A visit with John Penton

[Paul Danik]

Before last night's POG meeting I had a heartwarming visit with John Penton. As always, the news channel was on the TV and John was in his recliner when I arrived.

As I was driving the turnpike on the way to Amherst, I reflected on the fact that I have been making this trip for more than 50 years. In the early days to get a minute or two with John Penton was rather rare as John was always going in multiple directions at once. Being able to sit and chat with John is a priceless experience.

So, we discussed how unreal it is that we can buy bananas for less than 50 cents a pound when you consider what all has gone into getting them to the store shelf. How a local to me sandstone quarry can bring a truck sized stone into their building and program their saw to cut the stone into slabs all night long with no one on hand and how if something goes amiss the forman will get an automated phone call. We discussed how a nursery company has planted the Penton Farm Market property with nursery stock, John was surprised that my families' garden center bought nursery stock from that same company many times over the years. I asked John if only he and his brother Bill competed on motorcycles " back in the day", to which he said yes and further explained that answer with information about his other brothers and their interests. I tell you about these things to allow you to see just how well John Penton is doing at 99 years of age.

Soon there was a knock at John's door and the nurse / aide told John that dinner was about to be served. "Already", John exclaimed as he looked at his watch. John and I shook hands, and he warmly thanked me for stopping by. If you are reading this, you should feel proud that your efforts and interest in the Penton Sportcycles and John Penton are helping to keep John's life's work so very much alive and well.

At 72 years of age, I left that visit with 99 year young John Penton with my internal fire well fueled. If you have considered visiting John I would certainly recommend that you do so. Thank you John Penton.
The photo below was taken at the Davenport, Iowa swap meet in 2004. The gentleman was running the 4 engines with one carb located at the end of the intake tube, if I remember correctly. John was curious as to how he got the air / fuel flow metered to each engine properly. If John saw that same rig today, my money would be on John remembering the answer he was given about the carburation over 20 years ago!