What an honor it was to spend some time with Jack Penton at the home that he grew up in, prior to last night's POG meeting. The first time I raced MX at the Amherst Meadowlarks, probably in 1969 or 70, I was taken there by my Mars Area High School art teacher who raced a 250 CZ. Dan Bogdanich was his name; Dan had a little Mustang with a three-rail trailer behind it that we hauled the bikes on.
I asked someone at the race if they knew where John Penton lived, which they did. " You will know the house as it has a large P on it and it is near the Penton Farm Market ". Sure enough, after the race it didn't take us long to find the home, and for me, it was quite a thrill. I never in my life would have dreamed that in just a few years I would be staying there and that John would walk over to the farm market in the early morning to select the fresh fruit that Mrs. Penton would serve along with our breakfast. Over the years I have been to John's home numerous times, and the Penton Family have always treated myself and surely many, many others as family. The who's who of motorcycling that have passed through John 's front door or sat on the swing with him would surely fill a book.
When I took this picture, I told Jack that I was going to title it " Two Old Pentons" and we both laughed. I have known Jack for close to 60 years now and he is, and has always been, such a gracious and kind person who has always been a tremendous ambassador for the Penton Family and motorcycle. Over the past several decades, if you had a chance to meet John Penton or get him to autograph something for you, Jack was most certainly behind getting John to the location and taking very, very special care of his father.
Perhaps a better title for the photo would be, " One very, very special Penton, and one that was recently found in a barn".
Thank you Jack, and, Thank you John !