S4 EP9 | MARK BLACKWELL

Ping is joined by the first 500cc National Motocross champion Mark Blackwell. Mark is a true pioneer of the sport who helped bring moto to the US. Along with being an AMA Hall of Famer Mark has his way in the corporate world with a long and successful career in business. Sit back and enjoy a truly inspirational story!
• S4 EP9 | MARK BLACKWELL

[@markblackman9789]

Great interview! True story…I am sort of named after him. In 1975 my dad (Gary Blackman) won the Daytona 100-mile junior road race. The next day the local newspaper mixed up the names of Mark Blackwell and Gary Blackman and listed it as Mark Blackman. My then pregnant mother liked the way it looked in print so she went with it!

[@aaronanderson7619]

Next level cool right there. Take care

[@MX-CO]

I bought a car dealership in Minnesota that was previously named Blackman motors 😀

[@chopperenduro6590]

I first learned of Mark Blackwell by being interested in wanting a new Suzuki TM & then RM in the mid 70's , & if you bought one Suzuki gave you the opportunity to go to California to their Suzuki School of Moto-Cross taught by Mark Blackwell, this Era was my beginning of falling in love with motorcycles, Moto-Cross & offroad riding & racing , great guest pick as always .

[@deanfloyd8931]

Mark Blackwell is forever a gentleman. I was privileged to have a small association with him early in his career. He was honored recently as I told him, he reminds me of Americans version of Toto Wolf.

[@davehrejsa8322]

Mark is a great guy. I had the pleasure of working with him years ago at Polaris, always a pleasure to talk with him!

[@lboughto]

Absolutely captivating!

[@justinwalker1512]

Mark Blackwell is so accomplished! It’s great to hear his story!

[@fredhensley263]

He was always one of my heroes. I've got a black and white picture of him hanging in my office, next to other 70s greats. I attended Suzuki School of MX in 1977 and learned so much. Another great show Ping!

[@motonorcal9938]

Every word this man speaks in regards to motocross is a piece of history. Just awesome content!

[@drrjim]

Great interview. Good guy. Seems like all these early guys started on a Cz. Still a big bike in Vintage racing.

[@revdtimes5398]

Fantastic interview. A living legend in every aspect.😃🤙

[@MX-CO]

I Love this, What a great episode, thank you for sharing Ping great work and awesome guest!

[@fmradio42]

We are so lucky to have someone like Mark in our sport.

[@teamflanneloutdoors5631]

Holy cow what a great interview. As a rabid motorcycling/racing fan I knew the name in late 70's, worked at a dealership in 80's and would see his moves in industry publications and later Cycle News (when it was still on paper). What a inspirational career and still giving back👍👍‼

[@jonjackson6245]

I remember when Blackwell was at Husky in the 80's. Factory riders Dan Smith and Dan Ashcraft spent some time being coached by him and they showed me some technics that have stayed with me throughout the years.

[@user-uq6mz7on5c]

Woww great interview , watching in Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 aged53 , when un my youth Moto Cross or scrambling as we called it back in Uk 🇬🇧 he has some amazing story’s ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@johntomasik1555]

And yet another great interview by WTS.
It's gonna be tough for this sport to grow much. Heck, sometimes I wonder if it should grow at all. The money getting into the sport hasn't made it much better from an amateur rider's perspective, at least that I can see. Accessible riding areas have steadily declined in size and subsequently becoming farther away and sometimes very crowded. Tracks have morphed into terrain that doesn't work for older guys like me, and only really does for people willing to huck the national-level size jumps. That environment won't draw in any new young riders without parents that already ride, and it turns away aging riders who no longer see the costs of buying, maintaining, and hauling a bike justifiable for a few hours at either a track that has little fun factor or distant and sometimes crowded off-road areas.

[@55tmilam]

What a legend! Great show ping!

[@Chubemonet]

My all time favorite episode ping! 🙌🏼 this has been an absolute treasure!

[@whiskeythrottlemedia]

Thanks so much! We're working hard to bring you more shows, stay tuned!

[@johnjunkin7646]

I’m 24 minutes in
24 years old
And this is the best listen yet
This dudes knowledge is just insane

[@70sport37]

Cool time and in the rite place and he knows it .

[@scottmorgan6099]

#respect for the first 500cc Nat'l champion. 🇺🇸👍

[@oswaldoayala9593]

Me gusta, muy bueno

[@jefftopper7787]

No goggles were common in the 70's

[@LJJ02]

Sounds beefy 🥩💥

[@scottquick8827]

Great interview.

[@moto7622]

very good!

[@sunrealclothing]

I met Bob Hannah a few times... He was real...

[@VendiVendido]

I want to drink and drive so bad now

[@tylajames2498]

You not doing London areacross