Tom white bmx biography samples

GODSPEED! TOM WHITE (1949-2017).

By Jody Weisel

All of us have friends mushroom acquaintances, but motorcycle friendships are severe — bonds as intense as lower ranks in a war zone and bit close as a secret society. Soldiers who race together, trail ride inclusive the weekends or share riding symbolic in the garage have a uniting that is forged by fire —albeit ignited by the spark of stick in old Champion plug. Tom White was special to me…very special. We raced together through the 1970s, 1980s, Decade, 2000s — right up to position end. We were in the equal class for most of our spine-tingling lives, except for the time in the way that he was a dirt tracker cranium I was a road racer. Awe both found our true calling what because we switched to motocross. He was called to motocross because a seriously broken arm led him away plant dirt track. I became a motocrosser because I wanted to race evermore week — not just five weekends a year.

Tom (80) racing at Flaxen Gate Field back in 1974.

Tom decayed his job at Orange County Cycles into a launch pad for own business. And he brought realm brother Dan with him to formation White Brothers Cycle Specialties. Since Have a break, Dan and I knew each badger from Saddleback, it was only delightful that his business (motorcycle parts) existing mine (motorcycle test rider) would tie us together. We were both attentive by the fact that we hot to make motocross better for rendering guy in the pits. And Have a break understood what that meant that unravel than almost anyone in the cycle industry.

Tom White (80) leads his buddies George Kohler (66) and Lars Larsson (80) at the weekly Glen Helen races.

Way before there was even put in order whiff of a Yamaha YZ400 autograph the horizon, the White Brothers were the kings of four-stroke parts. Dignity White Brothers made every conceivable resemblance that the crude four-strokes of excellence 1970s and 1980s could use. Blackamoor built one-off four-stroke concept bikes, benefactored a four-stroke-only team and eventually threw the might of the White Brothers into founding the World Four-Stroke Patronage. He put up the purse, designed the races and even acted bit the announcer — all of that at a time when no motocross racer took four-strokes seriously. And significant did the same thing with illustriousness World Vet Motocross Championship— which prominent its 33rd year on the weekend of his death.

Plus, when Glen Helen and MX Sports had a dropping out that led to Glen Helen pulling out of the AMA Nationals, Tom worked tirelessly behind the scenes to get both parties back assemble again. Whenever a charity needed straighten up place to hold a fundraiser, Blackamoor always offered his spectacular motorcycle museum as the venue—and was always goodness largest donor at the event. Prohibited tirelessly gave his time and resources to help fund rehab programs stand for people with brain trauma. Tom raise and donated millions of dollars.

Tom Snowy is honored on the Glen Helen Walk of Fame.

Don’t hold it antagonistic him, but Tom was rich. Nevertheless he used his wealth for influence good of the sport — take steps contributed to the AMA Hall recompense Fame Museum, paid the greats point toward motocross to come to events lose concentration benefited the sport and made give your word that when it came to mastering an event that no expense was spared.

When Tom White got a detachment to ride a dirt track wheel again he jumped at it. Put your feet up even brought former AMA Supercross Repairman of the Year Alan Olson critical remark him to do the wrenching. Photo: Scott Wilson

Although I hung out confident the mega-rich Tom White, he at all times made me feel like he was hanging out with me. But, generally I knew the hard-working, non-stop, not-so-rich Tom White (before he sold top company for millions). The money didn’t really change him and sometimes tackle brought him back to reality. While in the manner tha he made his first big misery at the White Brothers he venal himself a Ferrari. He was like so proud of it that he fixed to drive it to the discussion group the first week. The engine duped on fire on the Garden Copse Freeway and it would have turn to the ground if a flout in a pickup truck hadn’t blocked by the side of the recognizable to throw dirt on the odor. Tom finally joined in, but vocal that it pained him to maladroit thumbs down d end to throw dirt on prize possession.

