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Moates Remembered by Eric Johnson, posted on RacerXill.com Racerhead by Davey Coombs Marty Moates, 1956-2006 posted on MxiMag.com Marty Moates: Memories from Rick Johnson Greatest
Day Ever: Bill Center Click here for a screensaver (The first two
letters are from Marty's Daughters, Nicole and Jessica). Happiness As I sit her
in disbelief and in tears and for anyone that new Marty as I did is
crying also of such a loss. Our travels as kids, a van filled with bikes
and gear, nothing but the world of adventures that laid ahead for us
to learn and laugh about for years to come, to tell our young ones and
friends of the adventures we experienced. Seeing your eyes and smile
light up when you bought your first bike from me is something that will
never leave my mind. M & M racing the against the cars down Mission
George Rd, going to jail in Arizona for speeding down the freeway nude
and no drivers license ( we were too young to have one, we were going
to the Winter Nationals Florida) and the countess others that I will
keep to myself. Life is sometimes too Freaking short, you my friend
were cheated short. I
saw Marty race an Ossa in St. Petetersburg Florida in the late 70's.
I walked the track after the race and it was so rough I actually questioned
if I would ever be any good. I didn't know him that well at the time,
but he had that Rex Staten tough as nails ora. Since tracks are smoother
and the bikes are better and the races are shorter now, you can imagine
the impact Marty and company had on me back then. But you know...I knew
Marty AFTER his career and he always went out of his way to see how
I was doing and treated my whole family with respect. He also got me
a job at No Fear! He did as much or more after his MX career and that's
what I will remember. However, I'll never forget talking to somebody
on the phone in 1980 going, No not the support class, who won
the 500 class? He shocked everyone that day except the ones who
knew him best. I'm glad I finally got to know him. He was
one of my favorite people in racing and always fun to be around. Marty
cared about everyone and was always in line to help. My parents were
motorcycle dealers in the area in the 1970s and Marty told me at one
of Yamaha's events that he bought his first bike, a Bultaco, from my
parents shop out by San Diego State College. He said there wasn't a
truck at the shop at the time that could deliver the bike, so Marty
just bought it and pushed it home rather than wait for the truck to
get there. I feel
very bad loosing a good friend and ex motocross-colleague. I attended Marty’s
memorial service yesterday and it was incredible. The outpouring of
respect, love and memories is difficult to put into words. It was so
good to see so many lifelong friends but I wish the circumstances that
brought us together were different. They say that there’s a reason
for these things to happen and its all part of a plan. I’m not
sure about that but Marty’s untimely death definitely reminded
his friends how special we all are to each other. Rick Johnson said
it best in his tribute to Marty. “We are all more than friends,
we are brothers” As I sat there and fought back the tears I realized
how lucky we all are to be part of this family and how much we will
miss our dear friend Marty. Motorcycling
has lost a true hero. I'm really glad
to have known him. He WAS moto. I was
amazed when he went out of his way to help Wonder Warthog Racing become
what it's become. Marty Moates was single-handedly responsible for creating
the first WWR program to help the privateers by reimbursing entry fees.
It was a 100% his idea and he knew it would strike the right cord and
support the privateers (which he was the King of) in a meaningful and
substantive way. He always was there to give much appreciated advice
when we needed him. I was
once blessed by Marty's kind heart...out of nowhere. Marty found out
that I was in a certain jam with a friend of his and a commitment I
needed to back out of. Marty got my email address and asked that I call
him (I was completely star-struck) to see if he could help. During the
call Marty and I got to talk about a few of our friends that we had
in common....it was so nice of him to take the time to talk to likes
of me. He was gracious and more than helpful with my situation...and
basically took care of everything for me. At that time in my life, he
became even a bigger hero with his true acts of kindness for his MX
family. Godspeed
Marty and I hope where ever you are there's a groomed Carlsbad track
for you to ride. He was
one of the greatest friends, bosses, and just the best all around good
guy that would help anyone at anytime. He had a huge heart and true
compassion and understanding for everyone he came in contact with. and
this doesnt even scratch the surface of how great a person he was. we
love you man, godspeed Marty I was
at Washougal one time walking thru the pits and I saw Marty Moates beside
a painfully stock van with cardboard boxes inside.He was outside working
on an OSSA phantom {think this was right after the GPs} I looked the
van over, knowing how must have drove from the San Deigo area, and asked
him how do you drive this thing without a stereo? he looked up at me
,with that its all good grin and told me wide open man!
I stll have a LOP sticker that sez it all LOP / Marty Moates 1980 united
states grand prix champions.I will always remember Marty that day watching
wide world of sports him winning crashing, coming from behind, his jofa
flying off to one side fist clenched in the air.Rest in peace Marty
Moates. With tears
in my eyes I remember some tough times, some wild times and some great
times together. We had planned this coming new year holiday together,
you seemed so full of life when we talked. You were was as tough as
they come, but also a true gentleman with a heart of gold. I will forever
remember your huge smile and the great times we had together with a
swell of happiness in my heart. My thoughts will always be with you
Marty. One day we will ride again together, god's speed. Rest in peace
my true friend. I still
can not believe he's gone... Marty
Moates touched and inspired so many of us during his life through his
accomplishments as a racer, a businessman and through his charity. Marty’s
charity didn’t stop and start for special occasions or annual
trips to a children’s hospital, it occurred every day. Marty reached
out to someone in need no matter how large or small on a daily basis
in a way that is very rare in this day of fast paced living that leaves
us all with less and less time to take care of friends and loved ones.
