Diamond Don's Race in Texas

[firstturn]

Great racing and a lot of Great POG Members.  Chicago Jerry did an outstanding job and he seems like he is three places at once.  Without people like Jerry racing would be dead...
Got to meet Mick Milakovic and his children.  Ambr did well in her race and never gave up even after getting stuck....Great Job.  I will discuss more after I get some rest.  9 hour drive home.

Ron Carbaugh

[Ernie Phillips]

Ron,  Looking forward to hearing how the Penton riders performed.  And, thanks for the parts!  -EP

Ernie P.
Chattanooga, TN

[Mick Milakovic]

Hi All, and Ron, thanks for all your jetting help at the race.  Ambr's bike ran great and I was both proud of her and thankful she did so well.  This was her first cross country race, and I'll even say her first "trail-riding" experience of any kind!  Please allow me to expain:

We have a 3/4 mile long motocross track on our property, wide enough for me to drive my pick up around, so that's all the experience my kids have.  It's great, and they love it, but you all know how testy tight woods can be!  Anyway, I told Ambr we would ride the sight lap together so I could help her if she needed it.  We went off almost last, and got passed by everyone, and literally got back to the start area dead last.  She was tentative everywhere, and there were some tricky spots, but luckily nothing major.  Still, uphill railroad tracks with immediate turns on the other side, short, abrupt rises with turns, mudholes, and muddy ruts that she had no experience with.  On top that, she doesn't rev her motor, and you all know what that means to a two-stroke motor!  She kept shaking her head at me, as if to say "this isn't going to work!"  I gave her my tool pack and taught her how to change a plug, prayed, and let her go.

I was three rows ahead of her so I didn't see her start, but she said the Piner started first kick and she was first into the woods, ahead of all the girls AND guys!  She finished the first lap in first place, but got stuck in a mudhole on the second lap and lost her position, eventually finishing second in her class.  I kept expecting to see her stopped along the trail somewhere, stuck or broken down, but that didn't happen until my fourth lap (her third), when I caught and followed her for about 200 yards.  My thought was, how cool, this is just like riding at home!  I went by, shouted encouragement, and greeted her with a huge hug in the pits.  I was so proud of her then, and it's bringing great emotion as I write.

As for me, in the vintage race I got the hole shot on my row, but experienced motor problems during the race and finished 4th out of six.  The motor is really old, so I'm going to put in my Gary Ellis-built motor before Combs.  The PV race went better, but I clipped a tree passing someone in a mud bog, killed the motor, and took too long getting it started and finished 7th out of 12.

I want to thank everyone on this site for their wonderful treatment of not only my daughter, but all of my family.  I don't want to mention names out of fear of leaving someone out, but you know who you are.  AHRMA and the AMA may have a parting of the ways, but I know the POG will survive for one big reason:  FAMILY!  The Penton family started something out of love, and our POG creaters did the same thing.  I feal the same way everytime I meet someone from this group, and this weekend was no different.  Obviously I met Ron, and Phil Ketchum, too.  Phil, I hope you catch the thiefs who stole your bikes.  I've experienced the same thing and know how you feel.  

Sorry for being so long winded, but weekends like that and friends like you all bring out the best in all of us.  Thank you all again,

Mick

[vmxracer]

It was nice to meet you to Mr. Carbaugh! I am SO thankful for those of you that helped when I needed it! This was such a huge learning experience for me, and I can't wait to get to Arkansas! And it will be a totally new experience there too! I could not have been more pleased with the way the Jackpiner ran in the woods. And my dad was right, on the parade i just wanted to quit, but im sure glad i didn't!

Ambr Milakovic
"Black Beauty"

[firstturn]

Ambr,
  Your Father is the one to thank.  He did a lot of work to get you to the race and sorted out your bike.  keep us posted when you go in the Navy....and we are Proud of you.

