Looking for information...

[Paul Danik]

Greetings,

   Can anyone provide me with any information about a racer, and apparently also a Husky dealer, from Dallas, Texas by the name of John Long? His shop ran under the name of Husqvarna of Dallas.

   I understand that he raced a Penton for awhile but was later signed by Bultaco for possibly a factory MX ride.

   Was he a Penton dealer? Does anyone know if he is still around?

   How about an engine builder / porting expert from Grapevine, Texas by the name of Major or possibly Majors?

   Thanks in advance for reading this and clearing out the cobwebs

Thanks,
Paul

[tvrc18]

I remember Jerry Majors from back in the 70's. He did a few cylinders for me, a cr125 Honda and Sherpa S Bultaco. He did outstanding work and signed his name on the bottom of the cylinder. I am not sure if he is still around but he did live in Grapevine back then. By the way both bikes were rockets that he did, the Bultaco was the fastest Sherpa S at the local flat track races and was protested twice because they could not believe it was a 200cc and not a 250.
Terry

[Paul Danik]

Thanks Terry,

I looked at the 1973 250cc Penton today as I haven't read the engraving in quite awhile, and I wanted to get the engine and frame serial  numbers. Ports by J. Majors was engraved on the upper fin, on the fin below the following was engraved, For Gus Reynolds. I wonder if anyone knows of Gus Reynolds?

I guess at some point we will need to take a peak and see what Jerry did.  Given that this machine is one of the gold Hare Scramblers that have a reputation as being a tad on the peaky and powerful side, hopefully he tamed it down... If he did something like he did with your Sherpa S I better have a big open field to try it out...

Thanks again,
Paul

[Gary Roach]

Paul,

I did a Google search for "Gus Reynolds Penton", and I came across a photo on the Texas Vintage Racing Club website posted by "Jonh Reynolds", and the caption reads, "GUS REYNOLDS PENTON 1974 250"

http://tvrcnetwork.ning.com/photo/albums/untitled

If you click on the photo on the right, it will enlarge, and by looking at the clutch cover, it appears to be a '73 model.

So I'm guessing that maybe Gus and Jonh are somehow related?

Jonh Reynolds' photo album has several Pentons in it.
http://tvrcnetwork.ning.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?screenName=03temk1xz2ia6

My favorite!
http://tvrcnetwork.ning.com/photo/scan1111?context=user

[Paul Danik]

Gary,

   You should have worked for the CIA.....THANKS...

   After you enlarge the right photo, click on VIEW FULL SIZE on the bottom right and you can really enlarge the photo.

http://tvrcnetwork.ning.com/photo/albums/untitled

This article from the photo album mentions Gus as being John and David's father.  I am thinking that the Jonh Reynolds who posted the info is the same as the John Reynolds in the write up, given that the writer spelled Bultaco as Bull Taco in his story......

http://api.ning.com/files/kwWFsWzc8EJ3eLiuiliAZG*0ZLwnbFNK1W7tMbi6nTGzt2f6FznCMTAWYpd9UbFr6hfqHtlVaJCBOtpz195WInGKNwbZ8Ksv/Scan15.jpg

Now to contact Jonh and tell him we know where his Dad's old Penton is......Mars

Terry, do you know Jonh Reynolds? If so can you put me in touch with him?

Bob Kent, if you are following this you know what bike we are discussing... Bob is a POG member from Conneautville, Pa and this bike came to me by way of him. If you don't know Bob, you probably do remember his awesome KTM sidecar rig from various POG events

http://www.pentonusa.org/GalleryServerPro/default.aspx?moid=218&hr=1

Bob is a past president of the Ohio Valley BSA Owners Club which many of you are familiar with.

 Bob's brother Rik lives in Texas and he had bought the bike from John Long, then it went to Bob, and you know the rest. Rik did a bit of racing himself...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dpkent2009/4306009801/


Thanks,
Paul

[Bob Kent]

Paul - I've been following your thread on the old Penton.  I knew that you were the guy that should have it.  Glad you're having fun tracing down its lineage.  I never discovered the engraving under Majors noting Gus Reynolds.  I do know that bike was very fast!  Be careful and enjoy your hunt.