LETTER OF THE MONTH

Ireceived the June issue a few days ago, saw the picture of the old guy on the cover, read the cover blurbs “He’s 93” and “He’s faster than you,” and scoffed, tossing the magazine on the counter. I let it sit there for a while, thinking, “No 93-year-old is faster than me.”

Well, today I finally read the article, and I have to say I’m impressed. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to keep up with Mr. Fergus on pavement, but it might be different in dirt — or maybe not. I’ll never know, but it wouldn’t be a fair contest because I’m only 77.

Fergus, but he won me over with his knowledge and expertise in suspension modification, and the photo of him with a Bultaco put me over the top. I own about 20 Bultacos and race a 1974 360 Pursang in vintage motocross, which is why I got super excited to see that this issue also contained a neat article on Hodaka’s Super Rat. I recall lining up to race my 125cc Bultaco back in the day and watching 40 Super Rats blast off the starting line, all of ’em revved up to 10,000 RPM. My ears still hurt! Thanks for all you do to keep the magazine interesting and exciting!

Bob Krus Evergreen, Colo.

encouragement we need to keep riding. I’m tired of hearing some people say I’m too old to do that stuff. Neil proves that line of thinking wrong! I think Fergus would agree with the old saying “You didn’t quit riding because you got old, you got old because you quit riding.”

Ron DeFonce

Gotta love that saying, Ron! – Ed.

Hodakas Rule

When my June issue arrived, I saw “Hodaka” on the cover and dove into the story. I’ll never forget the day a friend brought his new Super Rat home and let his close friends try it. At that point (1970) we were riding Japanese street scramblers (I had a Bridgestone 175 Hurricane Scramble with a rear sprocket the size of a beer coaster!). Anyway, the Rat quickly put every one of us on our ass, and my friend didn’t mind because the thing took every loop out without damage and he was laughing too hard. Of course, the culprit was the rear axle placement, which was directly under the rider seat. As long as you didn’t lean back, it was controllable.

Scott Poley

I just read AMA Board Chair Russ Ehnes’ great Hodaka family story, and of course noticed the reference to motocross storming on the scene in Boise, Idaho. The piece doesn’t mention Owyhee Motorcycle Club (OMC), but there’s no doubt that was the place! If it was motorcycle racing back then in Boise, it was OMC. My husband and I joined the club in 2019 to build a trials park on the grounds, and quickly became even more involved as we learned about the club’s astounding history.

The club, which has roots back to 1935, purchased 80 acres in Boise in 1946, which are the same 80 acres the club occupies today. The original name was actually the Western Ramblers, as Boise Motorcycle Club was already taken, and there is a mountain range South of Boise called the Owyhee Mountains. OMC was instrumental in bringing motocross to Idaho along with flat track and TT racing. Over the years, many AMA Hall of Famers graced its grounds, including Broc Glover, Bob Hannah, Mert Lawwill (from Boise), Joël Robert, Gary Jones, Torstein Hallman, Roger DeCoster and Billy Uhl. The club recently became the first motorcycle-related club or track to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places, which is a huge honor! We are currently fighting pressure from developers, and encourage anyone wanting more info about the club, its history or to get involved to help keep this special place around for future generations, to contact the club at omcracing.com, its Facebook page or on Instagram (omc_race

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the June issue’s “Ace in the Hole” feature story. However, as an owner of a Hodaka Ace 100 B+ back in the early 1970s, I thought it worth mentioning the differences. The B+ looked similar to the Super Rat with its Ceriani-style fork assembly, but lacked the number plates, knobby tires, expansion chamber and Super Rat air-cleaner box. However, as an enduro bike (and like its Ace 100 bretheren), it had lights. I tried racing it at the Bridgehampton, N.Y., motocross course on Long Is

Where the photos are blurry but the memories are clear!

Ihad just got out of the service and got a good job. I didn’t have a car, but I rode my trusty Bonneville everywhere, including on some dirt. I really wanted to desert race, so after working a paying job I was able to buy a 250 Husky. I rode the crap out of it but had no way to get to the desert, so the next thing was a van. My wife and I would camp in it, and of course it was the way I could get out to the desert and ride.

