Danny “Magoo” Chandler
A Motocross Champion & Legend
If you were ever a Motocross racing enthusiast or raced motorcycles you’re self especially back in the 70’s and 80’s then you’ve most likely heard the Name Danny “Magoo” Chandler. In fact if you ever watched ABC Wide World of Sports Superbikers in 1982 then you know who I’m talking about and I bet you’ve never forgotten the name “Magoo” after that.
ABC Superbiker Event 1982 LINK
I started racing Motocross in Northern California back in 1975, and it didn’t take long for me to notice one of the most spectacular motocross racers in the history of Motocross! He started racing at a very young age and lived near Foresthill California just a short 25 minute ride from where I lived. I knew him like so many others did back in the 70’s; a guy with true grit and determination to go as fast as a hand full of throttle would take him! If it meant crashing hard or destroying his motorcycle, then so be it! But one thing for sure, the fans loved him for it.
His desire to race and win was courageous, and Magoo would do things that no other racer would ever dare doing in a race or had ever done before. 
Like winning 4 straight Trophy Des Nation races in a row in Europe that no other motocross professional in the history of motocross has ever done before or since then.
Magoo’s former Honda Factory team manager and 5 time World Motocross Champion Roger DeCoster from Belgium.
Roger DeCoster
( I took this Picture)
said that he always had to tell other team factory riders to go faster, but with Magoo and his over the top riding style and subsequent crashing, he told him to slow down. It worked; and Danny Magoo Chandler was the man to beat.
Danny was nicknamed Magoo by his father when he was just a little boy. He had other nicknames such as California Wild child or kid? but the nickname Magoo stuck and would be the one that race fans came to know him as and cheer him on with at the race track.
Hangtown 1979 race during Practice
trying to blast through a deep mudpit.
(I'm one of the Spectators behind the fence upper left)
Magoo was amazing on a two wheeled machine. Track crews had to cut off tree branches next to the tracks because Magoo was flying through them. One time before a race in Europe, a track official told DeCoster during practice that Danny was reckless and dangerous out on the track, Roger held up his clip board and showed him Magoo’s faster lap times than all the other riders and walked away. His talent and mesmerizing ability to do what he did was…. I can’t seem to find the words to describe; you just had to watch him race to know what I’m trying to say. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people who saw him race or personally witnessed his style of riding and they all will claim the same thing…
“IT WAS THE MOST AMAZING THING THEY EVER SAW ANYONE DO ON A MOTORCYCLE! “ Danny Magoo left an impression on everyone and whether it was his riding style or his personality it was always a positive one and I can personally vouch for that.
Danny leading the Best of the Best on the start at Carlsbad
Danny was a down to earth person and had a friendly spirit. I read a Facebook comment that pretty much explained how Magoo was. This person commented about the one time he raced a Motocross national back in the day and he pulled up and parked in between Bob Hannah (A Motocross Champion at the time) and Danny Magoo Chandler in his 1963 Ford van. He posted that "You should have seen the look" Bob gave him, but then Danny walked right up to him and said "I like your van and then shook his hand. I didn’t personally know Danny as well as his close friends and family did, but like thousands of fans from all over the world, I have my own stories to tell.
But before I begin my personal stories, I have to let you know, if you didn’t already, Danny “Magoo” Chandler at the age of 50 passed away back in October, 2010, (R.I.P. my friend) back in 1985, his motocross career was cut short from a fall, just seconds after winning a Supercross qualifier race in Paris. Danny’s accident left him paralyzed and confined to a Wheel chair after that incident years ago and his life changed dramatically from that day forward. He did a lot over the past twenty six years teaching and promoting racing safety at the race tracks across the country or wherever he could, and helping others who had similar injuries. He promoted Mountain bike races, was involved with the D.A.R.E program with students and also coordinated visits to Children’s Hospitals with Top motocross riders as well as being an instructor at his Motocross racing school and the importance of rider safety.
Magoo Benefit race- Danny surrounded by MX Champions who raced that day -80's
Danny Chandler with his Daughter
Brad Lackey, a motocross world champion himself was a good friend and fellow racer of Danny's and I have to give Brad a huge amount of respect and credit for being the one who stood by Magoo and spearheaded fund raisers for all those years since the accident.
