Stu's Motorcycles...

Here's the shot of Mark Brelsford at his very first race defending his brand new #1 plate. He recovered from this, but never regained the drive he had up to this point. Fortunately, his family wisely invested his earnings in San Francisco real estate, and he retired to Alaska, where he still resides today...

Mark Brelsford

This is a shot that I wish was me.... This was the form of racing I used to do, flatt track! This is Mark Brelsford, who was Grand National Champion (#1) in 1972. Here he going between 100 and 130 mph! I really got off on this type of racing. Mark was my hero in the racing world. The very first race he raced in 1973 was at Daytona. He hit a downed rider at 160 MPH, and exploded into a fireball! A photographer took a photo, and it was the biggest selling motorcycle racing poster of all time. I'll try to get a copy posted next blog. Mark crushed his hand and was never the same. He retired to Alaska in 1975 or 76, I don't remember.... I just purchased the DVD "On Any Sunday" which has some shots of Mark. He was a fantastic rider....

Kawasaki 650

When I moved back from Chici to Redding in April 1985, I purchased a Kawasaki 650. It reminded me of my Kawai 900, but not near as much poop. It was a great commute bike, though. I used to go riding during my lunch hours at work. It was a real release. Good memories on this bike...

Suzuki TS250

I bought this bike brand new in 1975 for about $800, from Fator Motorcycles in Redding. That was a cool shop, they used to be the Bultaco dealer when they were located in downtown Redding on Pine street. I bought this as a street/dirt commute bike. It wasn't a great dirt bike, and only a so so street bike, but I enjoyed it just the same. I took it up Shasta Bally at least once, just to see the view. I had this bike at least a year, maybe longer. It was fun, and I have good memories on it. (Are you seeing a pattern here? Motorcycles bring good memories ALL the time...)

Kamakazi 900

This was a cool machine. I think it was a 1972 model, if I'm not mistaken. It handled well, and GOBBS of power. Mine was red and white, and a little older than this one I'm posting, but they looked an awful lot alike. Again, I don't remember what I did with this one, I'm sure I traded it off or sold it and bought something else. By this time in my life, I seldom had less than 3 or 4 bikes at a time. I did do my only "professional" drag bike race with this machine, at the Redding Drag Strip out by the municipal airport. I turned a 12:26 and actually won 10 bucks! (Only cost me $15 to enter the race...) I made it to the second round before I got wiped out by a 57 chevy.... Good memories on this bike...

Suzuki TM-400 "Cyclone"

Now this was a real powerhouse! I used to ride this bike in the open class and ride my elsinore in the 250 class. That was a great time of racing. I would jump off the 250 and go directly to the open class. I had to have people have it all started uo and running and waiting for me at the starting line. This bike handled quite poorly, but it had a torque band that was phenominal! Riding this bike was like riding a tornado. You never knew what it would do, or where it would end up. BUT, it was exciting. (I guess I should have taken a hint from the name: "Cyclone"...)
My best night racing this combonation of bikes was at the Happy Valley TT track located just out side of Anderson, CA. That was my home track, and I won both classes that particular saturday night. It was the only time I ever won both classes at any racetrack. I did quite a few second place finish's in the two classes. As far as mu memories, this bike brings back GREAT memories...

Triumph 650 Bonnivle

For a short time, I owned a Triumph 650. (this is not the bike, but the closest pic I could find) I, of course, turned it into a flat tracker, (just like everything else I ever owned...) Had a lot of fun on this bike, but it was just a little bit too heavy for me, so I sold it and bought a Suzuki TM400 (next blog) Like every other bike I've owned, I wish I had kept this one. It is fast becoming a classic, and they are very hard to find. Just like life: our hindsight is always 20/20.... Short memories on this bike, but good ones.

Hodaka Ace 100

For a short time, I owned an Ace 100. It was not near as nice as this one, but at least you can see what it looked like. These were actually made up in Oregon, named after a mountain range, if I remember correctly. I always thought they were a japanese make, but they were not. Again, I don't recall what happened to this bike, I suppose I sold it to buy something else....

Yamaha RD350 street bike

This was a COOL bike. I had it for only a short time (6 months or so...) but it was a blast. I was gonna turn it into a road racer and start racing on pavement, but the closest track was 200+ miles away, too far for a 17 year old who made minimum wage! This bike handled really well, and was a blast to "wheelie" down the street. Good memories with this machine...