Marty has always been as tough as nails and virtually indestructible
and at the same time he was one of the most sensitive and caring people
I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. I rode
with Marty in the early to mid '70's. One rainy and muddy Carlsbad day,
my dad cleaned his Jofa for him and warmed it up before Marty's next
moto. Marty was truly grateful for what was such a mundane favor. Over
the years, I did not stay close to him, but whenever I saw him, he still
said hi and shook my hand. All class, that is what I say. I'm did
not know Marty very well. We met only a few times when he was in Europe.
I met Marty in France. He and Gary Semics joined Brad Lackey there as
the only Americans competing in the 1982 500cc Motocross World Championship
Series. Marty was just as you said. He made me feel as if we were old
friends. I'm attaching an action shot from that race in France, along
with the only portrait I have of him. I'd be honored if you would include
me as a part of his memorial. When I
was younger I never new about MX, I never new that there was racing
of any kind. Then one day on ABC's wide world of sports, I saw the U.S.
round of the world 500 gp's and my life would never be the same. America
was the doormat of motocross, but I didn't know it. That was the first
I new or saw of dirt bikes. Marty Moates, on the L.O.P. Yamaha won against
all odds. It was the coolest thing I ever saw. He was my hero, I wanted
to be like him. He was John Wayne to me. I would always tell my family
one day I'll be on tv and race Carlsbad. Last year
Marty revealed to me that he was once a Monark rider! I was stunned
as I had never heard that before. I met
Marty at Anaheim 1 two years ago. I was in the Diamond club with Rick
Doughty, Greg Primm and their wives when Marty sat down with us. It
is one of the few times in my life that I was taken by someone in my
presence. Marty tried to order a beer and the waitress wouldn’t
sell it since he didn’t have his ID. Everyone in that stadium
knew who he was, except the staff. I stepped over to the bar and purchased
Marty that beer for one of my childhood heroes. I have met many famous
people/riders being friends with Rick Doughty, but meeting Marty Moates
was a highlight of my life. Subsequent races when I saw Marty he was
always good for a handshake and a smile. The world will be a little
less bright without him. Godspeed Marty. The website
that you put together is really cool. I only met Marty once, and that
was at the Indy show a few years back, in the FMF booth. FMF had a big
screen, and was showing the Carlsbad race that was shown on Wide World
of Sports. I told him that I was really happy for him. I grew up with
M/C in the seventies when Carlsbad and the TRAMS-AM series were both
BIG happening. I never
new Marty but as a young lad I was lucky enough to attend Farliegh Castle
in the UK for a 500cc GP in the late seventies / early eighties. I have
known Marty for quite a few years. Although Marty and I were not real,
close, we always I met
Marty Moates at the 2005 Moto GP at Laguna Seca raceway. I had just
walked out of the Ducati Island area and was seeking the restrooms.
There were thousands of people walking every different direction as
I made my way toward the facilities. When I got there I saw this scruffy
looking guy wearing a Yamaha shirt and cap, sitting on the ledge of
the landscaping by the bathrooms. He was sitting by himself and appeared
to be taking everything in. He looked familiar to me and I noticed he
was watching me walk up the path toward him. I glanced at his name tag
embroidered on his shirt. It read Marty Moates. I stopped dead in my
tracks and I said his name out loud to myself in disbelief. I know
Marty is up there doing laps on the BEST track in the world, I met
Marty about 4 years ago when he came to my shop to check out some garage
stuff after we did Surwall’s garage. What a great down to earth
guy, He was amazed that I knew who he was and what he had done and I
was Stoked to have MARTY MOATES in my shop, he was one of my childhood
heroes. I am sure he will be deeply missed. Please pass my heart filled
condolences on to his family and let them know are prayers are with
them. The
memory I have of Marty Moates still stands out as the fondest memory
I have of all my years of attending races. Back in the late seventies
or early eighties (I’m bad with dates) at a Trans USA race at
Unadilla I had the opportunity to have a full access press pass. This
pass allowed me to roam anywhere I wanted trackside. Being 16 years
old at the time I thought I was in heaven as I was able to get extremely
close to the racers. Up to this point I had always been a Marty Moates
fan because he previously rode the GP circuit on Ossa’s. I also
happened to work part time after school for the importer of Ossa’s
Yankee Motors. Even though Marty at that time was racing Yamaha’s,
I was still a big fan of his. That race at Unadilla I will never forget
as long as I live. During the start of 2nd moto Marty was running near
the back of the pack. I do not know if he had fell or just got a bad
start but he began to charge thru the pack passing riders every lap.
To this day I clearly remember standing in the tight left corner after
the off camber by the old tree (Anyone who has been to Unadilla knows
where I’m talking about) and as Marty came to almost a complete
stop to pivot left I was there screaming and cheering at the top of
my lungs. This went on for the entire race and by motos end Marty had
worked his way into the top ten (I think he finish 7th or 8th). I was
taken back by how hard he charged and never gave up. As I walked back
to the pits, I was along the track where the riders re-enter the pits
and Marty pulled up on his Yamaha and took his Carrerra goggles off
and handed them to me and told me thanks. I
met Marty many years ago through a friend of mine,they invited me on
a trip to baja that marty had set up,ive been hooked on baja ever since!On
the way down as we were heading through the stream outside of veronica
marty saw my windows were open and barreled his truck passed us as Brett
screamed roll up the windows,we were completely soaked,and it was a
classic moment and a great memory! Marty was one of the most impressibve
men i have ever met in my life,and this world is worse off without him,wherever
he is may his days be filled with fresh loamy dirt to roost!!!Marty
i can say i loved you and i miss you! When
I was a kid back in the day, I read all the MX magazines cover to cover
until the staples pulled out of the pages and they would fall to the
floor. (Waay before I even had a motorcycles to call my own) I
was fortunate enough to know and ride with Marty. He was the nicest
and most down to earth guy you would ever meet. Damn it Marty....you
will be missed! God Speed Marty. I
was one of the lucky ones to know and get to ride with Marty. He went
out of his way for me and even rode like a mad man for a photoshoot
and even made the cover of SuperMoto Racer. I think this might I, too, knew
Marty Moates many years ago. He was a good friend of my husband Gaylon
Mosier. My memory of him was of a kind man and he was always playful
with our children. I was so sad to hear about his untimely passing.
