Cycle News Staff | July 18, 2023
Paul Hunt, one of the great pioneers of American motocross and off-road racing, passed away at the age of 86.
Hunt cut his off-road and motocross racing teeth in Southern California and competed in his first ISDT in 1964 in East Germany. He also competed in the ISDT in 1970 when it was held in Spain, the race that was featured in the movie On Any Sunday.
Paul Hunt was one of the first Americans to compete abroad well before motorcycle racing was popular in the U.S. He passed away at the age of 86.
One of Hunt’s biggest accomplishments was finishing second to Torsten Hallman at the 1966 Hopetown (Corriganville) Motocross, which was regarded as the first International Motocross race held in the U.S.
During his racing days, Hunt competed in several biggies, including the Mexican 1000, Greenhorn 500-mile enduro and the Catalina Grand Prix.
Hunt was a member of the Scramblers MC and later the Dirt Diggers South MC. In the late 1960s, Hunt helped organize and was the first president of the California Motosports Club (CMC). He was also an accomplished mechanic.
Hunt was a long-time member of the Trailblazers and was inducted into the Trailblazers Hall of Fame.
Hunt recently lived in Paradise, California, and was a victim of the devastating Paradise wildfire in 2018 that destroyed the small community in Northern California. Hunt’s home and workshop were destroyed in the fire along with his collection of more than 20 vintage off-road motorcycles.
“His motorcycle collection could not be replaced,” wrote Trailblazers President Don Emde, “but I was proud of our Trailblazers board members who supported the gesture to replace his Hall of Fame medal that we presented to him at the 2019 banquet. He didn’t have much else at that point, and I knew it meant a lot to him. We were proud to have him as one of our members and past honorees and always will be.” CN