This bike here is very close to what I had at one time: A 1972 Bultaco Astro. This bike was a real bomb, in more ways than one. It was as fast as a rocket ship, but it blew up a lot! I had a hard time keeping it running, and purchased my Honda Elsinore shortly after I sold this beast. It handled like a dream, and was lightening fast, but it was broke more than I care to remember. As far as memories, good ones, but certainly not great ones. This bike was made in Spain, just like my Ossa Stiletto. Spanish bikes were not very reliable, at least not with me. I guess that's why both companies are out of business...

Honda Sport 65, 1967

My father bought my brother and I brand new Sport 65's for Christmas in 1967. What a Christmas! We were in heaven. Ours didn't have the white seat (ours was black) We rode these bikes EVERY chance we got. My Dad was a smart man: these bikes kept us out of trouble, because we wanted to ride, and if we were in trouble, we couldn't! Good memories...

Go, "Speed Racer", Go!

Here I am, (winning, I might add...) racing in 1972 at the Marysville Raceway just outside of Sacramento, CA. This was on my Honda 250 Elsinore, my favorite race bike. I was sponsored by my parent's music store: Herreid Music, located in Redding, CA.

My sister and her husband own it now. They have two stores, one in Redding and one in Chico. www.hmusic.com If you need a musical instrument, call Rich at (530) 243-7283

I wish I had taken more photos of my racing days, the "glory" days, so to speak. This is the only one I have. I was gonna go professional at one time, but was smart enough to know my limitations. I was very good at the regional level, but would have probably got myself killed. I was just good enough to get myself into trouble on the track, but NOT good enough to get myself out, like the big boys could...

Again, GREAT memories

As we continue our journey down memory lane, we come to this bike. It is a Honda 150 "Dream". It is actually a street bike, but I rode it in the dirt, and learned how to ride a motorcycle on this beast. Mine was orange, and didn't have the license plate mounted on the front fender. I think we bought this bike in 1969, or 70, I don't remember. It was old then, but I didn't care. It was powerful, and handled quite well in the dirt, considering it was actually a street bike. Definately, a street bike, but I was too young to know the difference... (I was about 14-15 at the time)

This particular motorcycle is exactly like the one my father used to have. He bought the very first CB750 sold in Redding, CA. in 1969. It was red just like this one. This bike revolutionized the entire motorcycle industry, it was the most powerful street legal bike of it's time. Again, good memories.

I've had MANY cool motorcycles, and this one is probably in my top 3 or 4. Maybe as high as # 1. I turned this one into a flat tracker, with a 19" front wheel, and it was an absolute rocket. I won many races with this jewel. I wish I could remember what I did with this bike: I would LOVE to have it today. This was purchased from Johnnie Ross Motorcycles in Redding CA. in 1973. I bought one of the first ones that they sold. Good memories....

As we continue my trip down memory lane, here is my first serious race bike that I purchased in the early seventies, I think it was 1971. I converted it into a flat track racer, and had a ball with it. It was a better flat track machine than it was a motocrosser, althoiugh that was it's original intent....

"Memory Lane"

I've been taking a trip dowm "memory lane" lately. Since I bought my 1981 BMW R100/7 this last July, I have had a renewed interest in my old love for motorcycles. I have been googling a lot lately and dredging up old pictures of the different motorcycles I've had over the years. I have lost count after 40!

The bike here on the right was purchased for me by my father in 1973. He bought my brother Lynn the same thing, only a gold colored one. I rode this bike until the wheels came off.

I will endeavor to update this blog on a regular basis. I hope you enjoy my trip dowm memory lane!

New Wheels!

We sold our old Old Bravada, and a few things on eBay, and were able to purchase a 1981 BMW R100/7 motorcycle. What with the price of gas and such, we were getting KILLED at the gas pump with our Chevy Suburban. In the first month alone, we saved over $200 in gasoline! At that rate, we will pay for the bike in exactlty 1 year.....

Here's a picture of a similar bike, I haven't quit riding the new one long enough to take a picture!

About Stu's Motorcycles

Well, I have had a love affair with motorcycles ever since my dad bought me and my brother our very first mini bike back in 1967, from Wonder World in Redding Ca. We rode that little mini bike until the wheels fell off. (I'll post a picture once I find it!)

I've owned over 40 bikes in my 54 years. The preceding blog is a trip down "memory lane" (as best as my memory will allow...) I will endeavor to update from time to time. Please feel free to make comments. I love to hear from other motorcycle lovers...