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Photo Bunkit won't let me in....

speaking of howard

who is mr mike giving the finger to, and that is Bruce ? back by the 71 bsa

I think that’s Bruce…….my guess is he’s gone now. Two years ago he walked up to me at the BIBR. He was in pretty bad shape then and told me it was terminal. He had all his toys up for sale.

At least I got to say goodbye.

I hope I’m wrong and he’s still kicking…..he’s one of the good guys.

I know its bruce, but I forgot his last name. one year a bunch of us including him were up at cheeseburgers in paradise. waitress dropped a glass jar of mustard that splattered all over the floor. Mike Carter, being Mike, grabbed Tom's (I think) brite yellow helmet and set down with the mustard for a photo op.

Anyone notice how lannis looked 20 years younger in some of those pics?

Well that's no shock, some of those pics are 20 years old.....

Oh, you meant 20 years younger than you. Yeah, I'll go along with that....

Bruce Martin

I don't remember his son's name but he attended a few times with his dad. (you gota like that).

Bruce's son brought a friend along one year, both on crotch rockets....Yamasuzida something? They stayed at the back of the pack. I'm not sure if we had slow/fast groups that year but it was pretty early on? I figured they were hanging back out of respect. Good on em.

Sidebar (IF you've never had to ride in the chase vehicle with me.........you will never know how BLESSED you are. I was always tied up in a knot and talked non-stop, 200 miles and pretty much all day. Didn't come down to earth until everyone was back safe and sound.......and by that time I was completely worn out)

SO.........picture chase vehicle following the group (right after the first gas stop) down HWY 321 which is a fast two lane......long sweepers with beautiful view of the lake. There are a couple of sharp turns that keep you on your toes but it was in the loop as a way to rest up a bit after a ride down off the Parkway and a trip down the goat path. So we're clipping along pretty good and I'm talking away following the two boys on crotch rockets. Of course I figured they would LOVE this road because like I said it's fast. BUT.......coming into one of those sharp turns, a hard right, I'm not paying attention and the rider in front of me is entering the curve and he's at an almost complete stop.....or it seemed that way. I'm hard on the brakes and he kept moving and once around the curve he's was off again and back up to speed. Needless to say I backed WAY off of them and we didn't have any more problems. Get to the lunch stop and I go find him to apologize for not paying closer attention.....guy says......"NO it was my fault.....I just started riding last week"

Disclaimer.....He "could" have said a month????....I don't remember but a week made for a better story. I do remember thinking that this wasn't a good ride for a beginner but the boy did well.

I remember the first year Bruce and his son came. the son i his words was itching to ride some twisty's. I wont forget his reaction when we got back to the motel Saturday. he was impressed with how we went on these old bikes and he got more than his fill of twisty's for a while. there was two groups back than, allan was the fast leader with me on his tail but i don't remember who was the leader for the slow group.

I guess we are going to remember things a bit differently Windy.

I remember the “argument” Alan and I had about going too fast. That came about after I pulled up along side John French, he was pulled over off HWY 58. John was livid about the pace. I’ve never seen him that mad before. John never came back after that. At that time there was just one official ride leader and that was Alan. Truth be known he was only leading 4-5 riders and the rest of the group were on their own.

I don’t think ( I could be remembering it incorrectly?) Alan lead many rides ( if any) when I finally officially broke the ride up into two groups. Mr Mike was the first ride leader for the “slow” (read speed limits) group. Directional signs came shortly after.

I do think I was still in the ranger on that ride and my son Booth was still small enough that he couldn’t see the bikes over the dash…..unless he got up on the truck seat.

BUT…….that was a long time ago and my memory has proven to be flawed.

I’m looking forward to the fireside stories at this next one…..

We'll, I'll add on little addendum to the memories.... John DID come back to the ride.

He always had some interesting ride.... first year a Velocette, then a /2 Beemer, an MV Agusta, etc.

2017 John brought a Vincent Rapide to the ride, and handed it to me to ride home the 50 miles from the last gas stop to Blowing Rock. Now THAT is what is known as a generous act!

Lannis

maybe you can get john and don roe to make a showing this year? you MIGHT be right about that year being a single group. I more than likely was a contributing factor to alans pace as he might of had an ego issue about being passed. some one said john french commented about trying to keep up with me back than. now it is the opposite some complain my pace is a little slow. damn it i cant win

I had to delete my last post…….it was just wrong. I told you my memory was lacking.

As far as I remember, John did not return as long as I was still Hosting the ride (?)….(16 years) so maybe in reality it was me that kept him away…..and not the groups pace.

I do remember promising him I would get a handle on it one way or the other.

I might not have handled it correctly but I had to do something.

Windy……getting folks to show up is not my job anymore.

i have dons number so Ii can try him BUT i have no clue about john so can you help a brother out.

Don will have John’s contact info. Not sure I’ve ever seen John camp???? But he’s close enough for a day trip?

here's how I remember it.

My first year, Bruce's son was not there. John was on the /2 and almost knocked me into the ditch on the goat path. I do not remember two groups that year. that was the year somebody in white leathers was pushing Allan.

I'm curious/confused. Were there two Bruce Martins? One from Florida and one from maybe Canada?

my nomination for least changed over the years go to...........

Bill…..I have several of the original sign in sheets. Let me see if one of those has a couple of Bruces.

BUT the Bruce in Richrd’s photo is the one from Florida.

Could you be confusing him with Bill May? ( I don’t remember where he lived….but he was a Brit)

Let me look tonight. I’ll bring those sign in sheets with me this year….. some of that same type of stuff I had at the Reunion Camp.

Wasn't the the guy from Florida the one with the copper-colored A65 who rode like a maniac, and wasn't his name Bruce Martino, or am I adding the "o" like I might call someone Gordo for fun .... ?

Lannis

You are correct lannis

I told y’all about my memory.

Windy…..has he passed away? He spent some time with us at the BIBR a couple years back…..told me he didn’t have much time left. Honestly he had that same look Mike and Robert had the last time I saw them.

Martin / Martino Got those confused…sorry

Betcha I have his signature on a sign in sheet.

The last i seen or heard if him was years ago on a three state ride. You know more than i do on this.

I just got through going over some old TSMR posts and completely forgot just how involved John was at first. He’s the one who named the “Goat Path”.

It would be nice to see him at one again. His collection has grown quite a bit over the years. I was at his place a few weeks back. He’s started a vintage group on FB and they had their first get together. I was honored to get an invite. It was VERY well attended. I only knew 4 of the 30 (?) or so that were there.

Tar Hogs……look em up