Fellow MSC racer James Schmits sent in these photos and stories. Enjoy.
Monticello- 1972
1972-Monticello I am # 324 and on the left with red helmet is John Kenny from Little Falls,NJ and behind him is Barry Dean from “Dean of Sports” Haledon,NJ. #174 is Jim Bean of Dover Plains, NY. I didn’t know many others then and it was my first Trophy. I got second to a kid that Traded his horse for an XL 250 like the one I rode. He actually had a tin pie plate for the front # plate. ( And the horn worked)
Kid with pie plate
Modena- 1973
1973– Modena: I am #27 ( which I have kept to date) my first expert race – – – # 50 is Vito Parisi, behind him is Merrit Brown and behind him is ? Smith. 18 bikes started I got run over and was able to remount for the first of 3 restarts; the ambulance left twice and I think it was around 10 who finished. It could have been a turning point but I was and still am not smart enuff to stop.
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As a kid I used to deliver news papers to Joan and Charlie Watson and bought my first bike (350 Ducati) from there shop “Joan’s Chain and Sprocket” after I got out of the Army.
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I spent a lot of time with Charlie; He was a character and is missed. I have lost touch with Joan.
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I was lucky enough to spend time on the Track at Fishkill with the Legendary “Jim Fennel” ( Cigar and all) and I was able to steel the #1 plate from Lew Holas in 75′.
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Those were great times and I have more pics for you.
Your pics are great. You have 1 pic of a group of riders were you state that you only know a few of them. One of the riders in the backgrond,#174, is my dad, Jim Bean of Dover Plains, NY.