Ben Marcus Rules

Brody has that rare mix of speed, style and personality. Whether he’s out front, dead last or ruling the bench race, He’s a cat the boys wanna hang with and the girls wanna get with….

Greg Tomlinson - Founder/Pres. Von Zipper - March 2022

A long time ago, in a decade far far away - during a time called the 1970s - “Put something exciting between your legs” was a slogan used by motorcyclists from Sonny Barger to Malcolm Smith.

Here in the 21st Century, motocross racer Brody McLaughlin will soon put something exciting between his legs - a motorcycle that was hot before he was born. Riding for Sea of Seven clothing, Biltwell Helmets, VonZipper goggles and eyewear and the Seaweed and Gravel Shop, for 2022 McLaughlin will be racing a beautiful, orange-tank, eat-your-heart out 1974/2022 250 Mag Bullet Husqvarna in the Vintage series races up and down California.

McLaughlin is 23 years old, born in San Luis Obispo, lives in Atascadero and drives tractors as his day job. He has been racing since 2001 (three years old) beginning on a 2000 Yamaha PW50: “I’ve found my success through some pretty good amateur national race results in my younger years,” McLaughlin said. “and have progressed to the pro-am rank with some good results there in the past couple years. Have also had lots of wins and good finishes in the vintage racing scene in the past two years, including Day in the Dirt, Two Stroke Nationals, and the So Cal Vintage Classic. The flat track races I did were on a Bultaco Astro.”

Brody will wear #29 and be one of three team members of TMC Co that includes Micah Davis  #118 and 12-year-old Amari Arnold #224: Yes a pre-teen racing on a vintage 250 that weighs more than he does, even with all that hair. Amari is a Fast House-Hot Wheels amateur with a fast future. He has been racing since he was 8, lives in Murrieta and tours with his mom Natalie who is driver, coach, trainer, mechanic. Amari runs Kicker Cross and flat tracks and rides Jeff Blackmore’s Bullet with full sponsorship by Jeff and Jen Blackmore. 

All three of them will be racing on their own, custom-built, purpose-built 1974 250 Mag Bullet Husqvarnas.

And the purpose for which they were built? Winning races with 20th Century style and 21st Century speed.

The construction of those 1974 Husky 250s has been a joint effort of TMC Co, GDT Framing, Vintage Husky, Blackmore Ranch, Steve Donald, SplatteredInk, Soldiers for Jesus, Killer Dana, Robbins Nest Builders, One Life and Jimmy Johns. 

But Tom Contino of TMC Co is the mad scientist that turned the 1974 Bullet into a 21st Century Rocket.

This Husqvarna 250 Mag Bullet is an alchemy of beautiful, Scandinavian 20th Century style with 21st Century tech. In three Latin words - Levior, Velocius, Fortior = Lighter, Faster, Stronger. 

According to Tom Contino of TCM Co: “The Bullet is built with modifications to enhance performance and handling that are reminiscent of the ‘works’ bikes that were built in the 1970’s.  However, the Bullet build went several steps further.”

 Think of that scene from Pearl Harbor where Jimmy Doolittle is leading the furious stripping down of those B-25s to get them off the deck of an aircraft carrier and get some payback. That was Contino’s challenge.

Levior = The original Husky 250 had a fighting weight of 220 pounds, and it was a fight to ride it. With modifications to remove excessive weight in the steel frame, refining the engine and gear box and rear shocks and other suspension mods using Unobtanium, titanium, aerospace-grade aluminum, ceramics, carbon fiber and other 21st Century materials, the modern Mag Bullet barely weighs 180 pounds (!): “The  carbon fiber components are number plates, air bell, seat pan, inner fender and the engine ignition cover,” Contino said. “From Ohlins rear shocks to the all-aluminum triple tree, steering stem, forks, spacers and valves being aluminum, to the front and rear axles being a new aerospace grade aluminum and titanium, every detail has special attention being paid to remove excessive weight, to increase the winning advantage by being lightweight.”

There is a long laundry list of all the modifications large and small made to the original Husky 250 but in the final mix. Tom Contino made special mention of the tail pipe: “It has a custom pipe that was built by Dave Miller before he passed away. Dave and I worked together to come up with the ultimate pipe providing max torque and horsepower.”

Levior est Velocius = Lighter is faster.  This thing is a rocket. A beautiful rocket as many consider those 1970s Husqvarnas to be some of the most elegant dirt bikes ever made.

High tech for their time, according to Tom White at motocrossactionmag.com: “...1973 would prove to be a landmark year in the development of the motocross motorcycle. Most significant was the introduction of Honda’s 250 Elsinore, which proved to be a very competitive and reliable machine right off the showroom floor. The European offerings from Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Germany and Spain couldn’t match the fit, finish and reliability, and their sales sunk quicker than the Titanic.

