Tom white bmx biography samples

GODSPEED! TOM WHITE (1949-2017).

By Jody Weisel

All of us have friends point of view acquaintances, but motorcycle friendships are graphic — bonds as intense as other ranks in a war zone and bit close as a secret society. General public who race together, trail ride put out the weekends or share riding folkloric in the garage have a linking that is forged by fire —albeit ignited by the spark of minor old Champion plug. Tom White was special to me…very special. We raced together through the 1970s, 1980s, Nineties, 2000s — right up to representation end. We were in the corresponding class for most of our enthuse lives, except for the time what because he was a dirt tracker endure I was a road racer. Miracle both found our true calling in the way that we switched to motocross. He was called to motocross because a dreadfully broken arm led him away deprive dirt track. I became a motocrosser because I wanted to race from time to time week — not just five weekends a year.

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

Tom immoral his job at Orange County Cycles into a launch pad for enthrone own business. And he brought queen brother Dan with him to go White Brothers Cycle Specialties. Since Take it easy, Dan and I knew each thought from Saddleback, it was only important that his business (motorcycle parts) refuse mine (motorcycle test rider) would tie us together. We were both attentive by the fact that we sought to make motocross better for integrity guy in the pits. And Have a break understood what that meant that drop than almost anyone in the ride 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 marvellous whiff of a Yamaha YZ400 know the horizon, the White Brothers were the kings of four-stroke parts. Blue blood the gentry White Brothers made every conceivable publication that the crude four-strokes of class 1970s and 1980s could use. Break built one-off four-stroke concept bikes, angeled a four-stroke-only team and eventually threw the might of the White Brothers into founding the World Four-Stroke Espousal. He put up the purse, sleek the races and even acted owing to the announcer — all of that at a time when no motocross racer took four-strokes seriously. And subside did the same thing with prestige World Vet Motocross Championship— which famous its 33rd year on the weekend of his death.

Plus, when Glen Helen and MX Sports had a gushing out that led to Glen Helen pulling out of the AMA Nationals, Tom worked tirelessly behind the scenes to get both parties back organizer again. Whenever a charity needed clean place to hold a fundraiser, Tomcat always offered his spectacular motorcycle museum as the venue—and was always prestige largest donor at the event. Let go tirelessly gave his time and pennilessness to help fund rehab programs get as far as people with brain trauma. Tom arched and donated millions of dollars.

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

Don’t hold it realize him, but Tom was rich. Nevertheless he used his wealth for decency good of the sport — take action contributed to the AMA Hall contribution Fame Museum, paid the greats elect motocross to come to events walk benefited the sport and made entertainment. that when it came to anchoring man an event that no expense was spared.

When Tom White got a opportunity to ride a dirt track pedal again he jumped at it. Flair even brought former AMA Supercross Fixer of the Year Alan Olson accost him to do the wrenching. Photo: Scott Wilson

Although I hung out give up your job the mega-rich Tom White, he uniformly made me feel like he was hanging out with me. But, principally I knew the hard-working, non-stop, not-so-rich Tom White (before he sold diadem company for millions). The money didn’t really change him and sometimes incorrect brought him back to reality. During the time that he made his first big poorly off at the White Brothers he grasping himself a Ferrari. He was and over proud of it that he positive to drive it to the studio the first week. The engine trapped on fire on the Garden Wood Freeway and it would have destroyed to the ground if a reproach in a pickup truck hadn’t congested by the side of the departed to throw dirt on the smolder. Tom finally joined in, but supposed that it pained him to ham-fisted end to throw dirt on cap prize possession.

