Steve Baker
1st American
By Shawn McDonald
Background
Born: Bellingham, Washington
Date: September 5, 1952
Height: 5’6"
Racing weight: 120 Lbs
Sister: Penny
Married: Janice
Stepchildren: 2 boys
Business: Steve Baker Kawasaki Suzuki
5250 Guide Meridan Road
Bellingham, WA. 98226 (360)733-2517
Championships: 1977 Formula 750 World Championship, 1975 U.S Roadrace Championship, 3 Canadian Roadrace Championships, 2nd place 1977 500cc World Championship, 1977 Daytona 200 winner, 1977 Daytona 250cc winner
Major sponsors in your career: Father, Trev Deeley, Yamaha of Canada, Yamaha of Japan, Suzuki of Italy
#32 Steve Baker from the small town of Bellingham, Washington made a major impact on the world of Grand Prix roadracing by being the first American to win a world championship. Steve was small, quiet, wore glasses, an American and very focused on his goal. Not the European image at all. He came from the local flatrack racing scene of the northwest and moved on to win Canadian and U.S roadrace championships before moving to Europe. 1977 was Steve’s year as he started out by sweeping Daytona races by winning the 200 and the 250cc titles. The Daytona 200 that year was split into two 100-mile events because of safety concerns on the tires lasting very long under the power of the 750’s. Steve chased down Roberts in the first heat and moved by him on lap five. Steve then extended the lead to 28 seconds at the checkered flag. The second heat never got off the line due to a torrential rainstorm and the race was then called a final because 50% of the race was completed. He also nailed down the 250cc win to sweep the weekend. Steve along with Pat Hennen from California lead a two pronged American attack on the 500cc championship held by Barry Sheene from England. Steve was teamed with 350cc world champion Johnny Cecotto and the legendary world champion Giacomo Agostini on Team Yamaha. The Yamaha’s were all new 4 cylinder designs that year and were not fully sorted out. Steve still chased Sheene hard throughout the year and finished in 2nd place. The world championship came in the new Formula 750 class to accommodate the popularity and speed of the 750 Yamaha’s, Suzuki’s, and Kawasaki’s that were dominant in A.M.A. nationals. Steve had little trouble riding the reliable TZ 750 to the championship. Steve was also one of the few riders to race a TZ 750 Champion framed flattracker at the Indianapolis Mile where Kenny Roberts won in the scariest ride of his life. After retiring from racing in 1980, Steve opened his own motorcycle shop in his hometown of Bellingham. Nineteen years later he still comes in every day and runs the store.
Bench Racer: What got you started in motorcycles in the first place?
Steve Baker: My Father. He basically started riding, and then he had to get me one because I had always wanted to go along with him. Basically that’s all I did from when I was about 12 years old was go ride the trails. Some friends of mine had a flattrack in their backyard and I started racing with them and that was fun.
BR:What role did your family have in supporting your early riding?
SB: The first bike I raced was a little Suzuki 100. My Father worked with the local Yamaha dealer and so that didn’t work out real well. So the next year my Dad and the Yamaha dealer got me on a Yamaha.
BR: How long after you started riding did you start to race?
SB: Three years.
BR:Were you successful when you first started?
SB: Uh huh.
BR: Can you expand on that thought?
SB: Back then we raced little 100’s and stuff like that. Hannegan Speedway wanted to support the smaller bikes so they built a smaller track on the inside of the regular track. I got the chance to ride the Suzuki 100 and won my first race there.
BR: What was your first race that made you stand out from the rest of the crowd?
SB: Good question. I don’t know (pause). There was an indoor race in Vancouver B.C. and Evel Kneviel was jumping indoors there. I was 16 years old then and they paid pretty good money because of the hype of Evel Kneviel. I happened to win that one. It’s not my favorite one, but it was something unique.
BR: You started out flattrack racing at Castle Rock and Hannegan speedways.SB: When I first started racing, we raced at Hannegan and Graham speedways and then there was Castle Rock and Sidewinders. We would look at the weather on Friday afternoon and see where it would likely run versus rainout. We would leave about noon and race at a couple of tracks. Back then you could ride three days a week, which was really neat.
