Got this shot a few years ago during the Legend of Motocross (hope I got the event-name correct) at Vintage Motorcycle Days. Cruising the event and getting interviews on video, I spotted John Desoto. When I introduced myself as representing the Penton Owners Group, DeSoto asked if John was in attendance. I said "He sure is!", and pointed out JP, not twenty yards away. DeSoto immediately approached John, snuck up on him from behind, and gave Mr. Penton a classic Indian Rub plus Bunny Ears. Awesome!
Note our dear, departed friend Al Born to the left in the image.
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn155/OhioTed/Penton%20Owners%20Group/JohnDeSototeasinghisoldfriendJohnPenton3_zps0bd16ba4.jpg) (http://s303.photobucket.com/user/OhioTed/media/Penton%20Owners%20Group/JohnDeSototeasinghisoldfriendJohnPenton3_zps0bd16ba4.jpg.html)
Thanks again Ted. Hank
Hank Rinehart
If you look to the left that is Al Born watching. Numerous times folks who didn't know John Penton personally would come up to Al and ask, " are you John Penton ? ", or come up to him with something to sign...sure do miss Al.
John Penton promoted an Inter-Am in 1970 at Honda Hills located at Linnville, Ohio. John Desoto was enlisted by John Penton to teach a MX school there on Saturday morning which cost me $ 5.00 to attend.
They did a sight in lap before the start of the 125 class which was led by none other than John Penton himself aboard a 125cc Penton. When we lined up for the start of the first moto of the 125 class on Sunday the were 56 riders lined up behind the gumband. Sure was a great time.
I still have the program and every piece of paper from that event, sure am glad I was a hoarded, I mean collector back than :).
Thanks for posting the picture.
Paul
Paul,
Your recall of the races at Honda Hills in 1970, brought back some memories for me. I was in the process of moving my family from Calif. to Maryland and stopped in Columbus to visit family.
I saw the ad for the races in the Sunday paper and immediately grabbed my Father-In-Law and my 2 sons and off we went to Honda Hills.
What a great day. We got to see some of the best racers on the world and the USA at that time.
Tony
Paul, HH had the starting gate then, or am I losing it? I've got lots of pictures of that race.
Tony, so you were at Honda Hills for that race? Neat !!!
Randy, they may have had a starting gate, but possibly the number of entrants made the use of it prohibitive. I remember that one of the points that John Desoto made was how the rubber band took time to travel the distance along the row of riders....so I lined up very early and was right next to the center pole of the start line.
This race took place on October 18th, 1970.
Paul