Messages

1973 (10/73) 250 for sale. $4995
For all of the details and pics, check out the Penton Motorcycles facebook.
Regards to all,
Mike

I sent a message a few days ago on this site. No reply.
Would like a copy.
Pls. contact me directly at:
[email protected]
or, (613) 791-5861
with the details.
Thx, Mike

In regard to Issue 101 and the article by Clint Hawk about the 50th anniversary Ride: I have to say that his writing totally captures the spirit of the weekend.

I rode in '03 at Jim Hoellerich's and this year's event was very different. Not better, and certainly not worse - more relaxed laid back and less formal - more in keeping with all of our advancing years. I was concerned about running out of gas all weekend - and I don't mean in the gas tank. My training consisted of a 1 hour prep ride the Wednesday before. Never even took the bike off the truck before I left for Vermont! It was an incredible relaxed (mostly) tour of a beautiful area of southern Vermont.

In fact reflecting on the event later in the week I came to the conclusion that it was basically a fantastic banquet, with some really good riding thrown in. Hard to argue with that formula.

I really wondered how the scorers were going to decipher the writing on my score card 'cause I sure couldn't. As it turned out, on Sunday, Gary Richards said to me "I think the scorers went home and had a beer - or two".
So...we were left with according to Joe: "did you have fun" - yes; "did you finish" - yes; "did you ride well" - yes; OK you're on gold!

My only issue with Clint's article is I hope we don't have to wait for the 60th anniversary to do this again. None of us are getting any younger, maybe we can do it again for the 55th?

BTW. the only major brand not represented this year was Bultaco. I have a basket case Alpina and this prompted me to get busy re-assembling it to ride next year, and possibly Vermont in 2028? Mike

1973 Hare Scrambler (10/73) Jack Penton Dalton I.S.D.T. tribute bike, as featured in the centerfold of issue #99 of Still Keeping Track. The "toaster" tank is signed by Jack and J.P. The sale includes a "watermelon" tank for riding - because this bike is a rider. Gold at the 2003 I.S.D.T.R.R. and ridden a couple of times since at the Corduroy vintage day here in Canada. Starts great and runs strong.

NOS Akront front rim, and reconditioned Akront rear laced to Buchanan stainless spokes this past winter. HiPoint red dot on the front and new Kenda Klassic on the rear. The bike is titled in Ontario, Canada as street legal. I can assist with delivery to a buyer in the N.E. US, including necessary import documents. $6500

I second Amherst Paul's thanks to Al's work over the years.
Still Keeping Track is a large part of the glue that keeps POG together and has made it the pre-eminent marque owners group that it is.
Can't wait to see issue #100.

Hey I got a reply from my friend and he is not able to do the gear. Sorry
...the search continues, good luck.
Winter has well and truly settled in here in the northeast BTW.
Mike

I have a friend who is both a machinist and a gunsmith.
I will check with him and get back to you.
I really enjoyed reading James' member profile in the latest Still Keeping Track.
I remember being at a 500GP in Quebec and Pat Moroney was riding a Husky in the 250 support class. He crashed, rang his bell and I helped him back to the pits. Would like to meet him some day and see if he recalls the incident.
Mike

The 1976 Cross country is the same as the 1974-76 CMF Pentons.
I have not checked 1978 MC5, but it was an all new bike, different from the previous generation and I suspect the side panels were different as well.
Good Luck.

3 of the highlitghts of the weekend for me:
- Jake Herzog, Ivan Beattie and Paul Danik; Jake was a New England enduro champ and a marshall at the '73 Six Days. Paul will be collecting more of his fascinating stories from that event for the newsletter; Ivan was a worker at both of the ISDTRR's; and of Paul, who needs no introduction;
- Al Eames DOT on the block;
- the Old Florida road, included in the '73 event and the reunion rides. This is a town road, listed on the map as being in "poor condition"!

Mike

I second Paul's comments.
For me it was a chance to return to the Berkshires and honour the memory of an outstanding collector and restorer, and do a little exploring up on Savoy Mountain above the farm where the 1973 Six Days ran, and where the ISDTRR's were.
It was also a chance to catch up with Paul, 2 weekends in a row! That alone is worth the cost of admission.
As I said to him, how many other '73 medalist's are on site today? None.
A once in a lifetime opportunity to do a final visit to Jim's while the collection was still intact and to witness it being dispersed to "the guys" as he wished. I am doing a story for the AMA magazine which I will pitch to Mitch Boehm, the editor. I think it will be compelling enough that you can watch for it coming to your mailbox sometime over the fall or winter.
Mike

I tried including the photos in the first post, but got an error message and lost the entire post. So I will attach them separately:
- the McCuillough's: Bob, Dave and dad Nelson;
- Chef Dale;
- Bill Pearce's collection which now includes an MC5.

I first raced at Mid-Ohio in 1998 through about 2005. Then my focus shifted to Canadian events closer to home.

Back again this year to start to thin out my collection and enjoy the more relaxed pace of spectating without the demands of racing. Still a pretty intense weekend, 11 hours Thursday, 12 hours home Sunday and Disneyland for vintage bike lovers in between.

I was left with the impression that the turnout this year surprised even the AMA. Probably 20K people, every one of them bringing a pit bike and occupying all of the Mid-Ohio grounds. And of course the annual Mid-Ohio deluge which turns it from a dust bowl to a mud bowl.

It was a great time re-connecting with old acquaintances and making new ones. Special thanks to the McCulloughs from Tulsa who hosted me in their swap meet spot. Al Buehner, of course who has been there through POG/VMD thick and thin all these years. And of course Dale...what can you say? My wife wondered if I brought enough food...I sent her pictures of the POG diner and assured her that all was well. We cannot begin to say enough about Al & Dales contribution over the years.

Also Rick Bennett, AKA Mr. 1000 miler looking dapper in his new "El Presidente" shirt. Many thanks on behalf of all Penton enthusiasts for stepping up. Rick was there before I got there Thursday, setting up, he was there all day Friday in the heat and the dust, and he was there Saturday when he got a little relief from Scott Brogan. Also great to see Jim Borer who was at Ricks side most of the time.

Many thanks to all of you for your interest, your efforts and your hospitality.

Finally my MC5 found a new home. Delivered on the way home Sunday to Bill Pearce near Buffalo, NY. Bill has a collection and is the brother of Bob Pearce, ISDT vet and currently a KTM exec in Amherst. They know "Fast" Frank Stacey, also from the Buffalo area. The Penton history was dominated by off-road success, but Stacey was one of the first to put Penton/KTM onto the podium in the motocross arena when there were very few of them on motocross tracks.

All in all a great time. I look forward to re-connecting with friends in the future...maybe at a quieter, less hectic venue?

Mike

I went through my spares today.
I have 175 bottom end 2-52 01263
Bringing it to Mid-Ohio for sale.
Mike

Im bringing my freshly restored MC5 to Mid-Ohio for sale.
See either of the Penton Facebook pages for all of the details and photos.
Mike

Bringing to Mid-Ohio.
Check out either of the Penton Facebook pages for details and photos.
Mike