I finally decided to get a 400 Husky like one of my buds had, and I was in business. Signed up for Barstow to Vegas event, and my wife, Blondie, was going to meet me at the pits and gas me up, give me a drink of water and a kiss, and off to the next pit. There I was in jeans, soccer pads on the knees, Hi-Point boots, and my modified Bell helmet with a nylon face guard. Blondie met me at every pit, I think Grumpy took a great pic, and I wanted to share.

Larry Heller

Looks right out of On Any Sunday, Larry! Bruce Brown would be proud. – Ed.

Here’s a picture of me and my brother in January of 1971. It was taken in our basement, where I got to work on my dad’s bike and mine. Not sure which is which. I think I was 15 years old. The bikes are Yamaha YG1s from 1967. It was my first motorcycle, which I bought with my brother Dennis. He lost interest so I bought his half, and have been riding since. I still have my dad’s bike in my basement. It was at Mid-Ohio for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days about 20 years ago. Back in the day we could ride in the empty 40-acre lot behind our house.

Allen Brotz

4The first photo is of me on my 1964 Honda 305 Super Hawk outfitted for a trip with two friends over the Sierra Nevada mountains — and then to Yosemite — in June, 1964. The Honda was my third motorcycle, after first having learned how to ride on Vespa and Lambretta scooters, before quickly going through a 1957 Sears Roebuck 125 and a 1962 Yamaha YD3. Also attached is a photo taken at the top of Sonora Pass. It was something of an adventure and a lot of fun.

Richard Harmon

6My Name is Alan Schulte, I am an AMA Life Member, and this is my 1998 95th Anniversary Harley-Davidson Heritage Springer with me and my grandson — Caleb, age 4 — aboard. He learned to ride in his early teens, and this year I gave him my Harley. He is now 23. The bike was his first ride, and now it’s his ride. The Harley will remain in the family.

Alan Schulte

That’s the way to do it, Alan! All in the family. – Ed.

Me on the bike that started it all…A 1968 Honda CL90, purchased in a basket with a broken crankshaft. Being raised by a single dad in the 1960s, we didn’t have a lot. After finally begging him to buy a used Harley-Davidson 50cc (Aermacchi, I believe), it broke after a short period of time. He came home from the shop with it and said if I was going to ride motorcycles, I was going to have to learn to fix them. The repairs were more than what we paid for the bike, but it started what would become a career for me in the motorcycle industry.

He and I purchased broken motorcycles left and right, repairing and reselling them as well as repairing all my friend’s bikes. It was great training for me as well as supplement income for the family. I was riding something new regularly, and the time shared with my dad was priceless. I went to work at a friend’s family car lot that had a bike shop across the street. It was a greasy hole in the wall. My high school GED teacher then got me a real job at the local Suzuki shop. I went on to work in several different dealerships at all levels and positions, became partners in a dealership during the 1980s and ’90s, raised a son of my own on two wheels, returned to my hometown, found a great woman to enjoy it all with, and finished out this wonderful career with a near 20-year run as a respected technician at a large multi-line dealer. Retired for three years now, I consider myself blessed to say that I made a good living at my hobby. Listen up kids, there’s a lesson in all this somewhere.

Mike Haynes

4I’m loving the new magazine format, especially the Back in the Day section. There is just something about looking back to when we first got injected with this beautiful drug of motorcycling. Here’s my story:

This is me in my graduation suit 1976. I decided to get one more racing season out of my ’75 125 Elsinore. To do battle against the new ’76ers coming out, I had it ported and polished, and had the Webco head milled and reshaped by local engine tuner “Speedy” Jackson. Added a bigger carb and an FMF pipe to finish the motor. I laid down the rear shocks and found these cool air springs, like Gabriel HiJackers. I painted them red, white and blue with an American flag sticker to commemorate the year. It was awesome to adjust the shocks based on track conditions. I lived in Louisville, Ky., but me, my brother and buddies raced Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. It ended up being a good season for me and the Ol’ Elsinore.

There is indeed, Mike! Thanks for sharing. – Ed.

At 64 I’m still riding off-road in the beautiful state of Colorado, which I call home now. I ride a ’97 Yamaha WR250 2-stroke that’ll take me anywhere I want to go. It’s never a bad day if your hand’s on the throttle. Joe

True words, Joe. Thanks for sharing. – Ed.