American Pickers and Guy Cooper

[rdbandkab]

Anyone happen to catch the latest episode of American Pickers?  It was rather interesting.  They were picking Guy Coopers parent's bicycle shop.
It looked like they were unaware of Guy's motorcycle history...as are many.  (sort of a privateer hero that took on the pros and ended up winning a national championship). 
Sounds like he's into vintage racing these days. "Team Bull"!   I would hate to be in his class...

MotoSport article:
https://www.motosport.com/blog/profile-guy-cooper-motocross-legend
Excerpt: Guy Cooper loved to jump off ramps with his BMX bike. One day when he was 13, he pushed his limits and climbed more than 20 feet in the air. That exhilarating feeling of flying came to a crashing halt when Cooper landed and the forks snapped off. Sore with a bloody face - "Airtime" was born.

Motorcycle suspensions allowed Cooper to really launch and when he received his nickname he refused to disappoint. His popularity grew when he landed triple jumps - every time. But, in between those high-flying jumps emerged one of the greatest Motocross racers of his generation. He almost won the 1987 Supercross race at the LA Coliseum, the birthplace of Supercross, and in 1990, a year after Honda thought he was too old, Cooper took the 1990 125 Motocross Championship on a Suzuki.

Cooper left Motocross in 1993 but never officially retired. He tackled long distance off-road racing and won gold medals in 1,100 mile enduro races in Europe. He still rides pro and today now in his 50s, he takes up vintage racing.

Career Highlights:
1983 OK State Champion
1984 AMA Rookie of the Year
1992 & 1993 Mickey Thompson Award of Excellence
1990 125 AMA Outdoor National Motocross Champion
1993 World Supercross Champion
1997 Germany Supercross Champion
1994 & 1996 ISDE Gold Medalist
2002 at the age of 40 earned National Number 49 in the Outdoor National Motocross

Good dude and a great story behind him.

*I used to race GNCC (Grand National Cross Country) races all over the East in my younger days.   We happened to be racing at Road Atlanta one year, and I think "Coop" was racing a Husaberg then.  He was basically trying to help Husaberg find its name in the US woods racing game.   I'll never forget watching the first rows (Pros and "AA" classes) taking off and twisting their way through some chicanes and then heading up a large double plateau hill in front of the "flag stand".   We were in awe as "Coop" launched the big Berg up the hill and landed half way down the straight!!!  No one else crazy enough to go for that much air...

richy

[oldbike54]

 It might be a bit inaccurate to describe Guy as a "privateer" , he had good sponsorship money behind him . Yes , he rode for Husaberg a couple of years , he showed up at a couple of SX races on a big-boomer 4 stroke 'Berg , and if he hadn't stalled it going into turn one three times he would have made the main and been competitive . This was before the 4 stroke revolution , everyone else was on 2 smokers . That 'Berg sounded wonderful booming around indoors among all of the wimpy 2 strokes going ring ding 

 Oh , those two guys on pickers are in fact clueless about most things 

 Dusty

[rdbandkab]

Oops!  I didn't mean to imply that he beat the pros while a privateer.  He did suffer a bit while earning his way to a factory ride.

I ended up with a late 90's Husaberg 400 and then a 2000 Husaberg 501 (scariest bike I've ever owned!)

[Rough Edge racing]

 Oh , those two guys on pickers are in fact clueless about most things 

 Dusty

  One thing they are not clueless about is how to make money....The guys do buy and collect stuff but the show format is set up to make for drama...and TV reality shows are all about drama...

[oldbike54]

  One thing they are not clueless about is how to make money....The guys do buy and collect stuff but the show format is set up to make for drama...and TV reality shows are all about drama...

 My understanding is the real money is made by selling the TV show to a network . The idea that the folks selling the stuff these guys are buying don't know what it is worth is ludicrous . The deals are all made way ahead of the arrival of those two onscreen personalities . Their advance scouts contacted me a couple of years back about a Vincent that has been stored in a garage here for years . I basically told them it was not for sale , and wasn't even sure it really existed .

 Watch the PBS show "Market Warriors" for a true portrayal of how this all works .

 Dusty

[LowRyter]

Guy has a motocross ranch close to Stillwater OK.  Some of the locals run a 100-200 mile off road rally once a year that runs through his place.

(I have limited knowledge since I've never run it, don't have an off road bike and my skills are lousy.)

[oldbike54]

Guy has a motocross ranch close to Stillwater OK.  Some of the locals run a 100-200 mile off road rally once a year that runs through his place.

