| One of my Heros story by Robin Hannah |
| Ken Gurley #56t <vintagemxracer.com> |
Ken Gurley is a quiet guy off
the track. On the course with
his Bluey pipe equipt Greeves
250 he's anything but quiet.
He has a riding style that is
very smooth and energy
saving by nature maybe it is
his training that he put himself
through for the Marathon
running or Triathalon
competitions he competed in
over the years. It could be
rock climbing, one of his other
past hobbies conditioned him
to conserve his energy for a
safe decent. Perhaps
knowing he has 7 more motos
to race today could have
more to do with it. Yeah that's
not a typo I mean 7 more
motos.
the track. On the course with
his Bluey pipe equipt Greeves
250 he's anything but quiet.
He has a riding style that is
very smooth and energy
saving by nature maybe it is
his training that he put himself
through for the Marathon
running or Triathalon
competitions he competed in
over the years. It could be
rock climbing, one of his other
past hobbies conditioned him
to conserve his energy for a
safe decent. Perhaps
knowing he has 7 more motos
to race today could have
more to do with it. Yeah that's
not a typo I mean 7 more
motos.
The first time I met Ken
Gurley, Chris and I were at an
AHRMA vintage MX at
Sandhill Ranch, it was early
2006. We were spectators,
there to do research for an SL
125 Honda project I was
putting together.
While walking through the
pits taking pictures, I noticed a
super nice 1970 Ossa Stiletto
250 in a very organized pit
area. From the look of it there
were 3-4 guys racing out of
this paddock. Then I realized
all the bikes were warring the
same racing number. I
remember thinking"What a
stud".
Gurley, Chris and I were at an
AHRMA vintage MX at
Sandhill Ranch, it was early
2006. We were spectators,
there to do research for an SL
125 Honda project I was
putting together.
While walking through the
pits taking pictures, I noticed a
super nice 1970 Ossa Stiletto
250 in a very organized pit
area. From the look of it there
were 3-4 guys racing out of
this paddock. Then I realized
all the bikes were warring the
same racing number. I
remember thinking"What a
stud".
This nice looking couple
appears. The man suited up
for MX, comments on the
jetting not exactly being right
on one of his bikes and saying
"no time we'll have to get it
right next time" I excused
myself, complemented him on
his Ossa and he takes the
time to tell me a little about it.
Even with all that going on!
This thing, although small to
Ken made a big impression on
me and told me alot about the
man and the level of
sportsmanship he possesses.
His wife Joann finally says
"Ken you better get going" He
jumps on his Titanium Husky
and rushes off to one of his
many motos that day.
appears. The man suited up
for MX, comments on the
jetting not exactly being right
on one of his bikes and saying
"no time we'll have to get it
right next time" I excused
myself, complemented him on
his Ossa and he takes the
time to tell me a little about it.
Even with all that going on!
This thing, although small to
Ken made a big impression on
me and told me alot about the
man and the level of
sportsmanship he possesses.
His wife Joann finally says
"Ken you better get going" He
jumps on his Titanium Husky
and rushes off to one of his
many motos that day.
It took all of about 10 minutes
for Ken to reach Hero status
with me. Think about it,3-4
bikes 6-8 motos, practices.
This guy is my hero.
Months later I started racing
the Honda. There is Ken and
Joann at the races. Always
with an organized pits, 3-4
bikes. This time I'm looking at
it though a different set of
eyes at what he's doing. He's
got righthand normal shift,
righthand upsidedown shift, 4
stroke, 2stroke, single cyl,twin
cly motorcycles, racing them
as fast as he can all on the
same day! Did I mention this
guy is my hero?
for Ken to reach Hero status
with me. Think about it,3-4
bikes 6-8 motos, practices.
This guy is my hero.
Months later I started racing
the Honda. There is Ken and
Joann at the races. Always
with an organized pits, 3-4
bikes. This time I'm looking at
it though a different set of
eyes at what he's doing. He's
got righthand normal shift,
righthand upsidedown shift, 4
stroke, 2stroke, single cyl,twin
cly motorcycles, racing them
as fast as he can all on the
same day! Did I mention this
guy is my hero?
#56t Ken Gurley is not just an
"also ran" in all of this, he
wins. Not just races but
Regional series, in multiple
classes! So now that you
know this much about Ken you
might think he's in his
30's,nope he's 61 years
young, which brings us back
to the hero thing for me. Ken
tells me his first bike was a
new 1968 DT1 250 Yamaha.
He raced it for a couple of
years. "Got off" it figuratively
and literally in around 1971.
He took 30 years off
motorcycle racing,during
which he Speed snow
skied,rock climbed,ran
marathons,triathalons and
more.
"also ran" in all of this, he
wins. Not just races but
Regional series, in multiple
classes! So now that you
know this much about Ken you
might think he's in his
30's,nope he's 61 years
young, which brings us back
to the hero thing for me. Ken
tells me his first bike was a
new 1968 DT1 250 Yamaha.
He raced it for a couple of
years. "Got off" it figuratively
and literally in around 1971.
He took 30 years off
motorcycle racing,during
which he Speed snow
skied,rock climbed,ran
marathons,triathalons and
more.
In 2001 Ken with the execlent
back up support of his wife
Joann got back into racing.
Ken says without Joann he
probably wouldn't know which
bike he's supposed to be on
at any given time. Joann is
Team Gurley's Official
Photographer as well. If you
have ever seen her pictures
on the AHRMA Northwest
website you would know she's
good at it too. Ken's record
speaks for itself.
AHRMA
Northwest Regional
Champion
2006
Premier lightweight int.
250 Classic intermediate
500 classic intermediate
2007
Premier lightweight int.
Premier 500 int.
back up support of his wife
Joann got back into racing.
Ken says without Joann he
probably wouldn't know which
bike he's supposed to be on
at any given time. Joann is
Team Gurley's Official
Photographer as well. If you
have ever seen her pictures
on the AHRMA Northwest
website you would know she's
good at it too. Ken's record
speaks for itself.
AHRMA
Northwest Regional
Champion
2006
Premier lightweight int.
250 Classic intermediate
500 classic intermediate
2007
Premier lightweight int.
Premier 500 int.
| This month Ken Gurley has graciously invited <vintagemxracer.com>into his garage to share his beautiful motorcycle collection with us. |
