When you think about it, motocross as we know it is not that old of a sport.  In the '60s, people in Europe started going nuts over motocross, and by the late '60s, the amazing European stars made there way to the good old USA and proceeded to dazzle us as well.  They were so good, in fact, that the American riders were not even in the hunt.  The phrase “first American” came into being at this time.

By the early '70s, the Americans had progressed a great deal and could run with the European aces - sort of.  I was fortunate enough to start Dirt Bike Magazine back in 1971 and was able to watch the progression of the American riders.  Some of the American riders went to Europe and battled the best European riders on their home courses.  Names like Brad Lackey and Jim Pomeroy come to mind.

While this was happening, some of the European riders, looking for easy pickings, moved to the US.  Riders like Peter Lampuu and Pierre Karsmakers came here and were front runners and made easy money. 

This brings us to 1975.  The AMA decided to have a 500cc National Championship, with the winner to be determined at the end only five races!  This meant that one bad day could put you out of the running.  Honda pulled out all the stops and entered Pierre Karsmakers on a factory bike.  This rankled many of the American riders and the scene was set for a knock-down, bare-knuckles brawl. 

Without revealing the ending, the race came down to the final event, which came to be known as The Battle Of New Orleans, a name taken from my magazine article.  Five riders were in contention for the title, including Pierre and his powerful Honda. 

Suzuki was so confident with their position, that they flew a number of journalists to New Orleans and plied us with drinks and food.  After all, they had Billy Grossi and Tony DiStefano on factory Suzukis and both were on a rush and riding high in the points.

The battle was set;  it was just too bad that no one was there to record the whole thing.  But wait a minute!  The event (and some of those leading up to it) were being made into a documentary that never saw the light of day.  Until now.

In 1975, a filmmaker named Charles Bush made a documentary about the sport of motocross, following that year’s AMA 500cc National Series. Little did Bush know the series would go down in motocross history as one of the most exciting and controversial ever -- and his cameras were rolling. The famous “Battle of New Orleans” unfolded before his lens, and history was made.

At that last round of the 500cc series, five riders had “one chance” to win the championship before the last moto. Jimmy Weinert (Yamaha), Steve Stackable (Maico), Pierre Karsmakers (Honda), Billy Grossi (Suzuki), and Kent Howerton (Husky). Brad Lackey had returned from Europe and added an unknown quantity to the battle between all the Americans and the lone European in the hunt…Pierre Karsmakers. What went down on that hot, humid September day in 1975, next to the levees of New Orleans, was one of the most important moments in motocross history.

The film was never released, but 30 years later, the producers of the TV series, The Motocross Files, found Bush and transferred his only 35mm print of the film to HD. They have restored the film, as well as producing a new 47minute Behind The Battle - The Making of One Chance To Win, with interviews they conducted while shooting The Motocross Files.

While some of the commentary is certainly dated, the film itself is great, in that it captures the murderously tough conditions with grueling heat and humidity.  It’s the kind of a film that you appreciate more the second or third time you watch it.  Also, the film captures the feeling of that wondrous era.  It’s a keeper.

The One Chance To Win DVD is produced by Pipeline Digital Media.  To order, log on at:  www.onechancetowin.com    $24.95 + shipping and handling.  For more information, contact Todd Huffman at (714) 626-0885.