I also got a book called Classic Motorcycles. It is a written and pictorial history of some of the greats in motorcycle history. On page sixty is a story about the B.S.A. Goldstar 500 single that revolutionized a period of motorcycle racing. I bought one of these bikes just prior to my marriage in 1956. There is quite a history to this bike, and the ramifications involved with ownership of this particular machine. I have written many stories relating to several experiences I have enjoyed on this particular motorcycle. Almost 42 years have past since I acquired this thumper, and if I get lonesome for it, all I have to do is look out the window of my office and there it sits. I traded this bike to my relative John Cox straight across for a trials bike in 1969. It was on this motorcycle that John learned to ride, and later became the owner of a very successful motorcycle dealership C&R Cycleworld.

This bike was stored at John’s shop until he sold this business in 1974. At that time he was offered a lot of money for it as it was no longer manufactured and was considered a classic. He told me he almost sold it; but after looking at the many holes in the seat he relented. These holes were made by my oldest son Mitchell when he was four or five. It was my practice when I used this bike for transportation to and from work, on my return home at the end of the day to throw Mitchell on the gas tank in front of me and take him for a short ride. On this one day I had something else more pressing to do and refused to give him a ride. The next morning when I started for work, I noticed all these small holes in the seat of my scooter. I was furious as to who had done this terrible thing to my pride and joy. On my return home I discovered that Mitchell was upset because I had refused him a ride, and he took a screwdriver from a small tool kit I had given him and poked a series of holes in the seat that remain to this very day.

Mitchell is 40 years old now and he still likes to go for rides on bikes with me. Mitchell is also Downs Syndrome and is unable to navigate one on his own. We have allowed him to experience most of the things that his brother Matthew (almost two years younger)has tried up to a limit. I made a mini-bike for Matt when he was five or six. It had a 5 horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine, centrifical clutch, and rear drum brake. Matt could really make this puppy run and so could Mitch. The problem became apparent when it was time to stop. Mitch didn’t know how. His best attempt was to run into a fence or tree. This method was hard on bike and rider. So we had to come up with another answer, and this we discovered was to use a field with tall grass. When we wanted Mitch to slow or stop we yelled for him to head for the tall grass and this would stop the mini-bike.

You might wonder where this is all heading, and the answer is when John saw these holes in the seat, he remembered how they got there and couldn’t sell my bike. He in turn gave it to my son Matt with the directions that it had to remain in the family. Matt kept it a short time and then gave it to me saying that it means a lot more to me than anyone else. So I have it parked out side under a shelter I built, and on days I want to dream I just look out my window and rediscover my youth. When you stop to think about it, this is a lot cheaper than using a shrink. And people thought this old okie was dumb.

This same machine was the one I took Janey riding on when I was courting her. At one time the little ball on the end of the clutch cable had broken, and it was impossible to utilize the clutch until this was repaired. So what I did until then was speed the engine pop it in gear and take off. After I was moving I could shift with out using the clutch. So on this one nice Saturday I had a few drinks and decided to take Janey for a ride. She was hanging around my waist with a death hold and at a stop sign I told her to relax and enjoy the ride. She did just that and when I popped the bike in gear she fell off the back onto the ground. I having a few to many did not realize she was missing until I had traveled a few miles down the road. When I realized she was missing and went back to get her, she was already gone.

That was the last ride Janey took with me on a motorcycle. In fact she made me promise to sell my bike when we got married. I told her I would, but I always found an excuse to keep the bikes. At first it was wait until we have children, next it was wait until we needed the money etc. It finally got to the point that I had my whole family riding motorcycles (even Janey). The problem with her riding was the expense incurred with a Chiropractor. After a week of desert riding and many moguls and jumps her back was in terrible shape, and I truly believe this back doctor had me pegged as one of his retirement plans. We had a couple of long steep hills in the desert that we used to climb on our bikes, the family had named the Widow makers. They got the name from a segment of the movie (On any Sunday) a picture about all types of motorcycle races and events held all over the world.

This area that we would go to spend Easter break was in the desert of southern Ca. Some of it was a state or national park, and if you discovered a snake in the park you couldn’t kill it. You had to tell a park ranger who in turn captured the snake and took it out in the desert and released it much like they do bears in Yosemite. The last year we spent in the Anza Borrego Desert state park, we took one of Matts classmates along. His name was Craig Martin and his father Bud Martin was the boy scout leader for Matts troop. This was in 1973 and at that time Bud was a book keeper and minor share holder for the Tower of Books and Records. Today he is one of the major owners and stockholders. Craig runs the companies interests in Hawaii at this present time.

To the left is a picture of Thelma, Louise, and Ken. No, it really is a photo of my wife Janeys, Texas cousins Ann and Raynell out for a visit. They were supposed to be getting ready to catch their flight back to Texas, when they decided they should take a ride on my Magna. Between this ride and one other stop, they missed their flight and fouled up the plans of the parties that were to meet them at home. So after a couple of phone calls and a new flight reservation, we sent them back to Ross Perot.

I look back at a lot of our home movies at the birthday parties, little league games etc., and wonder how some of these boy’s can hold the responsible positions that are thrust upon them today. Some make it, and some fold under the pressure. The motorcycle I had purchased for Janey was a Hodaka Ace 100. I later gave Tana this bike to ride, and on many afternoons when she returned home from school I had the bikes loaded in the back of my pickup and away we went to do some trail riding. I remember one time we were at Prairie City off highway riding park. This is where they hold the Hangtown Moto-cross each year. It is a nationally recognized race that gives points for the number one champ each year. This was before I had quit smoking, and I would stop to smoke every so often. While I had stopped to smoke Tana was bugging me to keep on riding. I told her to go ahead and ride as I could keep an eye on her while I was taking a break. So she takes off over this berm and the next thing I hear is Tana screaming Dad help. I ran over and she some how got on the moto-cross track and couldn’t get off. This was some real rough terrain for an amateur rider to try and negotiate, so I guided her through the course to a place that she could exit. To hear her tell it she was practically a Hells Angel. I still have that little trail bike along with my 250 Yamaha enduro, Honda V65 Magna 1100 CC street bike and of course the old BSA. Most of the riding I do anymore is on the Magna as it is the most comfortable to ride. Lots of power with shaft drive, 5 speed plus overdrive, and stereo radio-with tapedeck, water cooled and much more. The Honda that I ride today was a fathers day present to me from my son Matt a few years ago and it has brought me many hours of enjoyment. Ken