The Racers Book

The Racers’ Book
SCENES OF MOTORCYCLE PERSONALITIES

IN DAYS GONE BY
Photos and Captions by Eddie Boomhower

2009
“THE RACERS BOOK”
PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK
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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
3
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.
4
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.
5
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.
6
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.
7
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.
8
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.
9
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.
10
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.
11
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.
12
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
14
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
15
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.
16
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.
17
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.
18
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.
19
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.
20
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.
21
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 H-
D 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.
22
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.
23
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”.
24
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.
25
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.
26
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.
27
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.
28
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.
29
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.
30
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”
31
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.
32
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.
33
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.
34
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.
35
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.
36
37
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.
38
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.
39
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.
40
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.
41
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.
42
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.
43
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.
44
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.
45
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.
46
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.
47
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.
48
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.
49
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.
50
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.
51
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.
52
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.
53
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.
54
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.
55
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.
56
JONNIE GOAD
A FOLLOW UP PICTURE OF JOHNNIE.
HERE IS A PICTURE OF JOHNNIE WITH HIS RACE FACE ON AT

THE SALUDA, VIRGINIA NATIONAL.
57
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.
58
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.
59
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.
60
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.
61
62
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.
63
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.
64
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.
65
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.
66
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.
67
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.
68
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.
69
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.
70
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.
71
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.
72
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.
73
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
74
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.
75
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.
76
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.
77
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.
78
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)
79
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.
80
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.
81
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.
82
A COLORFUL COLLAGE OF THE LATE 1940’S

AT STRAWBERRY HILL, RICHMOND
83
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.
84
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.
85
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.
86
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.
87
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.
88
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
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.
90
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.
91
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.
92
MARSHALL LAMM & GEORGE ROEDER
THIS PICTURE IS FROM THE MIDDLE 1960’S WHILE THEY

WERE BARNSTORMING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
93
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.
94
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.
95
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.
96
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.
97
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.
98
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.
99
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.
100
MARSHALL LAMM 53C, AND JOHN WILEY 43C
HARLEY DAVIDSON KR’S,
BOTH FROM RICHMOND, VA
TAKEN DURING THEIR NOVICE YEAR.
101
BOBBY SMITH PORTSMOUTH, VA

AND EDDIE BOOMHOWER
DAYTONA BEACH COURSE 1954
102
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.
103
STAN WITINSKI
HE WAS AN INDIAN FACTORY RACER FROM

THE LATE 1930’S AND 1940’S
104
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.
105
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.
106
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
107
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 !
108
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.
109
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.
110
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
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.
112
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.
113
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
115
116
117
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.
118
119
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.
120
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.
121
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.
122
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.
123
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
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.
125
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.
126
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
127
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 !
128
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.
129
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.
130
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.
131
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 .
132
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.
133
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.
134
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.
135
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.
136
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”.
137
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.
138
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.
139
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.
140
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.
141
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.
142
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.
143
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.
144
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.
145
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.
146
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 !
147
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.
148
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.
149
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
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.
151
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.
152
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.
153
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.
154
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.
155
GUNK PRESS RELEASE
BUCK BRIGANCE
AMA NATIONAL #24
A CONTINUOUS RUN OF 19 YEARS
156
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.
157
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
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.
159
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.

ND
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.
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.
160
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.
RACINGTODAY@ADELPHIA.NET
OR
WWW.RACINGTODAYMAGAZINE.COM
THE RACER PICTURED ON THE T SHIRT IS RICHMOND’S OWN

JOHN NICKENS.
161
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
163
164
THE “WHITE RABBIT”

ALEXANDERS CORNER
PORTSMOUTH, VA
GROUP PICTURE OF THE PORTSMOUTH MOTORCYCLE CLUB

IN 1954.
THIS WAS A TYPICAL SUNDAY AFTERNOON GROUP RIDE.
165
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.
166
SCRAMBLES
IT WAS GETTING A LITTLE DIRTY BY THE TIME FATS AND I

