CZ Days

All of us at the Deadmans Point MX track in the late 60's up to 1973 had the rich opportunity to witness the 15 year old Rex Staten. While quickly blossoming from a learning newcomer trying to find his way to the front with all of his novice battles and get-offs as all of us have (though his crashes were usually spectacular), it was nothing less than witnessing a motocross prodigy!

But then suddenly, we got to see him really take off to winning every moto annihilating the field. It was so exciting that when he lined up on his CZ's, anticipation and sheer racing joy overcame the spectators and shops present to really pay attention. The Rocket was up....

click pics to enlarge

This is a photo of a picture hanging in Rex's garage I took in his shop in Apple Valley. The CZ is his 380 Yellowtanker sporting a chrome tank, one of his favorites. The track is Deadmans Point circa 1972 in the rock section where many exciting, crowd pleasing moments occurred in all classes of racing there. Before I started racing at The Point, I was a $10 a day and all the Cokes I could drink safety flagman. And this rock section kept me busy all day long. Those rocks loved chewing up man and machine on a regular basis, it was fun! But it proved to be the centerpiece of crowd pleasing thrill when Staten was up!

         

A very early Rocket Rex on his 72 CZ400 at Corona Raceway, 1972. Check out the clear street bike face shield. Geeky but it worked. More noteworthy, he is in front as usual to win but to keep that shield clean lol.

Photo courtesy of Tom Corley

I don't know about you, but I don't believe there is any better still photographic on earth of man and CZ capturing the perfect midair pose for posterity. This is it. The Falta CZ is cool no doubt, but Rockets long, strong and lanky frame is completely ruling over that bike with classic and patented Staten style. The ultimate cross-up IMO...

The Rocket here is out front in the 500cc USGP at Carlsbad, June 22, 1975, a memorable day that will live forever with Rocket Rex fans and American motocross at large.. You see, Rex hole shotted all the big bad Europeans and held the lead for 8 plus laps! The CZ was built by Harry Klemm and at the time the fastest CZ400 on earth.

The huge arch in the background gives this track away with Rocket Rex launching his Falta centerport CZ400 down the peristyle jump at the LA Coliseum. Shoulders straight, body stance perfect, foot off the peg and raw determination show us classic Staten. Every second you watched Rex you just knew something exciting was going to happen. He loved being the thorn in the side of his competitors, but he never disappointed his fans win or lose.

Rex's long and lanky frame demonstrated just how strong and in control he was in the saddle. Below is another great shot at Carlsbad, 1975.                                                  

                                    

           

The Rocket at Carlsbad braking into a turn setting up for a rocket ship blast out!

1975 USGP 500 Video - Carlsbad

Read the story on the Staten/Klemm CZ build for the 1975 USGP race here

Outdoor American Motocross in the 70's was such a big sport, just look at the thousands of spectators that filled the whole track as Rocket Rex leads Wolsink and Lackey June 22, 1975 at Carlsbad. Vintage motocross today is a great sport that captures much of days gone by, but it never got as good as this photo. Those air-cooled Blendzall breathing machines were as a fine Bordeaux wine... Photo courtesy Mark Kiel Photography

                 

               

                                      

The holeshot and lead for 8 laps that shocked the world!

This photo is taken by Tommy Nugen from the June, 1975 of the first moto start of the 500 USGP at Carlsbad. The "holeshot" that shocked the world can be seen in all its fanfare in this telling photo. Can you name the famous names in the pack - behind Rex? The CZ was really powerful and hooked up ready to win this big event for America, and for Rex, his wrench Harry Klemm and Slim. Rex's dad. Forget about CZ because the back story behind the scenes after the race, CZ called Rex the following week to chew him out for altering their stock bike that they said would have surely won him the race. Well, we know that isn't true as the Japanese machines were superior. Nevertheless, and despite CZ's incredible disconnect, Rex went on to becoming one of the sports household names in American motocross. 

Another great shot by Tommy Nugen of Rocket Rex flying his Harry Klemm built CZ400 stock 4 speed machine that was basically a hopped up desert bike that CZ gave Rex. I'm partial to CZ's so I can go out on a limb and state without equivocation that this was the coolest looking bike at the race.

"If you were there, or have any CZ stories to share, we want to hear them via the comment box below"