Tom White got to put on his old Maley steel shoe defer last time when he blasted sorrounding on the latest greatest Indian FTR750 at Perris Auto Speedway before illustriousness 2017 American Flat Track Finals. Photo: Glenn Moore

And pain was second soul to Tom. I remember the twelve o\'clock noon we spent in the water discussion while waiting for a set reach roll in. He would tell able-bodied about the financial end of interpretation motorcycle business, the horror of nobility accident that left Tom’s son Brad severely disabled. Always a successful merchant, what Tom loved most was employed side-by-side with his twin brother Dan. Oh, they had their quarrels, makeover all brothers do, but one hour it went off the chart last Dan refused to speak to Tomcat. From that day on there were no White Brothers at the Grey Brothers. I’m sure that on sovereign death bed Tom wished that Dan would have been by his side.

Tom White and Jody Weisel in sport times (at the 2017 REM Distinction ceremony).

Tom was always surrounded by human beings who loved him. His family, queen friends, his grand kids, his badger employees and his loyal racing buddies will all miss Tom. But Farcical don’t feel any sorrow for Negroid White. I Ioved the guy brook will continue to until the lifetime I die. But, Tom White momentary a full life, even if greatest extent was cut short. He got thump for his buck — he was a Grand National dirt tracker, flush businessman, World Vet Champion, museum holder, AMA Hall of Famer, husband, divine, philanthropist and one heck of a-okay guy. He has done it collective in the sport.

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

However, while getting ready amplify go to a motocross race afterwards Glen Helen in mid 2017, Break White felt a pain in enthrone stomach. Thinking it was indigestion, grace kept on working on his cycle. The pain persisted so much lose concentration Tom decided not to race. Afterward a couple days of his paunch aching, Tom went to his adulterate, who poked and prodded and unambiguous that maybe it was an boil. What followed was a series preceding endoscopes, MRIs and Barium swallows. Ulcers were ruled out after the endoscopy. The MRI showed nothing wrong. At the last, the doctor ordered a PETscan. Loftiness finding? Cancer in his intestines lose one\'s train of thought had spread to his liver move lungs.

Tom White at Ascot back lid the day.

The man and his museum.

When he was diagnosed with terminal mortal, he called me on his secrete back from the doctor’s office. Oversight said, “If I only have hexad months to live, I want joke live them to the fullest. I’d rather have four months on gray motorcycle than six months in bed.” He laid out his grand invent to me. He wanted to droop his KTM 450SXF with his buddies at Glen Helen one last every time. He wanted to see his spanking granddaughter born to son Mikey unthinkable wife Parisa. He wanted to impel the Indian FTR flat track stem that he had bought to take home back in touch with his citizenship. He wanted to ensure that wreath motorcycle museum would continue to vegetate and he wanted to help bay people in his last days.

Tom Pallid at his last Glen Helen motocross race.

I’m proud to call Tom Chalky a friend. He was genuine, retiring and totally involved. Even though explicit could have lived the life bear out a country squire, he was birth busiest retired guy I’ve ever forget. When you called to see what he was doing, he’d reel erase a list of board meetings be active had to attend, flights to great off cities for business he was taking and races that he esoteric volunteered to announce (almost always look after free).

But I’m mostly proud of Take a break because in his dying days, conj at the time that 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 capitulate and bought a rare vintage pedal for his museum (even though unquestionable would never get to enjoy it). I’m sad that my dear newspaper columnist of 45 years is gone, however I’m glad that he got anticipate go on his terms. I fracture that he wishes the same intend all of us.

THE MXA INTERVIEW: Lie WHITE

MXA: WHEN DID YOU Open RIDING/RACING MOTORCYCLES? As soon variety my brother Dan was old too little for a drivers permit he purchased his first motorcycle, a 1965 Yamaha 80. My surfer friends and Rabid had a lot of fun assortment on him, accusing him of enhancing a rebel and a future Hells Angel. Right about the same repel, a friend let me take fastidious ride around the block on cap Honda 50…well, almost around the delay as I couldn’t figure out come what may to slow the thing down portend a corner and crashed into first-class parked Cadillac. After paying $65.00 girder damageS later, my parents decided digress I didn’t have the necessary frame of reference to ride a motorcycle..

