| February 20, 2023
Cycle News Archives
COLUMN
The Top Five Baja/Desert Duos of All Time
By Scot Harden
Johnny Campbell and I recently hosted the Handstands at 100mph Baja/Desert Motorcycle Racing Reunion and Celebration. Its goal: To commemorate and honor the history of this quintessentially American form of motorcycle racing.
Malcolm Smith and JN Roberts teamed up to win the Baja 500 in 1971. The duo also won the very first SCORE Baja (Mexican) 1000 in 1967.
We wanted to pay homage to the clubs, racing organizations, machines, legends and champions, and, in the process, hopefully inspire future generations to take on the challenge. As with any get-together of old friends and associates, the topic invariably turned to which teams were the best, who won the most races, and how the super teams over 50 years of Baja/desert racing stack up. I attempt to answer that question. But first, you must embrace the unique aspect of long-distance Baja/desert motorcycle racing as a “team” sport, as well as the inherent complications of racing as a “team.”
The headline says it all. The Johnny Campbell/Steve Hengeveld duo ruled the desert-racing scene in the 2000s, even when other teams went to three or more members.
Motorcycle racers aren’t team players by nature; it’s just not in our DNA. Relying on another rider and sharing a motorcycle in competition is unnatural. The exception to this is long-distance off-road desert racing, classic races like the Baja 500/1000, Mint/Las Vegas 400, Best In The Desert, SCORE, NORRA and HDRA races. From their inception, these events featured two riders competing as a team on a single bike. To win, the top riders had to set rivalries aside and form alliances. While most partnerships only lasted a race or two, a small handful hung together over several years, and in a few extremely rare cases, some partnerships dominated long-distance desert racing and are now in the record books as multi-time overall champions and certified “super teams.” This story attempts to define the top five Baja/desert off-road duos of all time. But first, some background on how the list was determined.
When Cycle News approached me about doing this story, it sounded simple; however, the more I thought about it, the harder it became. So many legendary teams and riders over such an extended period, how do you compare riders from different eras, riding different motorcycles under different circumstances at different events? Ultimately, I took the most objective approach possible, basing the final ranking on three things: longevity, the total number of overall wins in both Baja and the U.S., and riding as a two-person team. The two-rider team distinction is vital because in the late ’80s, SCORE (and, later, Best In The Desert) adopted rules allowing up to six riders on a team. By allowing more than two riders to a team, the nature of long-distance desert racing changed dramatically. From 1987 on, specialists were brought in for specific races/terrain; riders rotated more frequently, and the race was broken down into shorter segments. This led to three-, four- and five-person teams. Long-distance off-road racing became more sprint than endurance. No disrespect to all the three-, four-, and five-person teams that came after 1987; they are champions and legends, just not eligible as an “all-time” duo.
Here’s the final list, starting with Honorable Mentions:
Patrick/Bowers
Mike Patrick and Phil Bowers were Yamaha’s first factory off-road team. They won back-to-back Mint 400s (1969/’70) and the 1970 Baja 1000, the sport’s two biggest events. Patrick/Bowers dominated this early period winning more races as a team than anyone else.
Mayes/Bakken
Mitch Mayes and AC Bakken dominated desert racing from 1973-76. Their team victories include the 1973 Baja 1000, 1974 Baja 500 and 1975 20 Mule Team 200. Products of the Husqvarna International Training Center, Mitch and AC were both number-one plate holders in D-37 and cemented their team relationship crossing the finish line of the 1974 Barstow-to-Vegas Hare & Hound side by side, tied for first overall in front of 3998 other riders.
Bell/Norman
Robbie Bell and Kendall Norman are modern-day throwbacks to the early days of off-road racing with five SCORE overalls as a team, including two Baja 500s (2006/’08), two San Felipe 250s (2006/’08/) and one Ensenada 250 (2007). The sons of D-37/38 desert/enduro racing number-one plate holders, Robbie and Kendall were predestined to be champions almost from birth and remain two of the sport’s greatest ambassadors.
The Top Five Off-Road Duos of All Time
Fifth
Miller/Ogilvie
Chuck Miller and Bruce Ogilvie are not only legends as racers but also for their careers as motorcycle industry product developers, sales planners, team managers, and leaders. Starting out on Yamaha with support from Dale’s Modern Cycle before getting a factory Yamaha ride and later in 1983 as part of American Honda’s first official Baja effort, Chuck and Bruce were smart, fast, and ready to race anyone. Their wins at the 1979 Mexicali 250, 1980 SCORE Baja 500, 1983 Parker 400, 1985 Las Vegas 400, and 1986 Baja 1000 were just the start of long careers that led to many other overall victories riding with varying partners. Riding in one of the most competitive eras ever for two-person teams, Miller/Ogilvie was a tough, tough team to beat.
Bruce Ogilvie (left) and Chuck Miller got Honda on the board when it came to racing in the desert.
