Way-Back Wednesday, a look in the rear view mirror.

[Paul Danik]

                     
                               Way-back Wednesday.    A glimpse in the rear-view mirror to see just how we got to where we are today.

Before there was a Penton Owners Group, there was a gathering of Penton enthusiasts at Alan Buehner's Penton Parts booth at the Mid-Ohio Vintage Motorcycle Days, if I am not mistaken, the year was 1997. Just as the earth rotates around the sun, Penton enthusiasts from far and wide traveled to that event to gather around John Penton, who had graciously accepted Alan Buehner's invitation to be his special guest at the event. As much as John was the main attraction, having the likes of Dane Leimbach and Jack Penton also attending surely made for a proverbial three ring circus.

The excitement and enthusiasm built up from that gathering provided the spark that most certainly lit the fire of determination to form the Penton Owners Group. Prior to the gathering at VMD, Alan traveled to the homes of several Penton ISDT riders to offer to frame their ISDT medals to make them more easily displayed, Alan's sister was the talented person who actually did the framing. I was one of the riders that Alan visited. Till Alan came along, my medals simply sat in a drawer, as did the medals that others had earned as well. In the photo the framed medals can be seen in the background.

The gentleman in the photo with Dane is Dave Hougton whose wonderful wife, Debbie I do believe, took this photo. The young looking fellow to the right looks to be the gent that my wife married.

At the time this photo was taken, no one would have guessed that just three years later the Penton Sportcycle would be the Featured Marque at VMD, and John Penton would be the Grand Marshall. In the year 2000 when that occurred, there was a VMD west as well at the then Sears Point Raceway. Joh Penton, Al Born and I drove to that event pulling a Hi-Point trailer loaded down with the POG display items, but that is a story for another time.
If I remember correctly, Jack brought along one of the Commemorative Penton / KTM Jackpiners and could be seen popping wheelies all over the Mid-Ohio grounds. Not to be out done by Jack's antics on the Jackpiner, John brought along the x-rays from his recent back surgery which he proudly displayed, as that experimental surgery allowed John to once again be able to dig ditches and do whatever was needed to keep the Penton homestead in good working order.

[Rob Thatcher]

I enjoyed the Ahrma years there, the racing was always pretty good.  I took my son to Mid Ohio for the first time in 2000 when he was almost 3, and got him a signed, personalized JP book.  We still have it.

[conrad]

Speaking of rear view mirror....Tribute we wrote a few years ago to Vintage Days, old times and Paul Danik...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6UXbggS52c