I brief and noway complete report of some of my racing Penton bikes.
My favorite bike for the last two years has been my 1978 MC5 (GS6?) 250. It is very fast, always starts, and handles unbelievably well. In addition to racing it myself in the AHRMA PV Cross Country and PV motocross series, I ended up loaning it out to other guys last year after their bikes failed at a number of races. When Corky Root borrowed it in Kentucky, he couldn't believe how forgiving the handling was. He said he would have been on his head a couple times if he had been riding his Bultaco, but the MC5 saved him. Part of it's strength I feel comes from the polishing and matching I did during engine assembly. I also pulled the crank apart and had it dynamically balanced at a hot rod shop when I built it two years ago. They had to build some special jigs to handle such a small crank but it sure made the engine smooth. They charged $175 for the balancing. By the way, I started with a $300 pile of junk and built this bike from scatch.
The 1973 250 Hare Scrambler with 1974 silver engine that I bought from Larry Perkins still is incredible. It has been my back up bike for the Mint 400 in the vintage MX series which continues to break and fail me at national races. The funny part is, after I rebuilt the 250 engine (it was tired when I got it from Larry) and bought the INCREDIBLE NOS Hi Point Carl Cranke pipe, I do better on it than on the Mint 400. I made a mistake when I built the 400 from a pile of junk parts and a $100 Ebay engine. It has just never come together correctly. I am going to start over this winter and see if I can do it right this time. Back to the Hare Scrambler. The +50 PV CC series had some very fast guys (like Larry Shope) in it this year (in addition to being very young!!!), so after 6 races on the MC80, I switched over to the +60 Vintage series, you know, guys my age and all. I started out by riding my trusty 1974 Piner that won me two national titles in years past. However, when I got to Miliken, CO where the cross country race is more like a desert race or a one hour motocross, I knew the Piner would not be able to keep up with the 360 Yamaha and Mint 400 among others that were entered. So I used my Mint 400 and almost won, but the other Mint 400 ridden by a fast guy from California beat me on the last lap. It was after that race I knew I wanted to turn the Hare Scambler into a woods bike from a motocrosser. Which I did. I won all the remaining races last fall and won the national title with the Hare Scrambler. Any of you that went to the Reunion ride saw me on it there. I put an extra high seat on it and it made a world of difference in my ability do do well on it. I love that bike.
Tha last one I want to tell you about this time is my MC80 400 which I also built from scratch from a $250 pile of junk. It is one fantastic bike. I added a reed valve to a 1977 engine, didn't have time to balance it this time and it is really fast. I always start in third gear and it usually does a wheelie all the way to the first turn!!!! I was bragging about it to Mike Lenz and he said no reed valve engine with a Mikuni carb could beat a properly ported, piston ported engine with a Bing on it. So we had a drag race at Mikes place last summer against his 420. We did this across a field - his field with home field advantage - and because of all the jumps and shortness of it, it wasn't a very good test, primarily because Mike's a better rider. However, we both claim we won the race!!!!! (of course).
These last four years have been fantastic. From not riding bikes at all for 29 years to entering more than I should have last year. I counted up the times I went to the line for the start of a race last year(two times for every motocross etc.), the total was 96 times. I didn't quite make 100. I campaigned in four AHRMA national series (+50 PV CC, +60 V CC, +60 PV MX, +60 V MX), two AHRMA regional motocross series (+60 PV MX, +60 V MX), and two MOVMX state motocross series. It was more fun than anyone should be allowed to have. The people Rosemary and I have met and the working on the bikes are the most important part of it all and make this sport so incredibly enjoyable. Being a member of the Penton Owners Group has been an integral part of the enjoyment. What a great organization you all are. I look forward to seeing all you currently racing Penton guys out there this year. LET'S GO PENTON!!!!!
Teddy
Teddy,it was great meeting you and Rosemary this year and fun riding with you. Looking forward to seeing you in Gainesville. Still got three bikes to get ready though. Lots of work, not enough money.
Lew Mayer
Teddy,
Great story!! It's been a pleasure meeting you and becoming friends! You're a great guy and a real ironman. I'm looking forward to more riding and bench racing next year!!
Tommy
Tommy
You forgot one thing. there is no liner left in the reed ported cylinder on your 400! That is the wildest porting job I have ever seen!!