BACKFIRES

Superb job on the OAS anniversary issue! To give credit where due to an AMA Hall of Famer, on page 49 that’s E.W. “Pete” Colman handing an award to Bruce Brown, with Steve McQueen looking on. The award is likely from the Motorcycle Industry Council, which Colman headed twice during his 50-year career. He was a championship Speedway racer in the 1930s, service manager and racing boss at Western Triumph distributor Johnson Motors from the 1940s to the 1960s, and VP and racing czar of BSA-Triumph in the early 1970s. In his retirement Pete held court at Champion Kawasaki in Costa Mesa. Keep up the great work!

Thanks, Lindsay, for the assist on Pete! — Ed

Of SL70s and Sundays on our 30-acre farm in Connersville, Ind., and even competed in a few hare scrambles. When I got my driver’s permit 18 months later I bought a new SL125 and gave the SL70 to my younger brother. We took off the lights and he raced that thing in the under-100cc class for a couple more years. I found this picture of me getting “big air” on it off this dirt pile, and I hate to say this Mitch, but my shot kind of makes your picture in shorts, t-shirt and slip-ons in your driveway seem kinda wimpy! Of course, it didn’t stay that way for you very long, as we all know.

Looking stylish, Rich! — Ed.

Just read Mitch’s July column and found it interesting that he and I were living the same dream at about exactly the same time. I, too, got a new red Honda SL70 for Christmas in December 1970. I had just turned 14 and the SL was my first real motorcycle, replacing the Rupp I’d been riding. I rode it as often as I could

Great issue about my favorite movie of all time. I’m just enough older than you, Mitch, so that I actually had (my first) motorcycle when OAS came to the big screen. Specifically, it came to the Wescove Theater in West Covina, Calif., and my high school motorcycle buddies and I rode our gaggle of small Japanese bikes to the theater. My 175 CT-1, a couple 125 AT-1s, and a Kawasaki 100 or two all left the theater in a fit of enthusiasm I’m sure you and anyone else who had a similar OAS experience will remember well, whoops and wheelies all the way home! I often close my eyes while watching these days and am magically transported back to age 16 wearing an open-face helmet and blue jeans. These days really aren’t that much different except I dress much better (ATGATT) when riding my Husky 350 or KLR650. Thanks Bruce!

As a lifetime AMA member I never thought I’d reach the point that when American Motorcyclist arrived, I’d rarely even open it. Too much boring industry news and depressing political stories about losing more places to ride. But now the magazine is interesting again, and I look forward to seeing it in the mailbox. Thanks, Mitch and Co! (And now, Mitch, I’ve finally forgiven you for running me into the dirt at the chicane at Daytona!)

Sorry, Keith! Was in a hurry to catch Gary Nixon that afternoon! — Ed.

Just read Joy’s Life-Saving Sunday column in the July issue and couldn’t agree more. I was so pleased to hear that motorcycles have had such a profound effect on her life, and it made me wonder how many other people are standing where she was and how a simple two- or three-wheeled machine could possibly change their lives. It also made me think of the old saying, “You don’t see motorcycles parked outside a psychiatrist’s office.” Thanks for sharing your story, Joy. Ride on!

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