December 2009 Home Page Photo

[Admin]

This POGGER is practicing for next year's ISDT-RR. Can you guess who the rider is? [8D]

http://www.pentonusa.org/archive/homepage/2010/default_010710.htm

[Randy Kirkbride]

Hey, Sweet Bike... Is that Bill S.(Admin)

[Admin]

Randy,
I wish that was me.  It looks like I'm not the only one who rides an MC5 125.

[Britt Boyette]

Cool bike!:D

Britt Boyette
1976 125 MC5

[ALB]

I can't make out who the rider is, but it looks like Bill Smith's bike. So, my guess would be BILL SMITH.

Alan Buehner

[Randy Kirkbride]

Hey Bill.... Is that Karen riding your bike???

[garrettccovington]

I say it's Steve McQueen.

72 six-day

[garrettccovington]

Dan Pagel

G

72 six-day

[Admin]

Yes Randy, it is me, Karen!  I am on Bill's bike.  We were looking for a temporary home page photo and because of all the MC5 talk lately, thought this might be fun.

For several years now, Bill has been riding on the 80 acres in Jackson, MI that I inherited from my father.  He had been wanting me to ride with him, so 2 years ago I rode this bike and dumped it within several yards (seemed too tall) and didn't want anything to do with it after that, even though in the 70's I did alot of riding on an 1973 AT3 125 Yamaha and 1974 185 Suzuki.  I sold the Yamaha for the Suzuki (what a mistake that was).  Boy, I wish I still had both bikes today! To show you how nuts I was back then, myself and a friend rode our Suzuki's 1500 miles on a 10 day trip to West Virginia and back, using all back roads and no expressways.  Ah to be young again!

I did alot of competitive running and marathons in the 70's and 80's, when the sport was mainly for men.  And if I wasn't running, I was dirt bike riding in northern Michigan with friends. I never knew about enduro racing.  Had I known, I probably would have been an early "powder puffer".   After attending this year's ISDT-RR with Bill, I got motivated to try it again (by seeing all the other women riding) and the rest it history!  I am loving it!

[Paul Danik]

Karen,

   I just have to ask in the hope that a special retired Ford employee from Elyria reads this, what ever made you go to West Virginia? [:

   Looks like a nice riding area.

Paul

PS  Did Bill ever tell you that Pentons were not as tall as the KTM ?  Nothing like a Jackpiner for Jackson..........

[Dennis Jones]

Great story, it's nice to meet the Admin's.

Thanks for all you do.

Dennis Jones

[Randy Kirkbride]

I sould have realized it was a trick question when I saw the dark googles, as I was sure it was Bill's bike. I know you'll have loads of enjoyment getting back in the saddle again. Thanks for all the work you do for POG.

[ABORN]

Hey Paul,  I thought that everyone wants to go to (Almost Heaven) at least once.  Al

[Paul Danik]

Looks like I got busted by big Al

Actually one of my favorite MX tracks was Bel Mesa Raceway in New Cumberland, WV.  I remember that they had a heck of a drop off into a valley and then you shot straight back up the other side, one of those places where you pushed the Sachs pretty hard on the way down in the hope of making it up the other side in a higher gear than the other guys, at least that was the plan.  That is the track where I first met Joe Barker on his Suzuki.

OK, I guess I answered my own question, obviously Karen and her girl friend traveled to WV from Michigan to see the MX races at Bel Mesa

I might have to try and find that old track someday and see what it looks like today, probably a mini-mall.  I remember that there was a drive in theater pretty handy to the entry  road.

Paul

[firstturn]

Karen,
  Great story of the trip to West Virginia.  I wish I would have had the opportunity in my youth to make that kind of trip, but my Parents were (are) smart enough to not let me own a bike in my youth...probably would have went to West Texas and stayed.
  Great that you have Family land to ride on....thanks for all you do for POG your help is greatly appreciated.

Merry CHRISTmas.

Ron Carbaugh