My Brother Todd on the left and Brad Lackey in the middle
The first time I met Brad Lackey was at the age of 10 in Richmond at the Richmond Motorcycle Club Track back in 1970; I was riding my fathers friends Bultaco on a circle sidewalk with sand that you could slide around as you gassed the throttle. I was too small to reach the ground and so I had to broad-slide with my feet on the pegs, and I had just fallen down and Brad see's me and walks over and says hey that's a big bike and then says let me help you and proceeds to pick the Bultaco back up for me and while he is standing there holding the bike up - I said hey! can I get your autograph! and he said sure! So I run towards our vehicle to go get the same Suzuki banner that had all the other autographs on it and he is saying "oh hey what?"and I hurry and fetch the Suzuki banner and run back to where he is still holding the Bultaco and then say here it is. And brad looks at it and says... What? a Suzuki banner! jokingly and I said but it has all the other autographs on it. and he laughs and then signed it. And that was that and we said goodbye So fast forward to the Magoo Benefit race in 1986 I again meet Brad after 25? years later - and I mentioned the story about the autograph on the Suzuki banner I got from him years ago and said "Now what motorcycle manufacturer did you win your Championship on?" and he laughed) I also watched him win races at Livermore (Carnegie Park) when he was still a teen! (After winning 3 Moto’s that day, he crashed doing a wheelie up and around a hill while leading his fourth Moto of the day- LOL) That was also the same track that same year me and my brothers watched the likes of Roger DeCoster, Joel Robert, Gerrit Wolsink, race motocross and got all of their their autographs on a muddy track marker (Suzuki banner) (Still have it)
Funny thing
Funny thing
The first time I watched Magoo race was at the Hangtown Motocross event back in 1976 when the race was held in Plymouth California near Placerville.
Magoo at Hangtown MX AMA event in Plymouth CA -1977
I had no clue who this racer was and each time he came by on the track the crowd cheered real loud.
I would also see him race at the local tracks on Sunday’s in between my own Moto’s. Everyone stopped what they were doing to watch the pros race. Darrell Schultz, Donnie Cantaloupe to name a few and then there was the guy they all cheered for and wanted to win! Magoo dazzled them with his hard charging style! - Danny always gave 110 percent and part of that 110 percent was giving the race fans a show they would never forget! He would purposely Roost dirt at them and they would love it.
In the late 80’s? After Magoo’s accident, I went to visit him at his house in Foresthill and his father was there along with Danny’s wife and young Daughter. Inside Danny’s living room was his race bike and a shelf full of trophy’s he had won and helmets that he wore during his racing career. Danny and his father and I talked and laughed about the good ol days when he raced the local events and how they used to strap his motorcycle to the back of his dad’s Volkswagon bug to get him to the races. Danny’s father was just as nice as Danny, and I remember the 3 of us laughing at some of the things Danny did. Danny was so proud of his then 2-1/2? Year old daughter and he had her sing a couple of songs for me with her toy microphone. I could see in Danny’s eyes while his daughter was singing, how happy he was to share this gift.
I left Danny’s house that day with a heavy heart. I drove down Foresthill road thinking about him and how his life is completely different that what it once was.
If greatness was measured by someone’s True grit and determination to win then he has to be one of the greatest aside from being a Motocross Legend.
I took these photos at the 2004 Hangtown event - Bottom photo is Bill DaPrato
Magoo's longtime friend and mechanic
Danny “Magoo” Chandler’s family, fans, friends, and fellow racers & Champions back in the day included people from all over the world, and we were all very fortunate enough and Blessed to have witnessed a truly extraordinary Motocross legend … His memory is kept alive by all his fans from all over the world, we all proudly know as …Magoo.
Danny “Magoo” Chandler
1959-2010
Honorable mention
Honorable mention
Doriano Zacchilli
Jeff Frank
for
Brad Lackey talks about Magoo
Roger DeCoster and Brad Lackey Talk about Magoo
at Hangtown MX 2010 Memorial for Danny
Tom, Very heartwarming story. I knew of Magoo only peripherally through other people. This gave me a real picture of who he was. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou should send this to a local
You should send this to a local newspaper.It is a really good story....Thanks for sharing. sheri
ReplyDeleteGreat Story To Post, Had many talk's with Danny, when he lived in Colfax. Some days were better than others, but his heart keep him going, with friends, Jody
ReplyDeleteThanks Jody and Sheri :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect tribute to Danny! I was four years younger and grew up in the same area with the same people. Danny always had time to give me tips and stop to spend a minute talking about techniques.. He was a true Champion and I only have a few people on this planet on that status! Just good Dude! Those were the best years of my life 12-18 as a Moto Crosser! Had to get out of CA.. but I’ll always have those memories. Thanks man! Excellent tribute!
ReplyDelete