Flyin' high at the CZ Nationals
Mark Stepovich launches his CZ across the finish line at MMX.
Words + Photography: Mike Blanchard
Spotlight. The weekend of April 23-24 saw the return of the CZ nationals to the MMX motocross park in Marysville California. The faithful gathered from all over the World for a day of fun with vintage bikes. A surprising number of these machines (not to mention old racers) are still on the track and they are rapid. Which is why they are still on the track.
The Nationals have a great vibe like most vintage moto events. Lots of family, friends helping friends and general vibe of “lets have some fun.” There is bit of checking out vintage bikes, some selling, a bunch of fixing and a lot of racing. Friends and families racing together. Young racers and old racers all piled in together kicking up the dirt.
At the sharp end of the field the racing is serious but there are guys out there to just ride around fast and maybe pick off another rider here or there.
Motocross was popular behind the Iron Curtain and the Czech brand CZ made some of the most innovative, fastest and charismatic dirt sleds out there. With their distinctive welded aluminum tanks they stand out in a crown of multi-colored plastic.
The bikes at the CZ Nationals ranged from early ‘60s twin shockers up to ‘80s bikes with big pipes, big engines and lots of suspension. From the ‘60s into the ‘80s CZ was a dominant force in racing, winning seven motocross world championships and 15 International Six Days trials between 1947 and 1982.
Dorene Payne is a badass. She was the first woman to qualify for a men’s national pro outdoor MX and she’s won 10 Women’s MX titles. Needless to say, she’s fast and competitive. She won the women’s race but she was very competitive against the men.
Dorene Payne gettin’ it.
Cloyse Holland III, Husqvarna, leads Jamie Adams, Kawasaki, into the turn. Adams, who came out from Texas for the races, got by Holland to claim victory in the main.
Derek Stephens, CZ, airs it out over the finish-line jump. Stephens won the World Champ 125 race.
The race is open to all kinds of vintage machines. Bultaco was famous for fast bikes and stylish bodywork.
Love the cigar.
Brad Wilson, CZ, pours on the gas heading for the hairpin.
18-year-old Kathryn Knight showing some fighting spirit.
Speedway legend John Cook checking out the scene.
The flying dentist Dr. Edwin Sims cuts loose on his twin-port CZ. Love those riding boots. Sims won the Twin-Port Challenge race.