Only because...

[GTM®]

I lived for being sideways as a kid...

Scott Parker knows traction. You don't win nine AMA Grand National Championships on our nation's wickedly competitive dirt-tracks without having a good sense of what the tires do when they start slidin', but who knew he could wheelie, too!

Parker was part of the show at the U.S. launch of the Harley-Davidson XR1200, and the 47-year-old made it clear on a day-long street ride that he still likes to have a good time on two wheels—especially on a bike inspired by his championship-winning mount, the classic-yet-current XR-750.

These days, Parker is partner in a pub with long-time friend Dave Donahue—PD's in Flint, Michigan ("Karaoke Tuesdays")—and helps his wife Wanda at her hair salon. "I'm the handyman!" he says with a smile and a laugh. While he doesn't miss the grind of racing, he did speak pretty fondly of the last time he got to ride—just for fun—on a groomed dirt-track a few years ago. Hopefully, he dug our time on the street, too. Judging by the photo, sideways is still a way of life for the champ!

More words and pics HERE.

 

[guzzi jon]

I rode one of those last week at the harley dealer next to our company in Slough in the UK, I really liked it, first harley I've ridden that I wanted to ride in the SMM's... hope they dont get too cheap, i could accidently get one, just sayin......

 

[Daniel Kalal]

It was twenty-four years ago at the Springfield Mile. I took this photograph of Scotty Parkers foot...

this was taken just after the final race. Scotty, Bubba and Ricky. Three of the very best.

 

[GTM®]

Daniel Kalal wrote:

It was twenty-four years ago at the Springfield Mile. I took this photograph of Scotty Parkers foot...

Nice Daniel, thanks for the post. The shoe was made by Ken Maely, who I got to know very well in the last few years of his life. I have one on my boot still, which he personally hard-faced last. It was a pleasure to get to know him, and hang at his ranch in Corona... and you never knew who was going to stop by. I met Kenny Roberts Sr., the Bostroms, Hayden Brothers, Springsteen, Chris Carr and a slew of other modern D/T'ers... also including all of the Speedway guys, and even Bruce Penhall and family, remember him?

More on Ken's legacy, click:

 

[Daniel Kalal]

RacerX wrote:

and even Bruce Penhall and family, remember him?

It might have been at this same Springfield Mile race (I've been going twice each year for 25 years) that Bruce Penhall was helping with one of the networks to cover the race. As part of that, they put him on an XR to take a couple of laps. I don't remember whose bike he rode, but I think it was one of the factory Harleys. Anyway, the first turn was a little tentative, but by the time he came out of turn 4 for the front straight he was tucked down and didn't let up as he went deep into the first turn. He was flying. Afterwards, during an interview he said he had never ridden an XR and hadn't been on a Mile track before. I guess that just shows that a good motorcycle racer will be fast, no matter what he's riding. Not letting up into turn one at Springfield has got to be one of the scariest things a racer can do.

btw,
This is me not riding the Aprilia flat tracker of the Lloyd Brothers (David Lloyd took the shot).

 

[Mike.C]

RacerX wrote:

I met Kenny Roberts Sr.,

Sometimes I wish this big island of ours had a bridge to the rest of the world. Mr Roberts was The Man in the mags when I started riding and I lapped every story of his racing exploits up and dreamed of riding "just like him".

The 1st helmet I ever owned was an Arai Kenny Roberts replica with his signature on the back... I only chucked it a couple of years ago.

 

[SgtCrump]

RacerX wrote:

Daniel Kalal wrote:

and even Bruce Penhall and family, remember him?

....all us hardcore Speedway fans know who he is.....just a former World Champion Speedway racer......that might have been his first time on a Harley, on an American mile track, but when he won the World Championship in Europe, he was riding on some really long Speedway tracks, so he's no stranger to going sideways at speed!!!!!

Woohoo......Costa Mesa opens on May 9th!!!

 

[GTM®]

Taken from Gary Nixon's FB page. I'll have to dig up some of my old D/T pics to post, including one alongside of this character:

 

[Daniel Kalal]

RacerX wrote:

Taken from Gary Nixon's FB page. I'll have to dig up some of my old D/T pics to post, including one alongside of this character:

I've got this hanging in my house:

Here are a few more

at the Springfield Mile in 2005

at Topeka, working with Jay Springsteen as part of the Pair-of-Nines race team.

and at Daytona Speedway last year

 

[RJVB]

I've seen a single XR1200 so far, the black version. It looks good, I must admit.

A couple of pics from a Harley exhibit/museum in Vancouver: