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Sometime in 1972 I bought and started racing a Yamaha CT2 175 Enduro. I lucked up and won 1st place with my first trophy. I rode several enduros and lots of Hare Scrambles for the next couple years. I graduated H/S in 1973 and went to Daytona to attend Mechanics school at American Motorcycle Institute ( AMI ). I bought a Penton Jackpiner while there and after I graduated and was working in Montgomery, AL it traded my Yamaha CT2 for a Hodaka 100B+ to play with. I rode my first Nat'l Enduro in 1974 and my first ISDT qualifier in 1975, Fort Hood, TX. By now I was riding a Penton Six Day 125. Not having a pit crew, I was awed by the likes of Dane Leimbach who volunteered to have the Penton pit crew pit for me. I was in heaven. There I also met Malcolm Smith and he embarassed me by remembering the "Kid" who wrote him fan letters years earlier. We are still friends to this day.
Later that year I was asked by Doug Wilford ( formerly of Penton Imports fame and Famous ISDT rider) then the Manager for HERCULES motorcycles to ride a prototype 7 speed Hercules for them at the Loco Ciento, a high profile ISDT type 1 day event. I tied for second with Teddy Leimbach (Dane's brother ). I continued riding 6 speed Hercules for them till the 7 speed production models came out. I rode all the 1976 ISDT Qualifers finishing 3rd 125cc class. I qualified on my 7 speed Hercules 125 in 1977 to ride the ISDT in Austria but broke my collarbone mere weeks before in an airplane crash ( I used to be a Crop Duster )and couldn't attend. I again qualified in 1978 on a Yamaha IT175 for Team Yamaha factory team but got bumped to put on a SWM rider that didn't quite make it. He was a ISDT VET. Back then the ISDT team list was quite political. I made the team again in 1979 on a Support ride Suzuki PE175. I won a Silver Medal in Germany that year. I dislocated my ankle during the final qualifiers and missed out in 1980 but again made the ISDE team in 1981 (ELBA, Italy ) on a prototype PE125 ( only 193lbs.) I won a Silver again that year. I rode the 1982 ISDE ( Czechoslovakia ) on a Husqvarna 125WR. I tore my ACL in my right knee on day 3 but managed to limp my way through the toughest event of my life. Out of 36 Americans only 8 finished. We almost won the Trophy Team that year. For the next 5 years I mostly concentrated on the Nat'l Enduros. I won Overall A and top 250A class in 1983 on a Husqvarna 250XC. I rode the next couple years on Huskys and KTMs. In 1986 I rode a Kawasaki KDX200 to the Nat'l 200A class Championship. The next year I went back to the ISDE qualifiers at the encouragement from Al Baker on one of Al's modifed XR280s. I went to the Polish ISDE that year and was on Gold Medal time till about 30miles from finish on day 6. I fell over and knocked a hole in my clutch cover. I had to repair this at the gas stop with epoxy and duct tape. I managed to finish with a bronze medal. I went to the French ISDE in 1988 and won a silver medal and the 1989 ISDE in Germany where I won a Gold. All with the help of Al Baker's XR's Only, on XR280 and XR300s.
I concentrated for the next seveal years back on the Nat'ls. I rode XR600s to seveal Nat'l 4 stroke class championships. I rode the 1994 ISDE here in the USA to a Silver on my Honda XR320. I went back to riding the Nat'ls where I have won several more class Championships on XR400s and XR320s. I now ride a 2003 KTM 525EXC. I am the current SrA class (2003) champion. I have won a total of 7 ISDT / E medals and 8 national class championships in Nat'l Enduro and ISDT/E qualiers. I have never been the absolute fastest guy out there but I finish the tough events when everyone else gives up. I hope I can give you answers to the questions you have and maybe I can give you some clues on what to do in certain situations.
I look forward to serving you.
Cher'o,
Dwight
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