The 70’s

Kenny Banyan
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7/7/2026 10:38am Edited Date/Time 7/7/2026 10:40am

Kenny Banyan 1975 racing on polished concrete at the Seattle Center Colosseum Home of the Seattle Super Sonic’s ,now known as Climate Pledge Arena. On a Champion Framed XL 350 Honda

IMG 7127 4.jpeg?VersionId=vDc0gef3n59BUpBl2qYH2bL
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sumdood
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Fantasy
7/7/2026 9:23pm

Is there a better smell ? IMG 5149 2

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Warlock
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7/7/2026 9:39pm Edited Date/Time 7/7/2026 9:40pm

Klotz ain't bad 🤔

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Kenny Banyan
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7/8/2026 5:25am Edited Date/Time 7/8/2026 6:39am
sumdood wrote:
Is there a better smell ?

Is there a better smell ? IMG 5149 2

The best ……and there was never a doubt when you smelled that as to who was running it. If they made a deodorant I’d be wearing it!😂

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The Shop

RDnutz
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7/8/2026 6:36am
Warlock wrote:

Klotz ain't bad 🤔

I discovered it in the early 1970s when I had my LT2 Yamaha. My riding buddies all wanted to know what it was and liked the smell following me. Way cleaner burning than the Torco and Valvoline stuff we commonly ran before. The original Techni plate still rocks, but I did find out the mixed stuff with Castor doesn't stay separated in storage and gummed up a few gas tanks and carbs after leaving it in my bikes awhile.

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FreshTopEnd
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7/8/2026 10:35am

Pro pits have changed a bit.

Pits Stusiak12.jpeg?VersionId=3593iBSt.La9CeNcjnPits Stusiak11Pits Stusiak09Pits Stusiak10Pits Stusiak08.jpeg?VersionId=Qh5phgdyjPits Stusiak03Pits Stusiak06.jpeg?VersionId=ixzC8
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Kenny Banyan
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7/8/2026 11:26am
Pro pits have changed a bit.

Pro pits have changed a bit.

Pits Stusiak12.jpeg?VersionId=3593iBSt.La9CeNcjnPits Stusiak11Pits Stusiak09Pits Stusiak10Pits Stusiak08.jpeg?VersionId=Qh5phgdyjPits Stusiak03Pits Stusiak06.jpeg?VersionId=ixzC8

WOW!😎

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FreshTopEnd
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7/8/2026 11:48am

WOW!😎

The milk crates . . . and the guy with a Bud in is hand in Howerton's pits 😂

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500 Mike
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7/8/2026 3:57pm
sumdood wrote:
Is there a better smell ?

Is there a better smell ? IMG 5149 2

The best ……and there was never a doubt when you smelled that as to who was running it. If they made a deodorant I’d be wearing...

The best ……and there was never a doubt when you smelled that as to who was running it. If they made a deodorant I’d be wearing it!😂

100% agree. I have that exact can in my garage also.  Probably many on here do.  Not sure why I’m keeping it other than remembering great old days.  👍

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G-man
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7/8/2026 4:10pm
1000016962 0
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Kenny Banyan
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7/8/2026 5:14pm
G-man wrote:
1000016962 0

Excellent addition to this thread G-man!👊🏻

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Reese95w
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7/11/2026 10:08am Edited Date/Time 7/11/2026 11:05am

The 1st Motocross I ever attended.  April 1971, Corvallis Montana.  Took pictures with my mom's Kodak Instamatic.

Edit:  I will add, as soon as I got to this race, and we walked around the pits, I was hooked and I knew I wanted to race motocross eventually.  But it took a few more years to get there.

1971 CorvallisMT 01
Practice
1971 CorvallisMT 02.jpg?VersionId=Z8Kx2ex6NE
1st moto and my first motocross action shot
1971 CorvallisMT 08
1971 CorvallisMT 03.jpg?VersionId=mVvoSj1u7WHgpvEqMk
A little later in the day
1971 CorvallisMT 05
Snow melted, sunny and somewhat warm by the end of the day.
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Kenny Banyan
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7/11/2026 10:44am
Reese95w wrote:
The 1st Motocross I ever attended.  April 1971, Corvallis Montana.  Took pictures with my mom's Kodak Instamatic.Edit:  I will add, as soon as I got to...

The 1st Motocross I ever attended.  April 1971, Corvallis Montana.  Took pictures with my mom's Kodak Instamatic.

Edit:  I will add, as soon as I got to this race, and we walked around the pits, I was hooked and I knew I wanted to race motocross eventually.  But it took a few more years to get there.

