to be held on Sept. 29-30 in Namur, Belgium.  ⁣ ⁣ Mitch Payton worked the phones to try to figure out what was happening. The airlines were shut down. Nothing was being shipped. Ash in New York City still floated to the ground. Team USA decided not to attend the 2001 MXoN.  ⁣ ⁣ That evening the three mechanics, Chad Watts (Carmichael); Alley Semar (Kevin Windham); Steve Henderson (Brown) gathered at Pro Circuit and had a beer. They took a photo together. ⁣ ⁣ Where were you Sept. 11, 2001? I was in a hotel room in the Temecula area. We were having meetings and preparing for the RM Cup at Glen Helen. Coverage would have been on ESPN2. ⁣ ⁣ Photo of RC Bike: @cudby ⁣ Photo of Brown Bike: @ryneswanberg ⁣ ⁣ #MXoN #2000smoto #rickycarmichael #mikebrown #kevinwindham #motcross #wewentfast
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Ep. #10 Broken Hearts and Busted Chains - We Went Fast