Greetings,
Having read the thread started by Kurt Adams, 100 Berkshire Father's day present, it got me to wondering if some of you may also have a story you would be willing to share of how your father was, and hopefully still is, part of your Penton experience. Being as it is fathers day it seems like an appropriate topic.
Thanks,
Paul
Not my father, but my brother, Rik, in Texas introduced me to Penton motorcycles. One Christmas, a very large Honda shipping crate arrived in Conneautville, PA, addressed to me. Upon removal of the outside packing, I found a 1974 Penton 250cc MX scrambler lashed to the pallet, along with extra tires and exhaust pipes. I had ridden this very bike in Texas, and knew it to be extremely fast, even with my bulk. Rik had sworn off 2-wheeled fun by then, and he and my nephews had great sport packaging the new "Honda." Over time I acquired new Preston Petty fenders and a number plate/toolbox, cables, etc., (mostly from the old Dirt Works in Youngstown, OH), thinking I would someday restore it. When it became evident that I probably wouldn't ever get around to the Penton, I decided to find it a new home. Paul Danik followed my three years as president of the Ohio Valley BSA Owners Club, and he ended up with this Penton. You'll have to ask him about "the rest of the story." I hope this yarn is appropriate for this thread!
Not Penton, but we used to go to the local fathers day car show, myself, my son and my grandson. Just didn't make it this year.
I have a father / daughter Penton story in the making. In 2009, I finished a restoration on a 1973 Honda CR250. We went to VMD where I raced and with the help of my daughter and nephew as pit crew I took a first. About 6 months later my daughter asked if she could race Vintage MX and wanted to know if we could restore a Penton. At VMD she was drawn to all the Penton bikes and that's all she wanted to race. As soon as I heard this I was all over the opportunity to start a project with her.
I'm divorced but remain very close and active with my daughters. In addition to all the softball, volleyball, basketball, cross country and academic events we always made time to go dirt biking. Both of my daughters started riding when they were 5 and continue to enjoy it today, they are 21 and 18. Riding has always been a way to get them away and stay close to them.
So back to the Penton project. I set out looking for a bike but couldn't find anything so I started buying pieces. Literally, I bought a frame, hubs, forks, engine a tank and started from there. We then started buying some new parts as needed.(I also need to thank many POG members & people for their help, Chicago Jerry, Gary Ellis, Larry Perkins, Tom Brosius, Vintage Iron and Al Buehner).
The project is taking longer than expected but only because my daughter wants to be involved in the build. We have juggled working on it between her being away at school and now her summer internship. She has been involved in everything including lacing the wheels, replacing the fork tubes and rebuilding the forks, installing wheel bearings and seals....
As much fun as it is to do this together I just hope that it's something she remembers years from now and maybe when she has kids of her own she can share the story of how she came to love Pentons and how she built one. Once it is finished I have a feeling she will never let this go.
Our target is VMD 2011 so hopefully we'll be able to have it in Ohio. It's a 1974 Penton 175 Jackpiner and although it is not 100% original we're proud to be resurrecting a Penton from the grave and getting it back on the track. We'll post pictures soon.
Motorcycling has been a big part of my life and I think it is a great family activity! I'm a lucky Dad of two great daughters.
Thanks for letting me share.
Mike Leon
Mike, thanks for sharing, awesome story! We'll be looking for you at VMD. Tom
Tom Murphy
'73 250 Hare Scrambler
'74 125 six day
'81 RM125
'82 RM250