FINISHED THE BOBBY SMITH MEMORIAL SCRAMBLES RACE.
167
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.
168
“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.
169
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 !
170
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.
171
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.
172
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.
173
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.
174
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.
175
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.
176
STU MORLEY
AMA #8X
A CALIFORNIA RACER
STU WAS PARTICULARLY GOOD ON THE TT TRACKS OF

CALIFORNIA, AND ESPECIALLY THE ASCOT TT PROGRAM.
177
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.
178
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.
179
CHARLIE MILLER:
AMA AMATEUR
HARLEY DAVIDSON
CUMBERLAND, MD
CHARLIE RAN MOSTLY IN THE LOCAL CIRCUITS SUCH AS

FREDERICK, HAGERSTOWN, WINCHESTER, AND OF COURSE
RICHMOND.
180
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
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 !
182
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.
183
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.
184
JOHN GIBDSON DUARTE

AMA NATIONAL #5
CALIFORNIA
JOHN’S BEST YEAR WAS 1955 WHEN HE FINISHED 4TH PLACE

IN THE GRAND NATIONAL SERIES.
185
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.
186
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.
187
BUDDY ELMORE
AMA NATIONAL #79
HE WAS A YAMAHA TEAM ROAD RACER FROM EL PASO,

TEXAS.
188
MARSHALL LAMM #53

&
BART MARKEL #4
CUTTING SOME LAPS AT ASCOT IN THE MIDDLE 60’S.
189
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
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.
191
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
YORK, PA
WAYNE COOK AND BART MARKEL WORKING FOR POSITION.
192
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.
193
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.
194
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.
195
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.
196
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.
197
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.
198
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.
199
1936 OFFICIAL PROGRAM FOR THE NATIONAL

CHAMPIONSHIP RACES AT RICHMOND HALF MILE DIRT
TRACK.
200
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.
201
OFFICIAL 1926 LABOR DAY PROGRAM

SEPTEMBER 6, 1926
THIS WAS A COMBINED AUTOMOBILE AND MOTORCYCLE

RACING PROGRAM.
202
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 ?
203
1928 LABOR DAY RACES AT RICHMOND, VA

SEPTEMBER 3, 1928
OFFICIAL PROGRAM
204
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.
205
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.
206
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.
207
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.
208
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.
209
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.
210
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.
211
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.
212
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.
213
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 !
214
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.
215
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.
216
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.
217
DENNIS CARPENTER’S MUSEUM

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
THIS IS AN UNBELIEVEABLE COLLECTION, AND A GREAT

RESEARCH ASSET FOR AUTHENTIC RESTORATIONS.
218
“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.
219
“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.
220
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.
221
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.
222
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.
223
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 ?
224
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.
225
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.
226
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.
227
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.
228
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.
229
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.
230
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.
231
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.
232
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 !”
233
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.
234
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
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
236
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.
237
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 !!
238
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
239
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.
240
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.
241
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.
242
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.
243
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.
244
CLAYTON “CHARLIE” OLIVER

McKENNEY, VA
245
CLAYTON “CHARLIE” OLIVER

McKENNEY, VA
246

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The Racers’ Book

SCENES OF MOTORCYCLE PERSONALITIES

Photos and Captions by Eddie Boomhower

PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK

I HOPE THAT THE VIEWER GETS AS MUCH ENJOYMENT OUT

ALSO PLEASE REALIZE THAT WHILE YOU AND I MIGHT NOT

HAVE FUN AND ENJOY IT !

JOE “LIL JOE” WEATHERLY

BILL’S RACING CAREER STARTED IN 1942 IN OAKLAND CA. WHEN FINALLY

DICK WAS RAISED ON AN OHIO FARM. HE STARTED RACING LIKE SO MANY

ED, ON THE LEFT, WAS FROM DANVILLE, VA. HE STARTED RACING IN

RICHMOND RACING TEAM

THIS GROUP REPRESENTED THE RICHMOND HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP

IT WAS A GREAT TIME AND A LOT OF FUN.

