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Danny
"Magoo" Chandler
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May
6, 2010 - FULLERTON, CA
It
is with mixed emotions that I write to Danny's friends and the
world. While we are all extremely saddened by the sudden passing
of our friend and my little motocross brother, we are also happy
that Danny is at peace now. He is probably already looking at how
to turn one cloud's double into a triple and see if he can do it
with one foot off and one hand off his bent handlebar!
Danny
and I grew up racing in Northern California together and taking on
our rival "SoCal" racers knowing that we would have
something to prove. Danny was always up for the challenge. The
red-headed dynamo from the Sierra Nevada foothills always amazed
me and other much more experienced and accomplished riders with
his fully-pinned approach to straights, turns and of course,
jumps.
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I
was very proud of him yet hardly surprised when I learned that he had
decimated the competition at the 1982 Trophee
and Motocross
des Nations
winning all four motos. It's what I would have expected out of Danny.
It brought a smile to my face later when I heard a story about an
official from one of the des Nations events. Apparently he complained
to Danny's team manager and my friend Roger DeCoster that Danny was
riding too crazy, clipping trees on his jumps, etc. He said he was
going to hurt himself. Roger simply just showed the official Danny's
lap times and walked away.
This is how we all will remember
Magoo.
In the past 12 months a lot of great people and I have
worked toward getting Danny a new van to improve his way of life,
which had deteriorated since his 1985 accident in Paris. I know Danny
was excited about it and extremely appreciative to all those who
contributed. He was genuinely surprised and humbled at the outpouring
of support by all of his fans. Although he never got the chance to
ride in his new van, he did see pictures of it and approved the new
graphics that were being applied at the time of his passing. He
really thought they were cool.
I just wish I had started the
van project sooner.
As they say about hindsight, even a year
or two earlier would've given Danny the opportunity to enjoy his life
and do more of things he wished he could have done before Tuesday,
May 4th. Now, as this is all swirling about for Lori and I, we are
conscious of what should happen with the unfinished van project and
all the fine individuals and companies that contributed. There will
be decisions made in due time; all with Danny's and his family's best
intentions in mind. The van was going to improve Danny's life by
giving him the ability to get out and continue his passion for
teaching kids motorcycle and motocross safety and I'm confident and
hopeful that we can continue to fulfill at least part of Danny's
mission. As soon as Danny's affairs have been settled, we'll have a
better idea of what to do and we'll let the public know. Please bear
with us and understand that whatever decisions are made, they will be
done with concern, forethought and guidance by others close to Danny
and the van project.
I will miss Danny with all my heart and I
want to thank everyone around the world who felt the same about the
incredible Mr. Magoo.
Brad Lackey
MXA'S MAGOO PHOTO GALLERY
Hangtown was the hometown National for Danny Chandler.
What was it about the duckbill visor that Danny seemed so devoted too?
Always high flying and crowd pleasing.
Drag racing Bob Hannah to Saddleback's Webco Hill.
Who invented the "Nac-Nac"? Magoo entertains for a Dirt Bike Magazine cover shoot way back in 1978.
There was a reason one of the most famous jumps on the National circuit was called the "Magoo Double." Danny showed up at Saddleback and proceeded to do what no one thought was possible.
Stadiums seemed too confining for Danny's riding style so he never had the success indoors that he had outdoors.
If there was a Southern California equivalent to Danny Chandler - in both riding style and cool nickname - it was Juan "Burrito" Benavidez.
Proving his versatility, Magoo added a Superbikers win to his race record.
After his stellar career in America, Danny moved to Europe to contest the GP circuit, first with Kawasaki and then KTM.
Danny "Magoo" Chandler - always a showman.
Rest In Peace Danny - You Won't Be Forgotten.
