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.

2007 SMOG East Trail Ride (Part 2)

For October, the weather was unseasonably warm. Don't tell Al Gore, he'll want to make another mockumentary calling for an outright ban on Spanish motorcycles. Before the catch phrase Global Warming/Global Climate Change (or whatever they are calling it these days) people referred to this weather as Indian Summer. I guess that's not a PC term anymore. A couple of EZ-Ups provided shade and, at times, there was a slight breeze.


Here Lauren practices her "Thumbs Up" for the camera. Her favorite part of the day was the group photo. Perhaps she wants to be a model when she grows up?

The ride kicks off at 10:00 a.m. with a group photo. Well, it's supposed to be 10:00 a.m. Around 80 riders were in attendance for the 17th annual ride and the group photo was taken just before 11:00. Ken McGuire, who does a great job organizing the SMOG East Rides and running SMOG, takes the group photo and holds a brief riders meeting. We were told the loop was 10-miles in length. Ken is an attorney... the loop was just over five miles. Maybe it just seems a lot farther on a vintage bike.


I loaded Jacob, Lauren and Kyle onto my Bultaco and pushed them over to where the group photo was taken. None of them fell off and I didn't pull anything important in the process.


Sponge Bob on his 100% original, unrestored, Ossa Super Pioneer. You'd be hard-pressed to find another unrestored '75 enduro bike in this good of shape. However, riding a vintage enduro bike like this makes you glad to get back on a modern enduro bike.


CATRA VP and Sherco dealer, Trials Pete, showed up with this Bultaco model 199 Sherpa T. One of the last models to ever roll out of the original Bultaco factory in Barcelona. He also brought along a Bultaco Alpina and a Bultaco Frontera and not only rode, but completed loops on all three, despite some problems with the Alpina.

After the group photo, everyone hits the trails. Most don't make it around one lap. Lots of vintage bikes were broken down on the trails. Also a few riders were having trouble getting up some of the hills. This is the only time some of these guys ride all year. The trails were bone dry and quite dusty. Sponge Bob and Trials Pete helped keep an eye on my kids while I did two hot-laps on my '03 Gasser.


At the three previous SMOG rides I attended this was the bike I rode, back when it was in Alpina trim. I'm older and wiser now. This year I rode it around the field and had the kids sit on it during the group photo. Trailer Queen much?

Click here for part 3.

2007 SMOG East Trail Ride (Part 1)

Once a year SMOG, the Spanish Motorcycle Owners Group (you really didn't think I was talking about air pollution, did you?), holds a trail ride near the town of Ravena in Upstate NY. This years trail ride was Saturday October 6th, followed by a road ride on Sunday. I've been attending the SMOG Ride since 2004. Finally I brought a camera and, instead of using it to keep paper plates from blowing away, took some photos.


See, I told you SMOG doesn't stand for pollution. Next year is the SMOG 20-year anniversary. The SMOG World Rally is planned to take place in Jonesboro, IL. Wonder if the wife will let me go?


Friday night, after rebuilding the top-end in my 2003 Gas Gas EC300, I loaded my Spanish armada into the trailer. Imagine that, three Spanish motorcycles and all three run. Left to right - 2001 Gas Gas XC300 (For Sale), 1973 Bultaco "Sherpina" 250, 2003 Gas Gas EC300.


Actually it was more like wedging all three bikes into the trailer. That's a tight fit. I hope the trailer can handle the load.

Ravena is less than an hour from my house, depending on which road you take. You know you're getting close when you see pickups and trailers full of old dirt bikes. Most caravan over from the Ravena Diner, but being a thrifty individual, I stopped at Dunkin' Donuts, grabbed a dozen and some coffee before heading over to the ride. Occasionally you'll see someone driving around in circles because they are lost.


Our destination, once again, was Dave Flach's farm outside of Ravena. Fellow CATRA and SMOG member Sponge Bob was in attendance. He brought three Spanish motorcycles as well. A Bultaco Frontera, a Montesa Cota and an Ossa Super Pioneer (not pictured). He rode all three around.


For the second year in a row my wife had something planned for that weekend, so I brought along all three of our kids (three kids, three motorcycles, coincidence?). Here Jacob is demonstrating to Lauren and Kyle the proper way to do the "Thumbs Up" Bultaco trademark (shhh, don't tell Hugh). This was Jacob's fourth SMOG Ride.

Click here for part 2.