Old photos of my father from the '50's

The baby one is me leaning on the saddlebags. Father use to race on the gypsy tour circuit and would bring us all camping with.

Very, very cool ! What a legacy!


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Back in the day when everything going on at the races as a kid you could roam the camp area or hover around the racetrack netting and watch the heats. It was much better then today. People were nicer. Camping was every where and any where. he took us all every year to most of the races, traveling around in his step van.

My mother gave me all the 8mm footage that I put on dvd.

Great! Your family is one of the originals of all our history. Great!


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Wow. that's something else. I didn't get my riding ability from my dad. He never had a bike but I'm sure he always wanted one. I let him take my bike for a ride once. He didn't crash but it was a scary sight. He made it back in one piece and that was the last time he rode. He never asked to ride my bike again. I was ok with that.

Let's see a present day stunt rider do a back flip on that ride.lol

He passed away in 2010. Had just finished loading up his bike and was headed back up north for the summer, he preferred the softail custom in his later years. He laid down to rest and never woke up.

I went to most harley-rendezvous from 1984 to 1999. My father always came up too with a couple of his friends. Good times. I couldn't always go everywhere he did when I got older and he was retired. Till his dying day he attended sturgis,Daytona,national hill climbs,myrtle beach etc.. The old timers were still out there but trailering rather than riding. Not such a bad idea?

If I had my choice that is how I would like to leave, it is hard on those left behind for a while but better than a lingering and painfull end.

and rode until the end, I hope I'm so lucky

My Dad was a NYC delivery/messenger on the old old harleys and Indians. He told some stories of racing around old NYC back in the 1930's with hair raising rear brakes only. (Sound familiar Josh?)


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He did,lol. And had 40 year old trailer trash gf 's every where he went. I say that lovingly.

Now those are worth a pretty penny. Imagine doing that today.

The year before he was all laid up in a hospital with IV's every where. One day he as like f' all this. Ripped the IV's out,went home and was fine? True story and that was weird. He said he wasn't going out like that.

All my friends loved pop and would always make it a point to stop in an see him for a day of 2 when they were passing thru NC.

No not really, just a lucky kid.

It seemed like it was different back then. Better. It seemed like the harley culture was like one big family. Every where for everyone. I've interacted with today's yuppy riding folks who make up a good amount and I'm not feeling them. I tried real hard, I'll say it's me. I found that crowd superficial and not real. Full of sh*t,trying to imitate sons of anarchy,lol.

These days I ride occasionally with a few co workers but mostly my wife is my favorite riding partner. I stay away from the big rally's although popping into laconia and Americade for the day because I live so close. I'm old and I don't fit in anymore.

I think the escalated cost have forced out the old and ushered in a new breed.

I agree that most rides are superficial. It became a chic thing to own a Harley. I started riding in the mid 70's. There was more of a brotherhood back then. Although Laconia was usually violent. I used to go every year and when my first son was born we took the car and stayed with my riding buddies at our usual place the Ledgecroft on route 3 about 1/2 mile south of Weirs. We used to ride all week then park on Thursday night either walk to weirs or sit in lawn chairs on 3 and watch the parade of idiots burn out and wreck. Oh yeah, and see the girls drop their tops!!!!!!! Back then it was just Laconia Weekend.

Ps. If your old I'm accident.
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Luckily most of today's riders the bulk seem to stay local or head to rally's and other such suares. On all my week(s) long trips I see a zillion bikes in whatever town/city we land in for the night but minimum to not many on the road(interstate). I've longed since given up that by chance we would meet up with anyone on the road to ride with. Did twice. Once from Hartford to interstate 70 on one trip and another trip from Pittsburg,KS to witchita. That's out of a dozen or so trips over the years.

And looking forward to meeting you this year,if you are able?

It's a plan Stan


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