BR: How did your flattrack experience affect you future roadracing style
SB: When I first started roadracing, I thought this roadracing thing was a real easy deal after hanging onto a 750 flattracker. Not so, it’s not easy roadracing. The first roadrace I raced in at Westwood B.C. I actually lead everybody for the first three corners and then fell off for the fourth one. I was never afraid to slide around a bit or get into the corner hot. The tires back then compared to what we have now are far different. I started on the "V" Dunlop’s, which had tread clear up the side, and you couldn’t really slide those tires. As I got into the bigger bikes the tires were more forgiving and you could actually slide those coming out of corners and not fall off of them. Flattrack really did help because you knew what to do if it got really sideways on you. The only thing is with a roadrace bike is that you didn’t have enough steering lock to keep out of trouble if you got too far sideways.
BR: What made you turn from dirt to pavement racing?
SB: I just had to try the roadrace thing. I was kind of a small guy to throw a big dirttrack bike around. It seemed like the flattrack equipment I had at the time wasn’t as good as some of my competitors (Yamaha 750 vs Harley Davidson XR 750). I felt if I got hooked up with the right roadracer it might help my career.
BR: In 1977 you were the first American to win a world title in roadracing by winning the inaugural F-750 championship. Most people think that Kenny Roberts was the first American to win a world title in 1978?
SB: I rode for Yamaha of Canada and Kenny Roberts rode for Yamaha of U.S.
For some reason they wanted to keep him concentrated on the A.M.A. nationals. Yamaha of Canada on the other hand decided it would okay for me to go to Europe, so I went over a year before he did. In that year it was the first year that Yamaha had come back with a 500cc bike. I did all the development work on the 500 for a year. I was supposed to be the #2 rider on the 500 that year because Johnny Cecotto was the #1 rider based on his 350cc world championship the year before. Johnny fell off in the second race of the year and suddenly all the pressure was on me. They then hired Agostini as my teammate to ride the 500’s.
BR: Throughout your racing career who was your greatest rival?
SB: I don’t know about rivals. I think that it was a privilege to ride with Kenny Roberts, Barry Sheene and Agostini. As far as rivals there were a lot of talented people that could beat you on their day. I went over to Europe with only 750cc experience and I thought I could handle these guys. You get on their home turf in the 500cc and the 250cc races and there is some fierce competition.
BR: Who was the best racer you saw or raced against?
SB: I got to race against Kel Carruthers. He can teach you a few things. That’s one advantage Kenny had was that he had Kel to help him. I would say Kenny though. We had some good races.
BR: You had a long racing relationship with Trev Deeley and Bob Work from Canada. How did that get started and develop?
SB: Bob Work was the guy who gave me the chance. I had mentioned at Hannegan speedway to a guy who worked for Trev Deeley that I would like to try roadracing. The next week I got a phone call. Trev, is a heck of a guy, he is a motorcyclist. He helped out a lot of people like myself, Jimmy Dunn. We had a pretty good team when we went to Ontario. He actually sponsored Barry Sheene on a 350cc Yamaha there.
BR: What do you think made you different from all the other racers and made you a champion?
SB: I have no idea. I had the equipment, we did a lot of hard work, and I was focused. To achieve a championship everything has to be correct from the equipment, the sponsors, to setting things ups and to a little good luck.
BR: If you were to start motorcycle racing today, what type of racing would you do?
SB: I always have a soft spot for dirttrack racing. It’s a lot of fun. Motorcycles have changed a lot today because you can go buy a really good motocross bike. The only thing is that it looks pretty hard on people’s bodies. I hope for a revival in flattrack. It has always been so good around our area. It needs a shot in the arm to get things going again.
BR: What do you see as different in today’s racers good and bad as to when you were racing?
SB: They can make more money. I think the competition is more serious and closer than years ago because the machinery is probably better. I don’t go to many national races anymore but my friend Steve Crevier from Canada keeps me informed. I think that it is good to what is happening to roadracing now. It’s still political like it used to be. I think there are a lot of classes now which is good to keep people interested.
BR: Did you ever have a racing hero?
SB: Guys like Dick Mann, Gary Nixon and all those guys you read about back then. I got to race with a few of those people. I don’t know if I have just one hero. Agostini was really a cool guy.
