Tom Penton the Top American

ZIMMERMAN BRAD PHOTOGRAPHY he number of Gold Medals spent in Maine without a bike, I was make it over the top took a big toll. awarded at the ISDT each year really pumped to get back and go “Another thing that probably was Tis in direct proportion to the riding. That made a big difference.’’ an important factor in my getting a toughness of the event. For instance, If you read the ISDT article in this Gold rather than a Silver is that I the Golds were numerous in Austria issue, you already know that Day 5, never hesitate to let air out of my last year, and easy to earn compared the Rain Day, eliminated a lot of rid tires. I don’t believe the stories that to many other years. The exact op ers. In retrospect, Tom analyzed Day less air pressure leads to a greater posite was true in Czechoslovakia. In 5 for us and explained why many rid chance of a flat tire. In the last four order to get a Gold Medal, you had ers didn’t finish, or houred out. years of riding I haven’t run more to have experience, luck and a con “First of all to stay on time during than 10 pounds of air in my tires. At siderable amount of preplanning. Day 5 you had to avoid physically Czecho when it got wet, I went down There were only two Gold Medals pushing your bike at all. You didn’t in pressure to about 7Vz pounds in awarded to the 33 American entries have time to waste falling down a lot the front and 6V2 pounds in the rear. this year as opposed to 29 received and there was basically zero time to I also had a new rear tire on the in Austria. Dick Burleson, who at one do any maintenance work and still back at the start of the day, and the time dropped to Silver due to being keep up the fast trail pace. When I front tire was only a day old. late at a few time checks, regained finished Day 5 my chain had “The American riders also weren’t his Gold by going fast in the final stretched so far that I thought it prepared for the cold of Day 5. All motocross test on Day 6. Tom Pen- would be dragging on the ground at week the ride had been warm. Most ton earned the other Gold on a 250 any minute. Mentally, I was prepared of us figured that if it rained, it would Penton and was never late to any for the rain. I knew the terrain, a type be a warm rain. It didn’t turn out that checkpoint. He also scored the high of clay soil that you find in parts of way, and it caught most of us by sur est among Americans in what’s been Ohio and in sections of New Eng prise. When it’s cold, the body does labeled by many of the riders as the land. With the course about 90 per n’t function as quickly, responses are toughest ISDT in history. cent trail, and the fact that the ter slowed and basically a rider feels We talked with Tom the weekend rain changes drastically when it’s sluggish and not quite ready to per after Czecho to learn his feelings on wet, I knew before the start in the form. I had put on a nylon wind- the event. According to him, a lot of morning that Day 5 would be ‘the breaker and gloves, but it wasn’t the results are firmed-up long before day.’ It had a tight schedule and lots enough to keep me comfortable and anyone boards the plane for Europe. of difficult sections. riding efficiently. “For Six Days you’ve got to be in “A problem that stopped a lot of “As far as the motorcycle goes, good shape,’’ he explained. “Before guys was a bottleneck that devel Day 5 was very destructive. The clay the event, I went up to Maine for oped on one of the uphills. When I mud was bad, and then you encoun about two months and did a lot of got there before the big-bore ma tered a rocky granite and sand com running, bicycling and mountain chines, I went right up the hill. As a bination that ruined a lot of chains climbing to get into shape. My men matter of fact, I don’t remember the and got into your airbox if it wasn’t tal outlook was also good for the exact location of this killer hill that sealed exactly right, in order for you ISDT. Towards the summer I got a everyone was talking about. Appar to stay on time during Day 5, every little burned-out on riding motorcy ently, after I got through, the com thing had to click perfectly. The cles, which is something that hap bination of more rain, ruts and the smallest problem would immediately pens to a lot of us. Due to that time bottleneck of riders who couldn’t continued on page 79 56 MOTORCYCLIST/DECEMBER 1977 the Czech organizers were still play and always running the show. PENTON ing mind games with riders just as Strange, however, was the East Ger continued from page 56 they had done all week long. The man situation. Going into Day Six course broke down statistically to 68 they led the Czechs by 1700 points, drop you off trail pace into Silver.” miles on a “B” schedule, tight sec finally breaking into the lead of the We also talked to Tom about the tions with 17 route and time checks. Silver Vase standings. But on that fi special test scores he produced, and Due to both mental and physical fa nal day the East German team suspi apparently, he takes a different ap tigue a lot of competitors dropped ciously amassed 1740 route points, proach than most riders when attack points. Only 101 riders started Day while the Czech Vase riders cleaned ing the test sections. Six, the survivors from Friday's mas the day. In the end the Czechs had “Those portions are very safe now. sacre. As if he didn’t have enough won both the Vase and the Trophy Most of them are grass tracks and troubles breaking a foot the day be competition. In the U.S. Manufactur there isn’t that constant possibility of fore in the mud, Carl Cranke got off er’s competition the Cycle East/ getting seriously hurt if you make a again and this time cracked a shoul Husky team, even with the retirement mistake. It’s hard to do an endo in der. Kevon LaVoie lost 10 minutes, of Greg Davis, had bested the Pen- an ISDT special test. Generally when Bob Popiel dropped 17 minutes, ton A team which lost Frank Gallo. you fall, it’s a slide-out in a corner. To get a good special test score while Billy Uhl and Mike Rosso each In the tally of individual scores you’ve got to push yourself hard but fell 21 minutes off the pace. For Dick both Tom Penton (highest-placing not to the point where you’re sliding- Burleson the tension was enormous American—fifth in the 250 class) and out in corners or making big mis before that final day’s start. By drop Dick Burleson had earned Gold Med takes that take up time. A lot of guys ping 10 minutes on Day Five he had als. Silver Medals were awarded to practice for the ISDT special test by fallen to Silver status. His only Jack Penton, Gary Younkins, Rod going out and riding a lot of moto chance of regaining a Gold rested in Bush, Carl Cranke and Mike Rosso. cross. This might work for some rid the final motocross test in which he Completing the 52nd ISDT with a ers, but they’ve got to remember that had to finish within 50 seconds of Bronze were Ted Leimbach, Kevin the Six Days special tests are on the class leader. LaVoie, Mark Deyo, Bob Popiel and grass tracks and it’s totally different. In that midday motocross test rid Billy Uhl. The final tally: 37 American There are no berms, no bulldozer- ers were paired in their engine class starters, 12 finishers. Starting num made whoop-dee-doos, and there groups, instead of riding individually bers which ranged from 1 all the way isn’t much practice before you’re as they had all week. The most im down to 369 had dwindled to a mere timed. pressive U.S. ride was put on by Tom 99 finishers on Day Six. So what comprises a good Six Penton who led the 250 field for the Before the start of the ISDT in a Days rider? In Tom’s opinion, the initial two laps, and finished, in third meeting for all the U.S. riders Al motocrosser still has an advantage. position pulling wheelies all during Eames had explained what he felt “I feel that a hotshoe in motocross the last lap. Penton’s highest-placing would happen. “The Czechs are go who has the ability to handle and un American finale not only pumped the ing to play games with you, both derstand his motorcycle would make American spectators but drew ap physically with tough tight trails and a good Six Days rider. You’ve got to plause from enthusiasts of every mentally due to fast schedules and learn how to feel out the bike, keep it country.

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