1971 CorvallisMT 01
Practice
1971 CorvallisMT 02.jpg?VersionId=Z8Kx2ex6NE
1st moto and my first motocross action shot
1971 CorvallisMT 08
1971 CorvallisMT 03.jpg?VersionId=mVvoSj1u7WHgpvEqMk
A little later in the day
1971 CorvallisMT 05
Snow melted, sunny and somewhat warm by the end of the day.

Cool pics Reese.😎

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Kenny Banyan
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7/14/2026 9:13pm

I actually had an orange 1974 Ford Pino just like this. It a had a 2300 in line 4  4 speed and topped out at 115 mph. 

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7/14/2026 9:42pm
sumdood wrote:
Is there a better smell ?

Is there a better smell ? IMG 5149 2

The best ……and there was never a doubt when you smelled that as to who was running it. If they made a deodorant I’d be wearing...

The best ……and there was never a doubt when you smelled that as to who was running it. If they made a deodorant I’d be wearing it!😂

I still put a bit in my lawn mower.

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Kenny Banyan
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7/14/2026 10:11pm
sumdood wrote:
Is there a better smell ?

Is there a better smell ? IMG 5149 2

The best ……and there was never a doubt when you smelled that as to who was running it. If they made a deodorant I’d be wearing...

The best ……and there was never a doubt when you smelled that as to who was running it. If they made a deodorant I’d be wearing it!😂

I still put a bit in my lawn mower.

👊🏻💯

ricky racer
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Niles, MI, USA
7/15/2026 6:19am
Reese95w wrote:
The 1st Motocross I ever attended.  April 1971, Corvallis Montana.  Took pictures with my mom's Kodak Instamatic.Edit:  I will add, as soon as I got to...

The 1st Motocross I ever attended.  April 1971, Corvallis Montana.  Took pictures with my mom's Kodak Instamatic.

Edit:  I will add, as soon as I got to this race, and we walked around the pits, I was hooked and I knew I wanted to race motocross eventually.  But it took a few more years to get there.

1971 CorvallisMT 01
Practice
1971 CorvallisMT 02.jpg?VersionId=Z8Kx2ex6NE
1st moto and my first motocross action shot
1971 CorvallisMT 08
1971 CorvallisMT 03.jpg?VersionId=mVvoSj1u7WHgpvEqMk
A little later in the day
1971 CorvallisMT 05
Snow melted, sunny and somewhat warm by the end of the day.

Reminds me of a qualifier to race in the Pontiac Silverdome back in the day. The race was held at the Portland Trail Riders track.  They had to push snow off of the track prior to the race. I was sick having to riding my brand new Maico 400 in that slop...

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Dave v3.0
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7/15/2026 1:08pm

The first race I ever attended.Mid Lake Raceway Ticket.jpg?VersionId=6cNo

 

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Dave v3.0
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7/15/2026 1:09pm
Mid Lake Pg 1 copyMidlake pg 2 copy
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Dave v3.0
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7/15/2026 1:11pm

Same track. Only this time it's me in 1974.Midlake enhanced 0

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Forty
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7/15/2026 1:29pm
G-man wrote:
1000016962 0

Dang

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oldnescVet
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7/15/2026 4:19pm
Dave v3.0 wrote:
Mid Lake Pg 1 copyMidlake pg 2 copy

Glenn Vincent…. Wow he was my neighbor along with his brother Charlie. Top finishing American rider in the first USA  race with the Europeans in New England I think it was 1969. Awesome mechanic too. 

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R66
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7/16/2026 1:13pm


Evel stayed at the Radisson Hotel near my house a lot. I rode my bike down there and hung out in the lobby and met him when I was about 10 years old.   

IMG 4713 0
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Kenny Banyan
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7/16/2026 2:55pm
R66 wrote:
Evel stayed at the Radisson Hotel near my house a lot. I rode my bike down there and hung out in the lobby and met him...


Evel stayed at the Radisson Hotel near my house a lot. I rode my bike down there and hung out in the lobby and met him when I was about 10 years old.   

IMG 4713 0

He was one of my heroes growing up. 

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1 day ago
G-man wrote:
1000016962 0

Looks like the log cabin quick trip by Wi. Rapids a few lakes in the area. Inside a ton of people in swim suits . A ton of very tanned blondes .  In wi. You can roll up in a 65 GTO & fill up with 110 octane at the pump yet.  In 26 I guess I roll old school in my flared out Chevy van.  Hot Ukraine girls at trucking cos in  Chicago  go nutty ovr it.  All smiles saying is that your van repeatedly.  I say yeah babe want to go for a quick spin ?  They can’t stop giggling.  IMG 5772 4

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mumbles
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Dave v3.0 wrote:
The first race I ever attended.    