BR: Do you still ride today?
SB: A little bit. If I didn’t have a motorcycle shop to run I would probably ride more but I get burned out being around them all the time. Couple of years ago I sold my street bike which was a two stroke Suzuki RG 500. I shouldn’t have done that it was a lot of fun. I ride a little bit here and there on a dirt bike, watercraft or streetbike.
BR: What has kept you involved with motorcycles for over 30 years?
SB: I guess I just love motorcycling. I always wanted to own a shop. I do feel I know that I know what I am talking about in running my business. It’s like a hobby that you love, hopefully you can make a little money at it.
BR: Where do you see motorcycle racing heading in the future (flattrack to supercross today)?
SB: I see Supercross going for a long time. I would really like to see flattrack come up with a program to rebuild. At the time I came up the experience you got flattracking was great for roadracing. It’s a good venue for racing. It’s exciting. I don’t know where it is going to go though. Hannegan speedway has been around a long time but we just can’t seem to get the enough riders or people up here anymore. I’m personally going to give them a hand to help out with their flattrack program this year. I would like to get Randy Skiver and Pat Marinacci and all the old guys up here this year. Not to race though.
BR: You have seen friends who are racers die or become seriously injured in your career. Did this ever want to make you stop?
SB: It didn’t really make me want to stop. It scared me. In 1977 I lost quite a few people I knew in Europe. It kind of makes you think, but you still have to go racing. Plus it was in the contract.
BR: Why did you stop racing?
SB: It was injuries. I finally fell off. The crash at Mosport left a standing impression with me. It scared me enough that I didn’t want to fall off on these things again. I fell off the final time at Brands Hatch in England. Basically it’s through injuries I stopped and also sponsorship went away. I’ve seen a lot of people that really enjoy racing, which I don’t have a problem with. I enjoy racing, but you have to look at the business side of it also.
BR: What was your most serious injury?
SB: In Mosport race track in Canada. I broke my left arm and leg at the same time. I hit a concrete wall that wasn’t protected. It was for cars but not for motorcycles.
BR: In one word what would you say about your racing career.
SB: A lot of fun.
Background
Born: Bellingham, Washington
Date: September 5, 1952
Height: 5’6"
Racing weight: 120 Lbs
Sister: Penny
Married: Janice
Stepchildren: 2 boys
Business: Steve Baker Kawasaki Suzuki
5250 Guide Meridan Road
Bellingham, WA. 98226 (360)733-2517
Championships: 1977 Formula 750 World Championship, 1975 U.S Roadrace Championship, 3 Canadian Roadrace Championships, 2nd place 1977 500cc World Championship, 1977 Daytona 200 winner, 1977 Daytona 250cc winner
Major sponsors in your career: Father, Trev Deeley, Yamaha of Canada, Yamaha of Japan, Suzuki of Italy
#32 Steve Baker from the small town of Bellingham, Washington made a major impact on the world of Grand Prix roadracing by being the first American to win a world championship. Steve was small, quiet, wore glasses, an American and very focused on his goal. Not the European image at all. He came from the local flatrack racing scene of the northwest and moved on to win Canadian and U.S roadrace championships before moving to Europe. 1977 was Steve’s year as he started out by sweeping Daytona races by winning the 200 and the 250cc titles. The Daytona 200 that year was split into two 100-mile events because of safety concerns on the tires lasting very long under the power of the 750’s. Steve chased down Roberts in the first heat and moved by him on lap five. Steve then extended the lead to 28 seconds at the checkered flag. The second heat never got off the line due to a torrential rainstorm and the race was then called a final because 50% of the race was completed. He also nailed down the 250cc win to sweep the weekend. Steve along with Pat Hennen from California lead a two pronged American attack on the 500cc championship held by Barry Sheene from England. Steve was teamed with 350cc world champion Johnny Cecotto and the legendary world champion Giacomo Agostini on Team Yamaha. The Yamaha’s were all new 4 cylinder designs that year and were not fully sorted out. Steve still chased Sheene hard throughout the year and finished in 2nd place. The world championship came in the new Formula 750 class to accommodate the popularity and speed of the 750 Yamaha’s, Suzuki’s, and Kawasaki’s that were dominant in A.M.A. nationals. Steve had little trouble riding the reliable TZ 750 to the championship. Steve was also one of the few riders to race a TZ 750 Champion framed flattracker at the Indianapolis Mile where Kenny Roberts won in the scariest ride of his life. After retiring from racing in 1980, Steve opened his own motorcycle shop in his hometown of Bellingham. Nineteen years later he still comes in every day and runs the store.
