Name/Title
Denton, GaryEntry/Object ID
459Description
Gary Denton was the dominant ATV racer the ’80s and ’90s, winning eight AMA ATV Grand National Championship titles from 1987 through 1994. Before racing ATVs, Denton started his motorcycle racing career at age 14 and went pro at age 16, getting his first major title at the CMC Night Nationals in the 125cc class in 1976. From late 1978 to 1982, he raced professionally, with a best finish of fourth in the 125 National class and scoring 13 top-10 finishes. After racing locally for a couple years, he had the opportunity to begin racing ATVs in 1985, getting a factory ride with Suzuki in 1987 to race in the AMA ATV Grand National Championship. From that point on he dominated the series, winning the championship eight years in a row.
Born in 1958, Denton started riding motorcycles in 1970 at the age of 12, and by age 16 he started racing them professionally. He won his first major title at age 17, winning the CMC Night Nationals at the legendary Irwindale Raceway aboard a DG Performance Honda in 1976. After that win he became the poster boy for DG Performance, and both Corona and Irwindale Raceways put bounties on his head for any rider that could beat him.
At the end of 1978 he began racing AMA Pro Motocross, participating in the last three races of the season in the 125 MX class. In 1979 he raced the entire series with LOP Racing, taking fourth in the class at Sunshine Speedway, the best finish in his MX racing career. Over the next few years he’d end up with a total 13 top-10 finishes in the 125 MX class.
“Unfortunately, in 1980 I broke my wrist, then had a broken shoulder, so that was a bit of a throwaway year,” said Denton. “Then in 1981 I raced for Suzuki as a privateer rider, getting 10th that year in the 125 Nationals. By 1982, I came in seventh and was the top privateer…the highlight of my pro motocross career.”
In 1983, Denton found himself without a ride, and while disappointed, he continued to race local races in both 1983 and ’84. In 1985 Denton raced Arenacross in Canada, and then in 1985 he received a call from Harry Klemm, who offered him a ride on a quad for Klemm Research.
“He said he needed someone who could holeshot,” Denton remembered. “But that transition…it was really intimidating. Quads are double the width, big and intimidating. And the first thing you want to do is put your foot down. There was a lot to learn to figure out how to ride them fast.”
Denton only raced with Klemm Research for a few races, and then friend Terry Varney sponsored him, buying a couple of quads. They went racing, and Denton’s first big win was in 1985 at the LA Coliseum.
In 1987, Dental got a factory ride with Team Suzuki to race on its premier 4-wheeler ATV team, racing in the AMA’s recently-created framework for recognizing ATV racing champs — the AMA ATV Grand National Championship.
For 30 years, ATV competitors and ATV competition programs have been part of the family of AMA-sanctioned activities. And for even longer the sales of millions of ATVs have helped sustain a strong powersports network in the United States.
In 1985, the AMA created the framework for officially recognizing ATV racing champions. Within that framework, the ATV Grand National Championship combined ATV motocross and dirt-track events to crown a single champion. Denton earned the title each year from 1987 through 1994, the first year as a factory Suzuki rider and later as a privateer.
“This was the first time I’d had a full factory ride,” Denton remembers, “And I felt vindicated. To win the title in 1987 — and it almost didn’t happen when I crashed and broke my elbow, having surgery between races — that was amazing. After surgery, I raced two weeks later, taking second. I won the next race and that clinched the title for me. You’ve gotta have luck and help from the man above to do that, that’s for sure!”
Due to challenging market conditions at the time the manufacturers pulled back their support of ATV racing, but Denton doggedly continued to race motocross, dirt-track and TT at a very high level. He also promoted the sport, as well as recreational ATV riding, in regular appearances in enthusiast magazines and videos.
In 1991, Denton and his wife founded Denton Racing to provide ATV-related services, parts and accessories while continuing to support ATV competition and recreation.
After barely getting beaten in 1995, Denton only raced part time — just the TTs — in 1996, then retired from racing in 1997.
“Gary Denton was the original ATV king in American,” said Davey Coombs. “He was an exceptional SoCal motocross racer, but then made the transition to ATV racing, finding a niche where he was a natural competitor. [ATVs] were new to everyone, but he quickly showed he was a dominate force. He’s spent a lifetime in the motorcycle-related industries, and win or lose, he had a smile on his face.”
Once retired, he went to work for an RV manufacturer, taking the small, struggling company and helping it become successful in just a few years. After that success, Denton and the company started sponsoring AMA events as a company and gave away Coaches to riders in AMA Supercross and Motocross, taking the opportunity to give back to the sport.
“I never thought I’d get in to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame,” Denton said when asked how he felt about being inducted. “When I found out, I was so humbled and amazed. To be voted in by peers and be a part of the Hall of Fame is just the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me. It means the world, and I’m just blessed.”Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Denton, Gary