Greetings,
What a nice surprise it was to see the piece in the October issue of American Motorcyclist on Hall of Famer Leroy Winters. It is nice that each month American Motorcyclist does a piece on one of the Hall of Fame members.
I always have to laugh at the story one of Leroy's daughters told me many years ago. Not long after the Penton came about Leroy and his family were at an event and she saw John riding on his Penton. After she observed John riding his Penton she said she walked up to her dad and asked him why his name wasn't on his motorcycle :D We were at a reunion ride many years ago when she told me that story and we both laughed quite a while when she shared that memory.
The piece in American Motorcyclist refers to Leroy as the "Arkansas Traveler" from an April of 1955 article, never knew of that nickname for Leroy.
Al Born told me a cool Leroy story as well. Seems Leroy had bought a pretty hot car and drove it to Amherst, I think Al said it was a Shelby GT500. Leroy tucked a $ 100.00 bill on the top of the dash and told Al that if he could grab the $ 100.00 bill as he ran the car thru the gears he could have it.....Al said Leroy had nothing to worry about as he was pinned to his seat till Leroy let off the gas.
I have to think that when Leroy and Al were together it must have been quite a time.
Paul
Yes, Shelby GT500. Leroy gave me a ride also (in Ft. Smith). He didn't offer me the same challenge, although me being a wiry youth, he may have deemed it too risky! In Leroy's favor: the 5 point seatbelt harness pinning the passenger back....
Restless as he was, Leroy traded the Shelby for a Lamborghini, which I also rode in. He was remorseful, and I agreed: The Shelby was much cooler!
Tom Penton
Great story Paul! I had to laugh reading it, because I too had a similar experience; my cousin's husband was a real motor head, and he came to our house in a 66 Vet, 327, 350HP and gave me, then 10 years old, that same challenge, to which I failed to grab the cash. I was never into fast cars, but that ride is one I will never forget......
1976 MC 5 Original Owner
1976 Penton 175 XC
I remember somewhere back around 1964*1966 Leroy rode a Honda s-90 in the Little Burr 250 mile national enduro in Ohio. It started at a clubgrounds just south of Columbus, OH. There was usually about 20-25 miles of road at start and finish because it was that far to the good trails in the hills of southern OH. If I remember correctly it was a white Honda. Anyway when scores were posted he had WON against all the big bikes. Well almost. He was disqualified because he hit the last check over 15 minutes early. He told dad that with the large sporcket on the rear he thought he would never get that early.
My dad also raced a modified s90 from 66 until March of 68 when the Penton was introduced. He did quite well on his Honda also.i have his Honda now and when I look at it ,I cannot imagine racing it in the woods.
John Born your Father and I discussed many times his S90 and the days when he raced it. He was a Great Racer and a wonderful Person.
Ron Carbaugh
The S90 was my first bike! It came with a high pipe, and it gave me many hours of fun!!!
1976 MC 5 Original Owner
1976 Penton 175 XC
1960's in Arkansas; not exactly the ideal wealth capital in the country. Can anyone tell me what Leroy did for a living to allow him GT500s and Lamborghinis and a pocket with $100 bills in it?
Pete Petrick
175 Jackpiner
Slow but Good
I watched the Leroy Winters 30th Anniversary ISDT 1973 reunion ride last night. It can be found on You Tube television.
TO, MR. WOLF, LEROY SOLD PORSCHE LAMBORGHINI AND BENTLEY AS A SIDE LINE , BESIDE HIS REGULAR JOB AS INVESTMENT BROKER FOR J.P.
^^^ Fascinating ^^^
Pete Petrick
175 Jackpiner
Slow but Good
Greetings,
The link below will hopefully take you to Leroy's AMA Hall of Fame bio. I do believe that Leroy's shop was called Leroy's Cycle Shack and that he was a Honda dealer, and possibly more brands as well. If my memory is correct, I have heard tales of how Leroy's work stands in his service department were chromed, possibly my mind is playing tricks on me....if so please correct me.
I also remember the story of how Leroy would stop in a creek near the end of the day at the ISDT to give his bike a wash before impounding, surely only if he was on time or early... Al Born used to tell of how at the end of an event Leroy would usually look cleaner than most guys did when they started.
http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=294
Paul
Paul asked if I could add anything to the Leroy GT500 story so I'm looking back 50 years hoping to be accurate.
I remember Leroy had long line of really neat cars, there was a custom Studebaker pickup, Shelby GT500, Lamborghini Miura, Pantera, and a NSX.
The 1967 Shelby was dark blue in color and had a special Arkansas license number GT500. "Leroy's Cycle Shack" was painted across the rear spoiler in Asian font. Under the hood was a set of musical air horns that played La Cucaracha. I remember Leroy doing a massive burn out in front of his house one day to impress all of the neighborhood kids
.
Gunnar Lindstrom has a great story about a wild ride in the GT500.
Leroy took Gunnar on a high speed run through the Arkansas back roads at night. When they hit a pot hole the headlights went out which caused Gunnar to panic, Leroy calmly assured him not to worry the next pot hole they hit the lights will come back on and they did. He went on to explain a loose fuse was a very familiar problem.