I would have loved to come to California to share the love at his Memorial
Service. God Speed Marty. Our prayers are with him and his dear family.
May you find peace at this time of sorrow and love and joy in the memories
of Marty that you will always carry with you. Please do not be
unhappy just because I'm out of sight. It's good to have
you back again; you were missed while you were gone. God gave me a list
of things, that he wished for me to do. When you think of
my life on earth, and all those loving years I wish that I could
tell you all that God has planned. There are many rocky
roads ahead of you and many hills to climb; If you can help
somebody who's in sorrow and pain, So if you meet somebody
who is sad and feeling low, And when it's time
for you to go.... from that body to be free, Marty always
had a way of making me feel special. The only one to call every Monday
morning after a race to let me know he was watching my lap times on
the computer. Marty didn't seem to know he was a hero, but sure went
out of his way to make others feel like one. I was lucky
enough to have met Marty at a local Carlsbad race in the late 1990's,
I think it was a CMXR event. Marty was smoking everyone and after I
introduced myself I complimented and teased him a little about how slow
he looked because he made it look effortless. In Nov 2000 I tore up
my knee at a Glen Helen practice. Six months later I ran into Marty
at the Mother's Day National to ask for his help. My knee just wasn't
healing but I had read a story by Travis Pastrana about his friend with
an arm problem that sounded similar to my knee - lots of scar tissue,
limited range of motion, and muscle atrophy. Travis said that his friend
finally found a witchdoctor in Arizona that helped him after trying
everything else. I asked Marty to do me a favor and forward an e-mail
to Travis for me so I could find out how to get in touch with the witchdoctor.
Marty was more than happy to help a fellow rider. I was saddened and
shocked by the news and although I didn't know him well, he was a friend
who touched my life. He will be missed and never forgotton. How does one
explain the imprint that is left on their heart by a person they've
met and spent time with only a few times? I'm finding it hard to do.
I met Marty in 2000 while working at Chaparral doing PR. No Fear was
a sponsor for both the SX and Road Race team so I was allowed the good
fortune to meet and work with him on several occasions. Each memory
of time spent with and around him is vivid and wonderful because of
his warmth, kindness, humor and his 1000 watt smile that lit up every
thing around him. Anaheim 1, the Jimmy Button Charity Auction, the Inaugural
Chaparral/Glen Helen Charity Golf Tournament, the trip to No Fear HQ
to pick up gear for the road race crew before Daytona...each time more
kindness and warmth he shared of himself. Hello my name
is Nick Daniels. I am a professional dirttracker and supermoto racer.
Me and my team (Fatboy Racing) Matt Pursley Warren Wilburn and Terry
Meyer were all fortunate to have gotten to know Marty Moates. We were
doing the angural supermoto national series and we were riding Yamaha's.
Keith McCarthy invited us to do a test at perris raceway prior to the
erwindale round. The test was factory Yamaha guy and then us nobodies
but it was cool to be there. Then at the end of day one ( it was a two
day test) Marty came and sit down on our trailer ramp and started talking
to us like he had know us for years. We acted like it was no big deal
and in a few short minutes we started quizzing him on all he had done
this and that how it felt ect. I have to say that guy is so cool just
after those two days of testing we all felt like we left with a new
friend and a some what close one, and we had. It seemed like after that
he kind of adopted us, always bringing us stuff from no fear and checking
on us at all the races. He maid us feel like we were the fast racers
and he wanted to be part of what we were doing, even if it was just
a small part. After hearing the news of what happened me and my friends
had all called each other within just a few minutes of us all hearing
what had happened. For some of us nobodies in the sport you just see
these great racers and you never get to know them. I feel and speaking
for my team mates too we were all felt very privileged to know Marty
and for him taking the time to treat some Midwest guys like family.
Thank you Marty it was a pleasure to get to know you buddy we will miss
u.
I'd met Marty
Moates three times in my life. I had been to
Carlsbad Raceway for several years prior to 1980 when Marty Moates finally
beat the Europeans, and the excitement was so intense !! That day I
will never forget because it was the beginning of a whole new era of
time in Motocross history. Thanks for getting
Marty's Website up. I have never met Marty other then watching him race
at Saddleback and then his exploits at the USGP. I mentioned him in
passing to someone I knew for a fact that she knew zero about motocross.
And she remember his name, what race it was and that he was the first
American racer to ever win the USGP. So needless to say Marty was huge
and impacted the life's of people beyond motocross. Thanks for doing
this for everyone. I was able
to talk to and enjoy the conversation of marty twice at the weekend
of champions at the moto gp in laguna seca in 2005 and 2006. he was
a gentleman a friend to the other racers there and could make
I grew
up in the motocross scene late 79 to 90s. Marty was an inspereation
to me at that time. Especially after he won at carlsbad. My parents
gave me a choice back then. The prom or new riding gear. Well I chose
the gear! White n red lop yamaha gear and bell helmet just like Marty!
I wore it proudly for lots of years in the 125cc intermediate class
in texas. I have emailed Marty since those days only to get nice responses.
