Lars Larsson

[Tom Penton]

Referencing Paul Danik's recent post "Do you know what I really miss?" referencing the Ed Youngblood article about Billy Uhl: "Only two gold medals were won by Americans that year: Bill Uhl and Malcolm Smith."

I scratched my head a bit as I've recently been going over ISDT results from our Penton era and it wasn't the way I remembered it. I thought that Lars Larsson was Top American the two years I missed for being in the Air Force, 1969 & 1972. I reviewed the stats and my memory didn't altogether fail me. Lars did finish ahead of Malcolm in 1969. However, he's listed as riding for Sweden.

I'm quite certain that Lars had moved to and was well established in the US by the Fall of 1969, but probably didn't have his citizenship yet, as he must have by 1972. So I thought I should have a POG poll, please pick one:

A) Lars should be counted as having been Top America in BOTH 1969 and 1972, having then well established himself in the US and to this day is still harassing those in the San Diego area. And for having ridden a Penton Motorcycle in '69.

B) Rules are rules. Lars is awarded Top American in 1972 only.

C) Lars was Top American in NEITHER 1969 or 1972 based on the fact he's never learned acceptable English. Also due to the fact he denies his Americanism when stopped by the California Highway Patrol for speeding and communicates with the officer in gibberish that he's "Swedish" and doesn't understand English. (This is a FACT, witnessed  embarrassingly by yours truly, gazing out the passenger window.)

1969 ISDT:
Lars Larsson, Sweden, Penton Motorcycle, 125cc, Gold, 2418pts (6th in the 125cc class)
Malcolm Smith, USA, Husqvarna, 250cc, Gold, 2432pts
Billy Uhl, USA, Sachs, 125cc, Gold, 2735pts

Lower points are better.

Tom Penton

[Mike Rosso]

https://youtu.be/aBlXX531FsA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=161&v=aBlXX531FsA&feature=emb_logo


https://motocrossactionmag.com/the-man-who-discovered-american-motocross-lars-larsson-speaks/

[Mike Rosso]

IS IT TRUE THAT YOU FORMED THE MEXICAN ISDT TEAM SO YOU COULD RACE? The reason Team Mexico came about is that they held some enduros down there, and I convinced them to form an ISDT team with the approval of the Mexican federation.

WERE THERE ANY MEXICAN RIDERS ON THE TEAM? No. The team was Fred Cameron from San Francisco, Jim Simmonds from Missouri and myself. That year's ISDT was in Sweden. They had an opening ceremony where the teams marched down the main street holding their national flags just like the Olympics. When our turn came, we marched in wearing big sombreros, and I could hear the Swedish kids standing on the curb saying, "They don't look any different from us." I'm the only rider in the world who has been on three trophy teams for three different nations—Sweden, America and Mexico.

Tom, I forget who took these photos at the ISDT Sweden opening ceremonies for me.....but THANKS  





How many faces can you name?

[Tom Penton]

Hey, Mike ... so I jump ship and join the Suzuki Team and move to the back of the line. But with good company!

Tom Penton

[Paul Danik]

Is that Al Ames at the back with his hand on his chin?  What a great person he was. Teddy Leimbach in front of Jack.


Paul

[Tom Penton]

L-R KTM: Rod Bush, Kevin LaVoie, Jeff Hill, Jack Lehto, Teddy Leimbach, Jack Penton. I believe Larry Roeseler is far right in blue (team Husky).

Relegated to the far back, in yellow: Drew Smith, Mike Rosso & Al Ames. Other faces there I recognize, but can't remember the names. Sorry. Who is holding the flag?

Just looked in the '78 results. Our Trophy team was Rod Bush, Jack Penton, Ted Leimbach, Kevin La Voie, Jeff Hill and Frank Gallo. Where's Fast Frank?    The Silver Vase team was Dick Burleson, Greg Davis, Bob Popiel and Larry Roeseler. That seems how the Husky Team is lined up if we imagine King Richard's hair between Jeff Hill and Jack Lehto.



Tom Penton

[Richard Colahan]

Paul...with that trademark flat-top haircut? My guess is that's surely Al Eames. A real gentleman...could the 73 ISDT ever have taken place without his skill?

quote:Originally posted by Paul Danik

Is that Al Ames at the back with his hand on his chin?  What a great person he was. Teddy Leimbach in front of Jack.


Paul

Richard Colahan
1969 V1225
Upper Black Eddy PA

[Tom Penton]

So I just got a Facebook message from Lars saying his memory is that he didn't finish the 1969 ISDT in Germany. (Gearbox problems on his 125 Penton, who would have thunk...) But reviewing the following results seems to confirm what I wrote. Am I missing something?

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OUF89dh1FrOJB1k0mnR0xTiZ3SQIE85f?usp=sharing

Tom Penton