What's the story ?

[rob w]

 I've had this unopened can since 1972, but maybe it's older than that. Was this before Hi-Point Oils and Accessories was formed. Just wondering what the story is about the Mid-States International Moto Cross Co. I don't recall any mention of this in history class.

This is all I could find in the John Penton book about that name.

Thanks,
Bob

[joe novak]

Bob,  Did you try calling the phone number listed on the Hi-Point Gear Lube can?  It is a local call out here, so I will call it tomorrow and tell you who answers the phone....   Joe

[Paul Danik]

Bob,

   What I am going to state is what I believe to be the story,or part of it, if others know differently or have other information please feel free to correct or add to my comments.

   Mid-States International Moto-Cross Association was created by John Penton, possibly in partnership with his brother Ted and maybe more of the brothers. I believe it's initial purpose was for promoting Inter-Am races.

   I have a program from the 1970 Inter-Am series, in the center of it is the race series schedule, including the October 18, 1970 event at Honda Hills located in Linnville, Ohio. Mid-States International Moto_Cross is listed as the promoter of the event.   Honda Hills was owned at the time by Dick Klamfoth and he still lives on a hill over looking the race track property. Dick and Bev are wonderful folks as many of you already know.

    I rode that event and have numerous items from it with Mid-States International Moto-Cross Association as the heading, including a signed letter from Ted Penton that he sent me when I requested to be entered in the 125 support class, which ended up with over 50 riders in it. The letter is written on Mid-States International stationary and is dated October 2, 1970. I must add that John DeSoto put on a Moto-Cross School on Saturday for a fee of $6.00, which I did partake of.  His tips for hand on the helmet starting were awesome, as was everything else he taught.

     I have a confession to make to you Bob, please keep this to yourself, I AM A PACK RAT ! ! ! AND, I am really glad.... Judy isn't so pleased, but what can I say..

I still have all of the paperwork from that event.  We stayed at the Nity-Nite Motel on route 3, Zanesville, Ohio.  When we got to the motel on Friday night guess who was in the next rooms, John Penton and company .  John held court in the parking lot for about and hour that evening telling everyone about their recent trip to the ISDT, I thought I died and went to heaven.  
 
Sorry to digress, I think that name is on your oil can because Hi-Point wasn't yet a legal company. I have two cans here and both say distributed by Penton Imports Amherst,Ohio, one can is a QUART of 2 stroke oil so it is a very early product.

I will try to scan and add some of the paperwork to this thread shortly. I will also bring up this topic at next week's POG meeting and see what can be learned from the folks who did all of this.

As to what you saw in the JP book.  I do believe that John was the promoter of the New Philadelphia, Ohio Inter-Am event that took place on October 26 & 27 1968. My good friend Bob "Augie" Augustine took me to that event and I still have that program. I think the Amherst Meadowlarks were somehow involved as Jim Borer has mentioned about how JP and the Meadowlarks were not exactly seen in a favorable light by the folks at the AMA afterward.  I will ask at the meeting if Mid-States was in existence for that event. I just can't think why the Meadowlarks would have been involved if Mid-States was the promoter, hopefully someone will know the answers.

Hope this helps.
Paul

[rob w]

Paul, I know you'll get to the bottom of this . I believe it's uncharted Penton history - which always makes a good topic of POG conversation. Thanks Paul, I may come to the next meeting.
Oh and about Judy thinking you've saved too much "junk" over the years - they like to bug you about it, but deep down, they're glad for our happiness .
Here's what I gather: the term "Hi-Point" was first the name for the line of oils - before Hi-Point Oils and Accessories was established.

Here's the cover of the earliest accessories catalog.


and here's a page out of it

[Jerry Chafton]

The above catalog was probably a dealer version of the items sold in that era. Jesse Thomas of Cadiz, Ky. was a Penton dealer in the early 70's. Him and his son Bobby raced all the major events in the southeast. Bobby and Jesse were close friends of mine at that time and we traveled to many races together. They also promoted races in Western Kentucky under the group called Western Kentucky Competition Trail Riders Association.
I am sure many of the POG members remember these two.....