I will always think of those times n smile. Godspeed my hero see ya
soon!
I was 17 years
old and a senior in High School and had been racing since I was 13 years
old and was a member of the Bee’s Motorcycle Club out of Utah.
My brother was currently a pro on the circuit for about four to five
years so we grew up with bikes between our legs. It was 1980 and I jumped
into my brothers van with a bunch of other dirt crazy friends off to
Carlsbad Raceway. Little did we know we were about to see history in
the making. I can’t even put into words being a motocross fan
and a proud American to personally be present and watch blue collar
privateer Marty Moates win the United States Grand Prix of Motocross.
Even being a former U.S. Marine it is one of the proudest moments of
being an American that I can remember. The crazy part is years later
I start an Apparel Software Company and I’m off to No Fear®
to do a demonstration of our product. No Fear has now been a client
of ours for about ten years and during the computer installation I found
out Marty Moates worked at No Fear®. I asked if I could meet Marty
and it is one of the greatest memories I have. He was just the coolest
guy you would ever meet. I talked to Marty many times during our installation
and he was simply a class act. To Marty’s family and his extended
family at No Fear® please accept my condolences on your tremendous
loss. Marty and I
were both sponsored by a little shop in Van Nuys, Mid Valley CZ. He
showed me how to get serious about being a pro mxer. When I was chasing
girls he was prepping his bike. When he was working out I wanted to
party. And then we got to the track. He was fast on that 74 radial CZ! I'm sad to say
I never met Marty but he touched me in a way I can't even describe but
maybe this story comes close. I was one of the thousands of fans waving
our little American flags and screaming until we lost our voices that
history making day at Carlsbad on 22 Jun 1980. To see an American and
a privateer no less straight up beat the Europeans for the first time
at the 500 USGP was the single biggest MX day for me and I have been
around the sport since the late 60's. Marty Moates was the ultimate
privateer that everybody liked and cheered for. After I heard the sad
news of his death I had to go see what was left of the Carlsbad circuit.
So this past Saturday my wife and I drove down to Carlsbad from Huntington
Beach where I live now for past couple years to see for our self. To
my surprise the start straight and a few corners are still there although
pretty much grown up. As I stood there looking down from above the start
straight at what was once the most famous MX track in the country I
thought about all the great riders that have ridden on that holy ground
since the first USGP in 1972. In 1980 I remember coming in through the
gates and being given a little American flag and wonder what am I going
to do with this (later I would find out). During practice I remember
telling my brother-in-law that I thought Moates looked really fast.
Once the first moto started and the riders got to where we were standing,
I realized why we were given the little American flags. Marty had the
holeshot. I remember hitting my brother-in-law and screaming I
told you so. It was on. I didn't stop screaming, hanging over
the fence and waving that little flag for the rest of that moto (45
minutes in those days). When the second moto started and Marty was at
the front again, I couldn't believe it. I wondered if he could hold
on and actually win this thing. So there I am with what little bit of
voice I have left, I'm screaming and waving that American flag as hard
as I can. MX like most other sports have defining moments. That was
the defining moment for a lot of Americans. They new that we really
could beat those Euros. And if you look at the record books from that
day forward you will see that. I don't know if Marty Moates really knew
what his win meant to American MX that day, but the fans sure do that
were there on that terribly hot summer day in Carlsbad California. If
you live in SOCAL, please take the time to go pay homage to that great
track before it is completely gone. And while your there, say little
prayer for Marty and his family. I met
Marty in 1991 when Mark and Brian Simo and Marty came to see me about
starting No Fear. I was/am an attorney in Carlsbad. Through the years
I had the pleasure to know Marty as a client, friend, and later a business
partner in a No Fear related venture. Marty was one of the most genuine
people I've met on this planet. He was a celebrity, but he would never
let you know it. There was no big time in Marty. He just
wanted to be one of the guys. Marty was honest, loyal, caring, and warm.
As I saw it, Mark and Brian created No Fear. Marty, on the other hand,
lived No Fear. He was No Fear personified. He embodied everything the
brand was about, whether at work, on his motorcycle, busting counterfeitters
who we ripping off No Fear's trademarks, or just being Marty
around town. He was truly fearless. Thinking
of Marty, reading about him and what others are writing, and looking
at all the great photos, I keep welling up with a beautiful sadness
and have been trying to gather my thoughts, though of course the grieving
will be a long and never ending proccess. My memories
of Marty, as a teenager were of him riding a RM250 framed RM500 motored
trick as sled back when it was all the 500s, he was fast and smooth
and entertaining. He grased the Aussie mags for quite some time and
as I had an RM125z I were fan. I still have the DIRTBIKE mag with him
on the LOP Yamaha somewhere and have the photo engraved in the memory
bank. To his family may god go with you and godspeed Marty. I first
met Marty Moates at Supermoto event in Del Mar back in 2002 - He was
one of the neatest people I've ever met in this industry. He came across
as a warm, caring person and was very complimentary about my business
(2WF) and truly acted like he was a fan of mine. I remember researching
him on the 'net later and was astounded by his accomplishments and joked
to him about my ignorance of his career at later meetings. In June
2005, I made up a card from a picture I took of Marty in front of the
grandstands at the 1980 USGP on his YZ465, the purpose of the card was
to wish him best wishes on the 25th anniversary of his win. A couple
of days later, Marty called the shop to thank us for thinking of him,
and invited me over to his office at FMF apparel, (which is a stones
throw from the location of the Carlsbad Freeway), to just talk and share
thoughts of vintage motocross. I brought my Carlsbad scrapbook for him
to take home and look at, along with a gift to him of a 1980 USGP promotional
