Contact TVRC @ 817 483 7346               EVO-Sports @ 281 265 1412

                                                                                                           817-798-5861

2000 Series Click for Overall Standings

At Burleson: Jeff Acklen scored high marks for a perfect pirouette right off of the gate. Lowest score was a 9.9 from a visiting judge.

The unconfirmed rumor has it; Skip is printing my e-mails as a diabolic plot to get some quality help elected or at least an intern. If the calvary does not arrive, he may be reduced to printing my tech tips. Let me warn you, a lot bad things transpire in my garage between a dirt bike and myself. It may be the template for the original screen play to the movie "Fight Club". After my best efforts fail, I inevitably resort to a little "Red Green" action. Only substituting silicon sealer for duct tape. Finally, to top it all off, I use a lifeline and call a friend. In an unspoken agreement, the bike stays in my friend’s well-equipped workshop, safe from the "Little Shop of Horrors". My friend and I usually part with the comment, "Do you get in a fight with everything you work on?" I would really like to tell him, but I can’t.

Robert L. Glover

Name: Jack Thompson 

Ohio 2000

With my first approach to the POG tent there was a smiling John Penton with an outreached hand welcoming us boys up from Texas. Pointing to the exhibit he said "Look at this, I can’t believe the job they have done." Laughing he told me that he didn’t remember these guys working as hard when they worked for him as employees! As he signed a pair of 77 MC5 side covers for me, he said that it was interesting you could go back 30 years and his autograph still looked the same. Later I thought with all the change he brought about that some things remained constant. Somehow he knew which ones to change to make things better.

This was my pinnacle of events with meeting with the famed Penton riders of the past. Every one was just like an old buddy with just a moment’s introduction.

Carl Cranke pointing out places he broke frames and parts he designed for the Sachs engine instead of raising a family, but now he does.

Jack Penton telling me of his Son now living and working in Texas near me. If that didn’t remind me of that we had lived through a generation he next told me he has recently from the same Son become a grandparent! Later at the AMA dinner he asked if they could use my bikes in the show for the parade laps, like there could be two answers. Imagine how an old dirt biker from Texas felt when asked if Gold medal ISDT riders can ride my Pentons.

Paul Danick who persuaded Mid Ohio security to escort two trucks to the POG campground an hour after closing Thursday 10:00 p.m. He also bought one of my exhibits PENTON tanks for the Jackpiner he is restoring.

Once again Kip Kern exampled a perfectly restored Penton. My socks aren’t that clean brand new!

Dane Lienbach explaining the rudiments of ignition and explaining to a friend with me why PVL had no adapters for CZ’s.

Doug Wilford telling stories of his hosting of the European riders while they were in the USA.

Al Buehner patiently but intently administrating it all. Al joined Bob, Bob’s son Brandon, and I to the Ashland County Flat Track and bought the whole carload a ticket at the gait.

I saw a sunburned Ron Carbaugh loan Ron Munson his sun hat to help protect him from any more pain. After 4 Days they looked the same to me.

Seeing John Penton 100 yards ahead of everybody on the parade lap WFO.

I wasn’t disappointed that John didn’t ride the MX exhibition lap. Motorcycles had a way of disappearing out from under you. I had a couple of close calls but Bob Lucas never saw his leave him in the Penton only moto and still doesn’t know what happened to put him on the ground on a short rocky straight. He is a 10 year expert in vintage racing.

Having Jack and GiGi Penton help pack and load our final items, including 5 Pentons at the POG tent. This was 6:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon!

The crowning moment was to see John, upon my request with no assistance climb onto our flatbed trailer to sign the tanks of the last motorcycles to leave. I told him I felt guilty about asking him now. John had been for four days standing and signing anything put before him. He just said "that’s okay, you boys were busy all day." John didn’t jump down off the trailer like the time at our Texas banquet he hopped off the 3 foot stage, but unassisted again he climbed down extended his hand to wish us farewell.

The character of all these men is still something to be admired and live up to.

The reality and excitement of being with these men and as many Penton fans riders owners and admirers was more than was planned expected or envisioned by anyone.

Driving off going different directions Jack and I waved at a high five, our arms too short to connect I heard ‘bye Skip. I didn’t look back looking forward to a next time but I don’t think ever a better time.

Thanks to Bob Lucas as President of the Texas Vintage Racing Club 9 years ago regenerated my enthusiasm for restoring riding and racing.

. I enjoy and appreciate all the work of the Penton Owners Group. It still exhibits the pride and professionalism of Penton.

Oh yeah, My 1974 250 Hare Scrambler ran practice and 7 motos with only adding gas. I did get a bum start on my first O/50 moto when she loaded up on the line. It was probably the riders fault, like Penton Central told me when I broke my first, but only one in two years racing my 125 Six Says, Sachs Penton shift key.

Thanks for the exhibit, the dinners, the help, the hospitality and the friendships.

Skip Miller

Bob Lucas