Chris Haines says he never expected to be inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame—that wrenching for a race team left little time for daydreaming about future laurels.
For Haines, every day of his nearly 50 years in motorcycling was about focus, whether that was riding a grueling desert race or rebuilding a bike in the back of a box truck in a motel parking lot.
“I always tried to make it fun,” Haines says. “But the years of tuning for factory teams are tough on you. The expectations are high. You’re not just out there to have a good showing and promote the brand. We were there to win. If you weren’t married to it, you weren’t going to be good.”
Haines was more than good.
After starting in dirt track, Haines became a speedway mechanic, working with future AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Bruce Penhall.
Next, he worked with future Hall of Famer Tony DiStefano on Team Suzuki.
Then came American Honda, where Haines expanded his reputation as motocross’ premier 125cc two-stroke tuner.
Haines also was an exceptional racer in his own right, winning several Baja 1000 and Baja 500 class championships with fellow Class of 2016 member Jack Johnson.
His record speaks for itself:
• 15-time Baja 1000 winner
• Three-time Baja 500 winner
• Four-time AMA Golden Wrench Award winner
• Six-time Motocross of Nations mechanic (world title each year)
• Factory motocross mechanic 10 years
• Pike’s Peak Hill Climb champion
• Class 40 champion Baja 2000
• Class 50 champion, Baja 1000
But Haines shares the credit for his success with the people who encouraged him and mentored him through the years.
The kid who started racing and tuning motorcycles in the 1960s had no idea where his career choice would lead.
Of all the victories, the most memorable for Haines came in 2004.
“I got to compete on a team with [AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend] Malcolm Smith and [2016 inductee] Jack Johnson, and we won our division [Vet class] in the Baja 1000,” he says. “Being able to ride with guys like that is amazing. It was a Hall of Fame team. Johnson is one of the great off-road riders, and Malcolm is an icon. Fifteen years before that race, I never would have dreamed I’d be riding with Malcolm. It was like being in the movie ‘On Any Sunday.’”