poster. In turn in his generous way, he gave us some FMF T-shirts, a
dvd of the USGP, and a signed copy of the magazine with him on the cover
on his YZ450F super-moto bike. He was as cool of a guy as you could
ever meet. I was there
when he won at Carlsbad. Back in the day My mother & his spent hours
tracking results for 38 divisions of 125cc novices at Saddleback Park
while I took photos for a local publication. I raced against
Marty several times during my brief racing career and actually passed
him once, thinking “I just passed Marty Moates WOW”! I couldn’t
believe it.. As I read some of the kind words and found memories many had with Marty, I felt it is only fitting that I and the rest of the FMF International family share, not so much our memories of Marty, but rather how we felt about Marty and what he meant to us. First of all, most people knew Marty, or knew of him, when he was the first American to win the USGP back in 1980, as a privateer no less, at the young age of 23 making him a hero to many. Then, there are those who had the privilege of meeting and getting to know Marty over the years through business and through the MX Industry. Personally, though, I didn't know Marty for any of those things. I was only 2 yrs old when he won the USGP. The first time I met Marty was when I started working at No Fear in "Building 4" back in Dec. of 96'. I was 18 and fresh out of High School and knew nothing about the MX Industry, so when Robert introduced him to me and later told me who he was, I in my ignorance, was more impressed that he was the "VP" of NF and the kind of truck he drove, rather than what he had accomplished on the track. The truth is, unless you were in the industry or you were actually there at the race or watched it on TV, you'd never know how important that victory was back in 1980 and what it did for all other young American riders to follow, because he never let it go to his head (ok, most of the time he didn't), he was always so modest about it. Still, looking back, I can honestly say Marty was one of the humblest and one of the most down to earth person I've know. Every year Marty would go to Yamaha's weekend of champions and meet all kinds of people w/ their families, and Marty would take the time to talk to them, not as an "all-time great", but as a person. He would give kids his business cards and tell them to e-mail him w/ their address' so he could send them some free stuff. I know b/c he would have me ship out a bunch of packages of free swag for all the kids that e-mailed him after meeting him that weekend, and the great thing is he enjoyed doing it. But that's the kind of person Marty was. As the years went by, and I began to progress within the company, I got to know Marty on a more professional level, which is strange to say, because at times he was anything but. On Oct./Nov. 2003 NF acquired the license to produce FMF Racing's soft goods and Marty was key in making that happen. Since then, the apparel division of FMF has done very well. Last February, Marty asked me if I wanted to come w/ him to a new building and help him make the FMF apparel division a continued success. At first I was unsure and felt that I would be taking a risk if I left the confines of NF, but Marty always had a way of talking you into things,..like wearing a dress in public, which by the way, wasn't one of my proudest moments. You learned quickly never to make a bet w/ this man b/c he was very competitive and rarely lost a bet and he would always make you pay up. Anyways, after all was said and done, he convinced me that it would be a great opportunity and a fun ride as well to make the move. March 15 2005 came around and FMF International was "born". Since then, I've had the great honor of working w/ Marty on a daily basis. Even though there's been many stressful, long 12 hour days, filled with frustration and exhaustion,….I don't regret 1 minute of it. Even though Marty asked a lot of you at times, and sometimes what seemed to be the impossible, he would motivate you to give it your all. And when we would pull it off somehow, like working till midnight, the first thing he would tell you the next day is how proud he is of you and how grateful he is for the effort we all had put in. That's why I enjoyed working for this man and why I showed up everyday to work. More often than not, we found ourselves exceeding everybody's expectations, not because we did it for the company, but more so because we wanted to make Marty proud of us, and we take some comfort in knowing he was. I would work harder, longer hours, walk through fire or just flat out bust my ass….if it would bring him back, and I know for a fact that everyone here feels the same way. How many of us is as fortunate to have a boss or a supervisor that makes you feel that way? Not many. It is only now that we realize how lucky we really were to have him as our boss, as our friend. We were all devastated and shocked, to say the least, to hear that he had taken his own life. Nobody saw it coming, and left us all w/ many questions as to why he did it. The fact of the matter is, it doesn't really matter anymore. What's more important is that we remember him for who he was and what he stood for and all the wonderful memories we had over the years we knew him. Still, we are all deeply saddened to know that he will never walk into this building again. I'm saddened to know I won't hear Howard Stern as I walk in every morning, or to know he won't be at the next Chaparral sale or any other sales we did. It's all the little things that we saw or heard Marty do on a daily basis that we'll miss . However, I take comfort in knowing that last week, after a rough month, I was able to express how much I enjoyed working w/ him these last couple of years. And we all take comfort in knowing that in that same amount of time we all had the true privilege of knowing Marty as person. For all of those who knew him, I think it's fair to say, in all his glory and accomplishments and the things he has done on the track, both past and present, pales in comparison to how he has touched our lives and the lives of many others. He will go down as one of the greats to ever ride a dirt bike, but more importantly, he will be remembered as one of the greatest people you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting. One last thing,
from all of us at FMF Int'l:
I did not personally
know Marty but I saw him one time at a race many years ago. He took
the time to give an amateur MXer some riding advice and some very kind
words about not giving up on the sport. He was one of my hero's in sport
and in life and I will never forget the day he won the USGP at Carlsbad.
