13Feb

Gary Poland

Gary Poland

Gary Poland

My name is Gary Poland. I have ridden motorcycles since I was 12 years old. My first motorcycle was a 1965 Yamaha 80cc Trailmaster. Dad started racing in 1967. I went to races with dad. We took my bike, now a Kawasaki C2 120cc, but did not race that year. I rode in practice, but parked it for the race. I started racing spring of 1968. I was 14 and there were no classes for kids, so I raced with the adults. I rode a 120cc Kawasaki. I got confidence in myself from winning or doing well that still drives me today. We raced hare scrambles, motocross, the Upland Enduro annually a short track at Marion County fairgrounds, on a couple of ocassions. We usually had knobby tires on our bikes. In 1970 England Cycle gave me a 100 CC Bultaco Sherpa S to race. We concentrated on motocross. We raced every weekend all year, we had to go to Ohio and Kentucky to find races in the winter. I was second nationally up to December. We could not find races 2 weeks in December so I fell to fourth. At some races the brakes on the front wheel would freeze between motos. We raced all over Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, that year. 1973-74 We rode night races at North Vernon and Raceway Park. My father and I spent a lot of time together racing. He was my dad and my best friend. Dad and I raced every week there was a race, until 1974. I took some time off. Dad and I raced the 2 man at Stoney Lonesome and the Upland Enduro for several more years. Dad and I started racing vintage bikes in 1989 and continued racing Bultacos for another 16 years in 9 states. We met a lot of great people. We quit racing in 2005 when dad was 75. My son and I ride all we can. He lives 2 hours away. Some of our best memories have been spent on a motorcycle.

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