Fourth
Roeseler/Johnson
Larry Roeseler and Jack Johnson joined forces, as both became men. That would prove to be terrible timing for every other team competing against them. They quickly staked out their turf, winning the first race they entered as a team, the 1977 Baja 500. Over the next three years as members of Team Husqvarna, and later in 1980, after switching to factory Yamaha, LR and Jumpin’ Jack were prohibitive favorites to win every race they entered. The win list includes consecutive Baja 1000s (1978/’79/’80), two Las Vegas 400s (1978/’79), and one SCORE Mexicali 300. What made this team so tough to beat? LR’s savvy and finesse, Jack’s take no prisoners, and how-fast-do-you-want-to-go aggression. Larry’s since made a living winning Baja races on two wheels and four. Jack accumulated additional overalls with other riders and has competed and won on four wheels. They are fourth on the all-time list with seven overall wins as a team.
Third
Wallingsford/Harden
From 1977 to 1982, Brent Wallingsford and I had a good run. The best part was we survived, both without major injuries. Trust me; this is as important as the wins. We have seen plenty of horrible things happen to fellow racers and friends while participating in the sport. Log enough miles, and the law of averages catches up. As it turns out, we won every SCORE off-road race at least once, including the Baja 500 (1978), two Baja 1000s (1977/’81), two Parker 400s (1978/’79), one Mexicali 300 (1978), and two Las Vegas 400s (1980/’81). We set a then-record with four consecutive overall SCORE wins, starting at the 1977 Baja 1000 and ending at the 1978 Baja 500. In addition to the win totals, we finished second overall at another seven events, which means we were in the hunt at most every race we entered. This was the first time I had considered this before being asked to write this story. I know that we got to chase our dreams for five years, won a few races, and had many more good times than bad. We end up third on the all-time “Top Duos” list with eight overall victories.
They were simply known as Smith and Ashcraft. The Husky duo of Dans was nearly unbeatable in the early 1980s.
Second
Ashcraft/Smith
Team Husqvarna’s Dan Ashcraft and Dan Smith dominated desert racing in the early 1980s. For three years, they owned the sport. Their list of wins was astounding: three consecutive Frontier 500 (aka Vegas to Reno) wins (1982/’83/’84), three Parker 400s (1984/’85/’86), two Baja 500s (1983/’84), one San Felipe 250 (1984), two Las Vegas 400s (1984/’85), the 1983 Baja 1000 and the 1985 SCORE High Desert 250. Altogether the two Dans amassed 13 overall victories. If the bike finished, they usually won. The product of AMA D-37 desert racing, the two young stars came along when the sport needed fresh talent and energy, and did they deliver! With unconditional support from their families, Team Book’em Dan-o demonstrated what desire, talent and factory backing could achieve. Each went on to win additional races, including Smith’s five consecutive AMA National Hare & Hound Championships and Ashcraft’s additional overalls as a member of Team Honda.
First
Campbell/Hengeveld
Anyone surprised to see Johnny Campbell’s name at the top of this list should check their meds. Something is off. The most winning Baja racer of all time, the bigger surprise here is that Johnny and partner Steve Hengeveld not only finished first but did so going old-school in the era of three and four-person teams. No doubt their team manager, Bruce Ogilvie, rubbed off on them. In reality, the decision to go two-man was based purely on selfish reasons. When it came right down to it, besides each other, neither rider trusted anyone else with their race bike. From 2002-2005 Team Campbell/Hengeveld collected seven SCORE overall wins, including three Baja 500s (2002/’03/’04), three San Felipe 250s (2002/’03/’04), and one Henderson 250 (2003). In BITD competition, they won two Vegas to Renos (2004/’05), one Parker 250 (2005), one Las Vegas 200 (2004), two Terrible 300/400s (2004/’05), two Terrible Town 250s (2003/’05) and one Laughlin Hare Scrambles (2003). Their total combined overall wins: 16 races. Backed by American Honda, the Campbell/Hengeveld duo proved that two riders could be competitive in an age of larger teams and specialization. All it took was the right two riders, a perfect bike, great pit support, and a no-compromise approach to the sport’s most demanding races.
So, there’s your top five. Do you agree? Was anyone left out, and if so, who? Should different selection criteria be used besides the number of wins? Is it fair to teams from the 1960s and early 1970s who had a limited number of major events to compete in, just two or three events per year, while teams competing from the 1980s on had as many as nine or ten SCORE/BITD events per year? More races equal more win opportunities. Is the playing field level? Perhaps we should toss out statistics and go with our gut.
My gut tells me that going strictly by the number of wins may not be the full measure of a team (but at least it gives me some cover). Throwing the number of wins out, my all-time top duo is JN Roberts and Malcolm Smith. Despite winning only two races overall as a team (the 1967 Baja 1000 and 1971 Baja 500), they are my top team simply because they are Malcolm and JN. These two are separate from the mere mortals listed above. They are the top off-road duo of all time in my book because they were pioneers, the fastest riders of their day, and the inspiration for everyone who followed. I know they inspired me, and I could never put my name above theirs on any list, so there you have it; the top duo of all time is Malcolm and JN. Now, that sounds better!
What makes a super team? Equal parts ability, determination and chemistry. Factor in injuries, egos, factory support and all the risks associated with racing such extreme and frankly dangerous events, and the odds stack up quickly against any team staying together for long, let alone having long-term success. Professional off-road desert racing at the level it takes to win overall is very demanding; only those who have lived through it as a team understands the commitment, pressure and sacrifice required and why, like soldiers in combat together, they have a special bond. A bond only a fellow teammate can understand, a bond that sometimes made history.