Bench Racer: What got you started in motorcycles in the first place?
Steve Baker: My Father. He basically started riding, and then he had to get me one because I had always wanted to go along with him. Basically that’s all I did from when I was about 12 years old was go ride the trails. Some friends of mine had a flattrack in their backyard and I started racing with them and that was fun.
BR:What role did your family have in supporting your early riding?
SB: The first bike I raced was a little Suzuki 100. My Father worked with the local Yamaha dealer and so that didn’t work out real well. So the next year my Dad and the Yamaha dealer got me on a Yamaha.
BR: How long after you started riding did you start to race?
SB: Three years.
BR:Were you successful when you first started?
SB: Uh huh.
BR: Can you expand on that thought?
SB: Back then we raced little 100’s and stuff like that. Hannegan Speedway wanted to support the smaller bikes so they built a smaller track on the inside of the regular track. I got the chance to ride the Suzuki 100 and won my first race there.
BR: What was your first race that made you stand out from the rest of the crowd?
SB: Good question. I don’t know (pause). There was an indoor race in Vancouver B.C. and Evel Kneviel was jumping indoors there. I was 16 years old then and they paid pretty good money because of the hype of Evel Kneviel. I happened to win that one. It’s not my favorite one, but it was something unique.
BR: You started out flattrack racing at Castle Rock and Hannegan speedways.SB: When I first started racing, we raced at Hannegan and Graham speedways and then there was Castle Rock and Sidewinders. We would look at the weather on Friday afternoon and see where it would likely run versus rainout. We would leave about noon and race at a couple of tracks. Back then you could ride three days a week, which was really neat.
BR: How did your flattrack experience affect you future roadracing style
SB: When I first started roadracing, I thought this roadracing thing was a real easy deal after hanging onto a 750 flattracker. Not so, it’s not easy roadracing. The first roadrace I raced in at Westwood B.C. I actually lead everybody for the first three corners and then fell off for the fourth one. I was never afraid to slide around a bit or get into the corner hot. The tires back then compared to what we have now are far different. I started on the "V" Dunlop’s, which had tread clear up the side, and you couldn’t really slide those tires. As I got into the bigger bikes the tires were more forgiving and you could actually slide those coming out of corners and not fall off of them. Flattrack really did help because you knew what to do if it got really sideways on you. The only thing is with a roadrace bike is that you didn’t have enough steering lock to keep out of trouble if you got too far sideways.
BR: What made you turn from dirt to pavement racing?
SB: I just had to try the roadrace thing. I was kind of a small guy to throw a big dirttrack bike around. It seemed like the flattrack equipment I had at the time wasn’t as good as some of my competitors (Yamaha 750 vs Harley Davidson XR 750). I felt if I got hooked up with the right roadracer it might help my career.
BR: In 1977 you were the first American to win a world title in roadracing by winning the inaugural F-750 championship. Most people think that Kenny Roberts was the first American to win a world title in 1978?
SB: I rode for Yamaha of Canada and Kenny Roberts rode for Yamaha of U.S.
For some reason they wanted to keep him concentrated on the A.M.A. nationals. Yamaha of Canada on the other hand decided it would okay for me to go to Europe, so I went over a year before he did. In that year it was the first year that Yamaha had come back with a 500cc bike. I did all the development work on the 500 for a year. I was supposed to be the #2 rider on the 500 that year because Johnny Cecotto was the #1 rider based on his 350cc world championship the year before. Johnny fell off in the second race of the year and suddenly all the pressure was on me. They then hired Agostini as my teammate to ride the 500’s.
BR: Throughout your racing career who was your greatest rival?
SB: I don’t know about rivals. I think that it was a privilege to ride with Kenny Roberts, Barry Sheene and Agostini. As far as rivals there were a lot of talented people that could beat you on their day. I went over to Europe with only 750cc experience and I thought I could handle these guys. You get on their home turf in the 500cc and the 250cc races and there is some fierce competition.
