The Racers Book

The Racers’ Book SCENES OF MOTORCYCLE PERSONALITIES IN DAYS GONE BY

Photos and Captions by Eddie Boomhower 2009

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PREFACE WELCOME TO MY COLLECTION OF PICTURES ASSEMBLED OVER THE LAST 60 YEARS. THIS IS NOT A COMMERCIAL VENTURE BUT RATHER SOMETHING TO PASS ALONG TO POSTERITY. THE WORLD WE KNEW AND ENJOYED SO MUCH IS RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING DOWN THE POLITICAL RAT HOLE. FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL HARDLY KNOW, AND EVEN LESS UNDERSTAND HOW WE GOT SO MUCH PLEASURE OUT OF THE SIMPLE MACHINES AND THE FANTASTIC ACTIVITIES PICTURED HERE. I HOPE THAT THE VIEWER GETS AS MUCH ENJOYMENT OUT OF SEEING THEM AS I DID COLLECTING THEM. MY LONG TIME FRIEND, JACK TURNER, FROM BEAVER DAM, VA WAS THE MOTIVATION BEHIND GETTING THIS ALL TOGETHER. HE IS WORKING ON IT TO BE AVAILABLE ON A C/D, DVD, AND OR FLASH DRIVE. THIS FORMAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO GET IT FOR JUST A OF COUPLE DOLLARS. IF YOU THEN CHOOSE TO HAVE IT IN BOOK FORM, AS WE DID AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND, YOU CAN TAKE THE SAVED COLLECTION TO A PLACE LIKE “KINKOS”. FOR WHAT IS QUITE A GOOD DEAL YOU MAY HAVE IT PRINTED INTO A BOOK FORM AND SPIRAL BOUND. AGAIN I REPEAT, WE ARE NOT SELLING THIS COLLECTION. IT IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE FOR THE PRICE OF A FLASH DRIVE OR DISC. THEY CAN RUN AS LITTLE AS TWENTY FIVE CENTS FOR A DISC, OR UP TO A FEW DOLLARS FOR A FLASH DRIVE, PLUS ANY POSTAGE INVOLVED. ALSO PLEASE REALIZE THAT WHILE YOU AND I MIGHT NOT AGREE EXACTLY ON SOME OF THE INFORMATION INCLUDED, JUST REMEMBER THAT I AM RELYING ON A VERY TIRED EIGHTY YEAR OLD BRAIN. TIME SURELY CHANGES A LOT OF THINGS. HAVE FUN AND ENJOY IT ! EDDIE BOOMHOWER CHEASPEAKE, VIRGINIA

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JOE “LIL JOE” WEATHERLY AMA NATIONAL NUMBER “4” 1922-1964

JOE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NORFOLK, VA. HE LEFT SCHOOL FOR A STINT IN THE ARMY. ON RETURNING, HE TOOK UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF WITH AN INTEREST IN MOTORCYCLES. IN 1946 JOE TEAMED UP WITH “RED NABORS” WHO HAD JUST COME OVER FROM CALIFORNIA, AND WAS HIMSELF A RACER. RED WAS WORKING AS A MECHANIC AT THE NORFOLK HARLEY DAVISON DEALERSHIP OPERATED BY JOHN THOMAS GUPTON WHO LATER ALONG WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON SPONSORED JOE IN HIS RACING EFFORTS. IN 1946 RED AND JOE WENT TO SUFFOLK TO RUN A ½ MILE FLAT TRACK RACE. RED SOON REALIZED THAT JOE HAD THE GREATER POTENTIAL AND HE RETIRED FROM RACING TO BECOME JOE’S FULL TIME WRENCH. THEY WERE A WINNING COMBINATION FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS DURING WHICH TIME JOE WON THREE NATIONAL EVENTS: ONE AT THE 10 MILE NATIONAL AT RICHMOND AND TWO AT THE LACONIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE ROAD RACE COURSE. JOE AND RED PARTED COMPANY AND JOE WENT INTO AUTO RACING WHERE HE WAS VERY SUCESSFUL. HE WAS KILLED IN A RACE AT THE RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA ROAD RACE TRACK ON JANUARY 19, 1964 ENDING A VERY COLORFUL CAREER. JOE WOULD RATHER CLOWN AROUND THAN EAT WHEN HE WAS HUNGRY. GUPPIE HIRED ME TO WORK THE 200 MILE BEACH RACE AT DAYTONA WHEN RED LEFT AND THAT HAD TO BE THE MOST CONFUSING WEEK I EVER LIVED THROUGH. I NEVER KNEW WHERE JOE WAS OR WHAT HE WAS DOING. HE JUST DIDN’T GET SERIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING UNTIL HE GOT THE THROTTLE IN HIS HAND. HE WAS DEFINITELY A ONE-OF-A-KIND MAN.

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BILL TUMAN

BILL’S RACING CAREER STARTED IN 1942 IN OAKLAND CA. WHEN FINALLY TIRING OF A 12 HOUR DAY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AT THE OAKLAND NAVAL SUPPLY DEPOT SET OUT TO RETURN TO ROCKFORD ILL HIS HOME. HE WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET WHEN HE SAW A SIGN IN THE WINDOW OF HAP JONES INDIAN SALES. “ MECHANIC WANTED” HE WALKED IN AND APPLIED FOR THE JOB. THE MAN ASKED IF HE HAD TOOLS AND HE TOLD HIM THAT THEY WERE IN SHIPMENT. HE STAYED ON TILL THE FALL OF 1945. THE TOOLS NEVER DID GET THERE. HE BUILT A WINNING RACE BIKE FOR THE BOSS AND HE WAS HOOKED. HE TRADED HIS BIKE FOR AN ARMY SURPLUS SCOUT AND SHIPPED IT BACK TO ILLINOIS AND BUILT HIS FIRST RACER. IN 1947 BILL WON MORE RACES THAN ANY TWO MEN COMBINED IN THE US. IN 1948/49 HE WON 192 FIRSTS, 72 2NDS AND 21 THIRDS. VOTED ILLINOIS STATE CHAMPION 7 TIMES, VOTED INTO THE AMA HALL OF FAME. HE RETIRED FROM RACING IN 1955 AND WORKED AS A FACTORY REP FOR BSA FOR 3 YEARS UNTIL HE OPENED A HONDA SHOP WHICH HE OPERATED FOR 18 YEARS. HE WAS ONE THIRD OF THE FAMOUS INDIAN WRECKING CREW WHICH WAS COMPRISED OF BILL TUMAN, BOBBY HILL AND ERNIE BECKMAN. WHEN THEY SHOWED UP EVERYBODY SHOOK.

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DICK KLAMFOTH

DICK WAS RAISED ON AN OHIO FARM. HE STARTED RACING LIKE SO MANY OTHERS AT THE TIME ON INDIANS AND TRIUMPHS. HIS FAME CAME WHEN HE TEAMED UP WITH FRANCES BEART, THE WORLD FAMOUS ROAD RACE TUNER OF THE PERIOD FROM ENGLAND AND THE NORTON BRAND. UNDER HIS TUTLEDGE HE WON THREE FIRSTS AND FOUR SECONDS ON THE FAMOUS BEACH COURSE AT DAYTONA. HE AND HIS WIFE FOLLOWED THE ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL CIRCUIT WHILE RAISING THREE CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT OF A LINCOLN AUTOMOBILE. BEVERLY WAS HIS GREATEST FAN. HE KEPT HIS RACE BIKE FRAME CLEANED AND PAINTED AS WELL AS HIS LEATHERS TO ENABLE HIM TO WIN THE BEST APPEARANCE AWARD AT ALL THE TRACKS. THEY RETIRED FROM RACING IN 1968 AND OPENED THE HONDA OF COLUMBUS SAID TO BE THE FIRST DEALERSHIP IN THE U.S. OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND 24 HOURS A DAY. AFTER SELLING OUT THEY ORGANIZED THE “HONDA HILLS RECREATION AREA” AND ALSO THE “OVER THE HILL GANG” A GROUP OF RETIRED MOTORCYCLE RACERS WHO MEET EVERY JULY AT DICKS FARM TO SWAP LIES. HIS GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT LATELY HAS BEEN THE MOTORCYCLE RACERS MONUMENT AT DAYTONA BEACH FL. HE HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR YEARS ON THIS PROJECT AND IT HAS FINALLY COME TO PASS.

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ED GUILL

ED, ON THE LEFT, WAS FROM DANVILLE, VA. HE STARTED RACING IN 1941 JUST IN TIME TO SEE THE WAR SHUT DOWN RACING. HIS RETURN TO RACING CAME IN 1946. HE WAS EXTREMELY GOOD ON TT TRACKS AND MOST OF THE TIME RACED HARLEY DAVIDSONS. HE LATER TOOK ON A MATCHLESS DEALERSHIP AND WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH THEM ON THE TT COURSES. IN 1947 HE WON FIRST PLACE AT THE LANGHORNE 100 MILE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ONE MILE TRACK IN PA, RIDING AN INTERNATIONAL NORTON. HE LATER BECAME THE HARLEY DEALER IN DANVILLE, VA THAT HE AND HIS WIFE OPERATED UNTIL THE TIME OF HIS DEATH. HE NEVER SEEMED TO LET THE FACT THAT HE WAS SIGHTLESS IN ONE EYE BOTHER HIM. HE STILL WENT ON AND WON. BUCK BRIGANCE USED TO KID HIM THAT HE HAD AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE SINCE HE COULD ONLY SEE HALF THE HOLES IN THE TRACK. HE IS PICTURED HERE WITH HIS FRIEND OF MANY YEARS NORMAN BOSWELL WHEN THE TWO OF THEM MADE A 7,143 MILE TRIP TOGETHER ACROSS THE U.S. AND DOWN INTO MEXICO, SATISFYING HIS LIFELONG DREAM TO MAKE THE TRIP.

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CARROLL RESWEBER #1

CARROLL WAS THE FIRST MAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE AMA TO WIN THREE CONSECUTIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. HE GREW UP IN THE PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AREA AND ENTERED AMA RACING AS A NOVICE IN 1955. HE TEAMED UP WITH THE GREAT EVERETT BRASHEAR WHO INTRODUCED HIM TO RALPH BERNDT, A TUNER EMPOYED BY THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON COMPANY IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. HE WENT FROM NOVICE TO EXPERT IN ONE YEAR AFTER COMPETING IN 167 RACES. CARROLL RODE ALL TYPES OF RACES, SHORT TRACK, HALF MILE, ONE MILE, ROAD RACE AS WELL AS TT. IN 1958 HE BEAT THE FAMOUS JOE LEONARD BY ONE POINT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. AFTER THAT THERE WAS NO STOPPING HIM. IN 1960 CARROLL WON THE 5 MILE, 10 MILE, 15 MILE, 20 MILE AND 2ND IN THE 100 MILE LACONIA. HE HAD A RIDING STYLE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DUPLICATED. HE WAS INVOLVED IN A MULTI BIKE CRASH IN ILLINOIS AND WAS NEVER ABLE TO RACE AGAIN. HE WORKED FOR HARLEY DAVIDSON IN THE RACING DEPT AND AFTER RETIREMENT HAS RETURNED TO TEXAS TO LIVE.

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RICHMOND RACING TEAM 1962

51C CAPT FUZZO SHERMER, 53C MARSHALL LAMM, 35 PAUL LASSITER, 66D JACK KIEDROWSKI, 43C JOHN WILEY. THE GUY IN THE WHITE IS EDDIE BOOMHOWER SPONSOR AND DEALER. THIS GROUP REPRESENTED THE RICHMOND HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP FOR SOME TIME ANYWHERE THERE WAS A RACE. THEY WERE THERE. FUZZO PULLED A HITCH AS A JET PILOT IN NAM. HE CAME BACK TO A REAL ESTATE BUSINESS AND AIRPORT MANAGEMENT. STILL FLIES CHARTER JETS. MARSHALL LAMM TEAMED UP WITH GEORGE ROEDER AND WENT ON TO COVER THE PRO CIRCUIT. WOUND UP IN CALIFORNIA FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS AND IS NOW RETIRED TO THE FAMILY FARM IN N.C. PAUL LASSITER WAS EMPLOYED BY THE REYNOLDS CO AND IS NOW RETIRED AND DOES A LOT OF TRAVELING. JACK KIEDROWSKI MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE AND WE LOST TRACK OF HIM. JOHN WILEY IS NOW RETIRED FROM THE A. H. ROBINS MEDICAL FIRM AND STAYS ACTIVE WITH THE ACCA SHRINE TEMPLE MOTOR PATROL. IT WAS A GREAT TIME AND A LOT OF FUN.

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JOHNNY BUTTERFIELD NATIONAL #77

JOHNNY WAS FROM ROANOKE, VA. BORN IN MAINE, HE MIGRATED TO JACKSONVILLE, FL AND RODE OUT OF THE H-D DEALERSHIP THERE. HE WAS THE ONLY AMA RIDER IN THE HISTORY OF THE SPORT TO WIN THE MOST POPULAR RIDER AWARD WHILE STILL IN THE AMATUER DIVISION. HE WAS A VERY EASY PERSON TO LIKE. HE WENT ALL OVER THE U.S. TOWING HIS RACE BIKE ON THE BACK OF A SIDECAR OUTFIT. HE WAS ALSO QUITE A CLOWN. I REMEMBER A NIGHT RACE IN GREENSBORO N.C. WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO THE LINE FOR A RACE. HE SHOWED UP WITH A MINERS HELMET AND LIGHT. I THINK THE RACE TRACK HAD ABOUT FOUR 100 WATT BULBS AROUND THE TRACK FOR ILLUMINATION. HE WAS TRAVELING NORTH IN AN OLD CADILLAC AND BROKE DOWN IN LUMBERTON N.C. HE DECIDED IT WASN’T REALLY A BAD PLACE SO HE OPENED UP AN H-D DEALERSHIP AND STAYED THERE. EVENTUALLY THE DEALERSHIP OPENED UP IN ROANOKE, VA AND HE MOVED UP THERE TO A GREATLY IMPROVED SITUATION. HE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THE MOTORCYCE BUSINESS. BUT HE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS AMAZING BROADSLIDING ABILITY AS WELL AS HIS ABILITY TO LIGHTEN A RACE BIKE. IT WAS A TOSS UP BETWEEN HIM AND BILLY HUBER AS TO WHO COULD DRILL THE MOST HOLES IN THEIR RACE BIKES. HE KEPT THE RACE BIKE HE STARTED WITH ALL THOSE YEARS. WHEN HE FIGURED HIS TIME WAS ABOUT UP HE SENT IT BACK TO THE DEALER IN MAINE SINCE HE SAID THAT IS WHERE IT BELONGED. SOON AFTER, THE DEALERSHIP BURNED TO THE GROUND AND THE BIKE WAS LOST. THE PICTURE SHOWN IS IN 1947. NOTE THE PIE PLATE NUMBER PLATE WHICH WAS INDICATIVE OF THE PERIOD.

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WAYNE COOK #65

WAYNE WAS FROM CHESTER, VA. HE FOOLED WITH MOTORCYCLES ALL HIS LIFE AND RODE SCRAMBLES AND CLUB EVENTS UNTIL HE MET UP WITH ROGER MCGINNIS. THEN THE RACING BECAME SERIOUS ! THEY TRAVELED EVERYWHERE TOGETHER AND SINCE BOTH WERE MACHINISTS AS WELL AS MECHANICS THEY REALLY DIDN’T NEED ANYBODY ELSE. WAYNE WON A LOT OF RACES. BUT HIS PEAK WAS WINNING THE DAYTONA 100 MILE ROAD RACE IN 1965 BEATING ALL BRANDS AND GROUPS INCLUDING THE HARLEY DAVIDSON RACING DIVISION. WAYNE WORKED AS A MACHINIST HIS WHOLE LIFE AND IS NOW RETIRED, STILL IN CHESTER WITH NO INTENTIONS OF MOVING. HE STILL ENJOYS CLIMBING ON HIS BIKE AND CRUISING THE BACK ROADS AROUND HIS HOME AND TOGETHER WITH ROGER THEY DON’T MISS MANY IMPORTANT RACE MEETS. THOSE THAT KNOW HIM KNOW THAT HE HASN’T SPOKEN VERY MANY WORDS IN HIS LIFE, BUT WHEN HE DOES YOU BETTER LISTEN. HE IS A QUIET MAN DEDICATED TO WHAT EVER HE ATTEMPS.

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GEORGE ROEDER AMA NATIONAL #94

GEORGE WAS FROM MONROEVILLE, OHIO. HE WAS BORN TO BE A FARMER BUT HIS BROTHER CHARLIE WAS RACING AND DECIDED THAT GEORGE SHOULD RACE AND HE SHOULD WRENCH. THEY MADE A GOOD TEAM SINCE BOTH WERE EXPERIMENTERS. WE, IN THE RICHMOND AREA, WERE BLESSED WHEN GEORGE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY AND STATIONED AT FORT EUSTIS. HE WALKED IN MY STORE ONE DAY AND I ASKED WHAT HE WAS DOING THERE. HE REPLIED THAT HE HAD SEEN A POSTER FOR A SCRAMBLES THE NEXT DAY SO CAME UP TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I ASKED IF HE WANTED TO RIDE AND HE REPLIED HE HAD NOTHING DOWN HERE YET. SO RANDY MUNFORD LOANED HIM HIS BIKE TO ENTER THE ELMONT RACE. WHEN IT WAS OVER HE ASKED IF IT WOULD BE ALRIGHT TO HAVE HIS EQUIPMENT SENT HERE AND RIDE OUT OF THE SHOP. THAT STARTED A TWO YEAR ASSOCIATION THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST OF MY LIFE. HE TOOK MARSHALL LAMM UNDER HIS WING AND THE TWO OF THEM TOURED THE ENTIRE USA FROM TRACK TO TRACK IN MOST WITH CASES CARROL MC CAULEY AT THE WHEEL... I WILL ALWAYS THINK OF HIM AS ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS.

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MY TIME WITH GEORGE ROEDER: BY EDDIE BOOMHOWER The few years that I spent in the company of George Roeder were some of the best years of my life. Anyone who did not have the pleasure of knowing him as I did has definitely missed out. The following are just a few of the interesting things that I remember of George. I first met George when we were both novices. I was not the quality racer that George was from day one. The day we really met was one Saturday morning in my Richmond Virginia HD shop. George walked in the front door and he didn’t really know me but I sure knew him. I asked what in the world are you doing here. He replied, I am stationed in the Army at Fort Eustis and saw a flyer in the HD shop in Newport News that you all were running a scrambles tomorrow and thought I would check it out. I asked if he would like to ride and he replied that he didn’t have a bike yet since he hadn’t had time to get settled in and bring his stuff down from Monroeville. I replied that won’t be a problem. I yelled in the back to a guy named Randy Mumford, how would you like to have George Roeder ride your brand new Sportster in tomorrows scrambles. His reply was “You dern right. About five minutes later a dozen guys were changing tires, switching tanks and anything else to get him set up. He stayed with us that night and rode the next day. After the race he came to me and asked if there was any chance that he could bring his equipment down and race out of my shop and travel with the rest of the guys. He had already checked with Newport News and was not too happy with the arrangements there. I said sure and that was the start of it all. George was the only man in my 60 years in the business that had a key to my shop and didn’t work for me. He would soldier all day and come up and work all night long on the lathe or whatever making racing parts. The police were going to arrest him one morning at 3:00 A.M. He was able to convince them that he was legitimate and that they could call me at home. All went well. I recall once when his brother Charlie was with him at a concrete floor indoor race at Columbus and they were calling him out for the final. They called several times and threatened to start without him. All the time George had the bike jacked up and the motor running full throttle while Charlie held a cinder block against the rear tire to heat it up. When he pulled out on the line he had traction over everyone. He was always thinking. I recall several times when he would go out and set fast time or win a heat and come right in and remove the rear wheel. Put another wheel in and sit there. Just about the time they started calling to the line he would race to put the

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same wheel back in. So many of the guys had so much faith in him that they would come over and see what tire he was running. By the time they looked, it wasn’t the same tire. All these little tricks he used were credited to Charlie when told of them. All during this time George was quite religious. Every Sunday morning we had to find a Catholic church for George. Once he had on farmers bib overalls and was barefoot. I told him he couldn’t go into church looking like that and his reply was that the lord didn’t care how he dressed as long as he showed up. The first thing that went on his race bike when rebuilding was a St Christopher’s medal wired around the fork tube. That was a habit that both he and Ronnie Rall were quite particular about. I had a young kid riding out of the shop, Marshal Lamm, a real kamikaze pilot. He and George hit it right off and traveled together all over. George had a putrid lime colored Chevrolet Biscayne sedan with an engine in it that a stock car driver would be proud to own. Both of them thought that if the car ran 100, that is where it should be run. Marshall was broke up and so they took the wheels off Georges KR and put it in the back seat. They took off for Los Angeles from Ascot park. They ran Ascot on Friday night and left immediately and ran wide open to either Texas or Ala pulling in just in time to qualify on Sunday at noon. On that trip they got three speeding tickets. When both of them were in good physical condition, they had a young man in Richmond, Carroll McCauley. He was their private wheel man. He would drive them to the end of the earth just to be with them. allowing them to sleep. He would quit a job just to be with them. HD had just made a deal with Aeromacchi and they were to bring in the first 25 Sprint road racers in time for Daytona. George asked if I thought I could get one. I called Dick O’Brien and asked him. He wanted to know who would ride it. I told him and he said he would get back to me. A few weeks went by and when George came in that afternoon from the base I asked him did he have time to run out the factory in Milwaukee. He asked why and I told him I had just bought the Sprint for him. He lit out to Milwaukee. When he got back he said,” Heck I am not a road racer lets make a short tracker out of it. I said what ever you want to do is o.k. by me so we took this beautiful road racer and in three days destroyed it and made one of the worst looking short trackers in the history of racing. It was about four years before Dick spoke to me after that. But it was fun. As a racer George was one of the best but as a soldier he left a lot to be desired. Once after being up for three days and nights racing and rebuilding the engine the sergeant ordered him to sugar the breakfast rolls. He was walking around asleep and salted all the rolls for the entire Ft Eustis army base. He almost learned what the brig was for on that one. One afternoon he came in torn all to pieces. He had tried to broadslide a turn at about 90 MPH coming out of the Fort. He broke the left handlebar off completely

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and he said every time he met a cop he would hold it up in place. It was about 60 miles from the army base to my dealership. George rode all the way with one handle bar broken off and lying in his lap. He was riding with the one good one. I spent the whole afternoon patching him up. He ran a pretty good bandage bill through those years. Some time after he left me and went back to Ohio, the factory picked him up and was more or less assigned to Ralph Berndt who had just lost Resweber and needed a good rider. He came down to the fall race in Richmond with another young Ohio kid. And as the race progressed his bike ran worse and worse. Finally the kid had to pass George and go ahead and win. I took the bike on home not knowing what had happened to George. I called Ralph and told him what had happened and that I would be happy to go in the engine as see if I could correct it. I was afraid I would see something I wasn’t supposed to. He said he would be grateful. I worked all night and got it repaired. George came in about midnight and went right to bed. It seems the guys took him out to soothe his hurt pride and he kind of over did it. The next morning at 5:00 AM I went in and said, get up George we have to fix that race bike if you are going to be in York Pa. four hours away by noon. He got up half crying. Said “Oh Boom I feel so bad, I never should have done it”. I said , well I worked all night on that beast and it is ready to go so if you don’t want to feel worse than you do get on the road. They left and made it on time. I went to bed. The last addition to this is rather long but certainly worth reading. One afternoon George came in from the base and his chin was dragging the ground. I asked “what was wrong ?”. He said I have just been ordered to Goose Bay Labrador for an 18 month stay. I said we got to get you out of this. He said it was impossible. I told him nothing was impossible. Call your mother and get her to make an appointment with your congressman in D.C. for next Monday. Put on your best uniform and look as professional as possible and meet me at the store at 6:00 A.M. All was set, we went to the Senators office and I told him that George was being discriminated against. He is a professional athlete and will ruin his career when the army sees fit to throw him on the scrap heap. He replied that there was nothing he could do about it. I asked, Who could ? His reply was the top general in charge of the eastern command. I said, call him and make an appointment for us right now ! He did and off we went. We got to the door and poor George was petrified. He said Hey Boom lets just call it off. No way. We are going to win this one. We went in and after a bit of chit chat I hit him with the discrimination bit and he said just what business is it of yours. I told him I was a tax paying business man who paid his salary and if he didn’t do something he hadn’t heard the end of this. I reminded him that he had also drafted baseball stars and was using them as instructors and that could no longer be tolerated if this was ‘wasn't taken care of". I had done my homework and dropped a few household names in the sporting world. We left and went home. Tuesday morning his immediate officer came in and said Roeder , I don’t know who you know but you have been pulled from the permanent duty station at Goose Bay. This has never been done before. Report to the mess hall for permanent duty at Ft Eustis. All this was for naught since just days later his

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mother passed away and the Red Cross got him a hardship discharge to go home and take care of the farm and his dad. I wish I had a dollar for every time that George told that story across the US and back. Some years later George called me and told me that he was opening an HD shop. I told him to forget it. That he was a first class racer and a first class farmer and a zero class businessman. I think maybe a couple friends at the factory kind of pressured him into it and away he went. George was so pitifully honest and really didn’t think anybody else could do you wrong. Some time later he called me and said, I wish I had listened to you. A fast talking factory rep had loaded him up with SPORTSTER and they weren’t selling. This was during the time that HD made the worst Sportsters ever produced. He asked if I had any suggestions what to do. He said he actually had a note against the farm and neither he nor Jessie could even sleep. I asked him how many he had and I really don’t remember but I think it was a dozen or two. I said load them up and bring them down here and I will buy them from you. He showed up with all those Sportsters on a truck towing a FARM trailer also loaded. Nobody but George Roeder would have even attempted it. A few years ago at a banquet George got up and made the statement that if it hadn’t been for me buying those Sportsters, there would be no Roeder HD today. His wife Jessie got up and seconded the statement. Obviously it made me feel very good.

