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8/7/2010
Location
Temple City, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
4/4/2020 8:19pm
Being alot of downtime for everyone got me thinking.
Who were/are the best all-time mechanics from the 60s/70s/80s/90s/00s?
I can only think of Tony Berlutti(spelling), lee mocolum(spelling),Chad Watts, Skip Norfolk, Jeremy albrect(spelling), Mike Gosselar (Goose) (spelling).
Any insight to unsung heroes, or even better mechanics feel free to throw a story out there. Im only a fan and never got to personally meet any of the guys. But the bikes they put out there spoke volumes with the riders aboard.
Who were/are the best all-time mechanics from the 60s/70s/80s/90s/00s?
I can only think of Tony Berlutti(spelling), lee mocolum(spelling),Chad Watts, Skip Norfolk, Jeremy albrect(spelling), Mike Gosselar (Goose) (spelling).
Any insight to unsung heroes, or even better mechanics feel free to throw a story out there. Im only a fan and never got to personally meet any of the guys. But the bikes they put out there spoke volumes with the riders aboard.
Jim Felt. (Partially for all the stuff he did after his moto career.)
BTW, I know there is a full vid of Goose swapping out the electrics on Dungey's bike that time.
Talk about pressure!!! Holy crap! Anyone have a link to that?
The Shop
J-Bone because he kept Stew's 125 running almost flawlessly. I think one mechanical DNF at most?
Goose - Kept RC's bikes running through multiple perfect seasons.
Skip Norfolk
Goose
http://www.klemmvintage.com/usgp1975.htm
It was different back in the late 60's to mid 70's. We were in unknown territory. Bikes and moto-technology were changing almost weekly. Innovation along with good old Yankee ingenuity was essential. Those of you that were there know what I'm saying here. Not to take anything away from those that came later, they were all incredible. But my vote goes to all the guys that blazed the trail when there was no roadmap.
The modern (factory) mechanic has it a lot easier but one thing remains the same.....long hours. It takes a special person to survive the travel and long hours season after season.
I take my hat off to guys like Goose for hanging in so long. He deserves to be in a green pasture somewhere.
Very few move up the ladder. Ian Harrison for example left South Africa with Greg, they were just kids. Look where he is now. Happy for him.
I
Pit Row
I’d say you would have to ask riders and the mechs themselves.
In Europe:
Harry Nolte
Herman Gevers
Fabio Santoni
Frank Grolleman
With an endless list of honourable mentions.
To make myself clear, before the inevitable pissing and moaning - a whole bunch of those 'names', mentioned previously in this thread, and still to come, are / have been fantastic Mechanics and Engineers - but there are blokes most never know of, that have really done the hard yards, and, been incredibly creative and influential, behind the scene(s). With little, to no, public cachet.
I'm surprised that Mitch Payton hasn't been
mentioned yet. Might be a solid second GOAT, right behind Jones.
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