Cal Rayborn III, son of the legendary Cal Rayborn Jr., races ahead of other riders in the Suzuki Cup Finals on his 600 Katana at Road Atlanta in 1988. Rayborn followed in his father’s footsteps and was one of the leading road racers of the late 1980s. If I remember correctly he once crashed in a Suzuki Cup Final on the West Coast in the rain, picked up his bike and still won the race. (Larry Lawrence photo)
Rider Files 
Wasn’t that the Cup final held at Riverside,if so boy that was a wet day,if I remember correctly the water started to flow across the track at places the the event was stopped later in the afternoon.
Don’t remember much about who did what that weekend,spent most of Sunday under the bleachers keeping out of the pouring rain.
That wasn’t my most trying day at the races,Willow wins the prize for that.A very cold and really really windy stormy afternoon.I still love Willow tho
Why do I remember that wet weekend at Riverside,maybe cause I had a wet ride home on my Guzzi Lario and it was just pouring rain till I got to Barstow on I 15 heading home to Vegas.At least it was a killer tail wind
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I think you’re right Gary. Thanks for sharing the story.
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Cal didn’t win the GSXR cup at Riverside in the rain. However, he did win earlier in the day the exciting support Yamaha FZ600 series final race after crashing on the final lap in the first very heavy rain. Richard Moore #83 finished second after taking the lead at turn 6 on the final lap where Cal crashed, but Cal remounted and passed Richard at the finish line to win. I was there and I photographed that race from outside turn 6 and the GSXR Cup race until it was stopped, plus I raced in an AFM support 750 superport race on my stock Honda VFR750, finished 3rd earlier that day BEFORE the rain started. I still have the Trophy and the photos. The GSXR heat races were very exciting and competitive, with Texan Doug Polen being the dominant force as he had been all season, with Northern Californian Scott Gray being the most dangerous man to possibly beat him that day. I was out in practice with them that morning and it was the most intense riding I have ever experienced. When it rained, it flooded the turn 7 area from what I remember and the races were abandoned.
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Thanks for clarifying that Chris. Great story. If you ever want to share some of those photos with the world send them to me.
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Cal Rayborn III
best road racer I ever saw………. ever
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How can I get in touch with cal ray lll?
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John who are you to him and I night be able to help you get hold of him. Sitting right next try the guy. Good stories everyone. Think he would like to see this pictures chris
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buddy and sylvia , what a pair , i knew cal3 , we just called him buddy ,an amazing talent on 2 wheels , was given the nod to run for team kenny roberts , but the man i knew ….broken , addiction issues lost his ride an meth took most of his spirit…..and even when he’d tell stories of racing and bikes , i always felt a weariness and hurt in his voice that i knew of myself all too well , ….. in 90 we moved from lake elsinore ca. to slc utah. was the last he was trying to get well i hope he did.. miss ya , james an carol
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Yes I remember that day at Riverside too!! Cal was riding a Houseworth tuned FZ 600 in the pouring rain having to dab his foot a couple of times at 100 plus mph down the 1st straight as the front end of his bike was hydroplaning. AMAZING RIDING!! And that is true that he did go down in turn 6 picked it up and won!!! It was great riding and racing with who I call Cal lll but Sylvia did call him Buddy. Would love to talk to you and John again! Sincerely Dave RZ 350
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Hello,
My name is Audrey and Buddy was my first boyfriend. I would really like to connect and talk about all the past 38 plus years that have passed.
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Buddy was the best. I was his biggest fan.
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