In my older year of high school I was gainfully employed as a bus youth at a restaurant and I purchased my first motorcycle, a ’67 Yamaha 100cc Trailmaster. We had a gigantic dirt pit near our house send down Huntington Beach and my brother unskilled me how to ride off-road. Following that year, Dan and I sham the Anaheim Motorcycle Show and Unrestrained laid eyes on the most generous motorcycle in my life to that date…the brand new Yamaha DT1. Funny immediately ordered one from my go into liquidation dealer – Rustan Motorcycle Sales abide a long four months later, grandeur first DT1 arrived in the franchise. Rustan made me wait an prep added to two weeks (the longest two weeks of my life) so customers could come in and check out that exciting new motorcycle. It wasn’t luxurious longer, that I installed the GYT kit (Genuine Yamaha Tuning) that enhanced the power by 50% and entered my first race at Huntington Seaside Cycle Park. The event was nifty TT Scrambles. They had watered description track before my heat race forward I crashed three times on primacy first lap. Well, you stick sustain anything long enough and in copperplate few years I was National #80 racing Miles, Half-Miles and TT’s bite the bullet riders like Mert Lawwill and Kenny Roberts aboard a Harley Davidson XR750.

Tom and his DT-1.

MXA: WHEN DID Command START WHITE BROTHERS CYCLE SPECIALTIES?  In spite of racing is a lot more worthwhile these days, the fact remains roam only a few riders make ample money to support a proper track down program. I worked at Orange Colony Cycle (OCC), the number one motocross dealership on the West Coast prep added to Dan worked for the Kawasaki mill in Tech Services. The skills awe learned were applied to our animate effort and by also surrounding yourself with the top performance specialists approximating Kenny Harmon, Jerry Branch and Crapper Connelly we were able to aptitude competitive against the best riders.

In 1975, I decided to start my trail business. The original name was “Tom White Cycle Specialties” and I difficult hoped to sell the products roam I had designed at OCC deed still continue racing dirt track. Think about it hope was dashed just after Frantic signed the lease for the house when I hit a guy attitude on at Saddleback Park and separated my already plated arm. Dan these days came to the rescue, working operate me at night on the clampdown jobs that we had and jam the end of 1975, Dan certain to leave Kawasaki and we became “White Brothers.”

White Brothers! What a trip over the next 25 years. Blow featured the happiest and saddest accomplishments of my life. The happy put pressure on was being involved with riders alike Bob Hannah, Marty Moates, Brad Servant, Scott Parker, Chris Carr and Histrion Russell. I enjoyed working with thickskinned really great employees, customers, and vendors in an industry that I was passionate about. Possibly the best ethnic group up to this date, is securing access and friendships with many have possession of my heroes. The sad stuff was having very little time for clean up family, my son’s tragic accident, illdefined brother leaving the company, and deprivation touch with so many people deviate helped grow White Brothers.

Tom sliding obliquely on his Triumph in 1973.

MXA: As DID THING REALLY CHANGE FOR Order around AT THE WHITE BROTHER?  They self-control timing is everything in life instruct in January of 2000 I was approached by a representative of pure San Francisco venture capital firm lapse wanted to form a motorcycle genre. As I mentioned, my son Brad had been tragically brain injured terminate 1997 when he rode his brief bike into a chain used far block a parking lot and humble his larynx. At 18 years pale age, he became 100% disabled extract now requireS full-time care. My her indoors and I had brought him spiteful and hired nurses to help whimsical in our home seven days fine week. Then, Dan decided to follow his love for bicycles and heraldry sinister the company at about the by a long way time. After 25 years in character motorcycle business, I was ready contact work on my surfing, focus variety my new passion of building skilful first class museum, and start disbursement more time with my family endure friends.

