John Penton, born on August 19, 1925, learned to drive motorcycles while growing on his family’s farm in Amherst, Ohio. A fact that would mark him forever, since he has maintained this passion intact throughout his 100 years of life.
Now, to commemorate this milestone, the organization of the SMX World Championship has issued an official press release in which the life of the well -known pilot, entrepreneur and lover of the world of motorcycle highlights.
John Penton: A movie life
Recently, we are talking about John and his story behind one of the most mythical records of all time. Penton established a transcontinental record in 1958 when he toured Los Angeles in New York motorcycle in 52 hours and 11 minutes. We also echoed a KTM 200 Le Jackpiner of 1997, of which only 133 specimens numbered and signed by Penton were manufactured.
A limited series launched in that same year as a tribute to the 30th anniversary of the first motorcycle marketed under the Penton brand founded by this in 1968. Now, on the occasion of its 100 birthday, we can review some of the most important chapters of this figure in the world of the motorcycle. As detailed in their official statement the organization of the SMX World Championship:
“After serving in the Merchant Marina and the Navy during World War II, she bought her first motorcycle and began to compete in various modalities. He became a national off -road racing champion and represented the United States in seven different versions of the International Six Days Trial Annual (now the International Six Days Enduro).”
Likewise, he premiered in his facet as an entrepreneur with his brother riding a motorcycle dealership in his hometown, Amherst, Ohio, where they sold European brands such as BSA, BMW and NSU. Subsequently, he became a distributor of Husqvarna, hoping to convince them to make even lighter offroad motorcycles. When they rejected Penton’s idea, he went to the Austrian brand KTM, which at that time manufactured bicycles and cyclomotor.
“He contributed $ 6,000 of his own pocket to make a light off -road motorcycle, according to their specifications. He sold them in the United States as Penton motorcycles, while these were sold as KTM to the rest of the world. The collaboration lasted a decade before KTM bought the distribution in the United States. By then, some 25,000 Penton had been sold in the United States, now the Penton is still by collectors and fans. “
Museum of the Motorcycle Hall Ama and the Penton family
John Penton was also a pioneer in the motorcycle accessories market. He associated with the Italian brand Alpinestars to make an off-road boot that sold in the United States under the Hi-Point Racing brand. He also manufactured and sold trailers, lubricants, tires, motorcyclist clothes, accessories and more products under this same brand.
Likewise, “throughout his career, Penton sponsored and supported some of the most successful motorcyclists in history, such as Bob Hannah, Dick Burleson and his own son, Jack Penton. And when a young and promising 125 cc supercross pilot called Jeremy McGrath climbed to his first podium in the Seattle Kingdome 1990 Hi-Point Boots. “
The statement concludes explaining that: “John Penton was a founding member of the Ama Motorcycling Hall of Fame, founded in 1998. The Grand National Cross Country Series baptized with his name to the John Penton GNCC of Ohio, which remains one of the longest stops of the calendar. Last Thursday, the city of Amherst, Ohio, celebrated the centenary of John Penton, who still resides there. “