The first race I ever attended.Mid Lake Raceway Ticket.jpg?VersionId=6cNo

 

This reminds me of when I started racing in 1972. In NC from 1972 -75 I could go to a race, pay $3 at the gate (included my entry fee), ride my two races and if I won my class (which I usually always got top three) I would make $20, 2nd $15 and 3rd $10. Gas was 49 cents. It was amazing back then.

I really miss those days.

B68FA12E-912E-4DB6-B05C-B81FA2D8E518 1 105 c 0
1958 BSA Goldstar 500
F5B72478-9306-4F31-9A09-EF513C9B3408 1 105 c 2.jpeg?VersionId=WHXiqTCV3fPu5SU6.JJAnl1
1973 SuzukiTM250

 

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LIVEWIRE
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1 day ago Edited Date/Time 1 day ago
Bearuno wrote:
This is what I made of a Yamaha MotoBike:1975, if I recall correctly. Might have been '76?I lived at the base of the Blue Mountains.So, I...

This is what I made of a Yamaha MotoBike:

20251126 181244

1975, if I recall correctly. Might have been '76?

I lived at the base of the Blue Mountains.

So, I had a the escarpment right behind me.

And, I was a Down Hiller by nature. Still am - I regularly put away the crutches, put my walking stick in my CB, put on my Knee Braces, Tape my shoulders,  fit my Thumb and Wrist braces, and, terrorize the kids on the Runs. And, take a minimum of pain killers, after it. Most of the DH runs here that the MTBers use now, are directly related to what I made. 

I Had a MotoBike - it was just so bloody crap.

I Had an RM125. That had the Kayaba Gas Shocks - with something near 4" of travel in themselves.  

I was already making 'things' - I'd started cutting and shutting at around 12. I was 15 /16 at that time.

I worked out a way to convert the 3" (?) travel spring forks, to 6.5" of travel, while Doubling the fork bush depth, and , Making them a Linked Air Fork. I eventually made them into Damper Rod forks, too - as the original steel lower forks certainly were not.

The Cantilever / Monoshock set up, gave me 7 / 7.5" at the rear.

I'd already made the Yamaha frame into a Monoshock, and went to my first BMX race  next to Macquarie University / Marsfield, and, destroyed all the other racers.

 But, that frame was already starting to fail.

So, I had a month until the next race, and I went onwards with my Aluminium Beam (Rectangular Box Section) Frame that I'd been working on.  I'd learned to TIG weld, I machined it all up, and finished it. Well, not quite at this Photos time - I hadn't finished the Full Aluminium Swingarm. That was done the week after the second race, so, I used the OEM steel arm, with my bolt on Alloy Upper Triangle. You can see the Yellow SA  / Chainstays in that picture. 

2nd BMX race = Destroyed the other racers, again. Start straight was a mild Downhill, the rest, went back upwards. I was, Very Bloody Strong in those days. 

The company / people running the races, and importing Mongoose / BMX Products, eventually got me onto the 'Geese', and, got me to start making Hard Tail BMX frames for them - the Quicksilvers. At first, they were blatant copies of Mongoose ( NOT my idea, I hated that sort of rip-off : and they wondered why they eventually lost the distributorship???) then, finally, they adopted my own designs, thank goodness. 

I've still got the frame hanging up, but, when I got onto the 'normal' BMX bikes, it became purely my Local DHer. As the company was the Fox distributor, I fitted a Fox Airshock to it. That and the Kayaba (I remember the shock complete with spring, cost $35 AUD) are  in a cabinet, somewhere near my welding table. Eventually, I converted it to a Sidehack - the Big Beam being perfect for a mount face, and, torsionally resistant. I modified the top shock mounts to be the front 'hack mounts. I've intended to re-do them, and get it fully back together, but, it's yet another project I need to get back to. I 've got the front wheel somewhere, as it was a Wide Hub set up. And, as an aside, 16" Knobbies , that were then the std fitment on XR75s etc, fitted onto 20" BMX wheels - and the front end stuck like the proverbial to a blanket!

Off topic.

I enjoyed my visit to the Blue Mountains, Port Douglas, great barrier reef, Kuranda Village and the Barron Gorge was fricken beautiful. The entire Gold Coast is beautiful. One of my top vacation of all time. Except for that dreadful 16 hour flight. 
Spent a week in Sydney, should’ve stayed along the Gold Coast.😂

If you ever get a chance, visit Yosemite in California 

I was a skinny poor kid in the 70’s dreaming of owning an XR 75

Carry on, my friend. 
 

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