One Time Ago.....: Brad Lackey Autograph Story

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Brad Lackey 1971 Autograph story

Back in 1971 I was 11 years old and our father took me and my two brothers to see the 1971 Trans AMA MX event at Carnegie in Livermore Ca.

After watching the Motocross Stars (Now Legends of Motocross) compete and the event was over, I was so excited about going into the pits to meet Roger, Joel, Brad, etc and then I realized I had nothing for autographs!!!

I looked around the muddy track and on the ground there were two mud stained track banners – I quickly brushed off most of the mud and ran to the pits.

I met Roger De Coster, Joel Roberts, Sylvan Geboers, Dick Mann and a few others that day!

I was able to get Roger De Costers - Joel Roberts – Sylvan Geboers – Dick Manns autographs on those two mud stained track banners

FYI - Sadly - Some of the signatures have faded

Suzuki Track Banner from 1971 Trans AMA at Carnegie

Dick Mann

Sylvain Geboers faded signature

Joel Roberts faded Signature

Somehow I did not get Brad Lackeys Autograph that day.

So it had been about 2 weeks? After the Trans AMA event at Carnegie and we went to Richmond Ramblers in Richmond, Ca. for a fun day of riding

These Photos below are from 1970 - My father was demonstrating a Cushman Trackster that day for a potential buyer - Our father worked for Cushman dealer in San Leandro at that time back then - You can see the Richmond Ramblers club house and part of the riding area in the background. My two brothers Jody & Twin brother Todd standing

Cushman Trackster / Richmond Ramblers area

I was only 11 years old but I could ride almost anything as long as I had help or stood on something to get on a bigger bike.

My father’s friend (Little John - who was a Custom Auto Painter) had a 250? Bultaco Pursang with the rear boat fender and he let me ride it that day.

Bultaco Pursang Like this one

Next to the Richmond Ramblers clubhouse was a cement Sidewalk that was made into a 75’-100’? Circle and had sand on it - that you could have loads of fun and also practice broad sliding on.

I was riding the Bultaco fairly good, rolling on the throttle and sliding sideways and loving it!
But then I gassed it a little too much and the rear tire slid out from under me and I laid the bike down nice and easy and didn’t get a scratch on me or the Bultaco.

Well, I didn’t have the strength to lift the Heavy boat fendered Bultaco back up, and was struggling, when I hear this voice say;

“Do you need some help?”

I say “yes!” while I’m still struggling to pick it up. So the person grabs the handlebars and uprights the Bultaco on its two wheels and I look up at him to say Thanks and lo and behold it’s Brad Lackey!

My MX Idol! - So I Say “HEY YOU’RE BRAD LACKEY!” and he says “Yes I am!”

Brad is still holding the Bultaco upright next to me and I quickly realized that I needed his autograph! So I asked Brad if he could give me his autograph! But before Brad even sez a word, I excitingly take off running towards our truck in the parking lot, yelling “I’ll be right back!” and I’m now sprinting towards our truck, to get the two Trans AMA track banners that were inside the Cab.

Brad yells “Hey uh wait – Uh!! Comeback! And I yell while still running towards the truck in the parking lot. I think I said something like - “– stay right there”

So there’s Brad patiently standing and waiting at the cement sidewalk, holding up the Bultaco for me.

I quickly retrieved the two now dried out mud stained Suzuki and Checkered flag Banners - and quickly run back to where Brad is still standing, holding up the Bultaco:

I shove the Suzuki banner at him first and a pen and Brad says in a kind of joking derogatory voice “SUZUKI?!”

I get this sad look on my face all of a sudden, I’m worried that he is not going to give me his autograph and I said “But, but, it has Roger DeCoster’s and Joel Roberts and other signatures on it also?!” and I may have started to maybe pucker my lips like I was going to cry or something close to that and just then Brad says “I’m Just kidding, I’ll sign it” and I instantly get the biggest smile and was happy again!

So Brad signed both Banners that day and told me “I was watching you ride from inside the clubhouse - you’re doing good” and I say “Thanks!” proudly - We then said our goodbyes –

There’s more to this story - a decade and a half later, I meet Brad at the 1986 Magoo Invitational Benefit event and I tell him about the above story at Richmond Ramblers back in 1971 and he didn't remember, so I tell him the story and then I say " So, Brad... what brand of bike did you WIN your 1982 500cc World MX championship on?

This photo was taken at that same day I retold Brad the story

Brad Lackey laughed, I laughed, my brother Todd laughed – Brad’s friend Dennis Miller? laughed -

The End.

Sadly some of the Track banner’s signatures have faded and are unrecognizable.

Brad Lackeys and Dick Mann are still there.

The Signatures may have faded but most of the memories haven’t - yet.

I am now 66 yrs. old and realized that most of my motocross collection items will need to be forwarded to someone in the near future. So I have donated the 1971 Trans AMA signed track Banners to Terry Good for The International Motocross Museum to hopefully be on display there when it opens along with a few other donated items.

Another part to this story is, I met up with Roger De Coster at the 2021 Hangtown AMA National and asked if he could resign them both and he did!