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AL WILCOX AMA NATIONAL #49

AL WAS FROM TRENTON, N.J. HE CAME ON THE RACING SCENE IN 1948 RIDING OUT OF THE SHOP OF THE TRENTON HD DEALER, MONTE CHICO, WHO TEAMED UP WITH LEON APPLEGATE. AL WORKED HIS WAY UP TO FACTORY STATUS RIDING ALL TYPES OF TRACKS. AL WAS THE ONLY MAN IN HISTORY TO RACE AT RICHMOND AND COME BACK LATER AS THE OFFICIAL FLAGMAN. AFTER HIS RACING CAREER ENDED AL AND HIS WIFE JULIE CONTINUED BY SERVING AS FLAGMAN AND OFFICIALS FOR THE AMA, WERA AND AHRMA. TOGETHER THEY DEDICATED THEIR ENTIRE LIFE TO THE SPORT OF MOTORCYCLE RACING. ALTHOUGH HE WAS SMALL IN STATURE, AL WAS A GIANT AMONG MEN IN THE MOTORCYCLE RACING WORLD. AL NEVER MISSES THE “TWO WHEEL RACERS REUNION” BANQUETS HELD IN RICHMOND EVERY FIVE YEARS.

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DICK BEATTY AMA NATIONAL #46

DICK WAS FROM CHARLOTTE, N.C. HE WAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST RACERS I EVER KNEW. HE WAS BRUTAL ON EQUIPMENT. HE WAS SO POWERFUL THAT IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR HIM TO BREAK FRAMES THROWING THE BIKE IN A CORNER. DICK RODE FOR THE TRIUMPH CORPORATION IN TOWSON MARYLAND. HE DECIDED WITH THE HELP OF DOUG CREECH IN CHARLOTTE TO GIVE A KR A TRY. TRY AS HE COULD IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO RIDE IT. DICK EVEN WENT TO SUCH EXTREMES AS TO CHANGE THE FORK BACK TO A WR FRONT END AND STILL DIDN’T WORK AND HE GAVE UP RACING AND BECAME THE COMPETITION DIRECTOR FOR NASCAR. THE KR THAT I RODE WAS PURCHASED FROM DICK. ONE NIGHT WHEN DICK AND BUCK BRIGANCE WERE LEAVING RICHMOND THEY CENTERPUNCHED A LADY AT THE INTERSECTION OF RT.1 AND RT.58. THEY WERE IN A FORD WOODIE AND IT WOUND UP A PILE OF KINDLING WOOD. IT WAS PITCH BLACK AND BUCK YELLED “ DICK, HELP ME FIND MY WALLET” DICK SAID “TO HELL WITH YOU, HELP ME FIND MY NOSE”. THEY FOUND THE NOSE, PUT HIM IN AN AMBULANCE AND RUSHED HIM 80 MILES TO THE MEDICAL COLLEGE IN RICHMOND WHERE THEY REATTACHED THE NOSE AND TOLD HIM TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO NOT BRUISE IT. THE NEXT WEEKEND HE SHOWED UP AT THE TRACK WITH TWO STRAWS IN HIS NOSE AND RACED. REALLY A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.

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A PIECE OF MOTORCYCLE HISTORY

THIS PICTURE IS REALLY A PIECE OF MOTORCYCLE HISTORY IN RICHMOND IN THE LATE FORTIES. LEFT TO RIGHT BUCK BRIGANCE, LEO ANTHONY, BILL HARLEY, JIMMIE CHANN, JIMMIE LEWTER, BILLY HUBER AND HANK SYVERTSEN (H-D RACING ENGINEER THAT PRECEDED DICK O’BRIEN) THESE WERE ALL FACTORY GUNS AT THE TIME. BUCK BRIGANCE WAS FROM CHARLOTTE NC, LEO ANTHONY FROM PORT HURON, MI, JIMMIE CHANN FROM NEW JERSEY, JIMMMIE LEWTER FROM CHARLOTTE, AN ACE RACE MECHANIC, AND LAST, HANK SYVERTSEN WHO CALLED ALL THE SHOTS IN THE RACING DEPT OF HARLEY DAVIDSON. BILL HARLEY WAS THE SECOND GENERATION OF HARLEYS, AND HE WAS CHIEF ENGINEER FOR HARLEY DAVIDSON.

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BOBBY HILL AMA NATIONAL #1 AND #71

BOBBY WAS FROM GROVEPORT, OHIO. WITHOUT A DOUBT HE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST RIDERS IN THE SPORT OF AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE RACING. WITH THE ASSITANCE OF DICK GROSS, FAMOUS INDIAN TUNER, HE WAS A THREAT EVERYWHERE HE SHOWED UP. BOBBY HIT HIS PEAK IN 1952 WHEN HE WON FIVE NATIONALS THAT YEAR. ONE OF THOSE WAS THE 10 MILE NATIONAL AT RICHMOND, VA. HE WAS ONE THIRD OF THE FAMOUS INDIAN WRECKING CREW WHICH CONSISTED OF BOBBY, BILL TUMAN AND ERNIE BECKMAN. WHEN THEY SHOWED UP THE COMPETITION WAS SURE TO BE TOUGH. BOBBY SWEPT DAYTONA IN 1954 WITH A WIN AND LED THE BSA FACTORY TEAM TO THEIR GREATEST VICTORY IN THE U.S. RACING HISTORY, WINNING THE FIRST FIVE PLACES ON BSA BIKES. BOBBY FINISHED TWENTY SECONDS AHEAD OF DICK KLAMFOTH. IT WAS HARD TO BELIEVE THE RACE WAS THAT CLOSE AFTER 200 MILES OF RACING AND ALL FIVE BSA’S WITH EXCEPTION OF KLAMFOTH WERE RIGID FRAMES. THESE WERE THE GLORY DAYS OF AMERICAN RACING.

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GARY NIXON AMA NATIONAL #9

GARY GREW UP ON THE FLAT TRACKS OF TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA. HE MIGRATED EAST TO BE CLOSE TO THE TRIUMPH STATESIDE OPERATION IN TOWSON, MD. GARY EVENTUALLY WORKED HIS WAY INTO ONE OF THE TOP SPOTS WITH TRIUMPH, WITH THE ABLE ASSISTANCE OF ROD COATES AND CLIFF GUILD. HE WENT ON TO A FANTASTIC CAREER. IN 1963 HE WORKED HIS WAY INTO 6TH SPOT ON THE GRAND NATIONAL STANDINGS, 1964 SAW GARY AGAIN IN THE 6TH SPOT. IN 1965 HE MOVED TO THIRD, 1966 FOUND HIM IN 2ND, AND 1967 GARY TOPPED THE CHART WITH 1ST PLACE AND REMAINED THERE FOR1968. GARY HAD A GOOD FRIEND IN ENGLAND, BARRY SHEENE AND SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME OVER THERE WITH HIM. HE WAS EQUALLY GIFTED ON ROAD RACE COURSES AS WELL AS FLAT TRACK. IN 1972 GARY SWITCHED TO KAWASAKI AT DAYTONA BUT THE BIKES WERE STILL IN THE INFANCY STAGE AND DIDN’T FAIR TOO WELL. IN 1976 GARY CAME WITHIN TWO POINT OF WINNING THE COVETED NUMBER ONE SPOT OF THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AT HOCKENHIEM, GERMANY ON A SUZUKI BIKE. TODAY GARY LIVES IN RURAL MARYLAND AND CAN BE SEEN AT MOST OF THE EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY. HE HAS HAD A MOST COLORFUL CAREER.

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BENNIE CAMPANALE #4 & 25

BENNIE WAS FROM PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND. HE IS THE FEATURED RIDER IN THIS PICTURE. BENNIE WON THE DAYTONA 200 MILER IN BOTH 1938 & 1939. AFTER HIS RACING CAREER, HE OPENED A HARLEY DEALERSHIP IN POMONA, CA. ALSO THE SECONDARY SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PHOTO IS THE FACT THAT BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS, BEFORE DEPENDABLE CARS, VANS AND HIGHWAYS, THE RACERS TRAVELED BY TRAIN AND THE BIKES WERE SHIPPED IN BY RAIL. IN EACH AREA H-D HAD RACE MECHANICS. THE MAN WITH THINNING HAIR BEHIND THE FRONT WHEEL OF THE BIKE IS HARRY KELLY FROM ROANOKE WHO WAS THE VIRGINIANS’ WRENCH. IN THE BACKGROUND, 5 FROM LEFT IS A YOUNSTER KNOWN AS BUCK BRIGANCE, 7TH HEAD IS GEORGE SABINE WELL KNOWN RACER FROM RED HOUSE HD IN WASH D.C. AND THE MAN JUST ABOVE KELLY IS JIMMIE LEWTER, RACING WRENCH FOR DOUG CREECH OF CHARLOTTE N.C. WHO WAS A WORLD CHAMPION BOAT RACER. JUDGING FROM THE RACE BIKES I WOULD SAY THIS PICTURE IS PROBABLY 1939 SINCE BOTH HAVE EARLY FORKS.

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STAN MEYERS AMA # 21A

STAN WAS FROM TAFTON, PA. HE WAS ACTIVE IN THE FORTIES AND FIFTIES. STAN BROKE THE RECORD IN 1949 FOR THE 8 MILE SET BY BILLY HUBER. IN 1988 STAN AND A BUDDY WENT TO LACONIA, N.H. WHILE THERE THEY RODE OVER TO AN ADVERTISED ½ MILE RACE MEET. THE PROMOTER CAME UP IN THE STANDS AND ASKED STAN IF HE WANTED TO RACE. HIS REPLY WAS, “I DON’T HAVE A BIKE”. “NO PROBLEM, I HAVE A WR”. “GOOD, THAT IS WHAT I RODE”. THE PROMOTER MADE A HUGE THING OF IT AND AWAY THE RACE WENT. STAN WON THE 6 LAP RACE EXACTLY 50 YEARS AFTER HE SET THE RECORD AT RICHMOND IN 1949. STAN IS 84 YEARS YOUNG AND STILL ATTENDS ALL THE EVENTS HE CAN. HE IS A REAL COMPETITOR AND ENTHUSIAT.

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ASCOT RACE TRACK LOS ANGELES, CA: 1960’S THE WEEKLY SHOWS AT ASCOT WERE FANTASTIC, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ADDED MORE TO THE EXCITEMENT WERE THE TEAMS THAT RODE THERE. THE FIRST PICTURE IS OF THE “TRIUMPH TEAM”.

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ASCOT RACE TRACK LOS ANGELES, CA: 1960’S

THE SECOND ONE IS OF THE “BSA” TEAM. BOTH TEAMS WERE LOADED WITH TALENT AND ADDED MORE TO THE SHOW THAN ONE COULD IMAGINE. ALL THESE FELLOWS WENT ON TO BE THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE RACING SPORT.

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JOE LEONARD AMA NATIONAL #98

“SMOKIN JOE” WAS FROM SAN JOSE, CA. HE WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH EARLY ON TO HAVE TEAMED UP WITH THE NUMBER ONE H-D TUNER AT THE TIME IN THE COUNTRY, TOM SIFTON. WITH TOM BUILDING AND JOE RIDING, HE WAS JUST ABOUT IMPOSSIBLE TO BEAT. JOE WON THE #1 PLATE IN 1954, 56 & 57. THEN RESWEBER CAME ON THE SCENE AND STOPPED THE STREAK. SOON AFTER THAT JOE SWITCHED OVER TO CAR RACING AND DID WELL THERE. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOME TRIUMPH TIME AT ASCOT, JOE RODE HARLEYS. ONE OF THE EXCEPTIONS OCCURRED WHEN SOMEONE CHALLENGED TOM BY SAYING THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON TOM COULD NOT MAKE A BSA RUN LIKE HE DID HARLEYS. HE IMMEDIATELY BUILT ONE AND PUT JOE ON A BSA SINGLE, AND HE WENT RIGHT ON WINNING. SOMEONE ASKED JOE ONCE WHY HE RODE FOR TOM SIFTON AND ONLY GOT HALF OF THE PURSE. HIS REPLY “50% OF SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN 100% OF NOTHING”. A WISE DECISION THAT PAID OFF FOR JOE.

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EVERETT BRASHEAR AMA NATIONAL #25

EVERETT, FROM BEAUMONT, TX, WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT ONE OF THE NICEST GUYS THAT EVER RODE A RACING MOTORCYCLE, REAL SOFT SPOKEN WITH THAT TEXAS DRAWL. BUT WHEN HE GOT A GRIP ON THE THROTTLE HE WAS GONE. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HAULING CARROLL RESWEBER AROUND THE COUNTRY AND TEACHING HIM THE FINER POINTS OF RACING. ALSO SAMMY TANNER WAS ONE OF HIS FOLLOWERS. EVERETT WAS THE FIRST MAN IN THE AMA HISTORY TO HAVE HIS MOTORCYCLE CLAIMED AT RICHMOND UNDER THE NEWLY FORMED $1000 “CLAIMING LAW”. FRANKIE GAYOSKI CLAIMED IT FOR GEORGE ROEDER SINCE YOU HAD TO BE IN THE RACE TO DO SO. EVERETT TOLD GEORGE THAT THE CAMS IN THE BIKE WERE EXPERIMENTAL AND DON’T RUN IT. IT BLEW THE NEXT WEEK. SOON AFTER EVERETT WON LANGHORNE AND WHEN HE DID HE PULLED IN THE PITS AND SNATCHED THE CAMS OUT BEFORE GOING TO POST RACE TECH. THAT SET OF CAMS TURNED OUT TO BE THE BEST CAMS MADE FOR THE KR AND BECAME FACTORY PRODUCTION.

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PAUL GOLDSMITH AMA #3

PAUL GOLDSMITH, OF ST CLAIR SHORES, MI, WAS ON THE RACING SCENE FOLLOWING MOSTLY THE HALF MILE CIRCUIT. HIS CAREER RACING MOTORCYCLES LASTED FOR A RATHER SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE HE SWITCHED TO STOCK CARS. HIS SPONSOR AND BACKER WAS AN OWNER OF AUTO PARTS STORES IN THE NORTH NAMED FISHER. SO IT WAS ONLY NATURAL THAT HE WENT ON TO CARS. IN THE SHORT TIME HE WAS WITH THE AMA HE LEFT QUITE A MARK.

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DAVID H. WARREN OFFICIAL RACE ANNOUNCER

DAVE LIVED IN FISHERSVILLE, VA. I FIRST MET HIM WHEN HE WAS IN THE NAVY IN 1954. HE WAS ANNOUNCING A RACE AT THE JOE WEATHERLY SPEEDWAY IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. DAVE DISCHARGED FROM THE NAVY AND WENT ON THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE DEPT. HIS HOME WAS IN A SMALL TOWN NEAR YORK PA. HE SOON TIRED OF THAT AND BECAME A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTOR CO. HE HELD THAT JOB FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE, WHILE ALL THE TIME ANNOUCING MOTORCYCLE RACES ALL OVER THE EAST COAST. DAVE AND HIS WIFE SETTLED DOWN IN FISHERSVILLE, VA SINCE HE FELT IT WAS JUST ABOUT MID WAY ON HIS ASSIGNED TERRITORY. THEY BOUGHT A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND BUILT A HOME THERE. DAVE WENT TO THE POST OFFICE TO ASK WHAT THE NAME OF THE STEET WAS AND WAS TOLD IT HAD NO NAME. DAVE SAID O.K. AND FROM THAT DAY ON, THE STREET BECAME OFFICIALLY “NO NAME”. THE OFFICIAL STREET SIGN IS THERE WITH SUCH AN IDENTIFICATION.

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SIDNEY “BIG SID” BIBERMAN NORFOLK, VA A DEAR FRIEND FOR SIXTY YEARS, SID GREW UP IN NORFOLK. WET HIS FEET IN THE MOTORCYCLE SPORT WITH A WHIZZER MOTORBIKE WHICH HE PROMPTLY HOPPED UP. HE CAUGHT THE VINCIENT DESEASE WHEN HE RODE MAC MCGOWAN’S BLACK SHADOW IN 1950. IN 1951 SID BOUGHT A RAPIDE FROM GERALD GIVENS.

SID WAS DRAFTED IN 1952. HE SERVED IN THE ARMY FOR TWO YEARS IN EUROPE, AT WHICH TIME HE WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO ENGLAND. THERE HE GOT TO KNOW THE VINCENT FACTORY HEADS ON A FIRST NAME BASIS.

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WHILE AWAY HE LEFT HIS PRIDE AND JOY IN STORAGE AT GIVENS M/C COMPANY AND WHEN HE RETURNED FOUND IT IN NEAR RUIN. HE REBUILT IT COMPLETELY AND THIS STARTED A LIFETIME OF VINCENTS.

TODAY SID IS CONSIDERED ONE THE TOP MEN AND ONE OF THE GREATEST AUTHORITIES ON THE VINCIENT MARQUE IN THE USA, A STATUS THAT HE HAS WORKED HARD FOR AND IS VERY PROUD OF. HE AND HIS SON MATT HAVE PUBLISHED ONE GREAT BOOK, AND THEY ARE AT WORK ON A SECOND ONE DUE OUT ON FATHERS DAY 2009 COVERING AMONG OTHER THINGS, THEIR PRODUCTION OF THE “VINCATI”

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BRAD ANDRES AMA NATIONAL # 1 & 4

BRAD, OF SAN DIEGO, CA, GREW UP IN THE FAMOUS ANDRES FAMILY OF CALIFORNIA. ALL THE UNCLES AND HIS DAD WERE ALL HARLEY DAVISON RACERS AND DEALERS. AT AGE 16 BRAD WON A ROAD RACE AT WILLOW SPRINGS ON A “K” MODEL AND NEVER LOOKED BACK. BRAD WAS AN EXTREMELY GOOD ROAD RACER HAVING WON WINDBER, PA AS WELL AS LACONIA IN 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959 AND FOLOWED IT UP WITH A WIN AT DAYTONA ON THE BEACH COURS IN 1960. HE WAS A VERY QUIET MAN. BRADS DAD TRAVELED WITH HIM ALL OVER THE NATIONAL CIRCUIT AND HANDLED THE WRENCHING CHORES AT WHICH HE WAS MOST CAPABLE. BRAD RETIRED TO MANGAGE HIS OWN REAL ESTATE BUSINESS.

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BEE BEE SMITH AMA NATIONAL # 58

BEE BEE SMITH, OF WASHINGTON, DC, AND HIS BROTHER DON COVERED THE EAST COAST RACING CIRCUIT THROUGH THE LATE 40’S, 50’S, AND INTO THE EARLY 60’S. THEY WERE SPONSORED BY THE COLORFUL INDIAN DEALER HERB REIBER, FROM WASHINGTON DC, HIMSELF A NATIONAL QUALITY HILL CLIMBER. THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO QUITE BREAK THE ICE IN THE NATIONAL SCENE. IT WAS NOT BECAUSE OF THEIR TALENT, BUT THEY WERE DEVOUT INDIAN ENTHUSIASTS AND THAT WAS THE PERIOD OF THE SUPER FAST DEVELOPMENT OF THE HD KR. FOR THEM TO RIDE A HARLEY WOULD BE AGAINST THEIR RELIGION. THE COMPETION IN DC WAS INTENSE. HERB REIBER WAS A FACTORY HD HILL CLIMBER AND RED HOUSE WAS A FACTORY INDIAN HILLCLIMBER. THEY BOTH MOVED TO DC AND TOOK ON OPPOSITE DEALERSHIPS FROM WHAT THEY RODE.

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PRINCESS ANNE SPEEDWAY NORFOLK, VA.

THE FIRST POST WWII AMA SANCTIONED RACE HELD AT THE PRINCESS ANNE SPEEDWAY WHICH IS NOW THE JANAFF SHOPPING CENTER. THE LEADER IS EDDIE GUILL ON A MATCHLESS 1D, BILLY HUBER H-D READING PA HIDDEN, RAY PUTMAN, N.C. 15, BUCK BRIGANCE 24. IF NOTHING ELSE, THE PICTURE SHOWS THE IMPROVEMENTS IN RIDER AS WELL AS SPECTATOR SAFETY. NOTE THE TWO 2x4’S SEPARATING THE CROWD FROM THE BIKES. EVERYONE WAS JUST HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO RACE AGAIN.

