“The Hurricane”
If you had to pick just one name that stands out among the rest during 70s and 80s motocross, it would surely be “The Hurricane”.
After only racing motocross for two years, 19-year-old Californian, Bob Hannah, was signed onto Yamaha’s race team in 1976 and took the motocross world by storm. Hannah claimed the #39 numberplate and was relatively unknown going into contest the 125cc nationals. He set out to beat two-time champion, Marty Smith, who was the obvious favorite, having won the 1974 & 1975 AMA MX titles on his factory Honda.
Hannah had earned the nickname Hurricane during a local race at Saddleback Park (which became defunct in 1984) in California after an announcer had said it during a race in 1975. He was known for his unique riding style with his feet often coming off the pegs, seemingly losing control of the bike. Hannah says he would do anything to keep from wrecking his bike.
1976 AMA Pro Motocross Series
The series kicked off at Hangtown, and Smith took the holeshot with his Honda, while Hannah got a discouraging start on his Yamaha. Nonetheless, Hannah began passing his opponents with each lap, and the crowd grew with excitement. Many fans had to check their programs to see who this no-name #39 was. As Hannah took second, he focused in on Smith and went full-throttle. The audience erupted with cheers, and Hannah passed Smith to take the victory in Hangtown.
The Hurricane went on to win 5 out of the 8 races in the series, making him the new champion and defeating Marty Smith.
Racing Career
Bob Hannah went on to secure the next three Supercross championships (1977 – 1979), the 250cc Motocross and Trans-AMA titles in 1978 and won his seventh, and final, 250cc championship in 1979. Unfortunately, Hannah had to sit the entire 1980 motocross season out due to an injury that happened during a water-skiing accident, but he was back on his Yamaha for the 1981 season.
After a rough 1981/1982 racing season with Yamaha (which Hannah blamed on the bikes), Hannah decided to sign with the Honda Race Team in November of 1982. He started the 1983 season off strong, but again suffered an injury before a race in Orlando, FL; he fell and broke his left wrist and leg. Despite his determination to finish out the season, he ended up in 3rd for the title.
Unfortunately, injuries continued to cause trouble for Hannah during the 1984 racing season; he suffered a broken pelvis, along with two broken wrists, a broken ankle, and two broken ribs. As he added to his list of injuries, competitors began calling him “Brittle Bob” (which can be considered payback for all the smack he talked to his competitors over the years), and he had considered retirement, as age and injury were catching up to him.
Hannah left the factory Honda Team and signed with Suzuki in 1986 as a development rider and part-time racer. He occasionally raced at AMA and Grand Prix events over the next several years, to the delight of his fans.
During his racing career, Hannah was known for appreciating his fans as he believed he owed his popularity to them. He constantly thanked them for their support and oftentimes would stay at the track talking to fans, taking pictures with them, and signing autographs, even until after dark. Fans loved it when he would throw his jerseys to them after winning a race.
“The Hurricane” Retires
Bob Hannah officially retired from racing in 1989, with a total of 70 national wins, which held the record for the next 10 years until Jeremy McGrath topped it. He went on to work with some riders testing bikes until 1996.
Bob “Hurricane” Hannah was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.
Where is Bob “The Hurricane” Hannah now?
After leaving motocross, Hannah began racing airplanes, such as the P-51 Mustang. He eventually started buying, selling, and trading planes, since he was flying them all the time. Hannah got a partner and went into business full-time in sport aviation sales in Boise, Idaho, where he lives with his wife and four golden retrievers. Hannah reportedly does not miss motocross, stating, “it beats the crap out of you.” He likes what he does now.
