JP & JD picture

[OhioTed]

Got this shot a few years ago during the Legend of Motocross (hope I got the event-name correct) at Vintage Motorcycle Days.  Cruising the event and getting interviews on video, I spotted John Desoto.  When I introduced myself as representing the Penton Owners Group, DeSoto asked if John was in attendance.  I said "He sure is!", and pointed out JP, not twenty yards away.  DeSoto immediately approached John, snuck up on him from behind, and gave Mr. Penton a classic Indian Rub plus Bunny Ears.  Awesome!

Note our dear, departed friend Al Born to the left in the image.  

[hankthecrank]

Thanks again Ted. Hank

Hank Rinehart

[Paul Danik]

If you look to the left that is Al Born watching.  Numerous times folks who didn't know John Penton personally would come up to Al and ask, " are you John Penton ? ", or come up to him with something to sign...sure do miss Al.

John Penton promoted an Inter-Am in 1970 at Honda Hills located at Linnville, Ohio. John Desoto was enlisted by John Penton to teach a MX school there on Saturday morning which cost me $ 5.00 to attend.

They did a sight in lap before the start of the 125 class which was led by none other than John Penton himself aboard a 125cc Penton. When we lined up for the start of the first moto of the 125 class on Sunday the were 56 riders lined up behind the gumband. Sure was a great time.

I still have the program and every piece of paper from that event, sure am glad I was a hoarded, I mean collector back than .

Thanks for posting the picture.

Paul

[tofriedel]

Paul,

Your recall of the races at Honda Hills in 1970, brought back some memories for me.  I was in the process of moving my family from Calif. to Maryland and stopped in Columbus to visit family.  

I saw the ad for the races in the Sunday paper and immediately grabbed my Father-In-Law and my 2 sons and off we went to Honda Hills.

What a great day. We got to see some of the best racers on the world and the USA at that time.

Tony

[Randy Kirkbride]

Paul, HH had the starting gate then, or am I losing it?  I've got lots of pictures of that race.

[Paul Danik]

Tony, so you were at Honda Hills for that race?  Neat !!!

Randy, they may have had a starting gate, but possibly the number of entrants made the use of it prohibitive. I remember that one of the points that John Desoto made was how the rubber band took time to travel the distance along the row of riders....so I lined up very early and was right next to the center pole of the start line.

This race took place on October 18th, 1970.

Paul