Greetings,
Like many others, I am home, tired, and have a lot of unloading to do. The drive home and the unloading process is all made much easier as the memories of the event keep replaying in my mind. I would like to tell of a couple of my memories, and encourage others to do the same.
I used to believe that the treasure's of the event were material items buried somewhere in the swap meet, my thinking has changed quite a bit over the years, and as much as I still enjoy finding that elusive item, my most prized treasures from the event are much more people oriented, as the examples below will attest to.
A young boy in his early teens came into the POG booth area and walked up to the counter. He was a little shy and was quietly asking the person at the counter for something, I think that person was Al Born. As the young boy stammered a bit, a booming voice from behind him stated that the boy wanted to buy one of the POG / Penton shirts that was for sale, the voice apparently came from his dad. I instantly wondered why such a young person wanted a Penton shirt, usually it is the dad with the son in tow who wants the shirt, so I went on to ask the young fellow about his desire for the shirt. "I ride a KTM" was his reply. We discussed the Penton / KTM relationship for a few minutes, of which he was already somewhat already versed, and it was easy to see that the young man could not get enough of the story. I asked the young boy if he liked to read, his father piped in that the boy read everything he could about motorcycles, with that response we presented the boy with a gift of the John Penton book from the POG, he lit up like we had given him one of Kip's restored machines :)
Another of my favorite memories was attending the AMA Life Member breakfast yesterday, the event was great, and I will certainly attend again in the future. What put this event over the top for me was being seated with Fred Hayes and his absolutely wonderful wife, as many of you know they are the folks behind the famous METTCO shop and race team. They never tired my of questions and after the breakfast they gave me a METTCO shirt, like I said earlier, not all of the treasures are hidden in the swap meet. Fred provided some interesting inside information about the METTCO prepared machines that he said can be given out, but the real gem was the pleasure of their company. It didn't hurt to have Craig Vetter and his son, along with JP, Al Born and Gigi Penton also sitting at the table.
I would like to tell of one other treasured memory from the weekend, listening to Toni Roach as she presented her version of "whats in your garage" at the POG meeting. Toni apologized for not having parts or tools to show, but what she presented was much more valuable and interesting, items and pictures from days gone by that had memories attached to them. A couple of the last items that Toni showed were a picture of Gary's dad riding an enduro, and a Penton jersey that Dane Leimbach had presented to her that she wore during her wedding to Gary at the Penton Day at the AMA meeting a few years back, I am not ashamed to admit that I had a few tears in my eyes as Toni spoke of the deep meaning that these items held for her.
Thanks,
Paul
I really enjoyed reading this. I wish that i could have been there this year. I was there in spirit as i am in Iraq but, good freinds kept me up to date of what was going on. Will be there next year for sure!
2010 KTM 250sx
1983 KTM 495
1983 YAMAHA IT250
1976 SUZUKI RM370
1986 HONDA Z50 My first bike
Hope to add a PENTON soon!
Paul I agree with you. Seeing and hearing Toni's presentation, listening to Cory describe his involvment with motorcycles, and watching Garys,Toni's and Kents eyes shine with pleasure and pride as Cory talked was more than my eyes could handle. THE PENTON OWNERS GROUP What a family. As John himself repeated many times, LOVE Hank
Hank Rinehart
What a GREAT bunch of people! Sharon and I had a wonderfull time with all the poggers. Still didnt get to meet everyone that we converse online with, but the dinner and the meeting were outstanding.
It was my first meeting I could attend, and boy do I wish I could attend more. So enjoyable !
Toni's show and tell brought back many memories and was a really nice one. It would be a tough one to beat !
Bob Bean
1986 ISDE Italy
1987 ISDE Poland
1989 ISDE Germany
1970 125 Six Day
1973 100 Berkshire
1973 Jackpiner 175
1974 Penton 250 Harescrambler
1976 Husky 250CR
1985 Husky 400WRX
1985 Husky 400WR
It was a long hot weekend. And like all the other AMA Vintage Days events, it was over all too soon.
Like Paul stated, not all the treasures are in the swap meet. One of the things that Paul has done for the past several years is to create some excitement at our POG display. This year he brought back his steel tanker Penton with the tree in the front wheel. After spending a few hours on Thursday moving branches, logs, and rocks, he said that he was saving the best part of this year's display for the next morning. And he was right. He placed an enduro rider on the ground next to the bike. Since I do not get to walk around and see the sights during VMD because I have to "mind the store" and take care of my customers, I enjoying watching the people walk by with their "tunnel vision", stop and do a double take of Paul's display. A lot of photos were taken of that bike and rider this weekend.
Since this year's featured bike was the Penton short tracker, I made arrangements with Al Martin to haul my bike in the POG trailer. Al said that he could borrow one of the KTM manequins and have it sitting on my bike in the display. I made arrangements to have our KTM "rider" dressed in vintage dirt track gear, but due to circumstances beyond our control, the gear never showed up. So we had a "naked" rider on my bike for the weekend. [:I] The ladies loved it.
I enjoyed spending the evening with Ted Guthrie on Thursday. The two of us sitting behind his camper in the shade, appreciating the breeze, and talking about a wide variety of topics.