Husqvarna, the leading European brand in motocross competition motorcycles, answered with a milestone machine in 1974. The “Mag 250” demonstrated Husqvarna’s ability to market a true “works” caliber motorcycle. The “Mag 250” had all-magnesium engine cases; 36mm Bing, eight-petal reed valve; moved up Girling shocks (one inch); a Motoplat ignition; longer swingarm (one inch); four-speed gearbox from the 400CR; 125-size clutch; white plastic fenders; shouldered Akront alloy rims (with Trelleborg tires), and Magura controls. It weighed 214 pounds.

The MK series Huskys (as they were called) were an immediate success in the hands of AMA National privateers. The Mag 250CR was light and powerful. It was more in keeping with the true motocross model that had been exclusive to Husqvarna in their 1963 through 1968 models. American riders like Malcolm Smith, Kent Howerton, Brad Lackey, Billy Clements, Gary Semics and Bob Grossi raced this generation of the MK-series machine successfully, and to this day the Mag 250 is still one of the most sought-after motorcycles for AHRMA competition.

The suggested retail price back in 1974 was $1495 [2021$$8511.27]. Compared to Suzuki’s TM400 at $1205, the European machines were quite a bit more expensive. As the 250 is very popular today for vintage MX racers, nice examples can cost as much as $8000. The 250CR Mag was joined in the 1974 Husqvarna lineup by the 125CR, 250WR, 360WR-RT (Road/Track), 400CR, 400WR, 450CR and 450WR.”

Brody’s relationship with TMC Co and this lovely Husky goes back to November of 2021. The Husky was made for Micah Davis, but he was unavailable so the ride was offered to Brody. He rode it for the Red Bull Day in the Dirt at Glen Helen Raceway on November 7, 2021. Brody loved the look and feel and 20th Century energy of that Husky and he fell in love with it.

Tom Contino offered to custom-build a 250 Bullet Husky for McLaughlin.  

On March 5, the thoroughly modern, thoroughly badass Husky 250 Bullet was unveiled at Blackmore Ranch in Murrieta.

Forty people showed up to check out the New Hotness, including Mike Foster from Killer Dana Surf Shop, Glen Davies from GDT Framing, Jeff Blackmore from Blackmore Ranch, John Lefevre from vintagehusky.com and Rob from Splattered Ink Print shop.

Everyone wanted to put something that wild between their legs, but the Happy Few were team riders Micah David, Brody McLaughlin and Amari Arnold.

Amari Arnold was still buzzing, a week later: “I have no words to explain how it feels to ride the Bullet! I have never ridden something so fast and so cool.”

Brody McLaughlin added: “We rode it at Blackmore Ranch for the debut where all the team members and sponsors were able to have an up close look at the bike and talk with us riders. Myself, Micah Davis, and Amari Arnold who are all team riders got to ride our Bullets and we were all blown away: Light, fast, handled like a dream, unbelievable machine. I believe everyone was as blown away by the machine just as much as our riders were. 

On Sunday we rode them at Cahuilla Creek and had the track lined with other riders and spectators there watching with their jaws dropped.”

Micah Davis was similarly jazzed: “The TMC Bullet Husky 250 Mag is 100% hand built with countless custom parts that we sourced or made in house. I’ve been lucky enough to have been able to race & test the prototype for two full race seasons. We have tested and done tons of R & D but today I’d like to say the bike is unmatched. It feels like a feather, handles like a dream & it is as fast as a .50 caliber “Bullet.”

This race year is going to be something special, Tom & Marna have been able to accumulate some amazing sponsors who have helped the program get to the next level. 

An arsenal has been made to go dominate the competition with three matching beautiful orange beasts in the pits. What would two more stallions mean without two talented jockey’s: Brody McLaughlin & Amari Arnold have joined the team. I couldn’t be more excited.

This past Saturday at Blackmore Ranch we released the news & spun some laps on their amazing track, then followed that with a test day at Cahuilla Creek on Sunday. 

Man it feels good to be back on this machine, let’s go racin’!”

Beyond that, the words thrown around most were: “Amazing bike.” “Never seen anything like it.” “Very professional presentation.” “Great event.” “Great bike.

Team Husky Bullet plan to compete in as many events as possible during the 2022 Vintage season - seven events from April to November, Glen Ellen to Boise.

For more information:

TMC CO = https://tmccorentals.com/

Sea of Seven = www.seaofseven.com/

AHRMA Vintage Series = www.ahrma.org/schedules-results/