JOHNNY WAS FROM ROANOKE, VA. BORN IN MAINE, HE MIGRATED TO

WAYNE COOK #65

WAYNE WAS FROM CHESTER, VA. HE FOOLED WITH MOTORCYCLES

THEY TRAVELED EVERYWHERE TOGETHER AND SINCE BOTH WERE

GEORGE WAS FROM MONROEVILLE, OHIO. HE WAS BORN TO BE A FARMER

MY TIME WITH GEORGE ROEDER:

A PIECE OF MOTORCYCLE HISTORY

THIS PICTURE IS REALLY A PIECE OF MOTORCYCLE

LEFT TO RIGHT BUCK BRIGANCE, LEO ANTHONY, BILL

THESE WERE ALL FACTORY GUNS AT THE TIME. BUCK

BILL HARLEY WAS THE SECOND GENERATION OF HARLEYS,

BOBBY HILL AMA NATIONAL #1 AND #71

BOBBY WAS FROM GROVEPORT, OHIO. WITHOUT A DOUBT

GARY NIXON AMA NATIONAL #9

GARY GREW UP ON THE FLAT TRACKS OF TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA.

BENNIE CAMPANALE #4 & 25

BENNIE WAS FROM PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND. HE IS THE

STAN MEYERS AMA # 21A

STAN WAS FROM TAFTON, PA. HE WAS ACTIVE IN THE

“NO PROBLEM, I HAVE A WR”. “GOOD, THAT IS WHAT I

THE PROMOTER MADE A HUGE THING OF IT AND AWAY THE

ASCOT RACE TRACK

THE WEEKLY SHOWS AT ASCOT WERE FANTASTIC, AND ONE

THE FIRST PICTURE IS OF THE “TRIUMPH TEAM”.

ASCOT RACE TRACK

THE SECOND ONE IS OF THE “BSA” TEAM. BOTH TEAMS

JOE LEONARD AMA NATIONAL #98

“SMOKIN JOE” WAS FROM SAN JOSE, CA. HE WAS

EVERETT BRASHEAR AMA NATIONAL #25

EVERETT, FROM BEAUMONT, TX, WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT ONE OF THE

PAUL GOLDSMITH AMA #3

PAUL GOLDSMITH, OF ST CLAIR SHORES, MI, WAS ON THE

HIS SPONSOR AND BACKER WAS AN OWNER OF AUTO PARTS

DAVID H. WARREN OFFICIAL RACE ANNOUNCER

DAVE LIVED IN FISHERSVILLE, VA. I FIRST MET HIM WHEN

SIDNEY “BIG SID” BIBERMAN

A DEAR FRIEND FOR SIXTY YEARS, SID GREW UP IN

SID WAS DRAFTED IN 1952. HE SERVED IN THE ARMY FOR

WHILE AWAY HE LEFT HIS PRIDE AND JOY IN STORAGE AT

TODAY SID IS CONSIDERED ONE THE TOP MEN AND ONE OF

BRAD, OF SAN DIEGO, CA, GREW UP IN THE FAMOUS ANDRES

BEE BEE SMITH

BEE BEE SMITH, OF WASHINGTON, DC, AND HIS BROTHER

PRINCESS ANNE SPEEDWAY

THE FIRST POST WWII AMA SANCTIONED RACE HELD AT

IF NOTHING ELSE, THE PICTURE SHOWS THE

TIM EADES NATIONAL #95

TIM GREW UP IN THE PETERSBURG, VA AREA. HE HAD VERY

HE SURVIVED AND AT 29 HE IS STILL GOING STRONG. FOR

EDDIE IS THE SON OF THE FAMOUS “IRON MAN” KRETZ, ONE