Friday evening, I joined Ted Guthrie, Paul Danik, and Al Born for a walk through the swap meet. There were an enormous number of bikes on display this year. Everywhere we went, Ted was pointing out this bike and that bike telling a little bit about them. He is like a walking motorcycle encyclopedia. Most of us can pick out many of the different type of dirt bikes, but when it comes to street bikes I only know what it is from the name that is on the tank. It wasn't until Saturday afternoon when Ted came to my display with his arms full of Cycle magazines that I realized how he knew so much about all those different bikes. The last time that I was at his house, he showed me his collection of magazines in the basement. He has them sorted out by publisher and in dated order and has read every one from front to back. Somehow he knows which publications that he is missing and makes it a point to look for them at all the swap meets. Heck, from what I saw in his basement, I thought that he had them all.
I did manage to take a look at Kawasaki's Feature Marque display. Since my first 3 bikes that I owned were Kawasaki I am familiar with their 70's bikes and they had some very nice (immaculate) bikes on display. Overall, like the other manufacturer displays, it was "Ho Hum". With all of the race championships that their bikes won during the years, they did not have any signage or examples on display pointing out or explaining any of their accomplishments. [xx(]
Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hi.
Alan Buehner
The Buehner brothers deserve a gigantic thank you for all that they do to help make the Penton Owners Group VMD experience what it is, and has been for many years. Dale Buehner works tirelessly preparing food that is suitable for a culinary competition. Dale appears to be a graduate of the John Penton school of getting folks excited to help him, he initially does some drafting of bodies, but those folks soon turn into loyal helpers for Dale. That says a lot about his personality and ability to have fun while he works.
Al and Ollie Martin also deserve a big thanks for all that they do. Ollie and Al handle getting the POG Hi-point trailer loaded and set up in Pentonville, we work out of the trailer all weekend and then they handle getting the rig back home to Amherst after everything is reloaded. If you are ever at an event where the trailer is used, please take some time to check out how awesome of a job they have done in outfitting the trailer.
Scott Brogan, the POG shirt man also deserves much thanks, the new short tracker shirts made their debut at VMD and they were very much in demand, they look awesome....
Young Ted and Connie also deserve a big POG thanks, they show up and instantly know what needs done and are not afraid to take the bull by the horns and "get'er done"...
Al Born also deserves a big POG pat on the back. Al put in a lot of time helping out at the POG sales desk as well as doing his job as club secretary.
The list goes on and on, from the folks who bring bikes for the display, to the folks who show up to pay their dues....Which reminds me, our new membership officer, Dale Fisher, did an OUTSTANDING job of handling his new duties. It was for sure baptism under fire for Dale. It was also wonderful to meet Dale's wife and family and it looked like they had a great time, which is the name of the game.
I am sure I missed some folks, but to all who helped in any way, THANK YOU.
There were a lot of new faces this year and it was great to meet you folks.
I would also like to send out a special thanks to Jack Penton. Jack has assumed a lot of the duties that are involved in managing Vintage Motorcycle Days in his position with the AMA. Jack did not manage from a desk this weekend, he was on the grounds sweating right along with the rest of us as he tried to be a combination of gracious host as well as business man, as the proceeds from this event benefit the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum which is near and dear to Jack and also to many of us.
Again, thanks to all....
Paul
Just to refresh your memory...
Those of you who saw Paul Danik's alluring display at VMD this year will appreciate his site that was started to express vision of PENTONS
as art.
http://www.tylermountain.com/danik.html
What a creative, versatile genius we have as our leader and visionary!
Conrad Pfeifer
1972 Penton Six Days
Conrad,
I hope you sleep soundly as the dump truck with the noisy muffler just might make a run past your window tonight :)
It was great to see you and your cousin at VMD, and thanks for the use of your canteen as a POG prop...
Paul
Paul, I am calling our DOT truck inspection crew out tonight for a suspicious, noisy landscape truck driving in front of my house!
Honestly
After my life changing experiences during the past year it is an honor to be a part of POG. Everyone was concerned about my health and talked about everything EXCEPT motorcycles at VMD. An organization always mirrors the attitude and mind set of the top people. You and John Penton are the best at setting the example of caring about people first.
Thanks you for all of your dedication to POG and the motorcycle industry. It is a pleasure to be a part of it all/
Conrad Pfeifer
1972 Penton Six Days
On a sad note, a friend of mine from Hattiesburg, Ms, Steve Webb was competing in what I believe was his first vintage cross country on his 1973 Husqvarna CR250. He died of a massive heart attack during the event. He was only 53 years old. I saw him last at Barbers last year when another friend (Jimmy Ward) was racing the VMX on the same Husky. Jimmy was riding a 1974 Penton 400 at Mid Ohio. At least Steve died doing something that he dearly loved. Steve was the first President of the Mississipi High Point Enduro Team M/C .
Dwight,
I can understand your pain as my best friend and mentor, Bob Augustine, died at VMD 13 years ago under similar circumstances. At the time I said I would never go back to Mid-Ohio, but soon realized that Augie would never have wanted me to react to his passing in such a manner, instead I visit the location of his passing each year and think about all of the great times we had together.
Paul