Legends and Heroes Tour to Salute Billy Urban

Courtesy of Legends and Heroes

A California favorite, Billy Urban, will be honored this weekend at the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Opener at Hangtown. Billy first hit the trails aboard a Kawasaki 120 street-trail machine, quickly removing the lights and blowing up the rear shocks all the while honing his riding skills. Urban’s first “real” dirtbike was a 125 Penton and he was soon a regular on the Southern California racing scene competing against the top motocrossers of the day like Marty Tripes, Marty Smith and Broc Glover to name just a few. As a young up and coming racer, Billy was known for his passion for racing in the dirt and the always infectious smile he brought to the track each weekend.

Alex Moroz:
“Broc Glover was and still is a huge Billy Urban fan and he tells a story about Billy showing up to one of the major So Cal CMC motocross events with his three bikes: a Puch 125, a Maico and a Husky. Urban enters three classes, on three different motorcycle brands, and beats top national caliber riders including Rich Thorwaldson, Marty Tripes and Mike Runyard. Making Urban’s feat even more impressive was that these early machines shifted on the right – so not only did he win three races – he did it on bikes that shifted on the opposite side!”

In 1971 Billy won the famed Hangtown Motocross Classic aboard his Puch 125. At only 16 years of age, Urban led the entire Hangtown field on his European bike and without ever looking back and making Hangtown history along the way.

Urban went on as a sponsored rider with Western Truck Equipment and Tom Houser’s race team with teammate and local Southern California hero Rick Pinnick. Saddled up on a 1973 Honda 125 at the time, Urban battled every weekend against tough riders like Marty Smith on his way to winning many races in the prestigious CMC series. Soon after this run Billy met his wife Kui to whom he’s been happily married for more than 30 years.

Today, Billy Urban runs a successful landscaping and excavating business, he still rides motorcycles in the desert. In recent years he’s joined forces with his old friend and racing rival, Marty Smith and together they manage the Slaton Racing Team.

Mr. Urban will be presented the Legends and Heroes award by Dunlop’s Broc Glover and presented with a Rockwell Timepiece at Opening ceremonies on Saturday followed by a meet and greet at the Legends and Heroes display Saturday afternoon.

For more information: www.legendsandheroestour.org

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