OSSA Days

There was no Rocket Rex in 1969, we only knew this MX phenom as Rex... Slim's kid.

DEADMAN'S POINT MX was Rex's main track at just 15 years old aboard an 175 OSSA Scrambler. Then his dad brought home a new 1970 OSSA 250 4-speed Stiletto, and from then on he was on his way. Tough as nails, muddy, gritty and full of winning blood, Rex Staten at the strong coaching of his dad Slim annihilated his competition! The robust and reliable Stiletto served him well as he blossomed and grew to become known as ROCKET REX.

    It was 1970 at Deadman's Point. One of Rex's come from behind wins witnessed by yours truly, occurred while riding in the Expert class as a Junior on the Stiletto! The event organizer had to be persuaded to allow the 15 year old Staten to enter the expert class as there were some hot Pro’s there that day, and Rex wanted to beat the best. In those days 3 motos per class was the norm. The first moto went well netting Rex a solid 3rd place finish which completely shocked the spectators. The second moto found Rex dicing it out with the pro’s in a wild side swapping, bang up finish in 2nd spot. By now the crowd is frantically cheering Rex even into the pits after the moto. Everybody is thinking, "Rex Staten is for real, this kid can really fly." By mid-afternoon in the hot Mojave desert, Rex and the field lined up for moto 3 and the rubber band start. Rex lined up right next to the top visiting pro who on Saturday had put on a Motocross school for the locals. Rex thought to himself, “I’m going to school that teacher!” 

    The race was a pure battle of opposing forces. The professional squeaky clean veteran against the local barehanded kid with no fear, sporting a bell star helmet, lineman’s boots, a T-shirt and Levi’s! It came down to the last 2 laps when Rex was in front by a bike length on the backstretch flat out in 4th gear. When entering the right hand sweeper towards the famous rock section, it was noticed Rex was heavily manhandling the Stiletto in a frantic manner. When he jumped out of the rock section onto the main spectator front straight, he was even more frantically jumping all over his bike contorting his body to keep from crashing, but he held first spot. The final lap it was realized something had broken on the bike. Rex held a full back stretch wheelie flat out and when he entered that sweeper again, he was kicking his front wheel! What was going on?

   The last section leading into and out of that rock section was a most remarkable handling of a broken motorcycle. With legs flailing and kicking the front wheel to keep the bike straight, both Rex and the pro leaped out of the rocks side by side and when Rex landed, he gave the front wheel one last hard kick under full throttle and beat the pro by half a bike length! As he took the checkers he let go of the bike and crashed out in a plume of desert dust. The crowd roared and surrounded Rocket Rex in praise as he lay dead tired. So what actually broke on the bike? The triple clamps broke up rendering the OSSA un-steerable! This one event was a pivotal moment in the timeline of forming Rex Staten’s determination and future on a motocross bike. On that day, the student schooled the teacher.

Who was the teacher Rex beat? I'll never tell to save his embarrassment. We will say he is an AMA Hall of Famer well known across the globe!

EJ... 

 Staten and Whitehead battling at Deadman's

1970

 Ripping the back straight, Deadmans 1970

Rex Staten the teenager was relentless on the track. He wanted to win so bad he'd fly through the pack from a bad start. In the Junior class, one CZ rider reported Rex would fly by him then a lap later he would see Rex picking himself up from a crash. Then Rex would fly by him again and crash again! Ultimately Rex flew by this rider again winning the moto! The kid could not be deterred.

Young Rex Staten piloting the OSSA at Deadmans Point, 1971

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