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TIM EADES NATIONAL #95

TIM GREW UP IN THE PETERSBURG, VA AREA. HE HAD VERY LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO RACE MOTORCYCLES SINCE HIS FATHER MIKE EADES AND BOTH OF HIS UNCLES ROY AND PHIL ROPER WERE PRO RACERS. TIM GOT HIS LICENSE WHEN HE TURNED 17 AND RODE HIS FIRST RACE AT THE TRAILWAYS SPEEDWAY IN PENN A SUPER FAST TRACK TO CUT YOUR TEETH ON AND ON TOP OF THAT HIS FACE SHIELD FOGGED UP AND HE WASN’T SURE EXACTLY WHERE HE WAS GOING. HE SURVIVED AND AT 29 HE IS STILL GOING STRONG. FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS HE HAS BEEN COVERING THE PRO CIRCUIT WITH A SPONSOR FROM TEXAS, THE AMOS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. REGGIE AMOS WAS A RACER IN HIS EARLIER DAYS. EACH YEAR HAS BEEN BETTER AND WE EXPECT 2008 TO BE HIS PEAK YEAR.

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EDDIE KRETZ, JR CALIFORNIA AMA NATIONAL #33

EDDIE IS THE SON OF THE FAMOUS “IRON MAN” KRETZ, ONE OF THE GREATEST INDIAN RACERS OF ALL TIME. WHILE HIS DAD RODE MOST ANY TYPE OF RACE THAT CAME ALONG, EDDIE WAS BEST AT ROAD RACING AND TT. BY THE TIME HE CAME ALONG THE INDIAN WAS PRETTY MUCH PUT TO REST AND HE DID HIS ON A TRIUMPH. I REMEMBER ONE YEAR THAT EDDIE JR RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE BACK STRETCH AT THE DAYTONA 200 BEACH RACE AND EVERYBODY SAID WELL THAT IS THE END OF HIM BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF THE SOUTH TURN CAME EDDIE JR WITH EDDIE SR PUSHING HIM WITH HIS FOOT FASTER THAN THE AVERAGE MAN WOULD WANT TO GO UNDER POWER.

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TONY MURGIA AMA NATIONAL #50 KEY WEST, FLORIDA

TONY WAS A RED HOT ROAD RACER AS WELL AS A FLAT TRACKER. HIS BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS TRANSPORTATION. HE HAD TO DRIVE 1500 MILES TO GET TO THE CLOSEST RACE SO HE TRANSPLANTED TO READING , PA AND RODE OUT OF LEON APPLEGATES HD SHOP. SINCE HE WAS FROM FLORIDA HE WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM DICK OBRIAN WHO WAS A NATIVE FLORIDIAN AND THAT HELPED HIM A LOT. I DROVE MY STATION WAGON TO ALEXANDRIA TO PICK HIM AND CARROL MCCAULEY UP FROM A HOSPITAL AFTER THEY RAN THEIR CAR AND TRAILER OFF A SMALL MOUNTAIN AND JUST ABOUT KILLED THEMSELVES, DESTROYING TWO BEAUTIFUL KR’S. TONY WAS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE THAT THEY NEVER SHOULD HAVE RELEASED HIM BUT HE WAS A DOCTORS SON AND KNEW THE RIGHT THINGS TO SAY I GUESS.

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DAYTONA 100 MILER 1965 WAYNE COOK AND ROGER MCGINNIS.

THIS IS THE WINNERS CIRCLE AND IMPOUNDMENT AREA AFTER THE RACE. PROBABLY AND DESERVEDLY THE PROUDEST MOMENT BOTH OF THESE MEN EVER EXPERIENCED HAVING JUST BEAT THE ENTIRE WORLDS TOP FACTORIES. THIS WAS TOTALLY A PRIVATE ENDEAVOR AND IN NO WAY BACKED OR FINANCE BY THE FACTORY. THEY DID IT THE HARD WAY. RIGHT OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS.

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AL GUNTER & SAMMY “THE FLYING FLEA” IN BATTLE AT ASCOT

TWO OF THE BEST: GUNTER ON A BSA AND TANNER ON A TRIUMPH. ALWAYS ASSURED THE CROWDS OF A REAL NAIL BITER. GUNTER WAS A CALIFORNIAN BUT TANNER CAME OUT OF TEXAS WITH THE BRASHEAR, NIXON AND TANNER GROUP. ALL FANTASTIC FLAT TRACKERS.

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SAMMY TANNER TEXAS FLAT TRACKER

SAMMY WAS PICTURED IN A BATTLE WITH AL GUNTER IN THE PREVIOUS PICTURE. HE GOT QUITE A BIT OF FAME WHEN HE WROTE AND SANG A SONG AT DAYTONA ONE YEAR DEALING WITH THE NAME “THE FLYING FLEA”. THAT STUCK WITH HIM THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER.

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TIDEWATER FAIRGROUNDS SUFFOLK, VA AUGUST 25, 1946

IN 1946 THE MEMBERS OF THE PORTSMOUTH MOTORCYCLE CLUB LED BY TRUS BUNTING DECIDED THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE A RACE AT SUFFOLK. EVERYBODY CHIPPED IN FIVE OR TEN DOLLARS AND OFF THEY WENT. THIS PICTURE REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE ENTRY LIST. IN SPITE OF THIS THEY PUT ON A GOOD SHOW. LEFT TO RIGHT JOE WEATHERLEY(JUST A KID),RED NABORS, JOE BURROUGHS, BOB LYONS, JOHN(JACK) CHESTER, FRED WEBB, PETER CAMPER, GEORGE BEECRAFT, BEE BEE SMITH, LADDIE LOOMIS AND DAVID TOZZELLE. AT LEASE SIX OF THESE ENTRIES WENT ON TO BECOME TOP NOTCH RIDERS.

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JOE PRATALI CLASS “A” SPEEDWAY RACER

THIS PICTURE WAS MADE IN THE MID 1930’S AT THE RICHMOND ONE MILE SPEEDWAY. IT WAS LOCATED AT WHAT IS NOW THE ARTHUR ASHE COMPLEX ON NORTH BLVD IN RICHMOND. JOE WAS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SPEEDWAY RACERS FOR MANY YEARS. WHEN YOU THINK, THEY WERE RUNNING SPEEDS WELL OVER A HUNDRED MILES PER HOUR AND DROP CENTER RIMS HAD NOT BEEN INVENTED YET. THIS WAS DONE WITH CLINCHER RIMS. A BLOW OUT WAS A DEATH SENTENCE. JOE WENT ON TO BE HOWARD HUGHES RIGHT HAND MAN. HE HAD THE REPUTATION OF BEING THE BEST OF CARBURETOR SPECIALISTS IN THE COUNTRY AND HUGHES NEEDED HIM IN HIS AIRPLANE VENTURES.

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8 MILE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RICHMOND, VA 1953

THIS PICTURE IS OF THE CREAM OF THE 1950’S CROP. THEY WERE ALL THE BEST IN THEIR RESPECTIVE BRANDS. #3 PAUL GOLDSMITH HD, #2 DICK KLAMFOTH BSA, #1 BILL TUMAN INDIAN, #71 BOBBY HILL INDIAN, #42 EDDIE FISHER TRIUMPH, #84 DON HUTCHINSON HD, #27 ROCKY BURKHARDT TRIUMPH, #69 RICHARD CLARKE TRIUMPH.

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10 MILE NATIONAL RICHMOND, VA 1950

ONCE AGAIN THE CREAM OF THE CROP BUT NOTICE THAT THERE ARE NO TELESCOPIC FORKS IN THE PICTURE. AT THAT TIME THE WR WAS THE BIKE TO BEAT AND ALL THE ENTRIES ARE WR’S. ONE OF THE NEAT THINGS ABOUT THIS RACE WAS THAT JOE WEATHERLY RAN IN LAST PLACE FOR 19 LAPS AND ON THE LAST ENTRY INTO THE 3RD TURN HE MADE A KAMIKAZE ATTACK AND PASSED EVERY RIDER COMING OFF THE 4TH TURN TO WIN THE 10 MILE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT IN THE LINE UP THERE ARE FOUR MICHIGAN ENTRIES, 2 NORTH CAROLINA ENTRIES, ONE NEW JERSEY ENTRY, AND ONE FROM VIRGINIA.

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BOBBY SMITH PORTSMOUTH, VA WILSON, N.C. 1953

BOBBY WAS RIDING ONE OF JOE WEATHERLYS USED WR’S AND WAS GOING TO RIDE THE LAST BIG BASE INDIAN THAT WAS BUILT FOR ONE OF THE CASTONQUAY BROTHERS WHO QUIT BEFORE THE BIKE WAS PRODUCED. THE BIKE WAS THEN PURCHASED BY GROVER GIVENS AND WAS GOING TO SUPPORT BOBBY. SOMETHING HAPPENED AND IT TOOK SO LONG TO GET THE BIKE HERE THAT BOBBYS DAD AND CLINTON BEW THE HD DEALER STRUCK UP A DEAL AND THEY SENT ME DOWN TO CHARLOTTE TO BUY THE BIKE THAT DICK BEATTY WAS RIDING. I BUILT THE BIKE AND WE TOOK IT TO DAYTONA. BOBBY WAS KILLED WHEN TESTING ON THE BEACH THE DAY BEFORE THE RACE, WHEN A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HIM. PICTURED WITH HIM IS THE DISTRICT REFEREE ODELL CABLE ONE OF THE BEST REFEREES EVER AND BOBBY’S DAD.

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TEDDY EDWARDS ATLANTA, GEORGIA INDIAN FACTORY RACER

TEDDY RACED PRIOR TO WWII AND DID A LITTLE AFTERWARDS. BUT HE RETIRED TO BECOME THE INDIAN DEALER IN ATLANTA.

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EDDIE WOOD PROVIDENCE FORGE, VA.

EDDIE RODE FROM 1966 TO 1972. HE CAMPAIGNED A BSA FOR BOOBIE LANE, THE BSA DEALER IN RICHMOND, ALSO A YAMAHA FOR A YAMAHA DEALER IN MARYLAND. THE REST OF THE TIME WAS ON A HARLEY DAVIDSON SPRINT. EDDIE’S RACING WAS LIMITED TO THE EAST COAST SCENE. HIS SON HAS FOLLOWED IN HIS DADS FOOTSTEPS BUT WITH FOUR WHEELS RATHER THAN TWO. HE HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT THE SALUDA TRACK. EDDIE HAS RETIRED FROM RACING AND OWNS AND OPERATES, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF HIS SON AND WIFE, A VERY SUCCESSFUL AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP IN PROVIDENCE FORGE VA. OUT OF RACING BUT YOU WILL FIND HIM LOOKING OVER THE FENCE ANY TIME THERE IS A RACE WITH HIS TRAVELING DISTANCE.

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JOE BURROUGHS WASHINGTON, DC

JOE WAS ANOTHER ONE OF THE HERB REIBER INDIAN CREW FROM WASHINGTON, DC. YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF PRIDE IN THEIR RACING BIKES. WHEN THE INDIANS FOLDED UP CAMP HERB HAD TO GO TO SOMETHING ELSE. HE PICKED THE TRIUMPH MARQUE AND WENT RIGHT ON WITH A GREAT RUN WITH THEM.

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AL MORAN PARKLAND, MARYLAND INDIAN

AL RODE OUT OF THE SHOP OF HERB REIBER IN WASHINGTON D C. AT THE TIME THAT WAS THE MECCA OF RACERS. AT ANY TIME HERB HAD 10 OR 12 RIDERS OPERATING OUT OF HIS SHOP. THIS WAS ALL THROUGH THE DAYS OF BEE BEE AND DON SMITH, JOE BURROUGHS, AND MANY MORE.

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JIMMIE CHANN AND BUCK BRIGANCE TRENTON, NJ AND CHARLOTTE, NC

TWO OF THE LAST “BIG” RACERS BEFORE WEIGHT AND SIZE BECAME A FACTOR. WHEN GUYS LIKE BILLY HUBER AND JOHNNIE BUTTERFIELD CAME ON THE SCENE, STYLE AND SIZE BECAME AN ISSUE RATHER THAN BRUTE STRENGTH. BUCK WAS A SODA JERK WHEN HE WAS A KID A BLOCK FROM THE HARLEY SHOP IN CHARLOTTE. HE WOULD SPEND HIS LUNCH HOUR HANGING AROUND THERE UNTIL HE GOT HOOKED. JIMMIE WAS ONE OF THREE BROTHERS WHO ALL RODE OUT OF THE MONTE CHICO SHOP IN TRENTON. BOTH JIMMIE AND BUCK ULTIMATELY BECAME FACTORY TEAM RIDERS.

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MARVIN WELLS PETERSBURG, VA

MARVIN STARTED RIDING MOTORCYCLES AT A VERY YOUNG AGE BY MAKING A QUICK TRIP TO WINCHESTER AND PURCHASING A “K” MODEL FROM HAROLD BURCHAMS UNCLE. BY THE LATE 50’S HE GOT SWEPT UP IN THE SCRAMBLES SCENE AND LATER TURNED TO HALF MILE. HE MOVED TO PORTSMOUTH AND WORKED FOR THE H-D DEALER UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT HE OPENED A YAMAHA DEALERSHIP IN PORSMOUTH. IT GREW TO ONE OF THE LARGEST IF NOT THE LARGEST YAMAHA DEALERSHIP ON THE EAST COAST. ALSO HE STOPPED RACING HIMSELF HE WAS ALWAYS EAT UP WITH IT AND AT ONE TIME BEFORE HE SOLD OUT HE WAS EITHER FULLY SPONSORING OR ASSISTING IN SOME WAY TWENTY NINE RACERS OUT OF HIS SHOP. HE AND HIS TRAVELING COMPANION, MARSHALL LAMM, STILL DON’T MISS MANY BIG RACES. HE IS RETIRED AND LIVES IN MCKENNY,VA AND KEEPS ALL THE LOCAL FARMERS EQUIPMENT WELDED UP.

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GEO ROEDER: MONROEVILLE, OHIO NATIONAL #94

GEO, SHOWN HERE WITH HIS SON RHETT AND CRIS CARR, IS THE SON OF THE LEGENDARY GEORGE ROEDER. GEO CAME TO MY HOUSE WITH HIS DAD, BROTHER, AND MOTHER WHEN HE WAS TOO YOUNG TO EVEN REMEMBER IT. HE WAS HERE TO RACE THE YOUTH CLASS NATIONAL AT GREENS RACEWAY IN DISPUTANTA. HE AND HIS BROTHER JESS HAVE RACED EVER SINCE. IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS GEO HAS BEEN CUTTING DOWN ON HIS RACING ACTIVITY AND HAS BEEN MORE SELECTIVE OF THE TRACKS HE RIDES. WITH A DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, I AM SURE HE CAN FIND BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN RACE, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT AFTER ALL THE YEARS HE HAS RACED IT WILL BE HARD TO STOP.

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WOODSIE CASTONQUAY BRIDGEPORT, CONN

WOODSIE WAS THE LAST OF THE FACTORY INDIAN RACERS. HE AND HIS BROTHER FRENCHIE RODE FOR THE INDIAN FACTORY FOR MANY YEARS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE LAST TWO BIG BASE SCOUTS WERE MEANT FOR THEM. BUT FRENCHIE QUIT RACING. THE BIKE THAT WAS BUILT FOR HIM WOUND UP ON THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR OF G.C. GIVENS AND SONS IN PORTSMOUTH, VA. IT WAS EVENTUALY SOLD TO ROBERT “RADAR” WHITFIELD. THE APPEARANCE OF THEIR EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS THEIR RIDING GEAR, IS A FAR CRY FROM WHAT WE SEE TODAY. BUT IT DIDN’T KEEP THESE GUYS FROM FLYING. WOODSIE WAS THE ONLY MAN THAT I EVER PERSONALLY SAW RIDE THE STRAWBERRY HILL HALF MILE WITH A BUTTON. WHEN HE WAS ON A TIME TRIAL AND THE REST OF THE WORLD WAS SILENT IT WOULD RAISE THE HAIR ON YOUR ARMS TO HEAR HIM WORK THAT BUTTON AND PRODUCE THE MOST WEIRD STACCATO SOUND YOU EVER HEARD.

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WINBER, PA

THIS PICTURE IS OF BABE TANCREDE, H-D WOONSOCKET R.I. POLICEMAN, JOE WEATHERLY H-D NORFOLK, VA AND BILLY MILLER H-D LANCASTER PA.

IT WAS TAKEN AT WINBER PENN ROAD RACE CUT RIGHT THROUGH A WOODS. YOU WERE EITHER ON THE TRACK OR IN THE TREES.

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JOHN GOAD AMA NATIONAL #62 MCKINNEY, VA

THIS SHOT IS OF JOHNNIE DOING IT HIS WAY AND ANOTHER ONE WILL FOLLOW SHOWING HIM TAKING CARE OF THE CURRENT CROP OF RIDERS. JOHN STARTED RIDING ON THE FAMILY FARM ON A HARLEY 165. HE LATER ADVANCED TO A SPRINT 250 AND MOVED INTO THE SCRAMBLES SCENE. SOON HE WAS ADDICTED AND MOVED ON TO KR’S, ONE OF THE FIRST 1970 XLR’S AND EVENTUALLY TO THE BEST AVAILABLE. JOHN ENJOYED A VERY SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN RACING WHILE AT THE SAME TIME OPERATING A DRY WALL COMPANY. JOHN IS MARRIED TO SARAH WHO IS THE OFFICIAL BEAN COUNTER FOR THEIR RACING OPERATION. JOHN IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE USA FOR READING A TRACK AND KNOWING JUST HOW TO SET THE BIKE UP FOR HIS RIDER, SUCH AS TIRE USE, TIRE PRESSURE, GEARING AND GENERAL ADVICE ON HOW TO RIDE THE TRACK. JOHN, SARAH AND THEIR DAUGHTER HAVE LOGGED MORE MILES THAN AN ASTRONAUT TRAVELING COAST TO COAST ALL SEASON FOLLOWING THE GRAND NATIONAL CIRCUIT. JOHN IS THE ONLY MAN IN THE HISTORY OF MOTORCYCLE RACING FROM VIRGINIA THAT HAS HAD THE NUMBER ONE PLATE, ACCOMPLISHED WHEN TEAMED UP WITH RICKY GRAHAM. ONE OF THE VERY BEST AND STILL GOING STRONG.

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JONNIE GOAD

A FOLLOW UP PICTURE OF JOHNNIE. HERE IS A PICTURE OF JOHNNIE WITH HIS RACE FACE ON AT THE SALUDA, VIRGINIA NATIONAL.

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ROCKY BURKHART AMA NATIONAL #27 BIRDSBORO, PA.

ROCKY WAS AN INDEPENDENT RACER FROM THE YORK, PA AREA. HE RODE THROUGH THE 50’S ON THE EAST COAST FLAT TRACK CIRCUIT. ROCKY IS STILL WITH US AND COLLECTS AND RESTORES OLD RACING BIKES. A REAL PERFECTIONIST IN HIS RESTORATIONS.

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GLEN JORDAN AMA NATIONAL #99 COLUMBUS, OHIO

GLEN WORKED FOR THE COLUMBUS STAR NEWPAPER, THE SPONSOR OF THE ORIGINAL CHARITY NEWSIES RACE IN COLUMBUS. HE RODE A BSA AND WAS A SUPPORT RIDER FROM THE BSA OPERATION IN N.J.

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NEIL KEEN PASEDENA, CA AMA NATIONAL #10

NEIL RODE A BSA AND IN 1961 WON THE 8 MILE NATIONAL AT GARDENA SPEEDWAY ASCOT PARK. THE SAME YEAR HE FINISHED FIFTH PLACE IN THE NATIONAL POINT STANDINGS. NEIL WAS NEVER ONE TO BOW TO NEW RULES AS IS EVIDENCED BY HIS NUMBER PLATE THAT THE AMA REQUIRED TO HAVE SQUARE CUT NUMBERS. YOU ALWAYS KNEW WHERE YOU STOOD WITH NEIL AS HE WOULD TELL YOU WHATEVER HE HAD ON HIS MIND. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE NEIL ON MY NATIONAL SANCTIONING COMMITTEE WHEN I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE. YOU WERE ALWAYS ASSURED OF SOME INPUT FROM NEIL. HE LATER GOT INVOLVED IN COLLECTING JAPANESE SWORDS. HE ALSO HAD THE SECRET TO MAKE BULTACOS FLY ON THE SHORT TRACKS.

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RAY PUTMAN AMA NATIONAL # 15

RAY RODE THE CAROLINAS CIRCUIT JUST AFTER WORLD WAR II.

HE REPRESENTED THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON SHOP IN GREENSBORO, OPERATED BY SPARKY SPARKMAN.

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“THE RACERS BOOK”

BOBBY YARBOROUGH NEWPORT NEWS, VA

A YOUNG RIDER WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY HAS EVER SEEN. WHEN JUST A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE WAS ALREADY BEING APPROACHED BY ALL THE BIG JAPANESE FACTORIES FOR FUTURE RIDES. THIS PICTURE SHOWS BOBBY, HIS DAD, MOTHER AND SISTER, HIS GREATEST FANS AND SUPPORT GROUP. BOBBY WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED BY THOSE THAT HAD FOLLOWED HIS METEORIC RISE THROUGH THE BIKE RANKS.

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JOE KELLY RADIO AND TV SPORTS SHOW HOST RICHMOND, VA

JOE AND HIS WIFE RUTH HOST THESE TWO SHOWS A WEEK AND HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS FOR THEIR WORK. JOE HAS PROBABLY DONE MORE FOR MOTORCYCLE RACING IN THE RICHMOND AREA THAN ANYBODY IN THE HISTORY OF THE SPORT. HE STARTED OUT ON A POWELL MUSTANG AND EVENTUALLY GRADUATED TO A JOE WEATHERLY WR. AN EARLY FAMILY PUT AN END TO HIS RACING BUT HE WAS ALREADY ACTIVE IN THE ANNOUNCING END. JOE HAS ANNOUNCED EVERYTHING FROM BIKES, CARS, HORSE RACES AND A COUPLE DOG FIGHTS I AM SURE. SERIOSLY HE STARTED AS A YOUNG MAN BY BARKING A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE FAIR GROUNDS FOR CHARLIE PINNELL AND AFTER THAT IT PRETTY WELL TOOK ALL HIS TIME WORKING FOR SEVERAL NASCAR TRACKS AS WELL AS THE MOTOR RACING NETWORK OUT OF DAYTONA.

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TODD CARSON AMA #11 PORTSMOUTH, VA

TODD STARTED RACING ABOUT THE SAME TIME HE WAS WALKING GOOD AND RODE EVERY CLASS THEY HAD UNTIL HE RESIGNED. HE HAD THE PERFECT SETUP. HIS DAD WAS AN EXCELLENT MECHANIC, HIS BROTHER ALSO RODE AND HIS MOM WAS THE CHEERING SECTION FOR BOTH. THEY RODE WED NITE AT RICHMOND, FRIDAY NITE AT PORTSMOUTH, SAT AND SUNDAY AT GREENS RACEWAY AND MANAGED TO WORK IN THE SHORT TRACKS IN SOUTHERN PA WHEN EVER THEY COULD. AFTER HE RESIGNED FROM MOTORCYCYCLE RACING HE HAD A GREAT RUN IN STOCK CARS UNTIL THE FAMILY MEANT MORE TO HIM THAN THE RUNNING AROUND AND NOW STAYS AT HOME WITH HIS WIFE AND SON WHO IS DESTINED TO BE A BASEBALL PLAYER.