Ron Carbaugh

[vmxracer]

Yes he did do a lot of work for me! i am surprised he doesn't have a sore back from bending over and working on my bike! But, i think something that really helps as far as working on them, is i read from the John Penton book. It is cool for me, first off because i have read it like 10 TIMES, but because i get to see work on the bike while reading about them. I told my dad, that when he first told me about racing the vintage bikes, I did not want to have anything to do with them. But now, I would rather be out riding and racing my Favorite bike ever, anywhere!

Ambr Milakovic
"Black Beauty"

[pketchum]

Ambr,

You are a TRUE inspiration to everyone around you.  If a young woman such as yourself can overcome the obstacles of the CC race at DD's then there's no reason others (young and old alike) cannot succeed.  It was a true pleasure to meet you, your Dad, and siblings. Wasn't DD's a neat venue for racing, especially the Saturday night feast?

I happened to walk past the Louisiana VMX contingent and heard the word jumbalaya.  I said, "Jumbalaya?" and was immediately pulled aside to the HUGE, HUGE, pot of steamed rice with Cajun seasoning full of chicken, pork, spicy sausage, etc. and told to take as much as I wanted, soda's and water over there!  Grab some and bring your friends.  Later we're having fried catfish and a live band tonight."  AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME hospitality from these guys, like I'd never experienced before!  I brought over Tim Hamilton and Bob Knibb and introduced them to the guys before leaving for dinner with friends in town (I was so full I only had a piece of pie.)  They said the same thing and "Thanks for introducing us to these guys, they were a LOT of fun."

I hope you had the opportunity to meet this wonderful group of friends as they truly made everyone welcome and feel part of the vintage "family."

Phil

[tdthigpen]

Pentons in the woods of Texas.Taken at the mudhole Amber fell in[:I]Got my dang boots muddy helping her [/img]

Thom Thigpen
1974 125 Six Days (21c)

[Mike Burgess]

quote:Originally posted by pketchum

Ambr,

You are a TRUE inspiration to everyone around you.  If a young woman such as yourself can overcome the obstacles of the CC race at DD's then there's no reason others (young and old alike) cannot succeed.  It was a true pleasure to meet you, your Dad, and siblings. Wasn't DD's a neat venue for racing, especially the Saturday night feast?

I happened to walk past the Louisiana VMX contingent and heard the word jumbalaya.  I said, "Jumbalaya?" and was immediately pulled aside to the HUGE, HUGE, pot of steamed rice with Cajun seasoning full of chicken, pork, spicy sausage, etc. and told to take as much as I wanted, soda's and water over there!  Grab some and bring your friends.  Later we're having fried catfish and a live band tonight."  AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME hospitality from these guys, like I'd never experienced before!  I brought over Tim Hamilton and Bob Knibb and introduced them to the guys before leaving for dinner with friends in town (I was so full I only had a piece of pie.)  They said the same thing and "Thanks for introducing us to these guys, they were a LOT of fun."

I hope you had the opportunity to meet this wonderful group of friends as they truly made everyone welcome and feel part of the vintage "family."

Phil

Sounds like you ran into Billy Orazio, Mac Edmenston and Roy Jenkins and the rest of the coonass brigade. Good people who have a deep love for vintage racing. When it comes to cooking all us coonasses can lay the smakdown on some good ole coonass cooking. FYI...It's Jamabalya and yes, it's just awesome.

[vmxracer]

Phil,
I did get to meet a few of them. i always love going to vintage races, becuase the hospitality is the same everywhere! I also wanted to thank Thom, i could not remember who helped me out of the mud. i'm sure everyone can assimilate with that. i was really into the race, and was just thinking, 'get out, get out, get out'. so THANK YOU! i love the vintage/post vintage bikes!.... except when they won't start! then i wish i had a modern electric start! that would almost feel like cheating. But i hope more 'youth' of the the appropriate age will start riding. and more GIRLS!

Ambr Milakovic
"Black Beauty"