Crossed Up

CROSSED UP

FERNANDO BELAIR

It hurts when someone you know dies. It hurts worse when you have been fortunate enough to have called that person “friend.” But death is something that we all know can strike anyone at any time. For Jim West, it struck while he was doing what he loved most, racing motocross. Jim died of internal injuries received in a crash at the Trans-AMA finale at Saddleback Park.

I first met Jim when he rode for Steen’s Inc., then the U.S. Distributors for Rickman Racing Frames. Jim had been quite successful on a GYT-kitted Yamaha MX, so Steen’s sponsored him on a 250 Yamaha-powered Rickman. I was working at Steen’s at the time and we came to be friends. As Jim’s abilities progressed, he became a highly soughtafter rider. He was one of the very best night motocross specialists. But Jim was still young and he eased up on his motocross interests and involved himself with non-motocross people and nonmotocross activities.

But it wasn’t long before Jim realized that he wasn’t going anywhere. He realized how much he missed motocross, the great pleasures derived from it (Continued on page 92) and the benefits that came with success.

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With help from his father, Jim began the hard climb back into the groove he had stepped out of. He worked hard at Rolf Tibblin’s Husqvarna International Training Center to get not only his body ready, but to work on his head. Tibblin teaches both technique and attitude. It wasn’t an easy climb, since the state of the art had progressed immensely since Jim’s departure.

It took him more than a year to really start getting it together again. Then, in 1974, Jim was offered a ride from Cooper Motors, the U.S. Maico distributor. Jim rode unspectacularly for them, but consistently placed well in all races he entered. This year, in the Trans-AMA series, Jim was really showing his stuff. Before the Saddleback event he was 11th overall, having been as high as 7th overall at one time in the series. He was finding his groove, he was closing in, he was making it.

Why Jim West is gone is not important. Jim West is gone and there is nothing anyone can do to bring him back. But even though he may not be here physically, Jim hasn’t left. He was one of the nicest guys on the TransAMA tour. He was one of the nicest guys in motocross, period. And the friends and attitudes and impressions he left behind will do nothing but help the sport that helped Jim, the sport Jim loved so much he gave until it hurt. E3