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TOMMY SEAGRAVES ORLANDO, FLORIDA

TOMMY WAS A PROTÉGÉ OF DICK O’BRIAN AND RODE OUT OF THE SHOP OF PUCKETT HARLEY DAVIDSON WHICH WAS THE SHOP THAT DICK WORKED IN WHILE GOING TO ENGINEER SCHOOL. TOMMY HAD A NATURAL TALENT AND WAS PARTICULARLY GOOD ON THE ROAD RACE CIRCUIT. HE WAS LIGHT AND RODE THE BEST THAT MONEY COULD PROVIDE. HE HAD A FINE CAREER AHEAD OF HIM BUT UNFORTUNATELY HE WAS INVOLVED IN A HORRIBLE CRASH AT WATKINS GLEN AND DID NOT SURVIVE.

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BART MARKEL AMA NATIONAL #4 FLINT, MICH

BART WAS PROBABLY THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL RACER THAT EVER LIVED. THE FANS EITHER LOVED HIM OR COULDN’T STAND HIM SIMPLY BECAUSE HE RODE TO WIN AT ALL COSTS. BART WAS A GOLDEN GLOVES CHAMPION IN HIS YOUTH AND AFTER A STINT IN THE MARINE CORPS CAME HOME TO RACING. HE SHOWED THE SAME TANACITY IN RACING THAT HE DID IN BOXING WHICH KEPT HIM IN HOT WATER BUT HE NEVER FOLDED TO RULES AND ORDERS. THROUGH SUSPENSIONS AND REPRIMANDS HE JUST KEPT CHARGING. BART WON THE PEORIA ILL TT NATIONAL IN 1960, 61, 62, 63 MISSED 64 AND CAME BACK AND WON IT IN 1965. THIS TRACK WAS AND IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST TRACKS TO CONQUER IN THE USE. IN 1965 BART WON THE #1 PLATE AND AGAIN IN 1966. IN 1968 HE WON FOUR NATIONALS. AFTER RETIRING FROM RACING HE COACHED SEVERAL TOP NOTCH RACERS WHO CAME ALONG AND HELD THE NUMBER ONE PLATE. HE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITES.

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SKIP HEISKELL MILLERSVILLE, MD

SKIP RODE A KR OUT OF THE RED HOUSE HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP. HE WORKED HIS WAY UP ON KH’S THROUGH THE SCRAMBLES RANKS AND FINALLY WENT PROFESSIONAL. HE RETIRED FROM THE TELEPHONE COMPANY AND SPENDS HIS TIME CRUISING ON ONE OF HIS TWO HARLEY STREET BIKES. WHEN HE IS NOT RIDING HE IS POINT LEADER IN THE COMPANY BOWLING TEAM. NEVER ACHIEVED NATIONAL FAME DUE TO HIS WORK SCHEDULE BUT MADE A TON OF FRIENDS ON HIS WAY.

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BABE DEMAY ON AN INDIAN ROCKFORD, IL

BABE CAME OUT OF THAT SAME GROUP THAT DOMINATED THE INDIAN PROGRAM: HILL, TUMAN AND BECKMAN. WENT REAL GOOD FOR A LONG TIME AND JUST KIND OF SLID OFF THE RADAR. DON’T REALLY KNOW WHAT CAME OF HIM.

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VIRGINA HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERS ASSOCIATION

GROUP PICTURE OF THE DEALERS ASSN AT THE 1966 NEW MODEL SHOWING. LEFT TO RIGHT RON TRIM NORFOLK, CLINTON BEW PORTSMOUTH, EDDIE BOOMHOWER RICHMOND, PAUL MOSELEY NEWPORT NEWS VA.

AND LASTLY C.W. PINNELL THE MAN THAT STARTED IT ALL.

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ROSIE ROSWORM MONROEVILLE, OHIO

A NEIGHBOR AND DEAR FRIEND OF GEORGE ROEDER, HE USED TO TRAVEL WITH GEORGE JUST FOR FUN. ONE NIGHT THEY WERE AT A RACE IN THE MIDWEST AND THEY WERE SHORT OF RIDERS. GEORGE TOLD ROSIE TO TAKE HIS SPARE BIKE AND ENTER IT. ROSIE HAD NEVER RIDDEN. HE LEARNED TO RIDE IN THE INFIELD THEN AND THERE. ENTERED AND WON THE RACE. MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THOSE FARMER BOYS ATE.

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STRAWBERRY HILL HALF MILE RACE TRACK POGODA AND OFFICIALS, TAKEN IN THE LATE 40s

PROMOTER, C.W. PINNELL, AMA OFFICIAL REFEREE ODELL CABLE IN THE WHITE UNIFORM, JOHN THOMAS GUPTON WITH AN OPEN COLLAR, NORFOLK H-D DEALER, MAN WITH THE MIKE, BERT Q “COLUMBIA BICYCLE“ TILLEY, ANNOUNCER OT THE DAY.

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GEORGE SABINE AMA NATIONAL #20 MARYLAND

GEORGE WAS ANOTHER OF THE HERB REIBER RACING TEAM OUT OF WASHINGTON DC. HE OWNED A FARM UP IN MARYLAND AND ALLOWED THE D C RAMBLERS M/C CLUB TO HOLD SCRAMBLES THERE. GEORGE DROVE A GAS TANKER TRUCK WHEN NOT RACING AND WAS KILLED IN A HORRIBLE CRASH IN WEST VIRGINIA.

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JUST A GROUP OF OLD TIMERS GETTING TOGETHER TO REMEMBER THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

JACK TURNER, ROGER MCGINNIS, MARSHALL LAMM, MARVIN WELLS AND EDDIE BOOMHOWER

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GEORGE HECK HALF MILE EXPERT POTTSTOWN, PA

RODE HARLEY DAVIDSON THROUGH THE LATE 40’S AND 50’S. HE WAS VERY POPULAR WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA RIDERS.

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MARVIN TWIGG BSA RIDER HAGERSTOWN, MD

MARVIN WAS THE SON OF THE HAGERSTOWN BSA DEALER A MAN WHO REALLY KNEW HOW TO MAKE THE BSA’S OF THE TIME RUN WELL. MARVIN STARTED RACING WHEN HE WAS JUST A LITTLE GUY RIDING A BSA BANTAM TWO STROKE SINGLE, HAD A VERY GOOD CAREER IN THE RACING GAME AND WENT ON TO BECOME AND RETIRE AS MARYLAND STATE TROOPER. MARVIN IS THE BROTHER OF DON TWIGG WHO ALSO RACED BSA’S OUT OF HAGERSTOWN.

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HARLEY DAVIDSON AERMACCHI SPRINT RIDDEN BY ROGER MCGINNIS.

WHEN THE “RISING SUN” BIKES STARTED COMING IN THE COUNTRY, HARLEY DAVIDSON HAD TO SO SOMETHING ABOUT A LIGHTWEIGHT LINE. SO THEY WENT TO ITALY AND BOUGHT 48% OF THE AERMACCHI FACTORY AND BROUGHT IN A LINE OF 50CC THROUGH 350CC BIKES. THIS WAS THEIR 250CC RACING MODEL AFTER ROGER PUT HIS FINISHING TOUCHES ON IT. BOB POITRAS HAD A MACHINE QUITE SIMILAR TO THIS ONE, AND TOGETHER THEY WON A LOT OF SCRAMBLES THROUGHOUT VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA.

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STANLEY “BRAINS” KNIGHT AND BILL JENNINGS

BACK WHEN RACING WAS CHEAP, BOTH WORKED FOR CLINTON BEW AT THE H-D SHOP. I TRADED A LEATHER JACKET TO GET 85C AND PAID $25.00 CASH FOR 79C. THEY WERE WWII ARMY DISPATCH BIKES AND CONVERTED INTO RACE BIKES. HD HELPED BY COMING OUT WITH CONVERSION KITS WHICH INCLUDED THE WICO MAGNETO SEEN ON THE 79 AND A SET OF CAMS TO ENABLE PEOPLE TO GET IN TO CLASS RACING CHEAP. THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN AT THE CHESTNUT AVE SPEEDWAY WHICH IS DOWNTOWN NEWPORT NEWS, VA TODAY.

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THE “TIDEWATER TRIO” MARVIN WELLS SPONSORED

DALLAS TURNER, PORTSMOUTH, VA JIMMIE WHITE, PORTSMOUTH, VA TEDDY YARBOROUGH, NEWPORT NEWS VA (FATHER OF THE PREVIOUS MENTIONED BOBBY YARBOROUGH)

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STRAWBERRY HILL RICHMOND, VA: 1948

THE SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS SHOT IS THE FACT THAT THE HONARARY STARTER IS JIM DAVIS, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS RACERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE SPORT. JIM WAS THE LAST OF THE BOARD TRACK RACERS AND THE STORIES HE COULD TELL OF BOARD TRACK RACING WERE REALLY GREAT. I WAS FORTUNATE TO ATTEND HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY PARTY ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO. BACK THEN ALL RACERS TRAVELED BY TRAIN. HE TOLD OF THE TIME HE CAME IN AFTER WINNING A RACE IN CALIFORNIA AND COULDN’T TAKE HIS HAND OFF THE BARS. HE LOOKED AND FOUND A BOARD GOING ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIS ARM. IT WAS REMOVED AND HE GOT ON THE TRAIN HEADING EAST TO ANOTHER TRACK. HIS DESCRIPTION WAS THAT IT WAS INDEED UNCOMFORTABLE BUT NOT ALL THAT BAD. HE ALSO TOLD OF WEARING SILK UNDERWARE TO TURN THE SLIVERS AND SPLINTERS AWAY IF YOU FELL. JIM SAID IT KEPT YOU OCCUPIED GOING FROM ONE TRACK TO ANOTHER ON THE TRAIN, PICKING SPLINTERS AND SLIVERS OUT OF YOUR LIMBS.

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MEL RHODES INDIAN RIDER OF THE 1930’S

UNFORNATELY I DIDN’T HAVE ANY CONTACT WILL MEL AND CAN’T COMMENT ON HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS HOWEVER FROM THE APPEARANCE OF HIS RACER IF YOU DIDN’T SEE HIM YOU SURELY HAD TO HEAR HIM WITH THAT MEGAPHONE EXHAUST. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THE AUTOMOBILES IN THE BACK GROUND.

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A BIT OF FACTUAL HUMOR

THIS SIGN HUNG IN MY SHOP FOR MANY YEARS AND ALWAYS GOT A LAUGH WHEN IT WAS VIEWED THE FIRST TIME.

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A COLORFUL COLLAGE OF THE LATE 1940’S AT STRAWBERRY HILL, RICHMOND

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“THE RACERS BOOK”

EDDIE BOOMHOWER PORTSMOUTH, VA 1954 1953 HARLY DAVIDSON KR

NOT MUCH TO LOOK AT BY TODAY’S STANDARDS. BUT I BET I HAD AS MUCH FUN AS ANYBODY ELSE.

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BILL GWYN SUFFOLK, VA HARLEY DAVIDSON KR

BILL RODE SCRAMBLES IN THE FIFTIES ON A HARLEY 165, BUT LATER WENT FROM MOTORCYCLES TO DRAG CARS, BUILDING ENGINES FOR HIMSELF AND MANY OF THE BEST. LATER BILL WENT INTO THE AUTOMOBILE ENGINE REBUILDING BUSINESS SPECIALIZING IN ALL TYPES OF RACING ENGINES. SOON HE TEAMED UP WITH THE LEGENDARY HENRY LAUTERBACH, BUILDER OF WORLD RECORD HOLDING BOATS. HIS DIVERSIFIED INTERESTS SAW HIM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. FINALY AFTER HAVING DONE IT ALL HE RETURNED TO MOTORCYCLE RACING IN 2003 RIDING ON THE AHRMA FLAT TRACK CIRCUIT. BILL DOESN’T HAVE ANYTHING TO PROVE AND THE ONLY PERSON THAT HE WANTS TO IMPRESS IS HIMSELF. AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 66 HE IS A HAPPY MAN.

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GEORGE BECRAFT WASHINGTON, DC RIDING A TRIUMPH

THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AT STRAWBERRY HILL IN RICHMOND, VA ON MAY 19, 1950. THE BIKE WAS PRESENTED THAT DAY AS THE FIRST FACTORY RACING TRIUMPH TO HAVE COME IN THE USA. GEORGE RODE THE EAST COAST RACING CIRCUIT FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE AND AFTER WWII.

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DONNIE WISE PORTSMOUTH, VA YAMAHA

DONNIE RODE CROSS COUNTRY EVENTS OUT OF THE MARVIN WELLS SHOP. THEY DIDN’T MISS MANY FOR A PERIOD OF YEARS UNTIL DONNIE SUFFERED A VERY SERIOUS LEG INJURY AND HAD TO RETIRE FROM THE SPORT.

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RICHMOND, VA 1949 STARTING LINE

THIS IS A SHOT OF SOME OF THE BEST FLAT TRACKERS THAT EVER LIVED. THEY REPRESENTED THE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST COAST.

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RAYMOND “PETE” PITCOCK WINCHESTER, VA

PETE WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT ONE OF NICEST GUYS THAT EVER STRADDLED A RACE BIKE. HE DIDN’T HAVE ANY UNREALISTIC GOALS, HE JUST LOVED THE SPORT. HIS STRANGE PLACE IN HISTORY IS THAT PETE WORKED AT A TRUCK STOP. THE NOW FAMOUS ROY CLARK WOULD HITCHHIKE UP FROM SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA TO THE TRUCK STOP. AT THAT POINT PETE, WHO HAD THE ONLY CAR AMONG THEM, WOULD TAKE ROY AND THEY WOULD GO BY AND PICKUP PATSY CLINE, THE LATE FAMOUS SINGER. THEN THEY WOULD DRIVE INTO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO A COUNTRY AND WESTERN BAR WHERE THEY WOULD PERFORM FOR EXPOSURE. 89

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THREE LEGENDS IN ONE SHOT

STAN MYERS, AL WILCOX AND BUTCH BAER ALL WERE EXPERTS IN THE 40’S AND 50’S. BUTCH ACTUALLY GREW UP IN THE OLD INDIAN FACTORY SINCE HIS DAD HAD A SHOP IN THE BASEMENT OF THE FACTORY. BUTCH’S DAD WAS THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR STARTING THE LACONIA ROAD RACE WHEN HE ORGANIZED IT AT THE BELKNAP RECREATION AREA. BUTCH JUST PUBLISHED TWO BOOKS ON THE HISTORY OF INDIAN AND THEY ARE THE BEST THAT CAN BE BOUGHT.

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WILD BILL DAVIS INDIAN RIDER WASHINGTON, D.C.

BILL RODE OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP OF HERB RIEIBER. HIS CLAIM TO FAME IN THE 50’S THAT HE WAS THE FIRST BLACK MAN IN THE USA TO HOLD AN AMA COMPETITION LICENSE. BILL RODE FOR MANY YEARS ON THE EAST COAST OUTLAW CIRCUIT BEFORE COMING INTO THE AMA AND REGULARLY RODE AT THE “VISTA RACEWAY” BETWEEN DC AND BALTIMORE.

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RICHARD CLARKE: TRIUMPH RIDER GREENVILLE, S.C.

RICHARD WAS A FEARLESS RIDER. HE ALWAYS HAD GREAT, WELL PREPARED EQUIPMENT BY HIS UNCLE. RICHARD WAS AN ELECTRICIAN BY TRADE AND DIDN’T DO MUCH OF THE ENGINE WORK. BUT HIS UNCLE KNEW ENOUGH FOR BOTH OF THEM.

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MARSHALL LAMM & GEORGE ROEDER

THIS PICTURE IS FROM THE MIDDLE 1960’S WHILE THEY WERE BARNSTORMING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

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ED FISHER

WHO SAYS WE DON’T HAVE CLOUT IN THE INDUSTRY. THIS IS A PICTURE OF EDDIE FISHER STOPPING BY JIMMIE CARTER’S HOUSE TO GIVE HIM SOME ADVICE. THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE TELLS IT ALL.

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PARADE OF SIDECARS WITH THE EXPERT NATIONAL QUALIFIERS FOR THE 1954 SIX MILE NATIONAL RICHMOND, VA

I BET YOU COULDN’T FIND THAT MANY SIDECAR OUTFITS NOW RUNNING IN THE WHOLE STATE OF VIRGINIA.

IT WAS QUITE A SITE TO BEHOLD.

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CARROLL MCCAULEY RICHMOND RACERS OWN WHEEL MAN

CARROLL IS SHOWN WITH GEORGE ROEDER. GEORGE IS TRYING TO FIGURE HOW TO WIN THE NEXT HEAT, AND CARROLL IS SCHEMING UP SOMETHING. CARROLL WOULD QUIT HIS JOB JUST TO DRIVE THE GUYS ANYWHERE IN THE USA, HELP WORK ON THEIR BIKES, FIND PARTS, JUST ANYTHING TO BE PART OF THE ACTION.

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THIS IS REAL HISTORY A PICTURE OF THE BEST OF THE DAY

LEFT TO RIGHT: TOMMY MCDERMOTT-BSA, HARLAN SHUE TRIUMPH, JOHN DRONEBERG-HD, BILL MILLER-HD AND THE TUNER ON HIS KNEE IS NONE OTHER THAN THE YOUNG MAN STILL TUNING AFTER 60 YEARS, RAY TEXTER. HE IS THE OWNER OF LANCASTER HARLEY DAVIDSON, LANCASTER, PA. THE INTERESTED PARTY LOOKING OVER THE FRONT WHEEL IS THE DEALER BUD LAUGERMAN, YORK , PA.

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RUSTY LOWERY HANOVER COUNTY, VA AHRMA #94

RUSTY WAS RAISED ON A FARM IN HANOVER COUNTY. HE MADE THE MISTAKE OF VISITING THE ELMONT SCRAMBLES TRACK ONE SUNDAY AND WAS INFECTED. RUSTY’S FIRST RACE WAS ON A HONDA 160 IN NOV 1971 AT ELMONT. WHILE IN COLLEGE HE WORKED FOR THE HONDA HOUSE AND CLIFF’S MARINE. AFTER A WHILE IN AMATEUR RACING HE CHOSE TO ENTER THE AHRMA GROUP ON A 1988 NORTON 650. RUSTY WAS ON THE AHRMA BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR 15 YEARS, IN CHARGE OF THE DIRT TRACK RACING DIVISION. DURING THIS TIME HE SET THREE NATIONAL RECORDS ON ROAD RACE, THREE SPEED RECORDS AT BONNEVILLE, AND ONE RACE IN ENGLAND. AT ONE TIME HE RODE A FLYING MERKEL BOARD TRACKER FOR HIS FATHER IN LAW IN A VINTAGE FLAT TRACK RACE. HE DROPPED FROM THE BOARD THIS YEAR, BUT HAS HAD ALL THE FUN HE NEEDED.

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BILL MILLER AMA NATIONAL #35 MOUNTSVILLE, PA

WINNER OF THE LACONIA NEW HAMPSHIRE 100 MILE ROAD RACE. THIS WAS SUPPOSEDLY THE FIRST “K” MODEL ACTUALLY ENTERED IN AN AMA FLAT TRACK RACE. IT WAS PITIFULLY SET UP WITH BRAKES, LOUSY SHOCKS AND FORKS. IT WAS MORE A FIRST TIME SHOW THAN ANTHING ELSE. THE BIKE IS BEING EXAMINED IN THIS PICTURE BY C.W. PINNELL SR AND JR.

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DENNIS (DENNY) HAVEN AMA NATIONAL #80 H-D & BSA HALLANDALE, FLORIDA

DENNY WAS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE WHO HAD TO TRAVEL 1000 MILES BEFORE HE GOT TO GO TO A RACE, DUE TO BEING LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE OF MIAMI. AS A RESULT, HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH US IN RICHMOND TO HOLD DOWN SOME TRAVEL TIME. 9 TIMES FLORIDA STATE CHAMPION IN ROAD RACING, 2 TIMES SOUTHEAST CHAMPION FLAT TRACK, 7 REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FLAT TRACK, WINNER OF THE TOMMY SEAGRAVES MEMORIAL, WON KENTUCKY STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FLAT TRACK, WON RACES ALL UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST. HE NEVER CLAIMED A NATIONAL RACE FROM 1952 TO 1982.

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MARSHALL LAMM 53C, AND JOHN WILEY 43C

HARLEY DAVIDSON KR’S, BOTH FROM RICHMOND, VA TAKEN DURING THEIR NOVICE YEAR.

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BOBBY SMITH PORTSMOUTH, VA AND EDDIE BOOMHOWER

DAYTONA BEACH COURSE 1954

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HARLEY DAVIDSON TEAM LAST FULL OUT ASSULT AT THE NEW DAYTONA SPEEDWAY

LEFT TO RIGHT BART MARKEL#4, MERT LAWILL #18, DAN HAABY #22, CAL RAYBORN #25, ROGER REIMAN #55, FREDDIE NIX #95, WALT FULTON #99. THE RACE WINNER WAS CAL RAYBORN. THIS GROUP WAS LATER MARKED WITH TRADGEDY. CAL WAS KILLED WHILE TESTING A KAWASAKI IN AUSTRALIA ON A ROAD RACE COURSE, ROGER WAS KILLED IN A BMW BATTLE OF THE TWINS AT DAYTONA AND FREDDIE WAS KILLED IN A DUNE BUGGY ACCIDENT IN THE CALIFORNIA DESERT WHILE ON VACATION.

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STAN WITINSKI

HE WAS AN INDIAN FACTORY RACER FROM THE LATE 1930’S AND 1940’S

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THE WINNERS OF THE BEGINNERS CLASS RICHMOND FAIRGROUND SHORT TRACK WEDNESDAY NIGHT SHORT TRACK, JUNE 1975

EVERYBODY SAID IT COULDN’T BE DONE IN A SAFE MANNER. I THINK EDDIE CARPENTER WAS FIVE WHEN HE STARTED (PROBABLY THE YOUNGEST) BUT MANY OF THESE KIDS WENT ON TO BE THE BEST IN THE PROFESSIONAL RANKS. IT WAS OUR VERSION OF LITTLE LEAGUE SPORTS. THE KIDS NEVER GAVE ME ANY TROUBLE BUT THE PARENTS OCCASIONALLY HAD TO BE PUT IN THEIR PLACE WHICH IS NORMAL, I SUPPOSE. MOST OF THESE KIDS ARE MARRIED NOW AND HAVE KIDS OF THEIR OWN. ANYWAY IT WAS A BUNCH OF FUN TO SEE THESE KIDS GROW INTO MEN.

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A HOT ENTRY INTO TURN ONE THE 1954 SIX MILE NATIONAL RICHMOND, VA.

KLAMFOTH ENJOYS A COMFORTABLE LEAD OVER EDDIE FISHER, FOLLOWED BY PAUL GOLDSMITH, RICHARD CLARK AND BILL TUMAN WHO WILL FIND THE RIGHT APPROACH AND FINISH THIRD TO KLAMFOTH AND FISHER.

