Pala 2011

 

 

   This year Scott Smith and I are headed to PALA for the Nationals with two Sachs DKW’s on board.  One is my normal unrestored Museum piece and the other is the bike Preston Petty rode at Catalina belonging to Chuck Daly.  On the way we picked Preston up and were headed to Elsinore for the night.  We hooked up with Chuck there and went out to dinner.  How cool is this to have two Deeks in the truck as well as one of my all time heroes to boot.  Life is good!!   We got some rest and headed to the track early Sat morning.   We got the bikes into the pits and went to get our passes.  We got in the short line and were asked for our IDs.   Because Preston hadn’t driven he did not have his but when she asked him his name she said “the Preston Petty” and let him have his pass. 

 

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We got back to the Legends display and I didn’t have to do much introducing as Tami Rice Greenhill grew up with Chuck and Preston. It did not take long for Danny LaPorte and Jim Holley to find and interview Preston.  This was going to be a good day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the course of the day the only time I could somewhat gather In some recipients was during the autograph session.  Make it work!! Mark Blackwell's for being a member of the first ever US MXDN team (1971)and La Porte and Chuck Sun for being members of the first winning US MXDN team in 1981 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  Neither Chuck nor Preston had been around the racing scene for a while.  I think Chuck said it had been at least 20 + years.  Preston’s grandson is Josh Hansen so I don’t know about him.  Both of these guys follow the racing on the tube a lot.  A lot of people wanted photos with Preston and when it was autograph time the line of people grew and grew.  It was way cool to see the attention this truly legendary MX star was receiving. 

 

 

 

  We went from watching the races and then back to the Legends.  Scott and I helped with the exhibit and would go and find those two.  It was like back in the day listening to them talk.  Both of them can crack you up with their wry and old school humor.   We packed up the exhibit and sent Chuck off to Big Bear and we headed for home dropping Preston along the way.  What a day!!!