The Penton after 6 hours of muddy fun!!! Not a ounce of problems with the bike. But the rider needs to have some work done! Thanks to you guys for giving me the opportunity to do something like this and all of your help with the bike.
Conrad Pfeifer
AWRCS Race, Boyers PA
(http://www.pentonusa.org/forum_images/misc/conrad_pfeifer.jpg) (http://www.pentonusa.org/forum/)
Conrad,
Thanks for the great picture, please tell us more about your adventure.
Paul
Paul...
The AWRCS race series is like a tight GNCC. ALL tight woods, 3 hrs + lap. I was going to "race" but there is no vintage class and I would be running with new 200 cc bikes. I'm too old for that!! So I asked to track marshall. Good idea!! Got to ride the whole 8 mile loop at my own speed helping riders.
Most of you know that I put this Six Days togther out of a basket for the Gator Enduro in March. A lot of traveling for parts and bikes, late nights in the garage,putting it together then pulling it apart etc.. you all know what that is like.
What made it all worth it was this race... specifically the "mud hole"
It was a creek crossing about 18 " deep, right turn into an over the boot mud hole, 90 degree left uphill. The pros, Barry Hawk etc were just ripping through it but the rest of the riders were having some problems. I was "marshalling" , pulling bikes, boots, riders out of the mud for about 45 minutes I wanted to get going on the course, the only way was through the "mud hole". I had some doubts to how good of an idea it was and how stupid I would look to the 50 or so spectators that were watching the mess
Well the old Penton and old rider fired up and rode through stream, zipped through the mud and up the hill, the Doug Wilford built engine and the bike performed without a hiccup... like it was natural for the bike. I heard everyone cheering when I got to the top, when I turned to look they were all standing and clapping. What a reward.
I felt like I just won the race!!
THAT MADE ALL THE HOURS AND TIME WORTH IT!
The other part of the day was all of the younger riders asking about the bike. I gave the "original KTM" story about 20 times, They could relate then. It really opened their eyes when I crossed the finish at the end of the race. "Yes that old bike made a few laps", I answered.
Anyway sorry for the long story, but you asked...
Thanks to all of you who helped me this bike to race condition and converting this old Yamaha guy to 100 % Penton rider.
Conrad
Conrad Pfeifer
1972 Penton Six Days
Great story Conrad-Hats off to you!
Ric
ric emmal
Conrad,
Thanks for sharing the great story for those of us that have had to retire from racing...it still doesn't hurt to dream. One thing I always liked was when a Moto Cross was held under muddy conditions I knew my bike would finish if I could stay on it. I always cleaned the bike up as soon as possible to have it ready for the next weekend. Thanks again.
Ron Carbaugh
Kerrville, Texas
Ron, You got the "stay on it part" right , mud is great equalizer and the lightweight size of the 6 Days makes up for the horsepower of the new bikes.
It has all been stripped and is race ready again!!
Where's the mud??
Conrad
Conrad Pfeifer
1972 Penton Six Days
[//www.awrcs.com]
Is the link with the interview with Barry Hawk.
click "read article" if you care to.
Conrad Pfeifer
1972 Penton Six Days
Conrad,
Thanks for the follow up on being all striped and ready to go......I should have know I was preaching to the chior.[^] I enjoy these old bikes so much and the stories that it makes me proud for you to share with us.
Ron Carbaugh
Kerrville, Texas
Conrad Pfiefer is not only a great Penton ambassador, but also one of the nicest guys in the sport. Way to go, Conrad!
I would have loved to see the faces of the crowd when you went up that hill. Those 72 Six Days are hard running motorcycles.
Rod Whitman
Omaha, Nebraska
1972 Six Day (Rider)
1972 Six Day (Project)
Conrad, great fun reading your tale of Penton power and finesse. I rode a cross country race that was basicly a modern race but with a vintage class before all the long travel modern bikes ripped up the trail. I think only five of us showed for the start. I was the only 125! The old Penton took a second place behind a big bore classic four stroke, you know the kind that throws everything from the ground straight into your face. I kept the four stroke in sight until we hit a steep silty section that was dotted with small bushes. I slowed some before the ascent to let the dust clear some and up I went. I got off the trail a bit and had to shift down to second. I hit one of those small bushes and had to sift to first. Now I'm just crawling up in the low of all low gears known to man. My back tire must have caught on a root under the silt and up came the front wheel. Off the back I go, but at the speed or lack of speed I'm traveling I'm standing with both feet on the ground with the bike ahead and over me pearched on the rear wheel. In my mind I'm thinking this is not good!. After all the years of bicycle racing the only thing to do is pull the bars to one side and point the front wheel down the hill again. As the bike starts to go past me I swing my leg over the seat and click the shifter up to second bumpstarting the engine. I then turned around and up I went again. This time I made it to the last ledge before the top when I stalled out. At this point I had other riders trying to pass but the trail was blocked and nobody could get by util I had cleared the top. I jumped off and kicked the motor back to life with my right foot and then thanks to that low gear I ran alongside the bike and shoved it over the obstacle. Again I threw my leg over the seat and off I went. I never caught the thumper agian but managed to keep the rest of the field off my rear wheel. Thanks to the light weight of the Penton I was able to finish. If I had been riding a bigger bike I would for sure had a different outcome. The modern guys in the pitts couln't believe that my old Six Day could compete let alone finish. Gavin