I taped it from Wide World of Sports coverage and I think I watched
it over a thousand times growing up! He was a great inspiration to me.He
lived brilliantly and achieved success that shall for ever make his
life a part of history. I first met
Marty in 2001 at the Yamaha Race of Champions with my cousins Jim and
Ron Pomeroy. We spent the weekend at the Glen Helen raceway were the
races were being held and Marty told the story of him winning the USGP
at Calsbad on a privateer LOP Yamaha. He said his father was sick in
the hospital and when he went to see him on Monday morning he heard
his father telling the nurses how proud he was because his son was on
the television after he won the USGP. He said that was the happiest
day of his life when his father told him of how proud he was of him.
Sadly his father passed away just three days after Marty had become
the first American to win the USGP at Carlsbad. It was a very touching
story. A few days later I was with my cousin Jim and we went to No Fear
and Marty gave us a tour of the very successful business he had helped
start. Later that night we went to Marty’s house and had dinner
with him and his wife. I lost my hero and my cousin Jim last summer
as a result of a auto accident and was very sad to hear about Marty.
I will never forget Marty Moates and how nice of a person he was and
his great smile and the welcome he gave me at his house. He and Jim
will be very missed. Thank God I
went to the race that day and saw Marty "smoke em all." What
a great day. I will always be thankful for the proud feelings he gave
each of us to take home that day. I wish peace and strength to his closest
friends, and most sincerely his family. As a huge fan
Not only of motocross and motorcycle racing , I am deeply saddened by
the death of Marty, I did not know him personally but did get to meet
him, and he seemed like a great guy, anyone who's even remotely famous
has to get at least a little tired of people at all the wrong times
'bothering" them, but he always had a smile! I had unknowingly
met Marty some years ago at a race track near San Diego. After the races
were over I was asking this fast rider all about his bike, and how he
set it up. He was very nice and spent quite a bit of time telling me
all about it. It was sometime later that I was reading Dirt Bike magazine
and realized who I was talking to: It was the great Marty Moates. The
time that he spent talking to a “wet behind the ears” 15
year old kid made me feel like someone special. You never know the humanity
you can spread by being nice to a complete stranger. Especially to someone
that looks up to you. A couple of years later my family had moved to
Northern California where I bought and raced my OSSA Phantom. What a
great day it was when Marty Moates started to ride and develop the Phantom.
The great things that Marty had accomplished on the Phantom gave us
much to be proud about. He was, and still is, a great OSSA hero. I had
heard stories of Marty in the early days hauling his bikes in trunks
of cars and backs of station wagons. I also heard about him buying a
$50.00 car to get him and his bike from one national to another. Those
of us that pushed five miles to a local track to ride could really admire
that. I am sure that the hunger and the drive that he displayed inspired
many others than just me. But that’s what great American leaders
do, they selflessly inspire others to follow and reach a little higher.
In my world, Marty Moates was a great American hero. My name is Ted
Brotsch. I own a small motorcycle shop in Yucaipa, California. Today
I got a phone call from my FMF rep. Same old business I guess. I decided
to log on to the FMF website to check out some products when I saw that
Marty had passed away. After calling back to find out what had happened,
I was floored.He was just one of those who inspired me to do what I
do today. In 1979, I was a 14 year old kid, who had recently moved to
the little town of Yucaipa. The high school actually had a motocross
team! I lived above the town, in the San Bernardino National Forest.
Growing up here, in a virtual hot bed of motorcycles, everyone knew
who Bob Hannah, Roger DeCoster, Malcolm Smith, Brad Lackey, Tony D,
and Marty Moates were. Plus many more. These guys were heroes here.
The AMA in Yucaipa is bigger than the NFL and Major League Baseball
combined! I was lucky enough, later in life to work for Malcolm Smith
for 6 years. A man who I greatly admire to this day as much as I did
in 1971 as a young boy at the Orange Drive-In theater with my Dad. Working
for Malcolm, I had managed to meet most of these guys at one time or
another, including Marty. I saw Marty
win the "Hang Ten US Grand Prix" that year. We met a couple
years later and I showed him the picture I shot during the race. He
was humble, not arrogant. We then worked together in the car industry
for awhile prior to his NF days. We would ride a couple times a week.
The cool part was acquiring his old practice bike, then being able to
try and keep up with him. He was real good for your ego, letting you
stay just close enough to think you were doing great. Then you see that
smile through the full face helmet, within seconds you could see no
trace that he had even been on the same track just moments before. Far
off in the distance was a wisp of dust going over the 2nd ridge. He
was meant to be on 2 wheels. (More often only 1). Marty was all
about having fun, no matter what it was that you were doing, he loved
to take it right to the edge! I was reminded of this incident yesterday
by an email from a kid that played with us in a golf tournament. It
was so typical Marty that I had to share it. David Bailey's
reference to Marty at St. Petersburg was a vivid memory for me. Marty
was spectacular to watch on our whooped-out sand tracks. He didn't float
over the whoops like a ballet dancer, he attacked them like a Samaria
warrior. He was a fierce competitor on the track, and when the racing
was over, he was all ways ready to go have fun. Every year when I would
see him at the Anaheim Supercross, we would swap stories about the old
days at the Florida races, and he loved to tell those around us about
the time we were racing in our vans in Daytona and he went over an elevated
railroad crossing to beat me and crashed his van in doing it. I towed
him home and he stayed with me while we fixed his van. Marty had a heart
of gold and treated everyone like his best friend. I'll be back at Anaheim
next year, and Marty will be there with me. I have known
Marty for so long and have so many stories there isn’t enough
bandwidth to send this email if I included half of them. I met Marty
in 1978 at the Mammoth Mountain MX. Mammoth that year was one of my
first professional races. I was really a nobody in the sport (never
really became anybody in it either,) however Marty and I hit it off.