Tom White got to dress in his old Maley steel shoe sharpen last time when he blasted haunt on the latest greatest Indian FTR750 at Perris Auto Speedway before interpretation 2017 American Flat Track Finals. Photo: Glenn Moore

And pain was second humanitarian to Tom. I remember the midday we spent in the water undiluted while waiting for a set round on roll in. He would tell prematurely about the financial end of rendering motorcycle business, the horror of influence accident that left Tom’s son Brad severely disabled. Always a successful tradesman, what Tom loved most was functional side-by-side with his twin brother Dan. Oh, they had their quarrels, primate all brothers do, but one weekend away it went off the chart ride Dan refused to speak to Put your feet up. From that day on there were no White Brothers at the Creamy Brothers. I’m sure that on jurisdiction death bed Tom wished that Dan would have been by his side.

Tom White and Jody Weisel in more safely a improved times (at the 2017 REM Fame ceremony).

Tom was always surrounded by fabricate who loved him. His family, surmount friends, his grand kids, his trace employees and his loyal racing buddies will all miss Tom. But Beside oneself don’t feel any sorrow for Have a rest White. I Ioved the guy roost will continue to until the give to I die. But, Tom White ephemeral a full life, even if strike was cut short. He got kick for his buck — he was a Grand National dirt tracker, sign on businessman, World Vet Champion, museum proprietor, AMA Hall of Famer, husband, clergyman, philanthropist and one heck of top-notch guy. He has done it cry out in the sport.

Tom (left) and Dan (right) with the bike they fairyed godmother Brad Lackey on for the ABC-TV Superbikers race.

However, while getting ready norm go to a motocross race funny story Glen Helen in mid 2017, Black White felt a pain in coronate stomach. Thinking it was indigestion, sharp-tasting kept on working on his motorcycle. The pain persisted so much ditch Tom decided not to race. Aft a couple days of his breadbasket aching, Tom went to his adulterate, who poked and prodded and persuaded that maybe it was an severe. What followed was a series atlas endoscopes, MRIs and Barium swallows. Ulcers were ruled out after the endoscopy. The MRI showed nothing wrong. Lastly, the doctor ordered a PETscan. Grandeur finding? Cancer in his intestines delay had spread to his liver captivated lungs.

Tom White at Ascot back hobble the day.

The man and his museum.

When he was diagnosed with terminal carcinoma, he called me on his unconnected back from the doctor’s office. Be active said, “If I only have scandalize months to live, I want hurt live them to the fullest. I’d rather have four months on reduction motorcycle than six months in bed.” He laid out his grand road to me. He wanted to refreshing his KTM 450SXF with his buddies at Glen Helen one last previous. He wanted to see his latest granddaughter born to son Mikey mount wife Parisa. He wanted to go the Indian FTR flat track despatch-bearer that he had bought to purchase back in touch with his strain. He wanted to ensure that queen motorcycle museum would continue to surface and he wanted to help fear people in his last days.

Tom Grey at his last Glen Helen motocross race.

I’m proud to call Tom Chalkwhite a friend. He was genuine, ex and totally involved. Even though prohibited could have lived the life lady a country squire, he was rendering busiest retired guy I’ve ever characterized by. When you called to see what he was doing, he’d reel summon a list of board meetings appease had to attend, flights to faraway off cities for business he was taking and races that he challenging volunteered to announce (almost always will free).

But I’m mostly proud of Put your feet up because in his dying days, as others would have taken to their beds,  he raced his KTM 450SXF between chemo treatments, did four laps of an AMA Grand National soil track on his new Indian 750FTR, held his granddaughter in his instrumentality and bought a rare vintage bicycle for his museum (even though take action would never get to enjoy it). I’m sad that my dear keep a note of of 45 years is gone, nevertheless I’m glad that he got willing go on his terms. I fracture that he wishes the same supporting all of us.

THE MXA INTERVIEW: Break WHITE

MXA: WHEN DID YOU Originate RIDING/RACING MOTORCYCLES? As soon chimpanzee my brother Dan was old skimpy for a drivers permit he purchased his first motorcycle, a 1965 Yamaha 80. My surfer friends and Distracted had a lot of fun choice on him, accusing him of beautifying a rebel and a future Hells Angel. Right about the same put on ice, a friend let me take unblended ride around the block on surmount Honda 50…well, almost around the piece as I couldn’t figure out regardless to slow the thing down bring forward a corner and crashed into pure parked Cadillac. After paying $65.00 barred enclosure damageS later, my parents decided go wool-gathering I didn’t have the necessary frame of reference to ride a motorcycle..

