Hangtown 2011

 

 

   I think I raced it a couple times from 69 to 73 but the one that left as lasting impression was the time I went up there in the back of an old ford ranchero with 3 bikes in it.  Ron Foreman was driving.  Carl Schutte and Warren Jones were also going and asked if I wanted to squeeze in (literally) sharing the gas. I said OK not knowing what I was in for.

 

 

 Two bikes forward and my Sachs in backwards, barely fit. Most of the gear was up front so I slipped into my sleeping bag and somehow squirmed down in between the bikes for the long nights ride to Placerville.  I’m not sure when it started raining but by the time we arrived my down bag was pretty wet but not soaked all the way through. We checked in and went to walk the track. The original track was three feet under water in the river bottom and they were busy stringing new banners where it was possible to ride. Rain or Shine and they meant it. The good old days!!

 

 

 The racing turned out to be pretty good. I remember John Desoto doing well as usual battling with a friend of mine from Chatsworth High School John Maroney.  The highlight of the weekend was the unexpected appearance of Gary Baily, who had just returned from Europe.  He was always fun to watch out on the track. That evening set up under a big top style tent before a very enthusiastic crowd, he showed his videos of the racing over there.  The crowd barely noticed how hard it was raining outside.   Pretty cool stuff. It went late into the evening as I recall with a lot of narration by the professor.

 

 

The next day was another soaker with some breaks.  Out on the track I couldn’t find any though.  I bent a shift mechanism and I was done. Off the track one came in the form of an offer for a dry ride home. The Maroney’s had a Cortez motor home and I didn’t hesitate. Much better.  It would be thirty plus years before returning to race and nowadays the track has been relocated away from the old hangman’s tree that fostered the name of this great event.

 

 

 

   FAST FORWARD

 

  I found Alex and the Legends and Heroes group early in the morning.  They had already done most of the setup but I helped in putting up the banners and all of the final touches.  We were set up at the top of the hill across from the beer tent.  The Dirtdiggers wanted a bike inside the tent and Alex pointed me in that direction.

 

 

  I took my DKW and drew the attention of the girls who were serving up the beer.  They wanted info about my bike so I told them that back between 1968 and 1973 this was the bike to have when racing in the 125 class.  A little while later when I posted some pictures of myself racing back when one of the girls was checking them out and stated “that’s you” .  I replied that it was and asked how she could tell?  “The eyes “she replied.  At that point she called the other 4 or 5 girls over.  I explained that I had ridden at this event back in 69 and 70 but had no pics of that and that these photos were of events in So CA.   They commented on my Legends tee shirt and I explained that I was not a legend.   I only had a few top ten finishes at some large venue races.  That didn't seem to convince them!

 

 

 

  The rest of the day involved a lot of talking as the girls would send everyone that bought a beer over to talk with me .  I would explain what the Legends and Heroes tour was all about as well as tell stories about racing this event 40 + years earlier.  I was having a lot of fun.  Near the end of the day a spectator wanted shots of the girls with me and my bike.   Pretty rough in the beer tent!!

 

 I did not get to see a lot of the racing until the final and as usual this very challenging track provided a lot of excitement.  The women doing the big step up were amazing to watch.  They have come a long way since the powder puff days!!!