I was with him the day before the USGP in 1980. I heard him call the
newspaper and tell them he was going to win the race the next day, then
I witnessed his prophecy. In the mid 80’s Marty and I both decided
motocross had passed us by and we needed to get real jobs. What else
could two guys with no real education to speak do besides sell cars?
Nothing! Malcolm McCassy (senior) was a very close friend of ours at
the time and was managing a car dealership in Orange County, so Marty
and I became car salesmen. The last and
best story really reflects Marty’s mission in his practical joking
life. I once beat him to a sales call and really had a winner. Marty
was so mad I got the call before he did that he came in my office, while
I was still on the phone with this customer and jammed a tack into my
thigh! As I screamed in pain for a few seconds, I realized my potential
customer was still on the phone, or I thought. When I said “hello”
into the receiver all I heard was a dial tone. Actually Marty’s
laughter was a little louder. In the late
1970s I was swept up into the motocross/dirt biking scene, quickly becoming
a follower of the sport, and a big Yamaha fan. The first GP I went to
see was the 1980 USGP at Carlsbad and came away a fan of Marty Moates.
It was great to see an "underdog" win against the world's
best, but in retrospect considering Marty's combined toughness and backyard
knowledge of Carlsbad, I guess it really wasn't so surprising. From
then on I always think of Marty, LOP Racing, and the YZ465G together.
He was an inspiration to all privateers. I never knew or met Marty personally
but I always remembered him after that race and got a kick out of reading
about him racing thereafter, including being the last rider to take
a lap on the now closed Carlsbad track. But after reading the emails
from others about him it is apparent that not only was he a great racer
but an even greater human being who t ruely cared for others. This makes
accepting his passing away even harder. After following the sport for
29 years I can still picture in my mind the faces of the top racers
on the national & world scene back then. Marty is up there, and
he always will be. Why Marty exited this world prematurely is not for
most of us to know but let's take heart that he left a positive mark
on those he touched and an inspiration to those who watched him race.
Maybe The Almighty decided it was time for him to do the same in Heaven.
I can't claim
to have known Marty as well as others have, but our paths crossed almost
daily back in the mid-late 70's, and he is definitely one person who
will reside in my thoughts with fond memories of years gone by. Not
many people have come into my life that I can remember after 30 years,
but Marty is one that I will remember forever. This is just
a heart-felt thank you for your efforts in getting the awesome website
up for Marty Moates. It is a class act, and a tribute to a pure legend.
I got to know Jim Pomeroy this past year at the AHRMA races, and he
was another legend that was as genuine and down-to-earth as they come.
It seems Marty was exactly from the same mold. Wished I had known him,
what a man and what a life. the 80 USGP win was a high water mark in
motocross for all involved over the years. An event you never forget. I met Marty
in 1991. He was my boyfriend’s best friend. Naturally we spent
a lot of time with him, and he eventually got me a job at No Fear, very
near the beginning for that company. In the years I worked with Marty,
we shared many adventures, trips, and crazy nights out with the boys.
On the night he met his wife, Heather, we’d been planning to kidnap
Ross Neglia (from No Fear) and take him to Tijuana for some debauchery!
Ross talked some sense into us and we went to sushi in Rancho Santa
Fe instead. Now, there was this beautiful woman sitting a few seats
down at the sushi bar. She was with a date. Marty was so fascinated
with her, that he ordered me (as he was my boss J ) to go and sit with
her date when she got up to go to the bathroom. I did so, and upon her
return, she was forced (or probably she wanted to…) to sit in
my former seat next to Marty. Many know that Marty was famous for buying
you a shot of Bacardi 151 and then peer pressuring you into drinking
it…well, that’s just what he did, and “the date”
and I had a bonding moment over not wanting to drink it. Heather just
was a good sport and drank her shot with Marty. We ended up all spending
the evening together, going to another bar, and staying out too late
as usual. In the morning, Marty called me, and just as I was about to
ask him if he got the number of the truck that ran me over…he
asked me if I remembered her phone number. I did, and I gave it to him.
The rest is history. I have so many other memories of Marty, as I know
everyone who has ever had the pleasure of meeting him, does. He has
changed my life in so many ways; I don’t think he ever knew. I still remember
the night I got a call from Marty's Mom, things weren't going well in
Florida with Rickman. Being a good friend and sometime mechanic for
Marty Tripes, whom he was traveling with, she asked me to crate up his
motorcycle to ship to Florida. I didn't know Marty well, but we both
knew who each other were, running with the same bunch of guys. I can
remember hanging out at Carlsbad with Marty, Marty Tripes, Wayne Boyer,
and others. Suddenly it doesn't seem that many years ago !! Godspeed
Marty !! - I know you will be missed by many. Thanks for the memories
! I
first met Marty in Western Australia when he & Jim Ellis came over
for there 1st Aussie excursion, some wild & enjoyable social moments
were had by all. Damn Marty!
Back in 1980,
I recorded that infamous 500cc USGP at Carlsbad Raceway on Betamax!
