Bob Hannah
Encyclopedia
Robert "Hurricane" Hannah (born September 26, 1956 in Lancaster, California
) was one of the most successful motocross
racers in American history. He won a total of seven AMA
national championships.
In 1976, Yamaha
took a chance on the 19-year-old Hannah, who was largely unknown outside of the local Southern California
motocross scene. Yamaha signed Hannah to race the 125cc outdoor nationals. He started out the year by winning all 5 races in the 500cc class at the Florida Winternational Series (a warm up series), but his real strength was on the 125cc bikes at the outdoor motocross circuits. He won five of the eight 125cc nationals that year en route to the championship. In 1977, Hannah hopped aboard a Yamaha 250 and won the AMA Supercross Championship in impressive fashion, taking six of the 10 rounds. He would go on to win the AMA Supercross title for three straight years.
In 1978, Hannah moved up to the 250cc ranks in the outdoor nationals with devastating results for his competition. He won a record eight consecutive 250 outdoor nationals, a record that still stood at the time of Hannah’s 1999 Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction. In 1979, he came back and dominated the 250 outdoor nationals again, handily winning the 250 MX title by earning victories in six of the 10 events.
A water skiing
accident in the Colorado River
at the end of 1979 nearly cost Hannah his career. His right leg was broken in 12 places when he hit a submerged rock and was catapulted onto the riverbank. Doctors initially told Hannah he would never be able to race again. He was forced to sit out the entire 1980 Supercross & 250 outdoor nationals series while recuperating, but returned late in the year to contest the Trans-USA series. During his recovery Hannah earned his pilot license and for the first time in his adult life found interests outside of motorcycle racing.
Hannah never was quite able to capture the magic he had during the 1970s. While he won 20 nationals during the 1980s, he never was able to capture another championship. His best results in the ‘80s were a second-place finish in the 250 MX series in 1981 and third in the same series in 1983, after switching from Yamaha to Honda. Hannah’s final national win came in the 250 outdoor national held in Millville, Minnesota
, on August 11, 1985. He continued to race full-time until 1987 and then raced occasionally in nationals until retiring in 1989.
In his 15-year career, Hannah had become the all-time win leader in AMA
motocross/Supercross history, having won 70 AMA nationals during his career. That record would stand until Jeremy McGrath
broke Hannah’s overall win record in 1999.
Hannah continued to seek the adrenaline rush even after his motorcycle-racing career ended. After leaving motocross, Hannah took up the sport of airplane racing
in the unlimited class. When inducted into the AMA
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 1999, Hannah was living near Boise, Idaho
, running a sport aviation sales company and winery. In 2000, he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
.
Lancaster, California
Lancaster is a charter city in northern Los Angeles County, in the high desert, near the Kern County line. Lancaster currently ranks as the 30th largest city in California, and the 148th largest city in the United States. Lancaster is the principal city within the Antelope Valley...
) was one of the most successful motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
racers in American history. He won a total of seven AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
national championships.
In 1976, Yamaha
Yamaha Motor Company
, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
took a chance on the 19-year-old Hannah, who was largely unknown outside of the local Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
motocross scene. Yamaha signed Hannah to race the 125cc outdoor nationals. He started out the year by winning all 5 races in the 500cc class at the Florida Winternational Series (a warm up series), but his real strength was on the 125cc bikes at the outdoor motocross circuits. He won five of the eight 125cc nationals that year en route to the championship. In 1977, Hannah hopped aboard a Yamaha 250 and won the AMA Supercross Championship in impressive fashion, taking six of the 10 rounds. He would go on to win the AMA Supercross title for three straight years.
In 1978, Hannah moved up to the 250cc ranks in the outdoor nationals with devastating results for his competition. He won a record eight consecutive 250 outdoor nationals, a record that still stood at the time of Hannah’s 1999 Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction. In 1979, he came back and dominated the 250 outdoor nationals again, handily winning the 250 MX title by earning victories in six of the 10 events.
A water skiing
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
accident in the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
at the end of 1979 nearly cost Hannah his career. His right leg was broken in 12 places when he hit a submerged rock and was catapulted onto the riverbank. Doctors initially told Hannah he would never be able to race again. He was forced to sit out the entire 1980 Supercross & 250 outdoor nationals series while recuperating, but returned late in the year to contest the Trans-USA series. During his recovery Hannah earned his pilot license and for the first time in his adult life found interests outside of motorcycle racing.
Hannah never was quite able to capture the magic he had during the 1970s. While he won 20 nationals during the 1980s, he never was able to capture another championship. His best results in the ‘80s were a second-place finish in the 250 MX series in 1981 and third in the same series in 1983, after switching from Yamaha to Honda. Hannah’s final national win came in the 250 outdoor national held in Millville, Minnesota
Millville, Minnesota
Millville is a city along the Zumbro River in Wabasha County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 182 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, on August 11, 1985. He continued to race full-time until 1987 and then raced occasionally in nationals until retiring in 1989.
In his 15-year career, Hannah had become the all-time win leader in AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
motocross/Supercross history, having won 70 AMA nationals during his career. That record would stand until Jeremy McGrath
Jeremy McGrath
Jeremy McGrath is one of the most popular American Motocross/Supercross champions in the history of the sport. He was most active in the 1990s earning the title the "King of Supercross." His tricks during jumps on the supercross track, the most famous of which he called the "Nac Nac", helped spawn...
broke Hannah’s overall win record in 1999.
Hannah continued to seek the adrenaline rush even after his motorcycle-racing career ended. After leaving motocross, Hannah took up the sport of airplane racing
Air racing
- History :The first ever air race was held in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1908. The participants piloted the only 4 airships in the U.S. around a course located at Forest Park...
in the unlimited class. When inducted into the AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
in 1999, Hannah was living near Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, running a sport aviation sales company and winery. In 2000, he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is a Hall of Fame and museum for American motorsports legends. It was originally located in Novi, Michigan and it moved to the Detroit Science Center in 2009.-Museum:...
.
Career Highlights
- 1976 125cc National Champion
- 1977 250cc Supercross Champion
- 1978 250cc Supercross Champion
- 1978 250cc National Champion
- 1978 Trans-AMA Champion
- 1979 250cc Supercross Champion
- 1979 250cc National Champion
- 1987 Motocross des Nations Champion