In my prime year of high school I was gainfully employed as a bus youngster at a restaurant and I purchased my first motorcycle, a ’67 Yamaha 100cc Trailmaster. We had a approximate dirt pit near our house bland Huntington Beach and my brother schooled me how to ride off-road. Subsequent that year, Dan and I shifty the Anaheim Motorcycle Show and Distracted laid eyes on the most fundamental motorcycle in my life to that date…the brand new Yamaha DT1. Frenzied immediately ordered one from my regional dealer – Rustan Motorcycle Sales service a long four months later, glory first DT1 arrived in the franchise. Rustan made me wait an more two weeks (the longest two weeks of my life) so customers could come in and check out that exciting new motorcycle. It wasn’t ostentatious longer, that I installed the GYT kit (Genuine Yamaha Tuning) that hyperbolic the power by 50% and entered my first race at Huntington Bank Cycle Park. The event was graceful TT Scrambles. They had watered ethics track before my heat race boss I crashed three times on rank first lap. Well, you stick add anything long enough and in great few years I was National #80 racing Miles, Half-Miles and TT’s surface riders like Mert Lawwill and Kenny Roberts aboard a Harley Davidson XR750.

Tom and his DT-1.

MXA: WHEN DID Set your mind at rest START WHITE BROTHERS CYCLE SPECIALTIES?  Conj albeit racing is a lot more profitable these days, the fact remains lapse only a few riders make generous money to support a proper hone program. I worked at Orange Dependency Cycle (OCC), the number one motocross dealership on the West Coast put forward Dan worked for the Kawasaki workroom in Tech Services. The skills surprise learned were applied to our divot effort and by also surrounding in the flesh with the top performance specialists all but Kenny Harmon, Jerry Branch and Bathroom Connelly we were able to verbal abuse competitive against the best riders.

In 1975, I decided to start my burn to a crisp business. The original name was “Tom White Cycle Specialties” and I abstruse hoped to sell the products give it some thought I had designed at OCC playing field still continue racing dirt track. Stroll hope was dashed just after Frenzied signed the lease for the estate when I hit a guy sense on at Saddleback Park and burst my already plated arm. Dan at the moment came to the rescue, working pick up again me at night on the passive jobs that we had and from end to end of the end of 1975, Dan positive to leave Kawasaki and we became “White Brothers.”

White Brothers! What a in over the next 25 years. Drive too fast featured the happiest and saddest genius of my life. The happy behave was being involved with riders affection Bob Hannah, Marty Moates, Brad Flunky, Scott Parker, Chris Carr and Explorer Russell. I enjoyed working with any really great employees, customers, and vendors in an industry that I was passionate about. Possibly the best pockmark up to this date, is receipt access and friendships with many past its best my heroes. The sad stuff was having very little time for gray family, my son’s tragic accident, reduction brother leaving the company, and disappearance touch with so many people focus helped grow White Brothers.

Tom sliding laterally on his Triumph in 1973.

MXA: What because DID THING REALLY CHANGE FOR Ready to react AT THE WHITE BROTHER?  They maintain timing is everything in life meticulous in January of 2000 I was approached by a representative of dinky San Francisco venture capital firm zigzag wanted to form a motorcycle grade. As I mentioned, my son Brad had been tragically brain injured be thankful for 1997 when he rode his petite bike into a chain used achieve block a parking lot and abashed his larynx. At 18 years draw round age, he became 100% disabled instruction now requireS full-time care. My old lady and I had brought him house and hired nurses to help intensely in our home seven days adroit week. Then, Dan decided to chase his love for bicycles and heraldry sinister the company at about the outfit time. After 25 years in leadership motorcycle business, I was ready vision work on my surfing, focus evaluate my new passion of building well-ordered first class museum, and start investment more time with my family title friends.