I had watched After the Spanish
GP Marty gave his jersey to a Spanish boy who he had befriended. In
Spain they were in love with Jim Pomeroy so when Marty arrived on a
Spanish brand everyone was excited about a new Pomeroy. Giving his jersey
to the kid after the race was pretty awesome and I'm sure that boy,
now a man still treasures it. My thoughts
and prayers are with Marty and his family and friends. It has been 20
years or so since I spent time with Marty his wife at the time and others
in Penasquitos. He and Laurens (founder, owner and Martys bike builder
at lop which laurens owned and turned into the model privateer team)
were close then and Marty was hanging at Laurens' house on Quinton Ave. This took me a while, for me to write an entry about Marty. There are so many reason's I did not post on here for a while. Part of me is and was in shock, part of me had disbelief and the other part was and still is terribly sadden and upset. Marty Moates was a tremendous mentor, boss, friend, father figure and all out a great person. I meet Marty in February 2005 in an interview. Marty had a friend post a job opening for a sales rep. for FMF International Inc on motonews.com. A good buddy of mine told me about the job that was open. I at the time was in a position that offered a comfort zone, yet I had no chance to climb a business latter or grow financially. Marty offered me a job here at FMF Int for less than I was making at the time, but promised me that this new venture would be fun, crazy, and chaotic at times. Marty had a way about him to convince me and everyone else that this would be the best step for business we could take, (he did not let any of us down). He did not promise me the world, but he promised me an honest shot to prove myself. I fast forward time to now where I am National Sales Manager for FMF Int. The period of time I have spent with Marty ahs been a rollercoaster ride, I have worn a dress out in public, daisy duke shorts to a bar, forced to dance with women twice my age to pay for my dinner, hitch hiked in freezing whether in down town Seattle with no t-shirt, walk through the streets of Compton LA at 3:00am (which is not a walk in the park), made bets (lost of BET'S, I even one a bet but there was foul play involved, Marty found out and the payout was 3 times worse), been pulled over by CHP in a rental car, only to have the office tell us to wait for another unit to arrive he had a bigger emergency (we drive off as soon as he was out of sight), watched Marty convince a pay a person to buy us Mc Donald's in the drive through since we lost all our money gambling, and could not get a cab ride through the drive through, been convinced that an easy up looks better on the roof of a building at the Chaparral sale, "and let me tell you the list goes on and on." I have experienced so much in so little time with Marty. I have never had the pleasure to meet a person who cared so much about everything outside work as much as he would care about what is going on in his company. The last day of his life we spent over an hour in his office with his door closed talking about how well business is going. Then for about 45 minutes we just talked about life, I told him about how my daughter said "dada" and he looked at me and said "isn't that the best feeling ever, I remember when my daughters said that, it is one of the best feelings in the world". He took a genuine care in my personal life as well as supporting and standing up for me in the business world. He would go to bat for me anytime and I would do the best I could to make him proud. I am deeply truly sadden by his death. We are pushing forward with the company that we built as a family, but our captain will be forever missed. God speed buddy we love and miss you! Brandon Hearn Sorry to hear off
his passing, . when i was a kid i bought dirt bike mag and saw this
article on marty and the line that will always stick in my mind was
"marty moates, the art of the outa control ,in control" .
he was one of the guys that inspired me to go schoolboy scrambling in
1977.never met ya marty but loved ya anyway . all the best to his family
and friends . I write you from
France and Marty was of my family, i didn't know him so much, just spent
some holidays in his house with his daughter in 1997, anyway he was
a very good person and i'm so sad because i just have learn what happen. hate to hear that
about Marty Moates. I'm a few years younger than Marty, I raced locally
in the '70's and was at Carlsbad USGP in '78 & '79. You can view
Marty's win at '80 USGP at www.vitalmx.com. I can remember to this day
the Cycle News headline the next week. My best wishes to Marty's family.
I've been working
lately trying to get an onsite monument at the site of the former Carlsbad
Raceway. This is still in the conceptual stage, but there is support
in the racing community and there is some support at the City of Carlsbad.
The Mayor of Carlsbad thinks it's a great idea. He's asked me to get
together some names and phone numbers of people that are in support
of the project. I mentioned that it was too bad that Marty Moates (1st
American to win the Carlsbad USGP) didn't live to see this, and his
reaction was that his name should be added to it as well. Without a
doubt. I wanted to let you know that here in Australia, Marty raced for a while. He came out here with Jimmy Ellis in 1983 and raced some supercross races and the Mr Motocross series. Over here in Western Australia, he raced a few times, a couple of times in particular were memorable. The first was at Bunbury, and he finished the main event with a broken toe and two broken ankles. The second was in Perth, only a few days after Australia II’s big Americas cup win. As a tongue in cheek tribute, he ran a purpose built, miniature blue winged keel mounted on top of the rear fender of his Suzuki. As a 12 year old kid, I never forgot his character portrayed in those two moments…of both courage and humour. Matt Rodier It's been about a year since you left. We miss you. I miss you. David Moates
My lateness for this e-mail can not be excused. I remember when Marty was in Australia riding for Suzuki and doing a training school with him at Broadford. H had time for everyone. And that cardboard wing keel tapped to the bottom of his bike at the starting line. The keel did not stay on long but my thoughts for him will not end until Ido. From all those little people whose hearts were touched by a great man you will be loved forever. I recall a time when we were training together and in true Marty fashion we left the track and just went hell for leather up the nearest hill to see how far we could get. Marty went first on his big Sussie, i followed him on my 125 Honda, as I approached Marty i can still picture him throwing rocks at me in jest, I did not know him as well as others but I will not forget him. To his familly all my wishes and thank you.
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This website exists to share memories, feelings and celebrate the life of Marty Moates. To contribute your fotos and memories, please send an email to: Rick@vintageiron.com (Please use Marty Moates in the subject line.) |
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Memories
A couple of Thanksgivings ago. Marty's ulcers were really not treating
him to well and all he could talk about was how bummed he was that he
wouldn't be able to eat Thanksgiving Dinner. So I got some foam, and
some paper mache' and made him a pink turkey ( it was supposed to be
made out of antacid) and surrounded it in a cooking tray with baby food,
rolaids, jello, pepto bismol, cream of wheat and every other bland thing
you eat when your stomach turns on you.