Old 73 Penton Berkshire Pics

[rob w]

Recently dug up some old pictures of me riding my 1973 Berkshire in '73/74.

[gooddirt]

Last two are tooooo cool.

[checkcrew]

that toe draggin 1st pic rocks !!!!!

Mike Gallagher, NJ.

[rob w]

More Berkshire pics, by Jeff Greenberg.

Jeff at Smith Road, OH - 1973


Jeff at OIR, Revenna OH - 1973


Thanks Jeff

Bob W

[rob w]

Rob,
Thanks for posting the photo of the 1973 Ohio State Championship race at Lexington. I helped pay for the trophies at that event. On the first lap of the 100cc class, I popped several spokes out of the front rim of my bike after jumping the drop off before the roller coaster hills. I thought I had a flat tire because the front end was wobbling. That ended my racing for that day. At least I got to hear my name announced to the crowd before the start of the race.
Alan Buehner


Al, it's so cool that you were actually in that race with me!!!
Hey guys, with the help of Dale, I was able to track down Mark Outland thru his brother Kevin . I wanted to reach out to him since us two are the only ones still living (in that '73 result). Both Kevin and Mark were super nice and both glad I found them.
Life is short. Play hard!
Jeff Greenberg


Found this Penton ad in the 1974  Mid-Ohio  Inter-AMA program!  The picture:  first corner of the start of a 100 class moto. A sea of Berkies!!!  Ha, guess that's why they made it an ad huh.
That's me with the hole shot #77;  #16 is the promoters son, Mark Weidner; # 17 is the late Jon Leak.
Thought you'd like this. Just want to share it with the group.
Jeff Greenberg

Really cool, thanks for the picture Jeff.
Bob

[Keith Meatyard]

I remember my 73 Jackpiner back in the 70's had tall handlebars without crossbars like those in the pics.  I haven't seen any like them on the restorations I've seen on the forum, and thought maybe they only came with bars that had the crossbar.  Apparently, some bikes did have them.



Keith Meatyard

[brian kirby]

Those are aftermarket solid aluminum Inter-Am bars.

Brian

[454MRW]

When I bought my Early 74 Red tank 250 Hare Scrambler, used in 1976, it had chrome Hi-Point replacement bars with no crossbar, and I have a set still. They must have been a popular replacement, as I have seen them quite often. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
1975 Can Am 175 TNT & 77 250 Black Widow
1979 Husqvarna OR390
1976-78 RM & 77-79 PE Suzuki's
1974 CR250M 07 CR125R 79 CR250R

[ALB]

Jeff,

Thanks for the photos of Smith Road and Ohio International. I rode the 100 class on a Kawasaki at those places. I didn't care for Smith road - too many trees. I rode Ohio International many times.

I liked riding at Barnhill (on OH route 14). It was a sand and gravel pit with a lot of tight turns, hills and bumps. They would set up a course one week. Then next week they would run it in reverse. Then they would change the layout of course for the next race.
 
There was another track out in Ravenna called "Crash and Burn". I rode that course only once. It was probably in August and was very dry. The dust was so thick in the back grass track area that you couldn't see anything. It was nuts trying to figure out where you were supposed to go. I think that I only rode the first moto and I never went back.

Alan Buehner

[jeff greenberg]

Hey Al, yes, "Crash and Burn" was an appropriate name for that place. A track with that sort of name was not exactly confidence inspiring !!
So you rode one of those crazy fast Green Streaks??
I never rode Barnhill. Probably was just too far from Toledo I suppose. Sounds cool though.
Yeh, I rode at Smith Rd.  quite often. OIR also. Great days for sure. So glad I still have pictures. I think if my house was on fire and the family was out safely. The first thing I'd try to go I. And rescue would be the photo albums. Oh yeh,  the dog before the photos!!
Ha!

[Paul Danik]

Rob,

   I have emailed Regg Rader's wife letting her know about the Penton Wins flyer that you have posted as it tells of Regg getting 2nd. in the 100 class at the Ohio State Championship, also provided her with a link to this thread so that she and other family members can see the flyer...

To all of you message board readers and Penton folks...

 I asked Regg's wife for permission to post the information below telling about the Celebration of Life that was held for Regg. As you will see when you read the information below, Regg had a passion for Pentons and a zest for racing them that was second to none.

Paul


From Billie Rader..

Thank you for your condolences – he certainly loved life - our first grandchild was born in September a little boy named "Regg Shaw Rader, II" he is wonderful – who knows maybe he will race dirt bikes someday!! Regg's calling hours "Celebration of Life" were held at our Church - our two boy's talked to our pastor about bringing his favorite Penton Dirt Bike along with many memorabilia to the Church and got the ok to do so – it was the perfect celebration of life – there were a lot of "back in the day" stories being told! The dirt bike they brought to the Church was the first one he ever raced – our boys found the individual who bought it from Regg many years ago and they bought it back for their Dad as a Christmas present. Strangely enough he finally got it running and briefly rode it for the first time the morning of his accident.  It made him smile!

 

Thanks again – take care.

 

Billie

[rob w]

Found a couple more pictures of my '73 Berkshire. Frame 305xxxxx




That was the first Hi-Point aftermarket RH side panel (over the exhaust) you could get. Notice at 15 years old, I checkered my cylinder fins on the milling machine - made an aluminum rear brake pedal - vented the mag cover. Did'nt every mx'er in '73 want to be number 57 - Pomeroy just won Spanish GP.

[seanguthrie]

That's one tricked out Berkie!  Love the pictures.

74 250 Hare scramble
73 CMF 6day
68 6day V213