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LIVE ACTION BETWEEN THE 3RD AND 4TH TURN AT STRAWBERRY HILL HALF MILE RICHMOND, VA

THE VERY BEST OF THE DAY: WITH KLAMFOTH LEADING, PAT MCHENRY 84h 2ND BOBBY HILL #71 3RD JOHNNIE BUTTERFIELD #77 4TH DICK BEATTY #64 5TH DARRYL DOVEL #45 6TH AND TOMMY MORRIS #16 7TH

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RED NEIGHBORS AND JOE WEATHERLY

LOADING UP TO LEAVE FOR THE LACONIA NEW HAMPSHIRE 100 MILE ROAD RACE. DEPARTING FROM IN BACK OF THE NORFOLK MOTORCYCLE CO AT 739 GRANBY ST IN NORFOLK. JOE ALWAYS TRAVELED WITH TWO RACE BIKES WITH IDENTICAL PAINT JOBS AND SERIEL NUMBERS IN CASE A QUICK REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED. THAT ROMAN CHARIOT TRAILER WAS, AT THE TIME, THE FANCIEST THING IN THE PITS. NOW EVERYBODY IS IN 35 FT HAULERS. MY, HOW THE TIMES HAVE CHANGED !

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KENNY COOLBETH: HARLEY-DAVIDSON AMA #1 RIDER IN THE USA WARREN, CONN.

KENNY WAS THE NUMBER ONE PLATE HOLDER WINNER OF THE GRAND NATIONAL NUMBER ONE RIDER AWARD FOR THE YEARS 2006 AND 2007. FROM 2001 TO 2004 HE FINISHED NO LOWER THAN 4TH PLACE IN THE GRAND NATIONAL CIRCUIT. PICTURED IN THE BACKGROUND IS EDDIE ADKINS OF WINCHESTER, VA, A TOP TUNER FOR OVER 40 YEARS. ALSO SEEN IS STEVE MOREHEAD, AN AMA OFFICIAL. AT THE TIME OF THIS PICTURE, TAKEN AT SALUDA VA, STEVE WAS IN THE CAPACITY OF TRACK TESTER.

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FLYER FROM THE “VISTA RACEWAY”

LOCATED NEAR THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON D.C AREA, THIS FACILITY WAS OPERATED BY TWO BLACK MOTORCYCLE CLUBS, THE “LAND AND SEA MOTORCYCLE CLUB” AND THE “D.C.THROTTLE TWISTERS CLUB”. THEY RAN THIS TRACK ON A VERY SUCCESSFUL BASIS, SPONSORING WHAT WAS THEN TERMED “OUTLAW RACES”. WHEN THE AMA OPENED COMPETITION LICENSES TO THE BLACK RIDERS, IT WAS REALLY NO REASON TO CONTINUE TO RUN THERE. AN AWFUL LOT OF VERY “WHITE” LOOKING RIDERS SHOWED UP THERE THAT LOOKED VERY MUCH LIKE AMA RIDERS WEARING FACE MASKS AND MAKE UP. TO BE CAUGHT RIDING AN OUTLAW RACE BACK THEN COST YOU YOUR LICENSE TO RACE AMA FOR A YEAR. THE TRACK PRODUCED SOME GREAT RIDERS LIKE HERB REIBER’S “PEE WEE” BIGELOW, WILD BILL DAVIS, AND BILL BATTLE. IT WAS A REAL PIECE OF MOTORCYCLE RACING HISTORY IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

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EDDIE FISHER

BORN AND GREW UP IN PENNSYLVANIA. PULLED TWO YEARS IN THE ARMY AND CAME HOME TO HIS INDIAN CHIEF. HIS FIRST RACE WAS ON A 1929 INDIAN SCOUT THAT BELONGED TO ED KAUFMAN. SINCE IT WAS NOT FIT TO RIDE ON THE ROAD THEY THOUGHT, HECK LETS RACE IT. IT STAYED TOGETHER FOR MANY RACES UNTIL ONE DAY AT SPARKS, MD IT DISENTIGRATED. HE THEN RODE A SCOUT FOR THE INDIAN DEALER, WALTER TROXEL IN EPHRATA PA. HIS NEXT RIDE WAS ONE OF THE NEW 249 INDIAN MODELS THAT CAME OUT IN 1949. THE BIKES WERE 50 YEARS AHEAD OF THEIR TIME, BUT LACKED SOME ENGINEERING. ALL ENTRIES AT LACONIA BLEW. HE CAMPAIGNED A BIG BASE INDIAN SCOUT ON HIS OWN, ALTENATING BETWEEN IT AND A 249. IN 1952 ROD COATES, HEAD OF THE TRIUMPH RACING DEPT, CALLED EDDIE AND ASKED IF HE WAS INTERESTED IN RACING A FACTORY TRIUMPH FOR THEM. HE IMMEDIATELY ACCEPTED AND RODE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FOR THEM. HE WAS HEAD OF THE TRIUMPH TEAM THAT WIPED OUT LACONIA IN 1953 BY WINNING FIRST IN THE EXPERT CLASS, SHERM COOPER FIRST IN THE AMATEUR, AND DAVEY JONES OF ENGLAND FIRST IN THE NOVICE CLASS. HE RETIRED TO OPERATE SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL MOTORCYCLE AND AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIPS THROUGHOUT PA. HE IS NOW RETIRED LIVING WITH HIS WIFE SUZI IN SHUNK. PA. 111

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FIRE TRUCK FROM THE MIDDLE 1930’S RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

NOT EXACTLY RACING STUFF, BUT VERY RARE. AS A MATTER OF FACT I WAS CONTACTED BY THE NATIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS ARCHIVE LIBRARY IN CALIFORNIA TO HAVE A COPY MADE OF THIS. HOW THEY KNEW I HAD IT I DON’T KNOW TO THIS DAY. BUT THEY WERE EXCITED TO KNOW THAT IT WAS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND USED IN THE USA. IT WAS HEADQUARTERED AT A VERY SMALL FIRE STATION IN JACKSON WARD, ABOUT A BLOCK OR TWO OFF BROAD STREET.

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DICK MAN AMA NATIONAL # 2 & #1 RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA

WITHOUT A DOUBT, ONE OF, IF NOT THE MOST SUPPORTIVE ADVOCATES OF MOTORCYCLE RACING, THAT EVER LIVED. FOR A PERIOD OF 16 YEARS RUNNING, HE FINISHED TWICE #1 IN THE GRAND NATIONAL PROGRAM. AND THIS WAS WHEN YOU HAD TO PERFORM IN FIVE VENUES, ROAD RACE, FLAT TRACK, TT, SHORT TRACK, AND THE MILE. HE FINISHED ELEVEN TIMES 6TH OR BETTER IN THE STANDINGS, TWO 8THS AND A 10TH. HE WON THE DAYTONA 200 MILER IN 1970 AND 1971 WITH A HONDA FOUR WHEN IT WAS IN ITS INFANCY. AT THE TIME THAT WAS AN UNHEARD OF TASK. SINCE HIS RETIREMENT FROM PROFESSIONAL RACING, HE HAS CONTINUED TO RACE IN THE AHRMA MOTOCROSS AND ROAD RACE PROGRAM. DICK HAS SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE AHRMA REPRESENTING THE WEST. COAST. STILL GOING STRONG AS EVER KEEPING THE FIRES LIT.

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ALBERT GUNTER: BSA RIDER AMA NATIONAL #3 CALIFORNIA

AL IS PICTURED ACCEPTING HIS TROPHY FROM J.C. AGAJANIAN, OWNER AND PROMOTOR OF THE ASCOT SPEEDWAY IN L.A. TO HIS LEFT IS AMA SECRETARY LIN KUCHLER, ONE OF THE BEST DURING MY TIME WITH THE AMA. UNFORTUNATELY NASCAR REALIZED IT TOO, AND SNAGGED HIM. FOR A PERIOD OF NINE YEARS ALBERT WAS IN THE TOP 6 SPOTS FOR THE GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN ALL VENUES. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST RIDERS TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE LOCAL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY AND GOT IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF “PORT FLOWING”. WITH THE AIDE OF AXTEL, THEY HAD THE BEEZERS FLYING FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE THE REST CAUGHT ON. 114

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THE AMA COMPETITION CONGRESS COLUMBUS, OHIO 1969. I FEEL THAT THIS BELONGS IN THIS COLLECTION BECAUSE EVERY TIME I READ IT, I REALIZE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING IN IT FOR ALL OF US WHO HAVE TRIED, WON AND LOST, BUT THE THRILL STILL REMAINS IN OUR HEARTS.

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HERE IS HOW IT WAS DONE IN THE GOLDEN YEARS. THESE TWO PICTURES ABOVE DEPICT THE EFFORTS THAT THE INTERESTED PARTIES PUT FORTH TO MAKE THINGS WORK IN THE AMA RACING PROGRAM. THE TWO PICTURES SHOW ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES. ALL VOLUNTEERS ! ALL THE MEMBERS PICTURED, FROM ALL OVER THE USA, CAME AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE AND STAYED UNTIL THE JOB WAS DONE. IF YOU GO THROUGH THE FACES IN THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES IT READS LIKE A WHO’S WHO OF THOSE YEARS. I WAS FORTUNATE, WHEN CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE, TO HAVE B.G. PENNELL, THE BEST DAMN SECRETARY THAT EVER LIVED. HER HUSBAND WAS AN AMA STARTER AND THEY DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO AMA RACING. SHE SURE GOT THIS OLD COUNTRY BOY OUT OF A LOT OF SQUEEZES.

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E.C. SMITH, SECRETARY OF THE AMA JOE PATRALI AND AN UNIDENTIFIED INDIAN RIDER

THIS WAS THE PERIOD BETWEEN 1925 AND 1939. NOTE THE LEGGINGS AS OPPPOSED TO THE BOOTS OF TODAY. E.C. WAS THE ORIGINAL MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR STARTING THE AMA ON ITS WAY THROUGH THE GOLDEN YEARS. ALONG WITH HIS CHIEF REFEREE, JULES HORKY, THEY RAN THE WHOLE USA. THEY WERE BOTH HARD BUT FIRM AND FAIR. YOU ALWAYS KNEW WHERE YOU STOOD AND YOU ALWAYS KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO BE PROVEN WRONG BECAUSE THEY HAD BOTH BEEN THERE AND DONE IT BEFORE. IT WAS REALLY QUITE AMAZING WHEN YOU THINK THAT THEY OVERSAW THE ENTIRE RACING PROGRAM PLUS ALL THE ENDUROS AND CLUB ACTIVITIES IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY. NOW TODAY WITH A STAFF OF HIGH PAID WORKERS THE AMA STILL CAN’T GET IT RIGHT. HORKY HAD A WHITEBOARD ON HIS OFFICE WALL IN A HOUSE IN COLUMBUS, OHIO WITH 365 SQUARES ON IT. THAT SIMPLE SET UP CONTAINED EVERY AMA SANCTIONED EVENT GOING ON IN THE USA FOR THAT YEAR. HE COULD TELL YOU IN TEN SECONDS WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

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LESTER HILLBISH AMA #26 INDIAN RIDER

DON’T HAVE MUCH ON LESTER OTHER THAN HE WAS VERY POPULAR IN THE PENNSYLVANIA-NEW ENGLAND AREA THROUGHOUT THE 1930’S AND EARLY 1940’S.

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RALPH HEPBURN

RALPH WAS A HARLEY DAVIDSON FACTORY RIDER IN THE 20’S, BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST RACERS THAT EVER LIVED. TO LOOK AT WHAT HE IS PICTURED ON HERE, AND REALIZING THAT IT IS THE VERY BEST THAT MONEY COULD BUY AT THE TIME, PROVES ALSO THAT HE HAD TO BE FEARLESS. IMAGINE RIDING AT SPEEDS OF 130 MPH ON TIRES THAT WERE ABOUT 1 ¾ IN WIDE ON “CLINCHER RIMS” LONG BEFORE DROP CENTER RIMS APPEARED ON THE SCENE. NO PROVISION FOR BRAKES AND I AM SURE THAT A GOOD 3 MINUTE EGG WOULD GIVE MORE PROTECTION THAN THAT GLORIFIED FOOTBALL HELMENT WOULD GIVE. MOST TRACK PREPARATION OF THE DAY CONSISTED OF SCRAPING OFF THE GRASS ON A FLAT FIELD. IT IS MY UNDERSTANING, ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT VERIFIED IT, THAT RALPH WAS KILLED ON THE INDIANAPOLIS TRACK.

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EDDIE WARREN: HARLEY DAVIDSON

DURING THE 1960’S EDDIE RACED OUT OF THE SHOP OF THE FAMOUS “BERT CUMMINGS” RACE SHOP AND H-D DEALER IN FLINT. THERE WERE PROBABLY MORE TOP GUNS PRODUCED THERE THAN ANY OTHER AREA IN THE U.S. EDDIE WAS REALLY GOOD, BUT HE CHOSE TO LEAVE THE ACTION AND BECOME ONE OF THE BEST TUNERS OF THE DAY. FROM THEN ON HE TUNED FOR SOME OF THE BEST. PICTURED WITH HIM IS “WHIT” WHITTINGTON THE H-D DEALER FROM WASHINGTON D.C. 124

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GRAND OPENING OF THE HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP NORFOLK, VA

JOHN THOMAS GUPTON WAS THE DEALER. THIS WAS 1950 AND IT WAS CONSIDERED VERY NICE. NOW H-D WOULDN’T ALLOW IT FOR A LOUNGE. I AM COPYING THIS ON DEC 27 2007 AND THE FRIGHTENING THING IS THAT THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE LEFT ALIVE IN THE PICTURE: THE GIRL ON THE LEFT, ANNIE MAE AND I.

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MARSHALL LAMM

DESERT RAT SHOT OF MARSHALL LAMM DEMONSTRATING THE PROPER ATTIRE FOR CALIFORNIA DESERT RACING. ONCE RAY TANNER (EX TT NATIONAL CHAMP) TAUGHT HIM TO DESERT RACE YOU COULDN’T GET HIM BACK ON A TRACK.

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RUDY BOLING, ALEX SWING AND AL CRISLER

ONE OF THE LAST RACES RUN BEFORE EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN AFTER PEARL HARBOR. PICTURED ARE RUDY THE LATER TO BECOME H-D DEALER IN CHARLOTTE, ALEX SWING OF WINSTON SALEM AND AL CRISLER OF CHARLOTTE. DATED OCT 19, 1941

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CUSHMAN DAYS OFFICIALLY STARTED

A PICTURE OF MYSELF ON MY TRUSTY 2 HP CUSHMAN MOTORSCOOTER. EVERYBODY HAD ONE DURING AND AFTER THE WAR. BUT THEY ALL HAD 4 HP, SO I HAD TO SNEAK AROUND AND FIND OUT WHERE THEY WERE HEADING SO I COULD LEAVE EARLY AND TRY TO GET THERE WHEN THEY DID. SIX INCH WHEELS WOULD TURN OVER SIDEWAYS, AS WELL AS END OVER END. NOT MUCH, BUT YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO PEDAL, AND I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE $125.00 TO PURCHASE IT, PLUS THE $1.00 FOR THE TITLE AND $1.00 FOR THE TAG. INSURANCE??? THERE WAS NO SUCH A THING !

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HAPPY DAYS: RICHMOND, VA 1954

PROBABLY ONE OF THE HAPPIEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE. I JUST DISCOVERED THAT I HAD SET THREE TRACK RECORDS IN THE NOVICE CLASS AT THE STRAWBERRY HILL FAIRGROUNDS. IT WAS SATURDAY BEFORE THE GRAND NATIONAL SIX MILE NATIONAL, MY THIRD AMA RACE.

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RICHMOND HARLEY DAVIDSON

THE CHAMBERLAYNE AVE “HONEY HOLE”, 1957. THIS WAS A TERM OF ENDEARMENT USED BY THE WIVES OF LOCAL RIDERS, AS IN, “I DON’T KNOW WHERE HE IS. HE MUST BE DOWN AT THE “HONEY HOLE”. PICTURED ARE DONALD DUNCAN SALESMAN, C.W. PINNELL AND MYSELF. IT TOOK ONE MORE YEAR TO GET THE “PINNELL” OFF THE SIGN. IT WAS ONE OF THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF MY LIFE. MONEY WAS SLOW AND TIGHT ABOUT THEN.

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BILL WOOD RICHMOND, VA: HARLEY DAVIDSON 1964

IN 1964 BILL HAD BEEN RIDING MY SPORTSTER DRAGSTER FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AND PRETTY WELL BURNING UP THE EAST COAST. WE WERE APPROACHED TO DO A 40 DAY ALL EXPENSE PAID TRIP TO ENGLAND ON THE USS UNITED STATES TO INTRODUCE ENGLAND TO DRAG RACING. THEY TOOK A SINGLE ENGINE FROM EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI, AND ONE FROM THE WEST, AS WELL AS EACH CLASS OF DRAGSTER AUTOS: DON GARLITS, TONY NANCY, KEITH BLACK AND ALL THE REST OF THE BIG NAMES IN THE USA.

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THE NOTICE WAS SHORT AND WE WORKED DAY AND NIGHT FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THE FIRST PICTURE SHOWS HIS BEST RUN, THE SECOND SHOWS THE SNAPPY JACKETS THEY WERE ALL PRESENTED TO WEAR AT ALL THE PRESS PARTIES AND BANQUETS WHILE THERE AND THE THIRD IS A SHOT OF THE LITTLE TRANSPORT .

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WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN ENGLAND, BILL WAS MET WITH THIS VAN AND A DRIVER TO TRANSPORT HIM AROUND ENGLAND AS WELL AS PROVIDE POWER FOR HIS ROLLERS. IT WAS A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR HIM SINCE HE IMMEDIATELY MOVED TO THE GOLDEN STATE WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS OF RETURNING.

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HARLEY DAVIDSON ENTHUSIAST SPECIAL 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION ANNOUNCING THE 1954 NEW MODELS

THIS WAS A LANDMARK TIME FOR H-D. THEY WERE JUST REALLY FEELING THAT THEY WERE OVER THE TERRIBLE RESTRICTED PERIODS OF THE WAR YEARS. THEY HAD TESTED THE POST WAR MODELS AND WERE READY TO IMPROVE THEM. THE NEXT COUPLE SHOTS WILL EXPLAIN THIS.

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1954 HARLEY DAVIDSON 165CC MODEL ANNOUNCEMENT

THIS WAS THE YEAR THAT THEY INCREASED THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL 125. THIS LITTLE BIKE EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PROBABLY INTRODUCED MORE OF THE 1950’S AND 60”S RACE DRIVERS TO RACING THAN ANY OTHER BIKE. THEY WERE CHEAP, EASY TO WORK ON AND WITH THE SHORT TRACK PROGRAMS THRIVING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS THE SURGE OF SCRAMBLES, IT ALLOWED THE LOW BUDGET RACER AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT AND ENJOY THE WEEKEND. NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT IT WAS GREAT ECONOMICAL TRANSPORTATION BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, AS WELL AS JUST PLAIN FUN SPORT RIDING.

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1954 HARLEY DAVIDSON KH MODLE ANNOUNCEMENT

HARLEY DAVIDSON HAD PRETTY WELL DEBUGGED THE 750CC “K” MODEL AND NEEDED A FEW MORE PONIES. SO ALONG CAME THE “KH” SERIES WITH AN 883CC ENGINE AND A MUCH BETTER TRANSMISSION. IT REALLY SERVED THEM WELL AND IT WAS AN IMMEDIATE SELLER. THE RIDERS LIKED THE “KH” AND IT ALSO PROVIDED A CONDUIT TO MOVE ON IN 1957 WITH THE SPORTSTER, WHICH UNTIMATELY PROVED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BIKES EVER BUILT IN THE WORLD.

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THE ELMONT (VA) HIGH POINT TROPHY

JOE BLOODWORTH PRESENTING THE ELMONT HIGH POINT TROPHY FOR THE YEAR TO HAROLD BURCHAM. JOE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE RICHMOND MOTORCYCLE CLUB AT THE TIME. HAROLD LATER OPENED BURCHAMS CYCLE IN COLONIAL HEIGHTS AND HAS BECOME QUITE SUCCESSFUL IN THE VENTURE. HAROLD WON THIS HIGH POINT TROPHY ON A “PUCKETT 165”.

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RED NABORS: NORFOLK, VA MECHANIC TO JOE WEATHERLY

HE ORGANIZED EXIBITION MOTOR PATROLS FOR SHOWS AND PARADE WORK. RED WOULD PAINT WHITE, “FREE OF CHARGE”, ANY BODIES BIKE THAT WOULD AGREE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MOTOR PATROL. HE WAS A REAL PROMOTOR AND A HUSTLER. HE LATER MOVED TO FAYETTEVILLE N.C. AND OPENED ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIPS IN THE COUNTRY. HE EVEN CONVINCED THE TOP GUN AT THE ARMY BASE THAT THEY NEEDED A SCRAMBLES COURSE AND THAT THE SOLDIERS COULD GET GREAT EXPERIENCE BUILDING IT. IT WAS ACTUALLY BUILT, AND HE HELD A NATIONAL SCRAMBLES CHAMPIONSHIP THERE. LATER HE BECAME HARBOR MASTER FOR THE STATE OF N.C. RED MADE HIS PERSONAL HELICOPTER AND PILOT AVAILABLE TO ANY WORTHWHILE CAUSE AS IT CAME ALONG.

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MIKE HACKER AMA GRAND NATIONAL #67 COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VA

MIKE GREW UP IN THE PETERSBURG, VA AREA. AS A VERY SMALL BOY, HIS FAMILY FASHIONED A SMALL TRACK ON THEIR PROPERTY WHERE HE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME. MIKE WENT THROUGH THE SPORTSMAN PERIOD LIKE SO MANY OTHERS AT “GREENS RACEWAY” AND EVENTUALLY WENT ON INTO THE PRO RANKS. THROUGH THE 90’S MIKE COVERED THE ENTIRE USA IN ANY VENUE AVAILABLE. IN 2000 HE HAD HIS BREAK OUT YEAR FINISHING 5TH IN THE NATION AND REPEAT ED IN 2001. MIKE HAS SUFFERED SOME PRETTY BAD CRASHES, AND AS I WRITE THIS, IT IS NOT CERTAIN WHAT HIS FUTURE PLANS ARE. WITH HIS DRIVE, I AM SURE WHATEVER HE CHOOSES TO DO, HE WILL BE TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL.

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THE BEACH COURSE DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

PICTURED IS SPONSOR EDDIE GUILL, DEALER FROM DANVILLE, VIRGINIA WITH HIS RIDER, ARCHIE TAIT ON A MATCHLESS. TO THE SIDE IS TRUS BUNTING FROM PORTSMOUTH. TRUS PROBABLY STARTED MORE YOUNG GUYS RIDING THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AREA. TRUS HAD NO COMMERCIAL CONNECTION, BUT HE JUST LOVED RACING. HE GAVE A LOT OF GUYS THEIR FIRST RIDE. HE CERTAINLY GAVE ME MY FIRST RIDE ON AN OLD CONVERTED WLA THAT I THOUGHT WAS HEAVEN. EDDIE GUILL LATER BECAME THE HARLEY DEALER IN DANVILLE, AND WAS UNTIL HIS TIME CAME.

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ROLLING ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE 13 MILE NATIONAL COURTESY OF ROGER MCGINNIS

THIS TRUCK AND SIGN WAS SEEN ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES WITH ROGER AND WAYNE COOK TRAVELING THE CIRCUIT. WE HAD COOPERATION ON THAT PROJECT THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON WOULD NEVER IMAGINE. EVERYBODY WANTED TO HELP TO MAKE IT THE BEST EVER. THEY SURE DID ! THE EFFORT WAS SHOT A YEAR LATER WHEN THE HALF MILE TRACK WAS ASPHALTED.