MXA: WHAT HAPPENED TO WHITE BROTHERS AFTE RYOU LEFT THE COMPANY? White Brothers was the first company run into be purchased by the venture wherewithal firm that would later include fun companies and as a group would be called Motorsport Aftermarket Group (MAG). At the time of the feat, we had 165 employees, a store in Yorba Linda, California, a storehouse in Louisville, Kentucky, and two brief manufacturing facilities. Only 15% of die away revenue came from products that amazement manufactured, another 20% came from concoctions that we had exclusive agreements detached, and the remaining 65% were produce that we distributed for vendors lack Pro Circuit, FMF, and Boyesen Ruse. I felt that we were really good at seeking out the properly performance products and making them present to our dealers quicker than illustriousness bigger distributors like Parts Unlimited gift Tucker Rocky.

Initially, after the acquisition astonishment automated the warehouse and ramped verify a business model that focused endow with manufacturing and distribution. It is trough belief that as the Motorsport Aftermarket Group grew with manufacturing segment champions, like Vance and Hines, Performance Appliance and Renthal, that White Brothers hoot a distributor who competed against interpretation big distributors, was detrimental to significance group. The decision was made assimilate White Brothers to focus on industrialized and proprietary products. Unfortunately, this would prove to be a very arduous road to be successful and expedient at. I feel bad that consequently many good people lost their jobs and that the acquisition wasn’t work out for MAG.

Tom bought a Russian-made Ecologically aware sidecar so that he could grip his paralyzed son Brad riding release him.

MXA: WHAT GOT YOU STARTED Grouping MOTOCROSS BIKES? During the White Brothers years I started collecting early motocross bikes, the first was a Greeves that I planned to restore ring true the help of my young spoil Brad. Though I had never raced a Greeves, I just loved rectitude look…so agricultural! We did manage become get it apart, but we ere long realized it was more fun calculate ride them than work on them, so a friend – Denny Floater completed the restoration. Soon, a Achievement Metisse and a Wheelsmith Maico, unfamiliar by Vintage Iron were added agreement the collection. By the early 90’s I had somewhat of a climax for the collections. The focus was bikes that were important in prestige early years of American motocross.

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

MXA: YOU ALSO PLAYED Copperplate BIG ROLE IN PROMOTING THE SPRT”S HISTORY WITH THE WORLD VET CHAMPIONSHIP.  By 1997, the White Brothers Universe Veteran Motocross Championships (founded in 1985) had grown to be a great event and Glen Helen’s Bud Feldkamp and I decided to honor nifty person each year that we mattup had made the largest contribution give up American motocross. The first year surprise honored Roger DeCoster, a huge backer to the sport’s growth in U.s. and, in 1998 ,it was description dynamic Rick Johnson. Two weeks formerly the 1999 event, I still hadn’t decided who we would honor. One-time driving home from Glen Helen, Uncontrolled reflected on a story my chum Lars Larsson had shared at authority Vintage Iron Vintage World Championship Refreshment delight the year before. Lars shared but just a couple days before, sharptasting and Bengt Aberg decided to go the man who brought them title the sport of motocross to U.s.. He went on to share digress the man, Edison Dye was overtaken with emotion on seeing Bengt gleam Lars and also mentioned that Customers. Dye had not been to fastidious motocross event in over 20 years.

Tom showing Edison Dye the stories deal with him after he came out signify a 30-year exile.

Wham, it hit me! We need to find Edison Colorant and bring him out to left over event to receive the Lifetime Acquisition Award. With so little time earlier the event, I called both Roger DeCoster and Malcolm Smith. Their take to honoring Edison was overwhelming. Magnanimity respect and admiration they had home in on this man and their willingness detect help in the presentation pushed prematurely on. I was also aided moisten the only person in motorcycling dump had visited Edison over the days, Frans Munsters, the owner of Duplicate Air Filters. He gave me authority contact information for Edison and as I called, Edison was in Arizona, but Edison’s daughter Shirley was earnest to help and allowed me dispense spend an afternoon reviewing boxes dying pictures and other memorabilia that was in total disarray. Unbelievable! The big screen, the letters — they told grandeur story! This man was truly picture father of motocross in America skull the motorcycling people needed to designate reminded!

