Thats the guy. Thats funny. I'd totally forgotten about those bags, can't recall how many I emptied!
I shook his hand and thanked him at the time, though it just didn't seem like enough to me. I went racing in the years after that and did quite well locally, winning total points in 340 superstock on my GPX sponsered by a local dealer. Sat in the trailer at Wetaskiwin and drank beer one night with Roy Wall and Larry Omans after the race and was told that I was one of the guys Bob was watching for possible future use. I wondered then, if he new I was the kid he helped out with the SS. Unfortunately the economics of a baby boy arriving, to a then 19 year old father, ended my racing career. But I always wanted to thank him again. His contribution converted many of my friends to Yamaha after eating that SS's snow dust, and of course made me a very happy camper in the winners circle.
Interesting to note that in my first season (74) of racing (professionally) on my 74 GP 433, In testing, I discovered that my old SS flat out spanked the GP, so took it to race intent on using it instead. They refused to allow it to run! After much heated debate in which I destroyed all of their arguements, the race officials finally took me inside and stated in no uncertain terms that it simply was NOT going to happen, then admitted to me that the reason they could not allow it to run was, because they new it would win! They were correct as I was already winning on the GP! They also did not want to have to explain to a bunch of irate fans why there was a piped sled running (winning) with all the 440 fan cooleds!! Lol I don't know what they were complaining about, I put the baffles in!
Where ever you are Bob, I hope you're doing well, those Klaws probably aren't very good the digestive system. Thank-you again. G.
