BRAD LACKEY STATEMENT ABOUT DANNY "MAGOO"
CHANDLER'S PASSING AND STATUS OF VAN FUND
Danny "Magoo" Chandler |
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. |
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.
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Credit: Motocross Action Magazine Archives |
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
  
For more information contact: Brad & Lori Lackey E-Mail:
BradLackey@comcast.net
To learn more about the Danny Chandler Van Fund or make
another type of donation visit:
www.LegendsAndHeroesTour.org or
www.BradLackey.com.
Submitted by: Resmarket, Inc., Box 231765, Encinitas, CA
92023-1765
Contact: Scott Cox
scott@resmarket.com tel 760-436-9937 fax
760-753-6906
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