(I have limited knowledge since I've never run it, don't have an off road bike and my skills are lousy.)

 Sadly Cooperland has been closed for a few years now , Guy sold it around 2006 , the new owners couldn't keep it open . Was out there in about 2000 , didn't ride the MX track in anger because I was on a borrowed XR 200 , and what would have been the point  There were some good trails on the land , and Guy was there so that was cool .

 Dusty

[Guzzistajohn]

Oh my, a reality show that's NOT reality?? your kidding! We went to their place a few years back on the way to Davenport, Ia. for the swap meet and vintage flat track. There was a building, and an old car out front, but the place looked empty. They do have a shop in Nashville however. (last I heard)

[LowRyter]

Oh my, a reality show that's NOT reality?? your kidding! ................... ........

huh?

[LowRyter]

Sadly Cooperland has been closed for a few years now , Guy sold it around 2006 , the new owners couldn't keep it open . Was out there in about 2000 , didn't ride the MX track in anger because I was on a borrowed XR 200 , and what would have been the point  There were some good trails on the land , and Guy was there so that was cool .

 Dusty

well,  Cooper or Cooper's place is still involved in these annual rides, at least that's what one the participants tells me.

[Darren Williams]

well,  Cooper or Cooper's place is still involved in these annual rides, at least that's what one the participants tells me.

It's called the Sooner Adventure Ride, held in the Fall (beginning of off road season in Oklahoma, They are usually 150 to 200 miles of off road and the worst dirt back roads Gerald could find! I've done it several times. Last time was in 2013 on my KLR. Before that on my DR350. Every time we either started or finished at Seaba Station and had a pit stop at Coopers ranch. His single track enduro trails were always part of the course. I still have the Tee shirt from the first one! 

[rdbandkab]

I still like the show..  It seems to be the least offensive choice when it comes to the "reality" shows.  And it brings back some good memories of things from the past.. (pre-traction control)

[oldbike54]

I still like the show..  It seems to be the least offensive choice when it comes to the "reality" shows.  And it brings back some good memories of things from the past.. (pre-traction control)

 Have enjoyed the few I've watched , and yes , compared to most "reality" shows they do keep down on the redneck drama . Just remember , it is all staged , and all of that "profit" they are making is imaginary .

 Dusty

[Rough Edge racing]

 What is true is dealing with crusty hoarders... You know, buying a few small items and building up "trust" before trying to buy what you really want.
 One of my wife's daughter's has been a full time picker for about 20 years...I've gone with her a few times and that's how it works more often than not..
 I've watched the show just a few times but like you say it's ok...I understand the shorter guy is an avid motorcycle collector...

[rdbandkab]

Dusty,

I'll show you....I'll watch it even more now!     ...with the volume turned up too..   

 

[oldbike54]

Dusty,

I'll show you....I'll watch it even more now!     ...with the volume turned up too..   

 

 Careful , overexposure to "reality" shows will turn you into a Harley rider 

 Dusty

[twowheeladdict]

What is true is dealing with crusty hoarders... You know, buying a few small items and building up "trust" before trying to buy what you really want.
 One of my wife's daughter's has been a full time picker for about 20 years...I've gone with her a few times and that's how it works more often than not..
 I've watched the show just a few times but like you say it's ok...I understand the shorter guy is an avid motorcycle collector...

They are both avid motorcycle collectors.  avid doesn't even begin to express their collections. 

I met Mike Wolfe at Puckett's in Leiper's Fork.  He was riding an antique BMW with his antique riding gear.  :)  Down to earth guy.







He has motorcycle inside his house.  He is trying to collect every year of Indian made.

A motorcycle shop owner friend of mine has done a lot of work on Mike's bikes.

[Guzzistajohn]

They are both avid motorcycle collectors.  avid doesn't even begin to express their collections. 

I met Mike Wolfe at Puckett's in Leiper's Fork.  He was riding an antique BMW with his antique riding gear.  :)  Down to earth guy.







He has motorcycle inside his house.  He is trying to collect every year of Indian made.

A motorcycle shop owner friend of mine has done a lot of work on Mike's bikes.

I talked to mike at Davenport too. He’s a friendly guy. If tv shows were really everyday “reality” it would be pretty dull wouldn’t it?

My show for the day- woke up, passed gas, made coffee, turn on the local news, yawn, pour coffee, well, you get the picture????    It’s tv Dusty😎