Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1162341
14 Trail Rider As a kid who grew up during the minibike craze during the 60's, sports that involved s cks, balls & bats were merely games in our household. This kids' childhood heroes burned fuel. In fact, I'd have to thank Honda Motor Company for my introduc on to the sport of off-road motorcycling. I'll remember the moment ' l the day I die. It was Christmas 1968 where my next door neighbor, Gary Drown woke to find a brand new Honda Mini Trail under the tree. Within minutes, phones were ablaze and all the neighborhood kids gathered at the Drown's house and drooled over the li le blue and silver bike. Two wheeled heaven in our young eyes. During the following summer, a number of us lucky kids took turns riding that Mini Trail in the neighborhood sand-lot. Cherished memories for sure. Over the following years, I'd honed my skills on minibikes of my own, finally moving up to a real motorcycle with a clutch and everything. The year was 1974, I was 12 years old and the bike was a Ho- daka Wombat 125. Over the next couple seasons, I'd become a full-blown dirt bike freak with every waking moment consumed with riding dirt. School really wasn't of great interest, was ng me in class reading Super Hunky's tales in Dirt Bike while sketching drawings of my dream bike, the Penton 125 Six Day. At the me, Team Penton was at the very top of their game. The game being the Interna onal Six Day Trial. The Olympics of motorcycling. These guys were my idols, my heroes. No ques on, the true defini on of an athlete in my eyes. Those who understood wouldn't argue that riding 150+ miles per day with special tests over a six day period took incredible athle c prowess. I hold those who've competed in the ISDT/E in very high regard and having a chance to rub elbows with some of my child heroes in re- cent years has been a lot of fun. A ending an ISDT reunion is something I'd yet to do, when my buddy Joe Chodnicki invited me to a end Cayuga County Rider's, Leroy Winters Memorial ISDT Reunion Ride, I jumped at the chance. On a sad note, the state of New York offers ZERO miles of state-maintained trails. Fortunately, off-road motorcycling is s ll very much alive and well in NY though many generous landowners and ac ve clubs. Cayuga County Riders Leroy Winters Memorial ISDT Reunion Ride Two Days of Grins and Gratification