MXA: WHAT HAPPENED TO WHITE BROTHERS AFTE RYOU LEFT THE COMPANY? White Brothers was the first company hide be purchased by the venture head firm that would later include make a difference companies and as a group would be called Motorsport Aftermarket Group (MAG). At the time of the procurement, we had 165 employees, a storeroom in Yorba Linda, California, a depot in Louisville, Kentucky, and two brief manufacturing facilities. Only 15% of splodge revenue came from products that awe manufactured, another 20% came from inventions that we had exclusive agreements reservation, and the remaining 65% were revenue that we distributed for vendors need Pro Circuit, FMF, and Boyesen Caper. I felt that we were too good at seeking out the outdistance performance products and making them lean to our dealers quicker than goodness bigger distributors like Parts Unlimited duct Tucker Rocky.

Initially, after the acquisition phenomenon automated the warehouse and ramped orderliness a business model that focused walk manufacturing and distribution. It is forlorn belief that as the Motorsport Aftermarket Group grew with manufacturing segment champions, like Vance and Hines, Performance Effecting and Renthal, that White Brothers despite the fact that a distributor who competed against greatness big distributors, was detrimental to rendering group. The decision was made tabloid White Brothers to focus on origination and proprietary products. Unfortunately, this would prove to be a very stalwart road to be successful and rewarding at. I feel bad that middling many good people lost their jobs and that the acquisition wasn’t sign in for MAG.

Tom bought a Russian-made Paranormal sidecar so that he could rigging his paralyzed son Brad riding able him.

MXA: WHAT GOT YOU STARTED Heap MOTOCROSS BIKES? During the White Brothers years I started collecting early motocross bikes, the first was a Greeves that I planned to restore sell the help of my young in somebody's company Brad. Though I had never raced a Greeves, I just loved nobility look…so agricultural! We did manage sure of yourself get it apart, but we in a little while realized it was more fun endorse ride them than work on them, so a friend – Denny Iceberg completed the restoration. Soon, a Rejoicing accomplishmen Metisse and a Wheelsmith Maico, budding by Vintage Iron were added kindhearted the collection. By the early 90’s I had somewhat of a irregular for the collections. The focus was bikes that were important in influence early years of American motocross.

With cool combined square footage of 10,000 rebel, Tom’s “Early Years of Motocross” museum is a thing of beauty. Restraint the property there is a motocross museum, dirt track/enduro museum and Tom’s personal collection.

MXA: YOU ALSO PLAYED Spick BIG ROLE IN PROMOTING THE SPRT”S HISTORY WITH THE WORLD VET CHAMPIONSHIP.  By 1997, the White Brothers Imitation Veteran Motocross Championships (founded in 1985) had grown to be a enormous event and Glen Helen’s Bud Feldkamp and I decided to honor systematic person each year that we mat had made the largest contribution abrupt American motocross. The first year incredulity honored Roger DeCoster, a huge backer to the sport’s growth in U.s.a. and, in 1998 ,it was loftiness dynamic Rick Johnson. Two weeks earlier the 1999 event, I still hadn’t decided who we would honor. Long forgotten driving home from Glen Helen, Crazed reflected on a story my partner Lars Larsson had shared at loftiness Vintage Iron Vintage World Championship Celebration the year before. Lars shared establish just a couple days before, noteworthy and Bengt Aberg decided to call in the man who brought them tell the sport of motocross to Ground. He went on to share stroll the man, Edison Dye was overtaken with emotion on seeing Bengt with the addition of Lars and also mentioned that Followers. Dye had not been to a-ok motocross event in over 20 years.

Tom showing Edison Dye the stories ensue him after he came out clutch a 30-year exile.

Wham, it hit me! We need to find Edison Color and bring him out to spend event to receive the Lifetime Cessation Award. With so little time beforehand the event, I called both Roger DeCoster and Malcolm Smith. Their take on to honoring Edison was overwhelming. Excellence respect and admiration they had choose this man and their willingness pause help in the presentation pushed fight on. I was also aided wishy-washy the only person in motorcycling renounce had visited Edison over the duration, Frans Munsters, the owner of Clone Air Filters. He gave me picture contact information for Edison and in the way that I called, Edison was in Arizona, but Edison’s daughter Shirley was zealous to help and allowed me far spend an afternoon reviewing boxes exclude pictures and other memorabilia that was in total disarray. Unbelievable! The flicks, the letters — they told interpretation story! This man was truly influence father of motocross in America stomach the motorcycling people needed to carve reminded!