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THE CHRISTMAS PARTY RICHMOND MOTORCYCLE CLUB

THE CHRISTMAS CLUB PARTY WAS THE EVENT OF THE YEAR. IT WAS ALWAYS A LAVISH AFFAIR ALLOWING THE GIRLS TO SPORT THAT NEW DRESS AND HAIRDO, AND THE GUYS TO SWAP OUT THEIR DIRTY JEANS. EVEN GOT A TIE ON FATS AND TOMMY GRIGGS. THE NEWS PEOPLE WERE THERE AS WELL AS ALL THE COMPETITIVE DEALERS THAT SUPPORTED THE SCRAMBLES RACES. THIS IN TURN SUPPORTED THE SOCIAL ACTIVITY. AMA DISTRICT REFS ALWAYS SHOWED UP. FACTORY PERSONEL WERE THERE TOO, AND IT WAS THE NIGHT TO PRESENT TROPHYS FOR THE PAST YEAR’S EVENT WINNERS. THESE WERE THE GOLDEN YEARS OF MOTORCYCLE ACTIVITY IN THE RICHMOND AREA.

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TWO MORE SHOTS OF THE BEGINNERS CLASS AT THE RICHMOND FAIRGROUNDS WEDNESDAY NIGHT SHORT TRACK RACES

IT IS FUN TO LOOK AT THESE PICTURES AND SEE WHERE MANY OF THESE KIDS WENT. SOME ARE IN THE MOTORCYCLE BUSINESS AND SOME ARE STILL RIDING IN AHRMA EVENTS. A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE LITTLE GUY (FIVE AT THE TIME). AND, AS WELL AS I CAN RECALL, EDDIE CARPENTER NOW HAS A COUPLE KIDS OF HIS OWN AND STILL RIDES. HE IS IN THE MOTORCYCLE REPAIR BUSINESS.

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ANOTHER OF THE BEGINNERS CLASS AT THE RICHMOND FAIRGROUNDS WEDNESDAY NIGHT SHORT TRACK RACES

THERE ARE RESTAURANT OWNERS IN HERE AS WELL AS MAGAZINE PUBLISHERS. THE EXPERIENCE MUST NOT HAVE HURT THEM TOO MUCH.

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PINNELL’S INCORPORATED: 1939 701 W. BROAD STREET RICHMOND, VA

PICTURED ARE HARLEY DAVIDSON ACE RACER JOE PATRALI, C.W. PINNELL, HANK SYVERTSEN (CHIEF RACING ENGINEER AT THE TIME FOR HARLEY), LEONARD AUSTIN MANAGER OF THE PINNELL MOTORCYCLE INTERESTS, AND AN UNKNOWN SEXY BIKER BABE. I IMAGINE “BARE ARMS” ARTHUR DAVIDSON WOULD ROLL OVER IN HIS GRAVE IF HE SAW THAT. IT WAS TABOO FOR ANYTHING TO SHOW OF A WOMAN OTHER THAN HER HANDS AND FACE.

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TWO WHEEL RACERS BANQUET RICHMOND, VA JANUARY 31, 2004

A GROUP SHOT OF ALL THE RIDERS THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE THAT EVER RODE ON THE STRAWBERRY HILL HALF MILE TRACK. WHEN YOU STOP AND THINK THAT THE TRACK WAS SHUT DOWN (DIRT) IN 1969, I FEEL THAT IT IS QUITE REMARKABLE TO GATHER A GROUP UP LIKE THIS SOME THIRTY FIVE YEARS LATER. OBVIOUSLY THE MEMORIES NEVER DIE.

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MOTOR MAIDS OF AMERICA !

ONE OF THE HALF TIME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE OLD TWO DAY NATIONAL EVENTS WERE THE CONTESTS AND DISPLAYS. THE “MMA” ALWAYS WERE A FAVORITE. THESE WOMEN CAME FROM ALL OVER THE STATES TO PARADE AT HALF TIME AND SHOW THAT THEY TOO WERE A BIG PART OF THE PICTURE. LED BY DOT ROBINSON, THE H-D DEALER FROM DETROIT AND THE DAUGHTER OF THE BUILDER OF THE FAMOUS “GOULDING SIDECAR” CLAUDE GOULDING, THEY WERE DRESSED IN BLUE AND GRAY MATCHING UNIFORMS. THEY CUT QUITE AN IMPRESSIVE VIEW TO THE PUBLIC !

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THE GREY’S ARMORY RICHMOND, VA

AFTER THE SATURDAY RACE IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU ATTEND THE DANCE AT THE ARMORY. EVERYBODY SOONER OR LATER SHOWED UP. IF YOU SCAN AROUND IN THE CROWD YOU CAN SEE EDDIE GUILL IN THE HARLEY DAVIDSON SWEATER TALKING TO KELLY THE H-D ROVING WRENCH. ALSO PRESENT ARE: LEON APPLEGATE #99 LOWER LEFT CENTER, DEAD CENTER JOHNNIE BUTTERFIELD, C.W PINNELL AND MAGNUS MARTIN THE H-D FACTORY REP.

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ANOTHER HALF TIME INTEREST THE BEST DRESSED CLUB CONTEST

THESE CLUBS WERE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS COMPETITION. THEY CAME FROM ALL UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST WITH MATCHING UNIFORMS AND MATCHING PAINT WORK. THEY WOULD PARADE AROUND THE TRACK AT HALF TIME WHILE THE SPECTATORS AND JUDGES DECIDED WHO WAS THE FINEST. THE BALTIMORE RAMBLERS M/C CLUB WOULD SHOW UP WITH AT LEAST TWENTY STRONG EVERY TIME.

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PAUL ALBRECHT CALIFORNIA: AMA #78

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH IS WHEN THE WINNER OF THE NATIONAL HAD TO BE MEASURED TO SEE IF THE ENGINE WAS ACTUALLY A 45 INCH. AT THE TIME ALL MEASUREMENTS HAD TO BE MADE BY AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE AND VERIFIED BY THE OFFICIAL AMA REFEREE. THIS WAS A VERY IMPORTANT DAY IN THE WORLD OF RACING. IT WAS THE DAY THAT ALBRECHT TAUGHT THE REST OF THE RACING WORLD THAT THE FAST WAY AROUND WAS THE STRAIGHTUP BROADSLIDE. PRIOR TO THIS EVERYBODY RAN AROUND BROADSLIDING IN A VERY COLORFUL MANNER BUT NOT GOING SO FAST. IT TOOK JIMMIE CHANN AND A COUPLE OTHERS ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO MASTER THE TECHNIQUE. NOTE THE SKINNY LITTLE FORKS FROM A 1929 H-D SINGLE. THEY WERE LATER OUTLAWED WHEN A SET CAME OFF AND KILLE JUNIE MCALL. 150

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ELMONT SCRAMBLES STARTING LINE JITTERS

AS FRANK LAYNE #11 TRIES DESPERATLY TO CLEAR A LAST MINUTE SPARK PLUG PROBLEM. IT WAS A MASS START FOR A 100 LAP RACE. THE RACE WAS WON BY GERALD GIVENS ON A TRIUMPH TIGER CUB. HE IS SEEN HERE LEADING THE START WITH HAROLD BURCHAM BESIDE HIM ON A PUCKETT 165.

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GEORGE R. SMITH, JR “FATS” TO EVERYBODY, INCLUDING HIS MOTHER

HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE FROM 250 TO 350 POUNDS BUT HE SURE NEVER LET IT BOTHER HIM. HERE FATS IS ON HIS BELOVED STROKER KNUCKLEHEAD. HE WAS A FAITHFUL EMPLOYEE FOR 17 YEARS AND IT TOOK A BRAIN TUMOR TO STOP HIM. HE BUILT AND TUNED THE ENGINES FOR MARSHALL LAMM AND MANY OTHERS AT NIGHT IN HIS GARAGE.

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ELMONT SCRAMBLES: 1963 UNLOADING AND GETTING READY FOR WAR

LEFT TO RIGHT ARE FATS, PAUL LASSITER, SAM SWINK, ROGER MCGINNIS , HIS BROTHER TIM, AND JERRY LITTLE. WE BUILT THAT SQUARE TRAILER WHEN I FIRST WENT TO RICHMOND IN 1954. IT WENT SO MANY MILES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT WE REPLACED THE AXLE UNDER IT THREE TIMES. I THINK THAT ANYONE WHO EVER RACED OUT OF THE SHOP HAULED THEIR BIKE ON THAT TRAILER.

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THE DAY FATS TALKED HIMSELF INTO BEING A RACER

WE WERE ALL PREPARING AND LOADING UP, AND I ASKED FATS WHY HE DIDN’T GO WITH US TO THE BOBBY SMITH MEMORIAL AND RACE. HIS REPLY WAS HE DIDN’T HAVE THE TIRES FOR IT. I CALLED IN THE BACK AND TOLD THE MECHANIC TO PUT A NEW SET OF GRASSHOPPERS ON FATS BIKE. HIS NEXT REPLY WAS, “WELL!! I DON’T HAVE A YELLOW VEST LIKE YOU AND LASSITER”. POWELL WILLIAMS, A DOCTOR AT THE MEDICAL COLLEGE SAID WAIT A MINUTE I WILL BE RIGHT BACK. HE CAME BACK WITH A FULL LENGTH YELLOW OPERATING GOWN. WE PUT IT ON FATS. CUT IT TO BELT LENGTH WITH TIN SNIPS. THEN I TOOK A BRUSH AND BLACK PAINT AND PAINTED #5 ON HIS CHEST. AT THIS POINT HE COULDN’T BACK OUT. IT WAS GREAT FUN. I TOLD PAUL TO PUT A BIG TANK ON AND HE SAID IT WOULD BE TOO HEAVY. I TOLD HIM I GREW UP IN THAT COUNTRY AND THE TEXTURE OF THE DIRT WOULD EAT MUCH MORE FUEL. HE RAN SECOND THE WHOLE RACE AND RAN OUT OF FUEL ON THE LAST COUPLE LAPS. OF COURSE I HAD TO RIDE HIM HARD ALL THE WAY HOME.

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GYPSY TOUR TO CAMP PEARY 1950 WILLIAMSBURG, VA

GYPSY TOURS WERE A PRODUCT OF THE 30’S. EACH STATE WOULD HOLD A GYPSY TOUR AND ALL THE DEALERS WOULD PARTICIPATE IN PROMOTING IT. THERE WERE TWO DAYS OF GAMES AND PARTIES. SPECIAL GYPSY TOUR AWARDS WERE GIVEN TO THE ATTENDEES. THE MORE TOUR AWARDS YOU HAD THE COOLER THE DUDE YOU WERE. SLOW RACES, DRAG RACES, SHOE RACES, BARREL RACES, SIDECAR RACES, LARGE AND SMALL CLASSES , MEN AND WOMEN. IT GAVE ALL A FEELING OF BELONGING.

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GUNK PRESS RELEASE

BUCK BRIGANCE AMA NATIONAL #24 A CONTINUOUS RUN OF 19 YEARS

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JAPAN’S SECOND ATTACK.

IN THE LATE 70’S A GROUP OF UPPER LEVEL JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN CAME OVER HERE ABOUT 25 STRONG, WENT THROUGH THE MILWAUKEE FACTORY AND THEN ON TO YORK PA TO PICKUP NEW BIKES. THEY WERE ESCORTED DOWN A PREARRANGED ROUTE AND STOPPED AT SHOPS THAT THE FACTORY WANTED THEM TO SEE. THEY HIT THE NEW SHOP IN D.C AND THEN ON DOWN TO RICHMOND. I HAD HENRICO POLICE ARRANGED TO ESCORT THEM IN. AS YOU CAN SEE IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY THERE ARE A COUPLE ON THE GROUND. AS THEY CAME IN I DIRECTED THEM TO LINE UP IN FRONT OF THE STORE FOR PICTURES. MOST OF THEM WERE SO TINY THEY COULDN’T HOLD THE BIKES UP. ONCE SETTLED IN, THEY ATTACKED BOB POITRAS (PARTS DEPT MGR) AND IN TWO HOURS BOUGHT EVERY H-D DECAL, PATCH, OR SOUVENIER THAT BOB HAD IN STOCK. THEY WOULD ASK HOW MUCH? HOLDING UP A PATCH, BOB WOULD REPLY $2.00. HE WOULD THEN SAY I TAKE ALL. IT WAS AN INTERESTING DAY TO SAY THE LEAST. I REMEMBER THAT THEY WERE REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE SIZE OF MIKE MORANO, A MECHANIC IN THE SHOP AT THE TIME.

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1948 PANHEAD FACTORY SCHOOL HARLEY DAVIDSON: MILWAUKEE, WIS.

THIS WAS A SCHOOL SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT MAKING AS MANY MECHANICS FAMILIAR WITH THE BIG CHANGES IN THE PAN HEAD ENGINE. IT HAD BEEN A STRAY FROM THE KNUCKLE THAT HADN’T REALLY CHANGED SINCE 1936. THE MAN ON THE RIGHT WAS JOHN NOWAK. HE STARTED WORKING AT THE FACTORY AT ABOUT AGE 7 AS A MESSENGER BOY. SINCE THERE WERE NO SUCH THINGS AS INTERCOMS, IF A FACTORY HEAD WANTED A MESSAGE TO GO TO ANOTHER HEAD, HE WOULD ENGAGE A MESSENGER BOY. HE IN TURN WOULD RUN THE MESSAGE AND BRING BACK A REPLY IF REQUIRED. HE PROBABLY KNEW MORE ABOUT HARLEY DAVIDSON PRODUCTS THAN ANY OTHER MAN IN THE FACTORY. 158

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JEREMY LUCY FLAT TRACKER FROM EBONY, VA

JEREMY STARTED RACING ON A 50CC ITALJET INDIAN AT GREENS AND THE FAIRGROUNDS. AT THE TIME HIS SISTER WAS ALSO INTO FLAT TRACKING. WITH THE MECHANICAL HELP OF THEIR DAD JERRY, THEY WORKED THEIR WAY UP AND JEREMY BECAME A REAL HARD CHARGING RIDER. EVENTUALLY HIS SISTER TRADED HER DESIRES FOR MOTOR OIL AND GUNK FOR HAIR DOS AND THE FINER THINGS. JEREMY HAS AN I.Q. OF ABOUT A MILLION AND WAS SELECTED BY A MAJOR CORPORATION BEFORE HE WAS EVEN OUT OF COLLEGE. THUS ENDED A GREAT RACING CAREER.

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LANGHORNE SPEEDWAY LANGHORNE, PA: 1948

100 MILE NATIONAL ON 1 MILE TRACK. A GROUP SHOT OF ALL THE HOTSHOTS OF THE DAY: 1ST ROW (BOTTOM) JIMMIE CHANN, GEORGE SABINE, JOE THOMAS. 2 ROW PETE CHANN, BABE TANCCREDE, ALWILCOX, BB SMITH, STEVE CHANN, STAN MYERS. 3RD ROW DICK FISHER, JOE WEATHERLY, HERB REIBER, BILLY MILLER, GEORGE HECK. 4TH ROW BILL MORMYLE, ED KOCH, CHET DYKGRAFF. 5TH ROW NORVAL GOODMAN, LEON APPLEGATE, PETE PETERSON, BILL BOYCE, WHITEY ANDERSON. 6TH ROW WALT TROXEL, BILLY HUBER. ND

THIS WAS ONE OF THE PRIMIER EVENTS OF THE FLAT TRACK YEAR. NOBODY WANTED TO MISS IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS TRACK. IT WAS CUT IN A ROCK BED AND WOULD TOSS UP ROCKS IN YOUR FACE THE SIZE OF A GRAPEFRUIT. THEY WOULD TIME TRIAL ON SATURDAY, AND RACE THE NATIONAL ON SUNDAY. THE DAY THIS PICTURE WAS MADE, JOE WEATHERLY WAS SO BEAT UP IN THE FACE AND CHEST FROM ROCKS THAT HE WENT BACK TO THE MOTEL AND PUT THREE TOWELS OVER HIS HEAD WITH HOLES FOR HIS HEAD. THEY HUNG DOWN FRONT AND BACK UNDER HIS JERSEY TO PROTECT HIM FROM THE ROCKS.

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SOUVENIER REUNION “T” SHIRT 2004

THIS “T” SHIRT WAS DESIGNED AND MADE AVAILABLE AT THE REUNION BY ONE OF THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT SHORT TRACK COMPETITORS, DONALD NANNY. HE NOW LIVES IN NORTH CAROLINA AND OPERATES A PRINTING BUSINESS, AS WELL AS A T SHIRT BUSINESS AND RACING WEB SITE. [email protected] OR WWW.RACINGTODAYMAGAZINE.COM THE RACER PICTURED ON THE T SHIRT IS RICHMOND’S OWN JOHN NICKENS.

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2004 TWO WHEEL RACERS BANQUET: RICHMOND, VA

ON JANUARY 31, 2004 WE HELD A RACERS REUNION AT THE HOLIDAY INN IN RICHMOND TO HONOR THE WINNERS OF THE 1954 SIX MILE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACES. WE WERE FORTUNATE (ALL 400 OF US) TO HAVE THE THREE WINNERS COME HALF WAY ACROSS THE NATION TO JOIN US. THE CLOCKS SHOWN IN THESE FRAMES ARE THE BANQUET AWARDS THAT WERE GIVEN TO THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD PLACE WINNERS OF THE 1954 NATIONAL. 162

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THE “WHITE RABBIT” ALEXANDERS CORNER PORTSMOUTH, VA

GROUP PICTURE OF THE PORTSMOUTH MOTORCYCLE CLUB IN 1954. THIS WAS A TYPICAL SUNDAY AFTERNOON GROUP RIDE.

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PRE RACE PREPARATIONS ELMONT SCRAMBLES: 1968

SHOWN ARE: JOHN GOAD, WAYNE COOK, STEVE SLAGER AND HERBERT POTTS. THEY ARE LEARNING THE FINE ART OF CUTTING UP A TIRE TO GET A BETTER BITE. NOW THE WHOLE WORLD STANDS BY AND WATCHES WHAT JOHN DOES.

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SCRAMBLES

IT WAS GETTING A LITTLE DIRTY BY THE TIME FATS AND I FINISHED THE BOBBY SMITH MEMORIAL SCRAMBLES RACE.

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BRENT LOWE: WAKEFIELD, VA JOE PERDUE: RICHMOND, VA

TWO VERY FAMILIAR SITES AT THE SHORT TRACK RACES. THEY WERE HELD EACH WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE RICHMOND FAIRGROUNDS THROUGH THE SEVENTIES. BRENT ON A BULTACO AND JOE ON A HONDA.

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“SKOOKIE” SCHAUFER GRAHAM, N.C. INDIAN RIDER

SKOOKIE CAME ON THE SCENE AS A REAL HARD CHARGER IN THE LATE 40’S. HE WAS OFTEN THE MAN TO BEAT. RODE NICE EQUIPMENT AND WAS WELL LIKED BY THE OTHER RIDERS. HIS CAREER WAS CUT SHORT WHEN HE DIED IN A HORRIBLE HOUSE TRAILER FIRE AT HIS HOME.

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BOOMHOWER AUTOMOBILE

ALL OUR TIME WAS NOT SPENT RACING OR WORKING ON BIKES. SOMETIMES WE HAD TO TRANSPORT OUR FAMILIES. THIS WAS WHEN THINGS GOT FANCY. SNOW AND RAIN WOULD PUT ANNIE MAE AND THE TWO KIDS IN THE SIDECAR WITH THE TOP UP AND AWAY WE WENT. HARD TIMES DICTATE HARD DEEDS, BUT BOY WAS IT FUN !

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BOB HOPE, ANITA BRYANT AND GENERAL WESTMORELAND OF VIET NAM FAME

THIS WAS AT THE GENERALS ANNUAL SHOW IN SOUTH CAROLINA. I BUILT THIS CART FOR MR. DAEGGLER OF THE STATE FAIR DAEGGLERS. OPEN BAR ON THE REAR, AM/FM, COLOR TV. PA SYSTEM. REALLY QUITE FANCY FOR ITS TIME. BOB HOPE REMARKED TO DAEGGLER THAT IF HE HAD KNOWN THAT SOUTH CAROLINA WAS A DRY STATE HE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE. DAEGGLER SAID I THINK WE CAN FIX THAT AND WENT AROUND AND OPENED THE BAR. BOB HOPE SAID I WILL HAVE ONE OF THESE AS SOON AS I GET BACK TO CALIFORNIA. NOW YOU KNOW WHERE THE IDEA CAME FROM FOR BOB HOPES FAMOUS GOLF CART WITH THE HUGE NOSE STICKING OUT IN FRONT.

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SHIPPENSBURG REGIONAL AHRMA SHORT TRACK RACES

WINNER OF THE FINAL ON MY 250CC SPRINT IS RICKY RICHMEYER. HE IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST HARD RIDING MEN I HAVE EVER KNOWN IN MY MOTORCYCLE CAREER. SIMPLY PUT HE RIDES TO WIN. AT THE TIME THIS PICTURE WAS MADE HE WAS CELEBRATING HIS 50TH BIRTHDAY. ALSO PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT ARE RON HELMS AND HIS CHARMING WIFE DONNA, CO-PROMOTORS OF HARRINGTON AND THE ILL FATED CHARLOTTESVILLE FIASCO, SENATOR AND LADY FROM MARYLAND, AND IN-LAWS OF RON & DONNA.

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THE ELMONT TRACTOR

GOLDIE AND HERBERT POTTS ARE TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER TO PUT THE PRIDE AND JOY OF THE RICHMOND MOTORCYCLE CLUB OUT OF ITS MISERY. I SEEM TO REMEMBER THAT THE TRACTOR LOST.

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DICK HAMMER AMA EXPERT#16 LONG BEACH, CA

DICK RODE OUT OF THE LONG BEACH H-D SHOP OF SLIM KARNS. HE WAS AN EXTREMELY GOOD TT RIDER. DICK’S EQUIPMENT WAS BUILT AND MAINTAINED BY JERRY BRANCH, ONE OF THE BEST TUNERS OF THE DAY.

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SAM SATTERLY & DON PRUITT LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

SAM WAS THE CLOWN PRINCE OF RACING. AS LONG AS I SAW HIM RACE HE ALWAYS CLOSED HIS LEATHERS UP IN THE FRONT WITH A HUGE SAFETY PIN. HIS EQUIPMENT AT A GLANCE LOOKED TERRIBLE UNTIL YOU LOOKED CLOSE AND FOUND THE VERY BEST THAT MONEY COULD BUY. HE HAD ONE TOOTH IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS HEAD ( ALA KUKLA , FRAN AND OLLIE) HE CAME INTO A NIGHT CLUB IN DAYTONA ONE NIGHT IN A SUIT . WE ALL PASSED OUT. HE ASKED ME IF I NOTICED ANYTHING DIFFERENT ABOUT HIM. HE HAD A BRAND NEW FULL SET OF TEETH. HARD NOT TO NOTICE. J.C. AGAJANIAN SENT HIM $500 EXPENSE MONEY TO COME OUT TO ASCOT FOR A SPELL. HE SHOWED UP FIVE YEARS LATER. HE WON JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING HE GOT IN. HE WOULD NOT TAKE PRACTICE LAPS. SAID IF HE DIDN’T KNOW THE HOLE WAS THERE HE WOULDN’T WORRY ABOUT IT.

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VINCE MONESTERO HARLEY-DAVIDSON KR TRENTON, N.J.

