1981 Bob Hannah Interview - 7-Page Vintage Motocross Motorcycle Article

Description

1981 Bob Hannah Interview - 7-Page Vintage Motocross Motorcycle Article
Original, vintage magazine article.
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
PERSONALITY
BOB HANNAH
Has the Hurricane become a gentle breeze?
By Dick Miller
□ The last two years of Bob Hannah's life
have had a large impact on his values and
attitudes. His unexpected lengthy re-
cuperation from breaking his leg in a water
skiing accident took him out of the main-
stream of motocross racing and made him
think about where he's been and what he's
doing in his life. Bob, at 24 years old, had
never taken the time in his last hectic five
years of racing to do this. Has he changed?
I think so. If anything, he has more maturity,
which doesn't necessarily come with age.
Bob has always been truthful to the point
of being sometimes blunt and seemingly
arrogant. You know if Bob doesn't like you.
There is no pretense about him. He has won
seven National, Trans-AMA and Super-
cross Championships in his comparatively
short racing career. An outstanding racing
record that is virtually unequaled. He has
shown his disdain in the past for journalists,
European racing, and sometimes his fans.
His patience has been very thin and he was
easily provoked.
Patience is something Bob needs most at
this time in his life. His return to racing has
been extremely frustrating, and the pres-
sure on him to win or take up where he left
off is very intense. It is obvious to most at
the races that he is trying very hard. His
Yamaha mount is not up to his, or for that
matter, his teammates'capabilities, and
while the factory is working on the prob-
lems, the most often asked question of Bob
is, "Why aren't you winning?” Sometimes he
can handle it or shrug it off; sometimes he
can't. It's very obvious he cares!
Bob and I have spent some time together
riding, talking at the races and on the
phone many times during the course of this
interview. We put it all together the day af-
ter his race at the 125/250cc AMA National.
Because of the space needed, and the fact
that all of Bob's statements should have ed-
itorial consideration, we have decided to
do the interview in two parts. We will con-
clude it next month, in the same issue with
the race report. Since I already know what
he has said, and because of the fact that the
Saddleback race will become a classic due
to what happened, I know you wont want to
miss part two!
MX A — You've been carrying around the
nickname "Hurricane. "Does it affect you
at all.. .do you like it?
BOB — I don't think about it. It's like "Buck-
wheat” or something. I like Buckwheat, I
like that name.
MXA — Why? Who gave you that?
BOB — Bevo. It's not like Hurricane. Hur-
ricane is more of an ego trip name; not like
Buckwheat. Buckwheat is just a joker. I
have a corporation named Buckwheat now.
Buckwheat Incorporated. That's what I ride
for. Yamaha has a contract with it, and I
ride for Buckwheat.
MXA — You have another company, too.
How many companies have you got?
BOB — Hannah Racing Products.
MXA — Then Buckwheat is your personal
company?
BOB — Mainly to set up a pension plan for
me. It pays me the money it has out of the
pension plan.
MXA — When you broke your leg in the
summer of'79...
BOB — August 18th.
MXA — It's funny how you remember those
dates, isn't it? What did you think at the
time... did you really have any idea what
you were getting into?
BOB — No. I knew it was that time. I figured
sooner or later I'd get hurt doing some-
thing. I've been lucky for years.
MXA — That's the first time you really ever
got hurt?
BOB- I've had my ankles bad enough to
"Originally, Suzuki offered me a million
dollars to ride in Europe for fouryears
with Japan."
"It seems I'm in leathers as much as I'm
in street clothes."
"When I first started racing I didn t
realize it was a job!"...
16634-8107-30