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"Wheels have always been a passion, from my first
trike , pedal car,
bicycles ,derby racers, scooters, motorcycles were a logical progression
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How it all Began
Motorcycles have always been an attraction for me. There was Marlin
Brando in "the Wild One" Steve Mc Queen in "the Great Escape" Dennis
Hopper and Jack Nicholson in "Easy Rider" There were good guys like
"Chips" and real old fashion bad guys like "Hells Angels" ( who are not
really that bad anymore) and there were real live heroes like Evil
Kanevil, Kenny Roberts , Mert Lawell, Malcom Smith and a new host of
contemporary riders who are changing the "Face" of motorcyclist from the
past right up to the present. However the most impressive representative
of motorcycling came to me in the film "On any Sunday" by
Bruce Brown in 1969 I had been secretly riding a small Yamaha 80 that
was owned by a friend for about 3 years when I saw this film, and it was
then that I realized what I really wanted to do was race moto GP. Yes
the 3 minute segment on Grand Prix Racing swept me away. While Kenny
Roberts was sweeping the GP Racetrack throughout Europe I began to ride
the twisty roads of Marin County California where I grew up. My parents
survived WWII and being solid Navy , I was forbidden to purchase any
Japanese products. The Yamaha was out.
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Me on my Ninja in Markleyville, near Lake Tahoe California |
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In 1971 I went to study art in Rome Italy, where as if
no one knew, was the epi-center of all motorcycle innovation and style
in the world. WOW, I could not believe my eyes, Moto Morini, Moto Guzzi
, Laverda, Cagiva,Moto Gilera. It was moto Gilera that caught my fancy.
They made incredible , strikingly beautiful small motorcycles. I wanted
one. I also wanted a Ferrari, but was refused by my family being told it
would never meet emission standards in California.. Gee wish I had done
that anyway, Oh well. I studied and received the foreign student
achievement award at Academia Delli Arti, of Rome. I came back to Marin
and continued to work on an automotive restoration project I started
before I left, 1955 MGTD. While search out parts at a local flea market
I stumbled across a Moto Gilera, the exact bike I had wanted in Rome.
Turns out Sears had them imported and sold under the Sears brand in the
mid to late sixties. I bought it and mad it run. Painted it and rode
Highway one up and down the coast every chance I got.. I went on the
Sunday Morning Ride every Sunday. I honed my skills and prepared to
race! |
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Rome the
"Eternal City"
It was here that
I learned to relax and enjoy life. I also developed a love of
Italian Motorcycles, and an appreciation for all motorcycles.To view
more about Rome please click on Rome Page |
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