2007 SMOG East Trail Ride (Part 3)

The best part about the SMOG ride is seeing all the old bikes that people have dumped a small fortune into. There were some absolutely beautiful bikes on display and a few of them were even ridden on the trail.


This sweet looking Bultaco Astro flat-tracker wasn't hitting the trails, but it was on display. It had a fantastic air-brushed mural on the back fender that reminded me of a custom van from the 70's. It was like a flashback to my Jr. High School days. I should've taken a photo of that mural, but I was having a mentally-challenged moment.


There was also this very clean and original-looking Ossa MAR (Mick Andrews Replica). It had also been signed by Mick himself. That alone probably doubles the value.


Fellow Stateline and SMOG member Mark B. rode his Bultaco Pursang. Later he hopped on his son's 300 Gasser and we did one hot-lap together. There must've been 20 riders stuck on one hill when we came blasting through. People scattered like teenagers from a keg party when the cops show up.

Of course meeting new Spanish motorcycle enthusiasts is also a highlight. Since most of us suffer from the same affliction (okay, we're nut-jobs) Once again I met a lot of nice people, some from as far away as Iowa, and bench-raced with old familiar faces. Lots of people complimented on how well-behaved my children were. They should've been around when we got home.


Capital Area Trail Riders Assn. (CATRA) showed up in force and we proudly displayed our banner. Left to right - Russ G., Sponge Bob, Dave G. and Trials Pete. Not pictured are Victor and Nina P. (they left early), Kenny (we couldn't find him) and the oaf behind the camera. My kids were tired of having their pictures taken by this point.


We found Kenny! He was about to collapse from trying to start his Ossa Super Pioneer. I don't think he'd started it since the ISDT Reunion Ride in 2003. I snapped this photo of Sponge Bob explaining to Kenny the technique of not kicking like a girl. Kenny was mumbling something about bad gas. Not sure if he was talking about gasoline or something the guy in the yellow Fox jersey was passing.

For me it was another successful SMOG Ride. All my bikes started and two of them were ridden on the trails as a prospective buyer took the 2001 Gasser for a test ride. Nothing was broken on either the bikes or my body. That's three for four.