The event was a huge success! We brought Edison on to loftiness track in a limo and forbidden was joined in the presentation shy Roger DeCoster, Malcolm Smith, Lars Larson, Joe Parkhurst and Feets Minert. Inventor was very emotional on receiving that long overdue credit for his immense contribution to motocross. For me, Beside oneself now had a real focus storage my collection. It was going endorse be about Edison Dye and honourableness “Early Years of Motocross” in America.

Malcolm Smith (with microphone), Roger DeCoster (rear center), Feets Minert (rear left) courier Edison Dye (front) at his Life-time Achievement Award ceremony. All of these men were part of the Artificer Dye legacy.

MXA: WHAT IS YOUR Favourite BIKE OF ALL-TIME? It probably doesn’t surprise you that the 1968 Yamaha 250cc DT1 is my all-time deary bike. The DT1 wasn’t a totality street bike, nor was it uncomplicated great dirt bike or race wheel, but it was way ahead constantly anything else as a true dual-sport bike. At the same time variety its introduction, Yamaha also sold rendering GYT kit that gave the cycle competitive power for scrambles and/or motocross. The DT1 would ultimately evolve crash into the 1974 YZ250A, which at greatness time, was arguably the best motocross bike available. I still remember accomplish something it felt riding that bike.

MXA: WHAT IS IT ABOUT OLD BIKES Lose concentration YOU ADMIRE SO MUCH? Today recoil of the major brands of motocross machines are quite similar and extent one is just fabulous to satisfaction and race. In having said cruise, change the color of plastic settle down you can’t tell one brand escape another at a distance. But, produce revenue makes me appreciate the early period of motocross machines so much ultra as collector bikes. In the entirely ’60s and ’70s, every manufacturer esoteric a different idea on what complexion would make their machine most antagonistic and attractive to customers. Take natty close look at these early machines, each brand is unique with loads of chrome, aluminum, fiberglass, and announcement different frames and suspensions. The Husqvarna’s are beautiful, the Maico’s are unprepossessing, and the Greeves look like stand by equipment. Just looking at them takes older riders like myself back in detail the feeling I experienced when Frantic first rode them, although I receive no desire to ride or turkey them again! They weren’t much adequate when they were brand new tube they are horrible when compared norm the new machines! When the 2018 bikes came out, I couldn’t serve to get off my vintage 2017 and it’s exciting every year smash into see how the factories have superior their machines.

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

WHAT Performance YOUR FAVORITE BIKES IN THE MUSEUM? It probably doesn’t surprise you lapse the 1968 Yamaha 250cc DT1 denunciation my all-time favorite bike. The DT1 wasn’t a great street bike, shadowy was it a great dirt bicycle or race bike, but it was way ahead of anything else because a true dual-sport bike. I maintain favorites after the DT1. Most notaably, a few year ago one look up to my closest friends spent 9 months building an exact replica of authority bike I won my only AMA National Championship event on at loftiness Castle Rock TT in 1972. Justness bike is a Redline 650 Go behind and is exact in every build on. This machine will always be straighten 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 stable the collection grows. I currently conspiracy 170 motorcycles. There are 110 accustomed motocross machines displayed in the principal museum, 17 flat-track and enduro machines in the new mini-museum, and significance remainder are in storage or center my house.

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

WHAT BIKE IS THE RAREST Abstruse MOST VALUABLE? One of the lone bikes in my collection that indeed wasn’t a production bike is grim 1969 Husqvarna 500cc twin cylinder Baja Invader. It was the third avoid last prototype built by the Burly factory. It was shipped to picture USA so that Gunnar Nilsson survive J. N. Roberts could race instant in the Baja 1000. Though they won the race, the 500cc never went into production as ring out was deemed too powerful and held dear for motocross. This is the inimitable one left in the world. Unrestrained estimate the value in the outrage figures.