VINCE WAS ONE HALF OF THE MONESTERO BROTHERS RACING TEAM. VINCE AND CARLO TRAVELED THE EAST COAST AND WERE EVERYWHERE. THEN, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY JUST DISAPPEARED. I NEVER KNEW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.

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STU MORLEY AMA #8X A CALIFORNIA RACER

STU WAS PARTICULARLY GOOD ON THE TT TRACKS OF CALIFORNIA, AND ESPECIALLY THE ASCOT TT PROGRAM.

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DONNIE GOUKER AMATEUR: HARLEY DAVIDSON WR HANOVER, PA

DONNIE RODE WITH THE BUD LAUGERMAN GROUP OUT OF YORK, PA. TODAY DONNIE IS THE PIT PASS MAN FOR THE AMA RACES AND HIS WIFE OPERATES THE PASS TRAILER FOR THE AMA.

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DON BYERS AMATEUR BEAUMONT, TEXAS AND ART STAUFF

ART WAS THE HEAD OF THE HARLEY DAVIDSON LIGHTWEIGHT SALES DEPT. DON WAS THE SON OF THE H-D DEALER, WHO WAS A GREAT PUSHER OF RACING. HE AND HIS BROTHER ACTUALLY GOT EVERETT BRASHEAR INTO THE RACING GAME.

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CHARLIE MILLER: AMA AMATEUR HARLEY DAVIDSON CUMBERLAND, MD

CHARLIE RAN MOSTLY IN THE LOCAL CIRCUITS SUCH AS FREDERICK, HAGERSTOWN, WINCHESTER, AND OF COURSE RICHMOND.

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DON HUTCHINSON AMA NATIONAL #84 KANSAS CITY, MO

DON WAS GOOD ON FLAT TRACK, HE BUT EXCELLED ON TT COURSES. A REAL QUITE GUY UNTIL HE GOT ON THE TRACK, AND THEN DID HIS TALKING WITH THE THROTTLE. WE GOT A BIG KICK OUT OF HIM. HE WOULD COME TO THE TRACK AND FIND MY LITTLE GIRL. SHE WAS PROBABLY FIVE OR SIX AT THE TIME. HE WOULD WALK HER ALL THROUGH THE PITS INTRODUCING HER TO ALL THE RIDERS THAT SHE DIDN’T ALREADY KNOW. HIS CAREER CAME TO AN END ON A TT TRACK IN KANSAS. 181

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VIRGINIAS’ FINEST: 2007 SALUDA, VA

ROGER MCGINNIS, EDDIE ADKINS AND WAYNE COOK. ROGER WENT INTO THE MANUFACTURING BUSINESS. WAYNE BECAME A MASTER MACHINIST AND HAS RETIRED. AND EDDIE ADKINS FOLLOWED THE RACING GAME. HE IS PROUD TO SAY HE HAS BEEN A TUNER FOR SOME OF THE VERY FINEST RIDERS FOR “FORTY TWO” YEARS. QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT !

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THREE AMIGOS: 2007 ROGER MCGINNIS, EDDIE BOOMHOWER, WAYNE COOKE SALUDA, VA

THIS ASSOCIATION STARTED IN THE LATTER 1950’S. AND I AM PROUD TO SAY I RANK THESE TWO GENTLEMEN AMONG MY BEST FRIENDS. WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND WE ALL STILL LOVE THE SPORT AS MUCH AS EVER.

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MERT LAWELL AMA NATIONAL #18 SAN FRANCISCO

MERT CAPTURED THE NUMBER ONE PLATE FOR 1969 BY WINNING FOUR NATIONALS THAT YEAR. FROM 1964 TO 1970 MERT PLACED IN THE TOP TEN NATIONAL COMPETITION. MERT RACED FOR DUDLEY PERKINS, THE OLDEST CONTINOUS HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER IN THE U.S.A. DUDLEY WAS ALSO ONE OF THE STRONGEST SUPPORTERS OF THE RACING PROGRAMS UNDER THE AMA AND WAS A MEMBER OF THE COMPETITION CONGRESS. MERT WENT ON TO DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE MOUNTAIN BIKES. HE ALSO PRODUCED A NUMBER OF RACING FRAMES FOR HARLEY FLAT TRACKERS.

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JOHN GIBDSON DUARTE AMA NATIONAL #5 CALIFORNIA

JOHN’S BEST YEAR WAS 1955 WHEN HE FINISHED 4TH PLACE IN THE GRAND NATIONAL SERIES.

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CLARKE WHITE AMA NATIONAL #77 BAKERSFIELD, CA

CLARKE WAS ONE OF THE “BAKERSFIELD BOYS”. THEY WERE HUGE FARMERS FROM UP IN THE VALLEY. THEY COULD BE FOUND WEEKLY AT THE ASCOT TRACK. ALL RODE TRIUMPHS AND THEY WERE THE BEST THAT COULD BE HAD.

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MIKE GONTESKY: HAMPTON, VA AHRMA ROAD RACER AND MOTORCROSSER.

MIKE WAS RAISED IN THE SAN DIEGO, CA AREA. HE ATTENDED COLLEGE THERE AND WENT ON TO SERVE TWO YEARS IN THE PEACE CORP EDUCATING THE PEOPLE IN PERU. AFTER THAT HE TAUGHT FOR A YEAR IN ENGLAND. HIS TRUE LOVE HAS ALWAYS BEEN MOTORCYCLE RACING. MIKE HAS RIDDEN THE FIVE DAY “MOTO GIRO” IN ITALY, AS WELL AS THE ASSEN COURSE IN THE NETHERLANDS. RECENTLY MIKE RODE A DUCATI IN THE PHILLIPS ISLAND COURSE IN AUSTRALIA. AS WE READ THIS HE IS PREPARING TO LEAVE FOR ANOTHER GO AT IT ON MARCH 17. MIKE HAS RIDDEN ALL THE TOP ROAD RACE TRACKS SUCH AS DAYTONA, MID-OHIO, BARBER, AND SAVANNAH. THERE ARE VERY FEW MOTOR CROSS TRACKS WORTH MENTIONING THAT MIKE HAS NOT RIDDEN. HE HASN’T LOST ANY LOVE FOR DIRT FLAT TRACK, BUT MAKES UP FOR IT IN ENTHUSIAM FOR THE ROAD RACE AND MOTORCROSS.

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BUDDY ELMORE AMA NATIONAL #79

HE WAS A YAMAHA TEAM ROAD RACER FROM EL PASO, TEXAS.

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MARSHALL LAMM #53 & BART MARKEL #4

CUTTING SOME LAPS AT ASCOT IN THE MIDDLE 60’S.

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JIMMIE HAYES #12 TRIUMPH JOHNSON CITY, TENN

JIMMIE WAS THE SON OF THE FAMOUS JIM HAYES, KNOWN FOR HIS ABILITY TO MAKE ANY KIND OF MOTORCYCLE HE TOUCHED RUN WELL. JIM WAS A DEALER IN JOHNSON CITY AND SOLD MANY DIFFERENT BRANDS OF BRITISH AND EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLES. SO JIMMIE HAD LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO GO OUT AND RUN LIKE HECK, AND THAT HE DID !

190

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WINCHESTER, VA: TT RACE

MARVIN TWIGG AND GEORGE ROEDER UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. I FEEL SORRY FOR ANYBODY THAT DID NOT SEE THIS TRACK AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIFETIME. IT WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST THRILLING SHOW OF THE TIME. IT HAD LONG SWEEPING TURNS AND TERRIFIC JUMPS. LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, IT FELL TO HOUSING.

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NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP YORK, PA

WAYNE COOK AND BART MARKEL WORKING FOR POSITION.

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LARRY FREDERICKSON HARLEY DAVIDSON KR KEWANEE, IL

LARRY CAME OUT OF THE NAVY IN NORFOLK, VA. HE WENT TO WORK FOR CLINTON BEW, THE H-D DEALER IN PORTSMOUTH AT THE TIME. HE WENT INTO RACING ON A VERY SERIOUS BASIS. LATER HE FELT LIKE GOING BACK HOME TO KEWANEE AND TEAMING UP WITH THE REIMAN BUNCH. UNFORTUNATELY IT DIDN’T WORK OUT AND HE FINALLY THREW IN THE TOWELL. LARRY HAD GREAT POTENTIAL, BUT JUST DIDN’T GET THE BREAKS.

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ELMER MORRO BSA SUPPORT RACER PITTSBURGH, PA.

ELMER CAMPAIGNED THE EASTERN CIRCUITS THROUHOUT THE 60’S. HE RACED A BSA SINGLE AND WAS ALWAYS CONSIDERED A REAL THREAT.

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SANDY FREEMAN, H-D KR HAMILTON ONTARIO CANADA

SANDY RODE FOR PERCY POOLE AND HIS WIFE WHO WERE THE DEALERS AT THAT TIME. THEY WERE FANTASTIC PEOPLE AND LOVED RACING. THROUGH THE 60’S IT TOOK AS MUCH AS SIX WEEKS TO GET PARTS FROM H-D THROUGH THE CANADIAN CUSTOMS. PERCY WOULD CALL ME AND ORDER PARTS. I WOULD CALL DICK O’BRIAN AND HAVE THEM OVERNIGHTED TO ME IN RICHMOND. I WOULD THEN IN TURN PUT THEM ON A GREYHOUND BUS AND PERCY WOULD COME ACROSS THE NIAGRA FALLS ENTRY AND PICK THEM UP AT THE BUS STATION. THIS CUT THE TIME DOWN TO ABOUT TWO DAYS INSTEAD OF SIX WEEKS. I WAS ADQUATELY COMPENSATED WHEN EVER THEY CAME THROUGH RICHMOND WITH A CASE OF CANADIAN ALE. JUST GREAT PEOPLE.

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IVORY MCLURE RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

IVORY CAME OUT OF THE MARINE CORPS AND WENT TO WORK FOR ME AT THE OLD CHAMBERLAYNE AVE STORE. IVORY WAS VERY INVENTIVE. HE COULD MAKE A MOTORCYLE OUT OF PARTS THAT EVERYBODY ELSE TOSSED IN THE GARBAGE CAN. HIS ABILITY ON DIRT DRAGS WAS LEGENDARY. IN 1971 I SENT HIM TO THE HARLEY DAVIDSON FACTORY MECHANICS SCHOOL. AT THE TIME I WAS TOLD HE WAS THE FIRST BLACK MAN TO ATTEND THE SCHOOL AND DID VERY WELL. IVORY WAS AN ORIGINAL MEMBER OF THE THUNDER ROAD MOTORCYCLE CLUB IN RICHMOND. HE LATER OPENED A SHOP OF HIS OWN BUT HAD TOO MANY FRIENDS AND FAILED DUE TO HAVING ALL HIS MONEY TIED UP IN FINISHED JOBS THAT DIDN’T GET PICKED UP. HE WAS DEFINATELY AN ICON IN THE HISTORY OF RICHMOND MOTORCYCLING.

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AL VIA AND ROGER MCGINNIS

AL VIA WAS PRESIDENT OF THE RICHMOND MOTORCYCLE CLUB. SEEN HERE, HE IS PRESENTING THE 1967 TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY TO ROGER MCGINNIS.

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DON GORE AMA NATIONAL #47 HARTFORD, CONN.

DON CAME TO RICHMOND AND RODE THE SCRAMBLES TRACK ON SATURDAY AND CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY TO RIDE THE STRAWBERRY HILL EVENT. THAT WAS VERY UNUSUAL FOR THE TIME FOR RIDERS TO ENTER BOTH EVENTS.

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GRADY COX ROANOKE, VIRGINIA

GRADY WORKED AS A MECHANIC FOR JOHNNIE BUTTERFIELD FOR MANY YEARS. AS WELL AS I CAN REMEMBER JOHNNIE, BROUGHT HIM WITH HIM WHEN HE MOVED FROM LUMBERTON, N.C. THE LAST I HEARD HE WAS IN STILL THE ROANOKE AREA AND STILL OCCASIONALLY WORKED ON SOME BIKES.

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1936 OFFICIAL PROGRAM FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACES AT RICHMOND HALF MILE DIRT TRACK.

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1936 OFFICIAL PROGRAM

C.W. PINNELL TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST COMMERCIAL AD FOR THE NOW FAMOUS 1936 61 CU. INCH “EL” HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORYCLE. THIS WAS MADE BY BLOCK PRINT. I ACTUALLY HAD THE BLOCK BUT SOMEWHERE IN THE SHUFFLE OF SELLING OUT IT DISAPPEARED.

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OFFICIAL 1926 LABOR DAY PROGRAM SEPTEMBER 6, 1926

THIS WAS A COMBINED AUTOMOBILE AND MOTORCYCLE RACING PROGRAM.

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PAYOFF SHEET FOR THE SEPTEMBER 6, 1926 LABOR DAY RACES AT RICHMOND, VA.

IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ANYONE WOULD EVEN UNLOAD THEIR EQUIPMENT FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY PAID FOR THESE EVENTS. CAN YOU IMAGINE COMING FROM, SAY MICHIGAN, TO COMPETE IN A FIVE MILE RACE THAT PAID $100.00, OR THE FLYING MILE RECORD ATTEMPT THAT PAID $20.00 ?

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1928 LABOR DAY RACES AT RICHMOND, VA SEPTEMBER 3, 1928 OFFICIAL PROGRAM

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JARED MEES AMA GRAND NATIONAL NUMBER 21 HONEY BROOK, PA

2005 FOUND HIM IN 4TH PLACE AT THE END OF THE YEAR. JARED’S RISE TO THE TOP HAS BEEN VERY SMOOTH AND METHODICAL. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF JOHN GOAD, JARED FINISHED 3RD IN THE NATION FOR 2007. LOOK FOR HIM TO TOP THE NUMBER ONE SPOT FOR 2008.

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2000 BUELL BLAST 500CC SINGLE

FIRST PRIVATEER “BLAST” FLAT TRACKER BUILT IN THE USA. HARLEY DAVIDSON BUELL BOUGHT IT BACK FROM ME. IT WAS A GOOD BIKE, BUT WAS TOO HEAVY. THERE JUST WASN’T ANYWAY TO REDUCE THE WEIGHT BEYOND WHAT I HAD DONE.

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JACK STOFFELS THE NETHERLANDS

JACK STOFFELS, OF THE NETHERLANDS, ON AN AERMACCHI 125 CC. JACK AND HIS WIFE ERNA ARE DEAR FRIENDS OF MINE. A COUPLE YEARS AGO HE WANTED TO BUILD A ROAD RACER. I WENT IN BACK OF THE BARN AND PULLED OUT THE WORST LOOKING MESS YOU EVER SAW. I ACTUALLY CUT THE FRAME IN SMALL PIECES SO IT COULD BE PACKED IN A BOX AND MAILED TO HIM. HE TOOK THAT PIECE OF JUNK AND BUILT THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE ROAD RACER IN HIS HOUSE WITHOUT THE HELP OF MODERN MACHINERY OR ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT. WE COULD ALL LEARN FROM THIS GUY. HE SURPRISED US ALL BY SHOWING UP AT THE RACERS BANQUET IN JANUARY OF 2004.

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HAROLD BURCHAM #31 COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VA

HAROLD GREW UP IN MOTORCYCLES. HIS DAD HAD A LITTLE HARLEY SHOP IN COLONIAL HEIGHTS IN A SERICE STATION. HIS UNCLE HAD ONE IN THE WINCHESTER AREA. SO IT WAS ONLY NATURAL THAT WHEN HE WASN’T FIXING TOBACCO MACHINES HE WAS TIED UP WITH MOTORCYCLES. HAROLD NOW OWNS A BRAND NEW ULTRA MODERN MOTORCYCLE STORE IN THE BIG SHOPPING CENTER JUST OUTSIDE OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS. TO SAY HE HAS DONE WELL IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

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RICHMOND WATERING HOLE

THIS IS ONE OF THE RICHMOND WATERING HOLES FOR A FEW DECADES. THE LOCATION IS ON THE BOULEVARD NEAR WHERE I-95 NOW CROSSES. “PARKER FIELD” IS IN THE BACKGROUND. ALWAYS INTERESTING TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE IN CLOTHING, HATS AND EVEN THE BIKES.

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CAMPING TRIP AND RIDE

A GROUP MEETING AT STAPLES MILL AND BROAD STREETS IN RICHMOND.

THIS WAS IN PREPARATION FOR A CAMPING TRIP AND RIDE UP THE SKYLINE DRIVE TO THE RACES AT WINCHESTER.

SEEN ARE PAUL LASSITER, BUNTING, WHITLOCK, EDDIE AND ANNIEMAE BOOMHOWER. ALSO PRESENT ARE MARSHALL LAMM, FATS, AND JOHN AND JUDY WILEY.

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CHEF TRUS BUNTING

HERE IS THE “CHEF” AND HIS THREE FOOT FRYING PAN. HE IS MAKING BREAKFAST FOR THE TROOPS. WE WERE ON TOP OF THE SKYLINE DRIVE. THEY ALL LOOK A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN I EXPECT THEY FELT.

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POLICE ESCORT TO STRAWBERRY HILL

PART OF THE BIG THRILL OF THE STRAWBERRY HILL NATIONAL WAS TO MEET AT PINNELL’S AT 701 W. BROAD STREET, IN RICHMOND. WE THEN WOULD RIDE TO THE FAIRGROUNDS WITH A POLICE ESCORT. IT WAS QUITE A THRILL TO HAVE THE SIREN IN FRONT OF US FOR A CHANGE.

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DAYTONA BEACH 1949

IT LOOKS LIKE MASS CONFUSION. BUT ACTUALLY IT IS JUST BEFORE THE “ONE MINUTE GUN”. THAT WAS THE SIGN FOR ALL MECHANICS TO LEAVE THE STAGING AREA. YOU ARE SEEING DAYTONA BEACH IN 1949. 125 RIDERS (!) HIT THE FIRST TURN ON THE FIRST LAP OF THE 200 MILER ON THE BEACH, AND THEN ON TO STATE ROUTE “A1A” FOR THE TWO MILE HIGHWAY LEG OF THE COURSE.

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BUDDY FORD RICHMOND HARLEY DAVIDSON KR

BUDDY STARTED WITH A STREET K-MODEL WHEN HE WAS STILL YOUNG ENOUGH TO BE LEARNING TO RIDE A BICYCLE. HE BEGAN RIDING SCRAMBLES ON A 165. THE HOOK WAS IN. HE SWITCHED TO THE BIG BIKES, AND THE HALF MILE FLAT TRACKS. NOTE THE FOOTWARE !

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JACK TURNER RICHMOND, VA

JACK HAS BEEN A MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIAST SINCE HE WAS OLD ENOUGN TO KNOW WHAT ONE WAS. HE HAS A COLLECTION OF OLD BIKES, AN XLCH, WHIZZERS AND ANYTHING ELSE HE CAN COME UP WITH THAT IS OLD. I HAVE TO PRINT THIS BUT HE PROBABLY WON’T PASS IT ALONG. WHEN HE WAS VERY YOUNG HE WANTED A 165 SO BAD HE COULD TASTE IT. HE DROVE HIS FATHER CRAZY OVER IT UNTIL HIS FATHER SAID, O.K. I WILL GET THIS KILLING DEVICE ON THE CONDITION THAT YOU IMPROVE YOUR GRADES. BUT IT STAYS IN YOUR BEDROOM WITH THE BATTERY OUT UNTIL THE NEXT HOLIDAY AT WHICH TIME IF THE ENTIRE CRITERIA ARE MET, IT IS YOURS. JACK APPROVED OF THE IDEA. AS SOON AS IT WAS DELIVERED TO HIS BEDROOM AND HIS DAD WENT TO WORK, JACK AND RUSTY GROSS WOULD LUG IT DOWN THE STEPS, PUT IN A LANTERN BATTERY TO RUN IT ON, AND RIDE IT UNTIL TIME FOR DAD TO COME HOME. THEN IT QUICKLY WENT BACK IN THE BEDROOM. HE FINALLY GOT CLEARANCE ON IT AND PUT A MILLION MILES ON IT. JACK IS BROTHER IN LAW TO ROGER MCGINNIS SO THEY KEEP THE THRILL OF MOTORCYCLING ALIVE BETWEEN THEM. JACK HAS BEEN A GOOD FRIEND SINCE ABOUT 1957.

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SLIM ROHLEDER, JOE KELLY, AND FATS SMITH 1956

THE THREE MUSKETEERS PLANNING THE STRATEDGY FOR WINNING THE ELMONT SCRAMBLES. FATS DID EVERYTHING FROM SIGNING UP TO FLAGGING THE EVENTS IN CASE THE REGULAR DIDN’T SHOW UP. AND OF COURSE JOE KELLY HANDLED ALL THE ANNOUNCING CHORES.

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DENNIS CARPENTER’S MUSEUM CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

A COUPLE SHOTS OF THE CARPENTER MUSEUM IN CHARLOTTE N.C. THE MAN HAS MADE A BUSINESS OF REMANUFACTURING ORIGINAL CUSHMAN PARTS. THEY ALSO HAVE MANY OTHER THINGS LIKE WHIZZERS, SMITH MOTOR WHEELS, ETC. REALLY WORTH A STOP IF YOU ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

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DENNIS CARPENTER’S MUSEUM CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

THIS IS AN UNBELIEVEABLE COLLECTION, AND A GREAT RESEARCH ASSET FOR AUTHENTIC RESTORATIONS.

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“MEATNOSE”

THIS SHOT IS OF A SAILOR, “MEATNOSE”. HE LOVED RACING, ALTHOUGH HE WOULDN’T TRY IT HIMSELF. HE WAS EVERYWHERE THERE WAS AN EVENT. THE SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PICTURE IS NOT MEATNOSE, BUT THE QUANSOT HUT BEHIND HIM. IT WAS AN OFFICIAL HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP. AND IT WAS PROBABLY ONLY 25 FEET LONG AND 15 FEET WIDE. CERTAINLY IT WAS A FAR CRY FROM THE MULTI MILLION DOLLAR H-D DEALERSHIPS THERE ARE NOW THAT COVER OVER A CITY BLOCK.

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“WICKHAM STREET DRAG STRIP” RICHMOND, VA

THIS IS A PEACEFUL, QUIET SCENE OF THE “WICKHAM STREET DRAGS”. EVERY SATURDAY MORNING BETWEEN EIGHT AND NINE A GANG OF BIKES WOULD SHOW UP AND DRAG RACE UP THE HILL. IT BECAME A REAL PROBLEM FOR THE AUTHORITIES. SO OBVIOUSLY IT DIDN’T LAST TOO LONG, BUT IT SURE WAS FUN WHILE IT LASTED. THE DESK SGT WOULD CALL AND SAY “EDDIE, GET THEM OFF THE STREET. I GOT TO SEND A PATROL CAR”. BY THE TIME IT GOT THERE YOU COULD HEAR THE BIRDS TWEETING IN THE TREE TOPS, ALONG WITH THE PIPES ON THE BIKES GOING SNAP-CRACKLE-POP INSIDE THE SHOP. KEEP IN MIND THIS SHOP WAS IN DOWNTOWN RICHMOND.

