This is a cool photo. I know all of the riders, of course, but some of the wrenches and managers I don’t remember or, perhaps. have never heard of. I remember reading an article on Bill Buchka way back in the day when he turned wrenches for Hannah in the mid-1970s. He seemed like a cool guy back then. I loved Jimmy Ellis, too. The guy could win when you weren’t expecting hhim to. Croft was a favorite dark horse of mine. And who wasn’t a Smith fan in these years?
Marty Tripes joined the Team after the first race of the year along with wrench Greg Kudlick. Terry Mulligan was Team Manager and Merle Anderson was assistant Team Manager. Cliff White was Steve Wise’s mechanic. Jon R. was Warren Reid’s mechanic and also his step father. Dave Arnold was Marty Smith’s mechanic and several years later the Team Manager. Arnie Beaman was Jim Pomeroy’s mechanic. George Ellis was Jimmy Ellis’ mechanic and father. Allan Hahn was Tommy Croft’s mechanic.
The highlight of the year was when Honda came in first, second and third at the Daytona Supercross race with Tripes first; Smith second; and Ellis third because these three were able to pull off a triple jump that none of the other racers would try. Ellis did it first on the last lap of his heat race and the crowd went wild. Tripes and Smith decided if Ellis’ bike had the power to do it, their’s should too. The rest is history.
Steve Whitelock, Ron Murikami, Bill Buchka supported Brad Lackey who raced in Europe in 1978.
Had one of the 1st ‘73 125 Elsinores, brought into Norm Reeves Honda in Downey. Merle wrenched it, was a total rocket ship. Love seeing the picture of the team…….all were the greatest in the era, a lot of fun with them all.
Rider Files 
This is a cool photo. I know all of the riders, of course, but some of the wrenches and managers I don’t remember or, perhaps. have never heard of. I remember reading an article on Bill Buchka way back in the day when he turned wrenches for Hannah in the mid-1970s. He seemed like a cool guy back then. I loved Jimmy Ellis, too. The guy could win when you weren’t expecting hhim to. Croft was a favorite dark horse of mine. And who wasn’t a Smith fan in these years?
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Marty Tripes joined the Team after the first race of the year along with wrench Greg Kudlick. Terry Mulligan was Team Manager and Merle Anderson was assistant Team Manager. Cliff White was Steve Wise’s mechanic. Jon R. was Warren Reid’s mechanic and also his step father. Dave Arnold was Marty Smith’s mechanic and several years later the Team Manager. Arnie Beaman was Jim Pomeroy’s mechanic. George Ellis was Jimmy Ellis’ mechanic and father. Allan Hahn was Tommy Croft’s mechanic.
The highlight of the year was when Honda came in first, second and third at the Daytona Supercross race with Tripes first; Smith second; and Ellis third because these three were able to pull off a triple jump that none of the other racers would try. Ellis did it first on the last lap of his heat race and the crowd went wild. Tripes and Smith decided if Ellis’ bike had the power to do it, their’s should too. The rest is history.
Steve Whitelock, Ron Murikami, Bill Buchka supported Brad Lackey who raced in Europe in 1978.
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Wow, thanks for that. Good memories. Too bad Tripes didn’t get in the team photo.
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Had one of the 1st ‘73 125 Elsinores, brought into Norm Reeves Honda in Downey. Merle wrenched it, was a total rocket ship. Love seeing the picture of the team…….all were the greatest in the era, a lot of fun with them all.
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