Where are they now?

[Dave Mitchell]

Howdy guys,my names Dave Mitchell.I joined POG last year after purchasing a 72 125 Six Days from Dale Walters.Buying the bike was just part of one of the best moves of my adult life.Meeting Dale and corresponding with all the guys that pointed me in his direction was icing on the cake.Believe me when I started looking I knew it would be tough out here in the northwest.Finding one practically in my backyard was kismet.I grew up in Toledo Ohio where my dad had a manufacturing shop.We didn't have alot but I had the shop to work in and earn money for my passion,motorcycles.A nieghbor sold me my first penton a 68 125 steel tanker boy I was styling,this was I believe in 1970.I started racing scrambles at tracks close enough to the house so I could ride to the race,Didn't have a truck yet wasn't old enough..Musta been quite a site me rippin down lewis avenue toward the state line gas can and tools bunjied to the bike.Dux mc. and blackhawks held a few races a year.Later it was dirt rider,victor park delta honda hills and so on.The 68 became a 72 and on and on.I bought my bikes and parts from Piasecki's the boys Kevin and Jeff along with Greenberg and Yarko sp?and many others were the boys to beat.All on Pentons I,m tellin ya If you din't have a penton in the 125 class it wern't happening.I spent all my free time riding pretty much all through high school,used to ride my pentons down the railroad tracks along Laskey road to school.We even worked on them in shop class as or teacher was a rider and thought it was cool.Kept us outa trouble and happy.Well if Kevin or Jeff are out there along with any of the other boy,s tell em I said howdy and thanks for induldging me by readin this.Only a month or so till we start racin out here,Dang I still get wound up!
Dave Mitchell

[tmc3c]

Dave,
  Welcome to POG!! You hit home with the scramble tracks,I wish some that I raced on was still around! I to would ride along the railroad tracks and I found if you get up along the rail and turned it on it would smooth right out.!!Boy GOD was watching out for me! a train could have taken me out SOO easy!! I would ride the tracks on my Penton set up for flat tracking, Tires and down swepted pipe,spool wheel and sneak into the back way of Charleston Speedway and go like mad! Boy those were the days!!![]



Thomas Carmichael


1970 125 Six Day
1976 250 Hare Scrambler

[jeff greenberg]

Hi Dave, I enjoyed your post. Growing up in Toledo I actually raced for the very first time at DUX as a 13 yr old on a Honda mini trail 50 !! I was able to get a ride to the track from my mom in a Chevy station wagon. =)
Funny, I just talked to Ron Yarkow last week. We still trade Christmas cards with Kevin Piasecki too. I now you will enjoy your 125!
Jeff Greenberg(Scottsdale, Az.)

[Dave Mitchell]

Jeff,
You ought to remember me,I shore as heck remember you.I was #00m ridin a 72 125.We went at it hard the 72 season seemed like either you,Kevin, Jeff or Ron were always infront, beside or right behind me Mostly in front.Hell Jeff and I nearly came to blows in the pits at dirt rider in Grand Rapids when one or the other of us used the other for a berm.I lived off Lewis between alexis and laskey so we used to ride our bikes to Dux all the time.That was quite a scenic track lots of big trees lining it,ice under the mud at the spring opener. But it was cool the trees would stop you.
Mitch

[jeff greenberg]

Mitch, Yes, I totally remember you. Always on the gas for sure !! I can remember racing at the original Grand
Rapids track as well as Travelers M.C. out on Bancroft RD. I am still in touch with Paul and Dave Walker. Jim Hagele
also Dan Hall and Doug Beasley (all Penton racers) Right about now I'd love to hear a 125 Six Days going through the gears!
Sorry if I used you as a berm. Probably missed a gear. Ha,ha =).  I'm sure you remember Ron Oswald who ran Dirt Rider Park too.
Great to hear from you. Where do you live now?
Jeff

[brian kirby]

That excuse never gets old! "Sorry dude, I missed a shift" and if you are riding a Sachs they know its probably true.

Brian

'73 Berkshire

[jeff greenberg]

HA !!  So very true Brian, so very true!javascript:insertsmilie(':)')
Smile

[Dave Mitchell]

Jeff,
I do remember Travelers.It's really cool you stay in touch with all those guys, man a blast from the past. I'm living outside of Couer D' Alene Idaho. Do you remember the Sczimanowsi Bros. Their Dad owned Al's polishing shop on Laskey Rd.Started runnin Pentons a year or two after us.Always wondered what happened to them. I'll tell you I feel like the lone ranger here.Not to many Pentons.Mostly Elsinores and Hodakas.Speaking of hearing one run, when I got mine and fired it up I just sat there listened and took a deep snort of bean oil.Freekin heaven.How did you end up in Scottsdale? When I left Toledo I headed to Ca. to ride with the big boy's.Switched to a 250 cr Husky and preceeded to get educated.I think we both know how that turned out!
Mitch

[jeff greenberg]

I actually saw Al and Wonda Szmanowski  as well as their son Chris 2 years ago. Some of the guys put
together a little racers reunion at a Mexican restaurant by Whitmer H.S. when my wife and I came to Toledo for a visit.  Al and Wonda are
doing well. It was good surprise to see them. Al's sons Chris and Rick both raced Pentons. I remember that Al actually chromed the frame on Chris' Penton! Our entire family moved from Toledo back in '85.
I have been through Couer D' Alene, very pretty area.  Was on vacation on the way to Banff and Glacier park. Nothing better
then the smell of some bean oil !!
Jeff

[Dave Mitchell]

My Dad and Al were very good friends,we used to build all of Al's plating racks in my Dads shop.Last time I saw any of them was at my Dad's funeral.I remember Rick had a bout with cancer, glad to know he won.I remember picking up some repairs at Al's shop and I had my 72 in the back of the truck.This was before the boys started racing.Rick was at the shop and he told his dad he was gonna get one.And by god the next time I saw him he had one.They are a good bunch.If you ever head this way again we oughta hook up.I,m runnin ahrma northwest most of the races are on the coast but we have a couple fairly close.If fuel stays down I'll hit as many as I can.Ahrma is looking for bikes to have on display at the supercrosses so I believe my bike is going to Seattle in april. You get a mechanics pass as part of the deal should be a good time.
Mitch

[Jim A]

Thomas,
 I probably raced at Chisolm Trail when you did. Also Yemassee and Savannah. Remember Stokes Honda, Penton, Bultaco and Rickman and can't remember what else all in one shop. The good old days.
   Jim

Jim A

[tomale]

Dave I was at the race the day Dale crashed so hard it ended his racing. A great guy to be sure... Northwest...to be sure there are a very few pentons in this part of the woods.. but there are a few and all of them are owned by some cool guys...

Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)74'
250 hare scrambler (project bike)
72'sixday (project bike)

[Dave Mitchell]

Thom,I hope we can hook up at one of the upcoming races,I think i'm gonna hit Boise for a shakedown run.Been tryin to get the mikuni Dale put on the bike dialed in.Believe it or not I've been havin about as much trouble as my old bings.But I think I got it now.I see on one of the other pages your putting a 72 125 together.I'll tell ya I've got a sweat spot for em.Good Luck
Mitch