Living in Triumph

When I saw a Triumph on my Uncle Ed's Christmas card all those years ago, I never thought I would own a British motorbike. I heard stories about their legendary exploits in the 60s and 70s, but also tales of woe that featured bad ignitions, leaky crankcases, finnicky jetting, and worst of all, the shift lever and rear brake lever being on the "wrong sides". I was primarily a Japanese dirt bike guy in my previous riding eras. Triumph, Norton, BSA and all the rest, no longer even existed.

I was blessed to grow up where there was plenty of open land to ride on. I developed a love for riding bicycles and motorcycles early on. I bought my first motorcycle at age 11 with paper route money, a Chaparral 80cc Mini Cycle. I started racing when I was 16. I owned many different brands during that period, but 12 of my first 17 motorcycles were Motocross bikes.

Bob's Motorcycle History in Pictures - The Early Years 1973 - 1989

It was during the motorcycle "dormant period" that I started working as a computer programmer and going to college at night. Steph and I were married shortly after I graduated. Less than two years later, my mother passed away after a brief illness. Although they had a relatively short time together, Steph and my mom had a great relationship and loved each other deeply. Her death hit us both very hard. We didn't realize it at the time, but that was the start of our Faith Journey

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all.
1 John 1:7 (NIV)

The motorcycle drought was broken when I bought a Motocross bike in 1998. I eased myself back into it and started racing the Vet (30+) classes in 2001. Unlike the early years when I only raced, I got involved in other ways. I started a web site, submitted race reports, joined a MC that put on off-road events, and was on the AMA District 23 board for several years. When I was done racing in 2009, I still had a 1985 Honda Nighthawk 650, but it didn't get ridden much.

Bob's Motorcycle History in Pictures - The Vet Years 1998 - 2012

The Nitehawk was sold shortly before we moved to Arizona. Even though I was living where there wasn't snow, extreme cold, or frequent rain, I was without a motorcycle for nearly twelve years. Hiking and Music replaced mountain biking and motorcycles.
Main Trails Page   Main Music Page

After a few years in our new home, I was convinced that my riding days were over. My motorcycle "fix" became writing and adding to my website. I became interested in Vintage racing, rare motorcycles, and documenting rider's stories from that time period, particularly guys from my home state of Minnesota. I wrote and published several books.

Books and Stories on MX Bob.com

Once I was free of my corporate shackles, the first big event I attended was the Inter-AMA Vintage Motocross in Boise. My original goal was to look at all the rare bikes in the pits and possibly make contacts for future writing assignments or biographies. Prior to the trip, I had been going through an old but as-true-as-ever book called Experiencing God (by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby). I had worked through it before. It always challenges me to live what I believe. By the time the event was approaching, I had lost interest in doing anything that was business related.


A photo trip through the Boise VMX Pits

When I wasn't walking around the pits or watching the races, I was talking with racers who were older than me and hanging around with members of the southern Idaho chapters of the Christian Motorcyclists Association. God opened my eyes to several things by the time I got back home; I was babying my joints too much and CMA was a great match for me. Those two realizations got me back on a motorcycle and also provided the ministry and fellowship opportunities I had been looking for.


Shortly after getting back from Boise, I bought a small street bike, went through the CMA member training, and joined the East Valley chapter, very appropriately named, New Life. Once again, God answered my prayers so much better than I thought possible. How can I keep that to myself?

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
2 Corinthians 5:17


Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people all about this new life.
Act 5:20 (NIV)