I never had the pleasure of "racing" my bikes when growing up in an organized event, but I sure did give it my all against my brothers, friends, and kids in the other neighborhoods. We lived, and I still do, east of the Cooper river in the bedroom community of Mt. Pleasant,north of Charleston. I grew up in a family of 7, so asking Mom to take you all the way over to West of the Ashley river, where tmc3c/Thomas was stalking was usually out of the question. It was quicker to get on the bike and head to our friends houses or meet at the "dike", where they pumped dredge material out of the harbor. Muddy stuff out there. We would sometimes get a treat when an older brother who drove, would load up the truck and head to the Francis Marion forest.
My dad always had a boat or a plane, so his weekends of stress relief were on the water or in the air. I would get drafted to help keep the old boats painted or engines running, but my favorite times were when he had the planes. Each time he would sell a boat, he'd buy a plane, then buy a boat, plane...., and they would always get bigger. I'm sure Dwight would appreciate his last one. It was a Beechcraft Staggerwing. An awsome biplane. We would fly all over the state and have brunches at different places with other members of this flying fraternity.
Another neat time, was when Evel Knievel's brother moved in two doors down. He would get bikes from the local Honda/Penton/Harley shop and assemble them for the shop at his home. A select group of us would then take them out in a parade through the neighborhood. That ended when his daughter Linda ran a 90 step-thru into the fence. I still vividly remember seeing the news when Evel crashed at Ceasar's Palace and calling over to the house to ask if they had also.
If I'd have only known Thomas back then, we could have had some races together? But I do now own his buddy Alan's 6 Day, and hope to spruce it up once I finish the task on my Berkie.
(http://www.pentonusa.org/forum_images/misc/Staggerwing.jpg) (http://www.pentonusa.org/forum/)
Robert Manucy
72 Berkshire
72 Six Day
WOW, What a classic aeroplane ! My Dad always loved these. Very fast for the day. I flew a lot of Piper Tri-Pacers ( like the one behind the Beechcraft in photo ) and Piper Colts ( short wing 2 seat version of the tri-pacer ) My favorite plane from my youth was the 1946 Aeronica Champ. These were a joy to fly. I liked them a better than the Piper Cub as you could sit in front seat to fly and was a bit faster. The Piper Colt and Tri-Pacer had the glide path of a Grand Baby Piano.
Cher'o,
Dwight
Dwight Rudder
7 time ISDT / E medalist
8 time National Enduro Class Champion.