Racing Accomplishments

[Mickey Sergeant]

Now that winter is setting in for most of us,I thought it would be fun to know the racing accomplishments of some of us in our youth. For me I grew up in Illinois.Did local races in Illinois and Iowa in late 70's and 80's. Best accomplishment was 10th place 85 mod. youth nationals in 1980. YZ80. 13 place youth nationals 1981. RM100. Sometimes when I'm on the track now I think I can ride like the good old days.

74 Berkshire

[garrettccovington]

I'm stealin this line from Lloyd B

The older I get the faster I was.

72 six-day
79 KTM MC80 250

[hankthecrank]

Hello all. I like to think of myself as a midpack hero. It sounds good in my mind! A guy I went to school with, Rod Bush, he was a lot better than that!  Hank

Hank Rinehart

[Dwight Rudder]

I won my first overall at a H/S in Alabama on my 1972 Penton Jackpiner.

[Paul Danik]

My first race was a mud run just north of Butler, PA.  My bike was a 1965 Honda 150 Dream equipped with knobby tires, Augie welded a larger sprocket to the original to "gear'er down" a bit.  Augie was riding a very early 100cc Penton Berkshire out of Fran Kupec's shop. On the first lap I buried the Honda in a mudhole and Augie made about 5 laps before I finally got the Honda out of the muck, he just kept flying by on the Berkie. As I write this I have the early airbox from that Berkie hanging above me on a nail, and lots of great memories

Many years later when I saw John's NSU I was totally amazed and the similarities between the Honda and the NSU. I'll bet he could have made the Honda fly...

Hank, did Joe Barker go to school with you guys?

Great topic, thank you.

Paul

[hankthecrank]

Hey Paul. I dont think I remember a Joe Barker. I do remember a Scott Barker. I'll dig out a yearbook and try to jog my memory bank. I remember the huge downhill jump at Badlands MX park in Belpre OH. Scared the crap out of me! I saw Roger Decoster fly off that hill. Hank

Hank Rinehart

[Paul Danik]

Hank,

   I think that Joe was from Parkersburg, WV and Rod was from Belpre, Oh, just across the river from each other but different states and therefore different school districts, but I just wanted to ask. I might even have their hometowns backwards... Gary can probably straighten me out pretty quick..

Rod sure was a great rider, but his accomplishments with KTM were even more impressive. At the last POG meeting we had to borrow some tables and chairs from the KTM dealer training room which is in another part of the massive KTM building.  Just as you enter the one area there is a vary large photo of Rod standing in a sports jacket alongside the principals of KTM, apparently taken at the factory.  I just had to stop and admire Rod's smile and the look of contentment and accomplishment that was on his face, he worked so very hard to get where he was. I am glad he got the chance to be recognized and honored by KTM for what he did before his passing.

Paul  

[Gary Roach]

Hi Paul,

Yes, you got it backwards. Joe graduated with my oldest sister in '73. She told me at Thanksgiving dinner that she still keeps in touch with Joe via Facebook.

[tomale]

I wish I could say I was fast back then, actually I think I do better now than I ever did back then. Locally (back then) I raced as an intermediate but I usually finish with the experts that started  before the rest of us.. I ususally trophied and managed to finish mid pack with in the expert class. I won my first Moto on a  Honda 250 Elsinore. I was 18 before I ever threw a leg over a bike and 21 before I ever race and 25 when I hung up my gear for a long time. truly I am enjoying the racing more now than I ever did back then...

Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)
74'250 hare scrambler (project)
74' 1/2 440 maico
78' 440 maico
72' cr125 Husky (project)
74' TM125 suzuki
93' RMx 250 suzuki