Leroy gave the Shelby away to his head mechanic as a Christmas present. Later, much to Leroy's chagrin the car was traded in on a small economy car either a Honda or Volkswagen.
Kevin
Paul, Re: Leroy's Cycle Shack. You can ask brother Jack about the .22 caliber hole in the floor (or was it ceiling?):D
Tom Penton
Kevin, thanks for the additional information. In thinking back to all of the stories and information that you have provided over the years about Leroy and his accomplishments and escapades, I am sure you could write a book about him, and if you ever do....I would certainly like a copy :) The "Leroy tribute Penton" that you built is a beautiful machine and it speaks volumes of your respect and admiration of him, as well as to your incredible workmanship and attention to detail.
The link below will hopefully take you to a photo of the Leroy tribute Penton that Kevin built. The photo is from the 2005 VMD POG display. Be sure to click on the arrow on the top right to see more photos of this incredible machine as there are about 20....if you have any questions about it just ask as I am sure Kevin will be honored and pleased to answer any and all questions.
http://www.pentonusa.org/GalleryServerPro/default.aspx?moid=4133&hr=1
Tom, I will certainly have to ask Jack about the bullet hole...possibly during the "ask the experts" segment of the next POG meeting. I would think asking that question would surely lead to a 15 minute Leroy Winters focused story telling time...:D
John has said at different times that he and Leroy were as close as brothers, and in some of the photos I have seen from "back in the
day" with the two of them together, they always seemed to be having a good time. I guess if there was a photo of Leroy "customizing" the insides of the airbox of his Penton during the first outing of those machines as John looked on, it may have looked differently !! John always has a good laugh when ever that story comes up, as it did once again at the last POG meeting.
I would like to once again thank Bill Smith for all of the absolutely wonderful photos that he has taken over the years that have captured many special POG moments and items of interest, including the Leroy tribute machine photos... THANK YOU Bill Smith....
Paul
Paul, thanks for the kind words. I have built several Leroy replicas, my favorite is the 69 ISDT Penton that was on display during the 2008 Vintage Days. There is several pictures on the photo page.
I'll try to add to the Leroy saga by telling the Lamborghini story, stay tuned.
Kevin
As promised the "Leroy and the Lamborghini "story.
In the spring of 1972 Leroy picked up his custom Lamborghini Miura from the factory in Italy. For those who don't know the Miura is known as the first "Italian Supercar," with it's mid engine V12 it could obtain speeds of 175 MPH. There was very few U.S. versions of this car because at the time the D.O.T. was cracking down on Lamborghini because of non compliance of pollution and safety requirements. After Leroy purchased the car he left it in Europe with a friend for one year and then imported it as a used private automobile trying to dodge new car taxes and D.O.T. inspections. When the car arrived at the New Orleans port of call the car was impounded for lacking a air pollution certification. Leroy posted a bond and took the car home with the promise of returning after smog equipment was installed.
Back in Fort Smith Leroy visited the local Fiat dealer and asked for an extended test drive of a new Fiat returning the car several hours later. What the dealer didn't know was Leroy had removed the SMOG compliance decal and mounted it on the Lamborghini. Leroy returned to New Orleans Customs, showed the compliance decal and motored away a happy man.
Back in Fort Smith Leroy visited the local Arkansas State Police Headquarters and took the district supervisor for a high speed test drive down the interstate just to let them know if they saw him zoom by not to chase him just meet him at the Honda shop.
Too funny.
Pete Petrick
175 Jackpiner
Slow but Good
Kevin,
After reading your story I can see more and more why Leroy and John were such good buddies. They sure lived by the old motto of "where there is a will there is a way".
Thanks for sharing...
Paul
Thanks Kevin for the great story about the Lambo. Leroy also built a Helicopter and the factory that sold the kit was so impressed with the workmanship that they used it for pictures of their brochures. Needless to say it was aworkof art.
Ron Carbaugh
Ron,
Some of Leroy's design improvements on the helicopter were so good that the factory incorporated them into later model kits they sold.
Kevin
Kevin,
The factory that sold the kit for the Helicopter was also impressed with all the polishing and chrome work LeRoy did on the finished product.
Ron Carbaugh
So was it true that Leroy's motorcycle work stands/lifts were chromed as well ?
Paul
Yes it is true, chrome lifts and carpet on the floor. A beautiful three story building with a stream that fed into a Coy pond underneath the bridge to the front door, it reminded me of a draw bridge over a mote. There was a time when a huge Boa Constrictor hung out in the office located on the show room floor.
Leroy built and designed the building himself using giant reclaimed oak beams that originally housed a locomotive repair depot.
The service department, parts and showroom were on the first floor.
There was a garage for the cars on the second floor and a apartment on the third floor. All pretty neat.
Kevin
(http://www.pentonusa.org/forum_images/2018/1961-001.jpg)
The picture is Leroy on Daytona Beach in the spring of 1961.
Leroy built his custom pickup from a Studebaker Champion car. Hood louvers, side pipes, custom lights and wire wheels were all the rage back then. Leroy's Triumph is tied down with a special winch he fabricated from a powered antenna motor. All pretty cool huh?
Kevin
Kevin,
Are there any pictures of Leroy's shop?
Mike