Desert Rat

[Farmjohnny]

Greetings all,
My name is Tom Roe and I'm a Desert Rat. I raced dez in the early seventies then went vintage racing (Greeves)in the 80's.
I've owned one Jackpiner (01607) and been intimate with another (56280), but I felt like I was at my best on my Berkshire (09208), and last but not least I had a KR250(#25) in my life for a while. It was all good.
I have been lurking and reading past posts, trying to find my way and I must say, you folks rock!

As far as current projects go, I'm pulling together all the data I can find regarding the 1973 Mint 400 and seeing where it leads me.

Again, thanks for all that you folks are doing here.

[454MRW]

Do a search on this site for Mint 400, however they didn't come out until late 74 and were generally referred to as 75 models. 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

[Farmjohnny]

Mr. Winter, thanks for the reply. I am in awe of your work.

It's funny how this always starts to sound like an Abbott and Costello routine.  

It gets really crazy when we start talking about there being "no" 1974 Mint 400.

Let me clarify. "The worlds greatest off road event", (their words not mine).

It's place in Penton history is very interesting, and getting weirder by the minute.

[Daniel P. McEntee]

I was going to ask if you were refering to the event or the motorcycle! Now we know! I think the first Mint 400 was 1973, was it not? Being a desert racer, do you know Mark Adent? I got to know Mark through the ISDT Reunion Rides and fixed him up with a bike to ride back in 2002 I think it was. He rode the ISDT in '74 at Camorino, Italy. Haven't heard from him in a while, will have to drop him a line.
   Welcome to the group, hope to hear some Mint stories!
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Farmjohnny]

Thanks Dan,
The 1973 Mint was actually the 6th annual, and due to the cancellation of the event in 1974 due to the energy crisis, it was the last annual. The event tailed off from there.

Sorry I don't know Mark, I know "of" him, of course.

I was a Southern Nevada kid so it was more like Max Switzer, Jack Johnson, Casey Folks, Tom Scales, Mark Mason..........
The California guys rarely came our way. Our desert was the kind that just destroyed bikes so it took big purses to get them to come and play. It was fun to race against the east coast guys that came out!

Tom

[gooddirt]

Welcome to the POG D R Tom  ....... Never heard the 1974 mint ( seen pics in 1974 sales lit ) was called a 1975 you would have to call the 1974.5 250 a 1975 as well.[8D]

[454MRW]

That makes sense, but I've never heard them called a 74. I have heard them called a
74 1/2. 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

[Farmjohnny]

Mike, think event not model, although the model comes into play.


Tom

[Farmjohnny]

Gooddirt, thanks for the welcome.

[454MRW]

Yeah, I got that, I was just responding to Larrys response. Lol

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

[Farmjohnny]

Ever wonder about what happened during that time of the Mint 250/400 change up?

[Farmjohnny]

Paul Danik found a link way back on 1/6/09 in a post about the Gold machine. He found a write up in the Feb 73 edition of Keep'em Winning that talked about the Penton West guys being into the Mint 400. Does anyone remember this?

Tom

[Farmjohnny]

I would also like to find out how this event came to play such a big roll in Pentons plans for 1973.

Maybe it was the performance of Bobby Davidson and Danny Davis in the 72 Mint that sparked the interest. They finished 10th O/A first 125. Very impressive.

I know Carl was a big desert guy so maybe it was his influence.
73 was a monster year for him.

But naming a model after the event is a big step.

I do know that forces were brought to bear for the event.

#37 Carl Cranke
    Mark Mason  - Penton West

#29 Casey Folks
    Tom Scales - Penton West/Sportsman Cycle

#11 Ken Coulter
    Brian Dorrien C&C Cycle Tulsa OK

#56 Danny Young
    Jerry Chafton Honda Hut/Branding Iron Rest.

#53 Joe DeJesus
    Tom Roe

Some fun facts.

All Penton teams entered that year were Jackpiner mounted.

This is the first and only appearance for the Jackpiner in the Mint

3 (maybe 4) of the 5 teams were made up of life long best friends.

Tom Scales made the cover of Dirt Bike with the best desert racing Penton pic of all time (wish I knew how to post it).

Tom

[Daniel P. McEntee]

Yeah, this is cool and what I was hoping for! There is information posted here on the list on how to post photos, a matter of hosting  the photos and linking them to the post I think. I suck at it but some of these guys are wizards at it and it's almost like being there. Get a good scan  of it and maybe Mike Winter will put it up?? I think I remember the cover, but not sure and I know I don't have the magazine.
  Thanks a lot,
 Dan McEntee

[454MRW]

Email the pic & I would be happy to post it for you. [email protected] Mike Here they are:


[URL=http://s232.photobucket.com/user/454MRW/media/IMG_20150224_0001_NEW_zpsw2vxlnfx.jpg.html]
[URL=http://s232.photobucket.com/user/454MRW/media/Dick%20Mann%20Rally%201985%20_zpsxg4ztv5a.jpg.html]


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