BR: Who was the best racer you saw or raced against?
SB: I got to race against Kel Carruthers. He can teach you a few things. That’s one advantage Kenny had was that he had Kel to help him. I would say Kenny though. We had some good races.
BR: You had a long racing relationship with Trev Deeley and Bob Work from Canada. How did that get started and develop?
SB: Bob Work was the guy who gave me the chance. I had mentioned at Hannegan speedway to a guy who worked for Trev Deeley that I would like to try roadracing. The next week I got a phone call. Trev, is a heck of a guy, he is a motorcyclist. He helped out a lot of people like myself, Jimmy Dunn. We had a pretty good team when we went to Ontario. He actually sponsored Barry Sheene on a 350cc Yamaha there.
BR: What do you think made you different from all the other racers and made you a champion?
SB: I have no idea. I had the equipment, we did a lot of hard work, and I was focused. To achieve a championship everything has to be correct from the equipment, the sponsors, to setting things ups and to a little good luck.
BR: If you were to start motorcycle racing today, what type of racing would you do?
SB: I always have a soft spot for dirttrack racing. It’s a lot of fun. Motorcycles have changed a lot today because you can go buy a really good motocross bike. The only thing is that it looks pretty hard on people’s bodies. I hope for a revival in flattrack. It has always been so good around our area. It needs a shot in the arm to get things going again.
BR: What do you see as different in today’s racers good and bad as to when you were racing?
SB: They can make more money. I think the competition is more serious and closer than years ago because the machinery is probably better. I don’t go to many national races anymore but my friend Steve Crevier from Canada keeps me informed. I think that it is good to what is happening to roadracing now. It’s still political like it used to be. I think there are a lot of classes now which is good to keep people interested.
BR: Did you ever have a racing hero?
SB: Guys like Dick Mann, Gary Nixon and all those guys you read about back then. I got to race with a few of those people. I don’t know if I have just one hero. Agostini was really a cool guy.
BR: Do you still ride today?
SB: A little bit. If I didn’t have a motorcycle shop to run I would probably ride more but I get burned out being around them all the time. Couple of years ago I sold my street bike which was a two stroke Suzuki RG 500. I shouldn’t have done that it was a lot of fun. I ride a little bit here and there on a dirt bike, watercraft or streetbike.
BR: What has kept you involved with motorcycles for over 30 years?
SB: I guess I just love motorcycling. I always wanted to own a shop. I do feel I know that I know what I am talking about in running my business. It’s like a hobby that you love, hopefully you can make a little money at it.
BR: Where do you see motorcycle racing heading in the future (flattrack to supercross today)?
SB: I see Supercross going for a long time. I would really like to see flattrack come up with a program to rebuild. At the time I came up the experience you got flattracking was great for roadracing. It’s a good venue for racing. It’s exciting. I don’t know where it is going to go though. Hannegan speedway has been around a long time but we just can’t seem to get the enough riders or people up here anymore. I’m personally going to give them a hand to help out with their flattrack program this year. I would like to get Randy Skiver and Pat Marinacci and all the old guys up here this year. Not to race though.
BR: You have seen friends who are racers die or become seriously injured in your career. Did this ever want to make you stop?
SB: It didn’t really make me want to stop. It scared me. In 1977 I lost quite a few people I knew in Europe. It kind of makes you think, but you still have to go racing. Plus it was in the contract.
BR: Why did you stop racing?
SB: It was injuries. I finally fell off. The crash at Mosport left a standing impression with me. It scared me enough that I didn’t want to fall off on these things again. I fell off the final time at Brands Hatch in England. Basically it’s through injuries I stopped and also sponsorship went away. I’ve seen a lot of people that really enjoy racing, which I don’t have a problem with. I enjoy racing, but you have to look at the business side of it also.
BR: What was your most serious injury?
SB: In Mosport race track in Canada. I broke my left arm and leg at the same time. I hit a concrete wall that wasn’t protected. It was for cars but not for motorcycles.
BR: In one word what would you say about your racing career.
SB: A lot of fun.