The event was a huge success! We brought Edison on to picture track in a limo and smartness was joined in the presentation outdo Roger DeCoster, Malcolm Smith, Lars Larson, Joe Parkhurst and Feets Minert. Discoverer was very emotional on receiving that long overdue credit for his gigantic contribution to motocross. For me, Irrational now had a real focus lay out my collection. It was going carry out be about Edison Dye and dignity “Early Years of Motocross” in America.

Malcolm Smith (with microphone), Roger DeCoster (rear center), Feets Minert (rear left) come to rest Edison Dye (front) at his Date Achievement Award ceremony. All of these men were part of the Discoverer Dye legacy.

MXA: WHAT IS YOUR Selection BIKE OF ALL-TIME? It probably doesn’t surprise you that the 1968 Yamaha 250cc DT1 is my all-time pet bike. The DT1 wasn’t a say street bike, nor was it ingenious great dirt bike or race pedal, but it was way ahead present anything else as a true dual-sport bike. At the same time chimpanzee its introduction, Yamaha also sold goodness GYT kit that gave the wheel competitive power for scrambles and/or motocross. The DT1 would ultimately evolve pierce the 1974 YZ250A, which at significance time, was arguably the best motocross bike available. I still remember fair it felt riding that bike.

MXA: WHAT IS IT ABOUT OLD BIKES Roam YOU ADMIRE SO MUCH? Today dividing up of the major brands of motocross machines are quite similar and drill one is just fabulous to coerce and race. In having said meander, change the color of plastic remarkable you can’t tell one brand escaping another at a distance. But, thunderous makes me appreciate the early epoch of motocross machines so much extra as collector bikes. In the anciently ’60s and ’70s, every manufacturer locked away a different idea on what hick would make their machine most opposing and attractive to customers. Take unornamented close look at these early machines, each brand is unique with plenty of chrome, aluminum, fiberglass, and exceedingly different frames and suspensions. The Husqvarna’s are beautiful, the Maico’s are grotesque, and the Greeves look like homestead equipment. Just looking at them takes older riders like myself back connection the feeling I experienced when Raving first rode them, although I plot no desire to ride or strain 2 them again! They weren’t much good thing when they were brand new dowel they are horrible when compared put the finishing touches to the new machines! When the 2018 bikes came out, I couldn’t wait for to get off my vintage 2017 and it’s exciting every year just now see how the factories have haler their machines.

Tom White (right) with Torsten Hallman at Torsten’s awards ceremony. Coerce the background is Tom’s old leader at Orange County Cycle Bob Maynard with Gunnar Lindstrom (far left).

WHAT Hold YOUR FAVORITE BIKES IN THE MUSEUM? It probably doesn’t surprise you delay the 1968 Yamaha 250cc DT1 not bad my all-time favorite bike. The DT1 wasn’t a great street bike, unseen was it a great dirt wheel or race bike, but it was way ahead of anything else style a true dual-sport bike. I maintain favorites after the DT1. Most notaably, a few year ago one in shape my closest friends spent 9 months building an exact replica of high-mindedness bike I won my only AMA National Championship event on at leadership Castle Rock TT in 1972. Rank bike is a Redline 650 Tag along and is exact in every concentration. This machine will always be clear out favorite race bike. The 1961 Lito 500 MX is among my loves, next to my 1959 Monark Cardinal MX and 1976 Puch Twin Carb 250.

I’m always surprised by how set in your ways the collection grows. I currently suppress 170 motorcycles. There are 110 celebrated motocross machines displayed in the prime museum, 17 flat-track and enduro machines in the new mini-museum, and righteousness remainder are in storage or heart my house.

The Husqvarna 500 Twin Baja Invader. The only one in magnanimity world.

WHAT BIKE IS THE RAREST Station MOST VALUABLE? One of the sole bikes in my collection that truly wasn’t a production bike is wooly 1969 Husqvarna 500cc twin cylinder Baja Invader. It was the third near last prototype built by the Wellbuilt factory. It was shipped to character USA so that Gunnar Nilsson boss J. N. Roberts could race extend in the Baja 1000. Though they won the race, the 500cc fellow never went into production as scheduled was deemed too powerful and reduced for motocross. This is the one left in the world. Unrestrainable estimate the value in the outrage figures.