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DAYTONA BEACH 1951

THE SCENE IS 1951 AT THE DAYTONA BEACH COURSE. WE ARE GETTING JOE WEATHERLY READY FOR THE RACE. JOHN GUPTON WAS THE DEALER THAT SPONSORED JOE. HE HIRED ME TO GO DOWN AND WORK JOE’S BIKE THAT YEAR SINCE HE AND RED NABORS HAD JUST BROKE UP. LEFT TO RIGHT: JOE, MEATNOSE, MYSELF IN THE RED CAP, AND DON’T KNOW WHO THE OTHER DUDE WAS.

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ALEXANDER PARK

THIS LITTLE STORE PROBABLY PRODUCED MORE SMART GIRLS THAN ANY OTHER PLACE IN ALEXANDER PARK. THEY ALL TOLD THEIR MOTHERS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO STUDY WITH A GIRL FRIEND, AND THEN LIT OUT FOR SLOPPY JOE’S. THEIR PARENTS COULDN’T CHECK ON THEM SINCE THERE WAS ONLY ONE TELEPHONE FOR 20,000 PEOPLE. IT WAS IN THE POLICE STATION. REMEMBER, ALEXANDER PARK WAS A WAR VILLIAGE AND SCHOOL. YOU COULD FIND 25 OR 30 WHIZZERS, CUSHMANS, AND SOME MOTORCYCLES, JUST ANYTHING THAT YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO PEDAL. PICK OUT A DATE AND RIDE.

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PARKING LOT BEHIND THE OLD GRANDSTANDS RICHMOND, VA

IT IS INTERESTING TO COMPARE THE CARS AND BIKES OF THE 30’S WITH WHAT WE DRIVE TODAY. WE SEE THEM AS SOME PRETTY CRUDE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, BUT THEY WERE THE CRÈAM OF THE CROP AT THE TIME.

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THE BIRTH OF “CLASS C” RACING !

IN 1937 THE AMA INTRODUCED THE NEW CLASS “C” RACING PROGRAM. THE WHOLE DEAL WAS TO HAVE EVERYONE ON STOCK PRODUCTION BIKES. YOU COULD RIDE TO THE TRACK, REMOVE YOUR HEAD LIGHT, AND RACE. THIS WAS THE RESULT ON THE ONE-MILE TRACK IN RICHMOND THAT YEAR. NOTE THE WHITE SHIRT AND TIE, AND HECK, WHO NEEDS A HELMET ?

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SHELDON EARLY HARRISONBURG. VA. “THEN”

THESE TWO PICTURES SPAN A HALF CENTURY. PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ARE ANDY BROWN, SHELDON EARLY AND OWEN SHOWALTER. MR SHOWALTER WAS THE ORIGINAL DEALER, AND ANDY AND SHELDON BOUGHT HIM OUT. ANDY WAS AN ENGINEER AT ONE OF THE PREMIER ALUMINUM FACTORIES AND SOON SOLD OUT TO SHELDON. SHELDON PILOTED THE BSA AND ANDY MADE IT FLY.

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SHELDON EARLY HARRISONBURG. VA. “NOW”

TODAY SHELDON IS THE OLDEST CONTINUOUS YAMAHA DEALER IN THE STATE OF VIRGINA. ANDY SPENDS HIS TIME METICUOUSLY RESTORING THE BSA’S THAT HE LOVED. HIS RESTORATIONS ARE MORE LIKE ART THAN MECHANICS. TOGETHER THEY HAD A LOT OF FUN IN THE 50’S AND 60’S DRAG RACING AT LOUISA. AMONG THEIR MORE COLORFUL RIVALS WERE DON WAUGH AND WILLIE GLASS.

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BRENT LOWE WAKEFIELD, VA

BRENT LOWE, A PEANUT FARMER FROM WAKEFIELD, VA STARTED RACING A YAMAHA 125 WITH THE HELP OF HIS BROTHER WAYNE AND HIS DAD’S POCKET BOOK. HE MANAGED TO GET A LITTLE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM HAROLD BURCHAM AND MARVIN WELLS AT THE HOUSE OF YAMAHA. ALSO WITH THE HELP OF HIS BROTHER, HE WAS ABLE TO GET SOME MECHANICAL HELP FROM A TEXAN NAMED BURNT WHO WAS QUITE POPULAR WITH THE YAMAHA GROUP. BRENT SWITCHED TO YAMAHA 360’S AND IN 1970 ENTERED THE NOVICE CLASS IN PRO RACING WITH THE ASSIGNED NUMBER 108C. HE JOINED WITH CHARLES BAILEY, AN EXCELLENT TWO STROKE MECHANIC. THIS ARRANGEMENT LASTED HIS WHOLE CAREER WITH HIS MECHANIC AND DEAR FRIEND. IN 1974 BRENT MOVED UP TO THE AMATEUR CLASS AS 36S. HE RODE A BSA 750 ON FLAT TRACK AND HIS TRUSTY 360 YAMAHA ON SHORT TRACKS. LATER HE SWITCHED TO THE HARLEY DAVIDSON XR750. HE GOT SOME HELP FROM RICHMOND HARLEY DAVIDSON AND ADDED JOHN GOAD TO HIS MECHANICAL CREW FOR THE HARLEY. IN 1975 HE ADVANCED TO THE EXPERT CLASS AND EARNED THE PERMANENT NUMBER OF 43. HE RODE IN THAT CLASS UNTIL THE FARM REQUIRED TOO MUCH OF HIS TIME, AND HE RETIRED. BRENT AND CHARLES BAILEY SAW AN AWFUL LOT OF THE USA DURING HIS CAREER.

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JACK TURNER, RICHMOND, VA

JACK IS THE PUBLISHER OF THIS PROJECT. HE IS SHOWN HERE WITH HIS PRIDE AND JOY TAKEN IN 1976. IT IS AN XLCH HARLEY DAVIDSON THAT HAS BEEN STROKED TO A 90 CU.IN. ALTHOUGH JACK IS NOT EMPLOYED IN THE MECHANICAL TRADES, HE HAS A VERY THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE HARLEY DAVIDSON LINE, PARTICULARLY THE “K-MODEL” AND THE “XL SPORTSTER”. HE ALSO IS QUITE AN AUTHORITY ON THE WHIZZER MOTORBIKE LINE. AT PRESENT HE HAS AN INTERESTING COLLECTION OF THOSE ITEMS, INCLUDING A “NOS” ONE. THE KIT IS STILL IN THE ORIGINAL THREE FOOT SQUARE BOX USED FROM THE MIDDLE 1940’s INTO THE 1950’s TO SHIP THEM.

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MIKE EADES #96 PETERSBURG, VA

MIKE IS THE PATRIARCH OF THE PETERSBURG EADES RACING TEAM, CONSISTING OF HIMSELF AND TWO SONS JOE AND TIM. MIKE STARTED RACING IN 1972 AT ELMONT AND GREENS. HE TURNED TO THE NOVICE CLASS IN 1973. DURING THAT FIRST YEAR HE WON FREDERICK, MD TWICE, YORK PA ½ MILE, HARRISBURG PA ½ MILE, 1ST AT JACKSONVILLE SHORT TRACK AND 6TH IN THE NOVICE CLASS AT DAYTONA S.T. IN 1974 MIKE ADVANCED TO JUNIOR. HE WON FREDERICK MD, HICKORY N.C. SHORT TRACK, AND LED THE LOUISVILLE KY UNTIL THE BIKE BROKE. DURING HIS NOVICE YEARS HE WAS SPONSORED BY BURCHAMS OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS. HIS JUNIOR YEAR HE WAS SPONSORED BY BULTACO INT. AND RICHMOND H-D. IN 1975 MIKE’S SEASON STOPPED SHORT WITH A FRACTURED LEG AT A SHORT TRACK AT RICHMOND WHILE RIDING A CHUCK CARTER SPONSORED BIKE. 1976 WAS HIS LAST YEAR. HE RODE IN THE EXPERT CLASS SPONSORED BY JOHNNIE GOAD AND RICHMOND H-D. HE MIGHT HAVE STOPPED RACING, BUT WITH TWO SONS RACING PROFESSIONALLY, HE CERTAINLY DOESN’T HAVE ANY TIME TO CALL HIS OWN BETWEEN WRENCHING AND RUNNING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. HIS CREW CHIEF CLAIR KEEPS HIM IN LINE.

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JOE EADES #66, PETERSBURG, VA

JOE IS THE SON OF THE PETERSBURG EADES RACING TEAM OWNERS MIKE AND CLAIR EADES. JOE STARTED RACING IN 1997 WITH A 6TH AT GREENVILLE OH, AND A 3RD AT THE INDY ½ MILE. IN 1998 AS AN EXPERT JOE WON THE HAGERSTOWN NATIONAL 883 CLASS. 2006 AS AN EXPERT HE FINISHED 13TH IN THE MAIN AT DAYTONA. IN 2007 RIDING IN THE NEW EXPERT BASIC CLASS, JOE WON FIRST IN THE SALUDA, VA FINAL, FIRST IN THE MICH ½ MILE, 2ND IN THE ROUTE 66 ½ MILE, AND 2ND IN THE HAGERSTOWN ½ MILE. JOE IS SPONSORED BY AN OLD LOCAL RACER WHO MOVED OUT WEST AND IS CURRENTLY BUILDING HOUSES, REGGIE AMOS.

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RICKY GRAHAM

Ricky turned expert in 1978. He won his first national in 1980. 1982 saw Ricky win the Number One plate with a broken back at Peoria. He won five Nationals that year. The Honda Factory picked him up in 1984 and they won the #1 plate by one point over Bubba Shobert, after a 130 mph crash at Springfield ! When he got up, Ricky restarted the motorcycle by himself & finished 13th in the race. In 1985 Honda dropped Ricky and Doug Chandler. They kept Bubba Shobert as their only factory rider. From 1985 to 1991 Ricky went downhill struggling with an alcohol problem. His comeback in 1991 with Skip Eaken produced one national victory, but a DUI ticket during that season ended the relationship with Eaken. It was at that time Johnny Goad picked up Ricky and they finished the eight races together in 1991. Also during that time Johnny approached Ricky about his alcohol problem and told him that he could help him, but only if would help himself. As it turned out, they changed history. They both lived up to their word and finished 3rd in the points in 1992. They went on to win the championship in 1993, breaking at least nine records in the process. Amazingly, they won six nationals in a row, twelve in one season. He also won the 883 Championship in that same year. Ricky is regarded by many as the best Mile Rider in the history of the sport.

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RAY BROOKS AND BOBBY “RED” SMITH CHESNUT AVENUE SPEEDWAY IN NEWPORT NEWS

THIS WAS BEFORE THE KR’S AND BOTH WERE RIDING JOE WEATHERLY WR CASTOFFS. BOBBY LATER RODE A KR FOR CLINTON BEW, THE H-D DEALER IN PORTSMOUTH. BOBBY WENT VERY GOOD BUT UNFORTUNATELY WAS KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT ON DAYTONA BEACH WHEN TESTING THE DAY BEFORE THE RACE. BOBBY’S DAD WAS A RETIRED NAVAL OFFICER AND GAVE BOBBY ANYTHING HE ASKED FOR. HERE WAS A KID DRIVING A NEW OLDS 88 FOR A TOW CAR. HE WAS THE ENVY OF ALL. RAY RETIRED FROM RACING AND BECAME A PROFESSIONAL TANKER TRUCK DRIVER. HE RAN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE NEVER HAD A REPORTABLE ACCIDENT. HE DROVE HIS ENTIRE WORKING LIFE AND RETIRED. NOW HE IS A COLLECTOR OF ANTIQUES.

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RUSTY GROSS RICHMOND, VA

THEN c.1958: THE FIRST BIKE I EVER HAD WAS A WHIZZER THAT I BOUGHT FOR $7.50. I PUSHED THE ROLLING CHASSIS AND CARRIED THE MOTOR IN ONE OF THE OLD RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH CANVAS NEWSPAPER SATCHELS.

NOW IN 2008: THIS IS A 1946 AJS 500 cc SINGLE. I HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL 50 PLUS YEARS BEING AROUND MOTORCYCLES. AS A FORMER DEALER & REPAIR SHOP, WE SPECIALIZED IN BRITISH AND JAPANESE BIKES. I HAVE AMASSED A NICE ECLECTIC COLLECTION TO THIS DAY.

“THIS IS REALLY LIVING !”

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STEVE MAHANES MECHANICSVILLE, VA

Steve got hooked on racing at the ripe old age of 15. Got deeply involved in the maintenance and later driving of dragsters. That faded and one night he went to the Wed night short track races and he was hooked. On the first Honda CR 250 to come to Richmond he won his first race while running third, Ronnie Raynor and Terry Poovery crashed and gave him the win. By 1978 the financial strain was too much for his family life and he gave it up to help his younger brother David. After a very successful career, romance put an end to that arrangement. So Steve got a new woods Rotax and went expert at age 34. Once again by 1987 the finances dried up and he went as a tuner for Robert Lewis from N.C. and Keith Jacobsen from N.Y.

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STEVE MAHANES MECHANICSVILLE, VA

In 1994 Steve teamed up with Don Crockett who had a collection of vintage bikes and Steve restored a 59KR and his 73 XR750. Steve and Don went to Daytona that year and Steve remarked after seeing the excitement of the high banks that he would sure like to try that. He said I have in my basement what you need, a 68 Ducati Desmo 350 single built by the legendary Reno Leoni. His first Daytona resulted in a 7th place finish after a 39th place start. Three 350 GP National Championships with WERA Vintage and 45 wins followed. In 2003 Steve was asked by Leoni if he would ride his bike in the Moto Giro of Italy. He supplied Steve with a completely restored 59 Ducati 175 TS. It was the high light of his career and he looks forward each year to going back. Steve was so taken by the Moto-Giro that he states that he will continue to return until they have to duck tape him to the saddle. 235

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JIM BAUER VIRGINIA BEACH, VA YAMAHA & HONDA

JIM PAID A VISIT TO ELMONT IN THE MIDDLE 60’S TO THE CHARLIE FRY RACE, AND HE WAS HOOKED. DURING HIS CAREER JIM RACED ON ALL THE LOCAL TRACKS PLUS VISTA AND THE WINCHESTER TT. AS A MECHANIC AT CYCLE WORLD HIS TALENT AS A BUILDER WAS RECOGNIZED AND HE BECAME THE RESIDENT RACE MACHANIC. BY 1973 THEY SPONSORED JIM WITH A PAIR OF CR’S: ONE 125 AND ONE

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JIM BAUER VIRGINIA BEACH, VA

250CC. JIM TUNED FOR DONALD NANNY WHICH MADE SOME EXCITING YEARS BATTLING THE TALENT OF BOBBY YARBOROUGH. JIM SPENT THREE YEARS TRAVELING THE JET SKI CIRCUIT AND TUNED A 440 SUPER STOCK TO FIRST IN THE NATIONALS IN ARIZONA. HIS LATEST EFFORTS HAVE BEEN IN THE SET UP AND MAINTENANCE OF JOHN NICKENS HONDA 450. HE STILL OWNS THE TWO BIKES HE CAMPAIGNED THROUGH THOSE YEARS. HE NOW STAYS MORE THAN BUSY OPERATING THE “WERKS ENGINEERING” ENGINE SHOP IN VIRGINIA BEACH.

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BILLY LLOYD, WASHINGTON, D.C. TRIUMPH

BILLY BROKE INTO RACING WITH A HARLEY 125 AT THE RICHMOND SHORT TRACK. LATER BILL’S UNCLE PUT HIM ON A TRIUMPH CUB. THAT TIED THE KNOT BETWEEN BILLY AND HERB REIBER, THE BEST TRIUMPH SUPPORTER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EAST COAST. HERB PUT BILLY ON A 500 CC TRIUMPH. BILLY WON HIS FIRST RACE AT NAZARETH, PA, HIS SECOND AT WILLIAMS GROVE, PA, AND HIS THIRD AT THE RICHMOND HALF MILE. BILLY’S AMATEUR YEAR WAS SENSATIONAL. HE WON TOP AMATEUR IN THE NATION WITH 66 WINS. THE TRIALS AND PROBLEMS OF RAISING A YOUNG FAMILY TOOK PRECEDENCE OVER HIS FUTURE AS AN EXPERT, ALTHOUGH HE HIT A LOT OF RACES AND DID HIS SHARE OF WINNING. HE JUST WASN’T ABLE TO DO THE TRAVELING NECESSARY TO MAKE THE TOP LEVEL. BILLY MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS THROUGH THE YEARS AND IS STILL IN TOUCH WITH MOST OF THEM. A REAL COMPETITOR !!

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BRIAN LIGGAN RACE TEAM RICHMOND, VA

THE TEAM STARTED RACING IN 1971-72. WE RACED THREE CLASSES OF MOTORCYCLES: A 100CC HARLEY DAVIDSON BAJA, A 125CC AND A 250CC H-D. WE STARTED OUT WITH RONNIE OLIVER RIDING THE 100CC H-D. THEN WE HAD DAVE HAWLEY JOIN US. DAVE TOOK OVER THE 100CC BAJA FOR THE REMAINDER OF HIS TIME. HE PLACED EVERY WEEK WITH A FIRST, A SECOND OR A THIRD PLACE WIN. OUR 125CC AND 250CC MOTORCYCLES WERE RIDDEN BY BRIAN LIGGAN. SUPPORT FROM RICHMOND HARLEY DAVIDSON WAS OUTSTANDING. THEY HELPED US TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THEIR SUPPORT. EDDIE BOOMHOWER WAS KIND, COURTEOUS AND NEVER RENEGED ON HELPING US. THE LATE DAVE HAWLEY PERFORMED WITH A LOT OF HEART. I FEEL THAT THE ENVOLVEMENT HELPED TO BUILD GOOD CHARACTER. WE HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF OUR RACING DAYS. JOE LIGGAN

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TOMMY MCDERMOTT AMA NATIONAL # 29 GLEN FALLS, N.Y.

TOMMY SPENT SOME TIME IN ENGLAND RIDING THE GRASS TRACK CIRCUITS. UPON HIS RETURN TO THE STATES HE PUT OUT HIS ANCHOR IN NORFOLK, VA. HE RODE OUT OF THE SHOP ON GRANBY ST THAT WAS RUN BY RED NABORS, SHORTY SADLER AND TOMMY. HE RACED THE BSA BRAND AND ALMOST ENTIRELY RODE THE SINGLE 500CC. I ASKED HIM ONCE WHY HE RODE A SINGLE. HIS REPLY WAS THAT “HELL I CAN’T AFFORD A SINGLE. A TWIN WOULD BREAK ME”. HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST METICULOUS MECHANICS I EVER KNEW. HE WOULD SPEND HOURS PREPARING THE SMALLEST DETAIL. THIS ACCOUNTED FOR THE SMALL AMOUNT OF HIS DNF’S. AFTER RETIRING FROM RACING, TOMMY OPENED A HARLEY DAVIDSON SHOP IN HIS HOME TOWN AND ALSO BUILT A FEW HOUSES FOR SALE. I AM TOLD THAT HIS DAUGHTERS PRETTY MUCH RAN THE BUSINESS END OF HIS DEALERSHIP. TOMMY WAS ON THE BSA TEAM THAT WIPED OUT DAYTONA IN 1954 WITH BOBBY HILL FIRST, DICK KLAMFOTH SECOND AND TOMMY THIRD. HE WAS THE ONLY BSA RIDER IN THE WINNERS’ CIRCLE WITH A SINGLE. AS GREAT AS HE WAS, HE ALWAYS FOUND TIME TO RIDE THE LOCAL CLUB EVENTS LIKE SCRAMBLES, WHICH WERE HOT AT THE TIME. HE WAS TRULY LIKED BY ALL.

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LEO ANTHONY AND FLOYD EMDE DAYTONA BEACH COURSE 1948

LEO RODE FOR THE MICHIGAN DEALERS. HE WAS HOME BASED IN DETROIT. IN THE EARLY 1940’s LEO WAS THE MAN TO BEAT. HE NOW LIVES IN DAYTONA WHERE A LOT OF THE OLD TIMERS FINALLY WOUND UP. FLOYD WAS FROM CALIFORNIA AND IS THE FATHER OF DON EMDE, A PAST WINNER AT THE NEW DAYTONA TRACK. HE IS ALSO A SUCCESSFUL WRITER OF BOOKS ON THE MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY. FLOYD WON THE 1947 DAYTONA BEACH 200 MILE RACE ON AN INDIAN, SO IT WAS ONLY NATURAL THAT DON WOULD FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.

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EDDIE ADKINS WINCHESTER, VA RACER TURNED TUNER DAYTONA CIR. 1965

Eddie started racing when he was 16 years old. He raced Triumphs, Harleys, BSAs, Yamahas, and. Ducatis. He competed on road race courses as well as on flat tracks. If there was a race, he was there. Eddie is home based out of Winchester, Va, which puts him centrally located on the East Coast circuit. And it also allows him to be close to his hobby of studying the Civil War, a lot of which was fought right in his back yard. He has been a tuner for literally dozens of the top notch racers in the USA. He is currently tuning for Ricky Marshall out of New York. Very few people know the Harley-Davidson racing engine like Eddie, which accounts for endless phone conversations and many late nights.

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BUD BERTHOLDT BALTIMORE, MARYLAND INDIAN AND HARLEY-DAVIDSON

BUD STARTED RACING IN 1950 AT AGE 21, WHICH WAS THE REQUIRED AGE AT THE TIME. HE WAS SPONSORED BY STU DAYHOFF, THE INDIAN DEALER IN BALTIMORE. HE RACED FOR THREE YEARS FOR DAYHOFF AT WHICH TIME HE SWITCHED TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON, CAMPAIGNING H-D KR’S. BUD WAS THE HIGH POINT NOVICE FOR THE USA IN 1952. HE RACED MOST OF HIS CAREER AS A PRIVATEER SINCE HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVER AND COULDN’T MEET THE FIXED SCHEDULE OF SPONSORED ACTIVITY. HE HELD NATIONAL NUMBER 70 ON THE FLAT TRACK. BUD ENDED HIS CAREER IN 1967. HIS FONDEST MEMORY WAS IN MIDDLETOWN, NY: AT A BSA PROMOTIONAL RACE HE WON HIS HEATS AND THE FINAL ON HIS HARLEY KR.

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GEORGE LONGABAUGH LANCASTER, PA HARLEY-DAVIDSON

GEORGE STARTED RACING AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 14. HE WAS LICENSED BY 15 AND RACED FOR 17 YEARS OUT OF THE RACE SHOP OF THE FAMOUS TUNER “TEX TEXTER” OF LANCASTER, PA. THE PICTURE SHOWN HERE WAS TAKEN IN 1968 AT THE READING, PA HOLIDAY CLASSIC. GEORGE WON THAT RACE TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS 1967-68. HE FINISHED THIRD BEHIND BART MARKEL AND CRIS DRAYER AT THE NATIONAL AT LOUISVILLE, KY. GEORGE WAS A RIDER WHO LOVED RACING WHEREVER AND HOWEVER HE FINISHED. THE ONLY REASON HE WORKED WAS TO BE ABLE TO RACE ON WEEKENDS. HE WAS VERY POPULAR AND LOYAL TO HIS LONG TIME SUPPORTER RAY TEXTER. NOW THE TWO OF THEM, ALONG WITH THEIR CLOSE BUDDY “HOOK”, COVER THE ENTIRE USA ATTENDING THE RACES AND ASSISTING THE RACERS THAT TEX SPONSORS.

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CLAYTON “CHARLIE” OLIVER McKENNEY, VA

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CLAYTON “CHARLIE” OLIVER McKENNEY, VA

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