I am Robert E. Lee, and from as far back as I can remember, I've been called "The Little
General". Go figure. I have started this blog so that you and I can share our motorcycle experiences.About Me - It all started at a very young age, this love of two wheels. When I was 7, my sister Linda came home with a 78 rpm record that was about a motorcyclist. The song was sung by Vaughn Monroe, called The Terror of Highway 101. As I sat and listened to the song over and over again, I started to develop a mental image of what it would be like to race off down the highway with the wind in my face and the sounds of the pipes. As the image took hold of me, I started to drool over every motorcycle that I saw.
That same year, I was standing in our front yard when I heard the pipes of a motorcycle coming up our country road. I ran to the edge of the road, and started waving at the oncoming rider. As he passed by, he took both hands off the handlebars and made both hands into finger guns and pointed at me. That was way too cool! And 3 years later, I soloed on my first motorcycle, a 125 cc HD Hummer. That was 49 years ago, and I haven't stopped riding since.
I went on to:
Work in a bike shop after school...start racing...turn pro...win a pro national short track...own dealerships...and on and on. From all that, I can truthfully say that motorcycle people are some of the best people I've met in all my travels. "Scooter Trash", as I so fondly call my riding buddies, are generally good people. I hope you enjoy the blog! Please feel free to post comments on any article - I would love to hear your feedback.
The Little General
Posts
Nice!! I have never heard that song before. Sounds like your inspiration.
ReplyDeleteHello from a competitor and friend of the past.
ReplyDeleteThroughout my entire racing career you were one of the most competitive guys I ever competed against. We both had the same desire... to Win... which made for some great racing.
I remember chasing rabbits on our motorcycles at night, you grabbing my leg down the backstraight at Devils Bowl, our fierce battles at Ross Downs, Oklahoma City, Santa Fe, etc..
The most fun I had racing was when our Ross Down regulars like you and Jimmy, Teddy and Terry Poovey, McClure, Rawls, Shobert, Boren, etc..
When you, Mike "The Rajun Cajun" Gerald and I lined up for a main event, the race was on.
Looks like you still enjoy riding. Hope to see you soon, Mike Kidd
WOW--how good to hear from you, Mike. Just last Sunday I was telling the story of how at Ross Downs I got my right foot and leg sucked up into your rear wheel. And how the rear shock had to be removed just to get my leg out. I still stand by my story that you backed into my foot! :) Oh, for the good old days...It was always fun competing with you -- you always pulled me to a new level. Looking forward to seeing you whenever possible.
ReplyDeleteRobert
Great site/blog or whatever it is. Thanks for the good videos. Hope to ride with ya'll soon.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving & may God continue to bless you, Debbie, & your sons.
The memories of you on the pumper carbed Hodaka at Ross Downs, packing up one of the basketcase DMR's at Action Imports that you rode, hearing about your being a pilot, and being in the stands at the 'Dome (wish that had a different ending, much like Guy's get off there)...Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteWould like to do a street ride with you someday.
Guy's brother, Charlie McClure
Crowley, TX
Hey, Charlie - didn't know you lived down in this area! You need to send me a private message with your e-mail in it, and I'll add you to the ride list for the area. About that Hodaka, I could write a few blogs on that one.
ReplyDeleteTell us about that Hodaka. I remember when I lived in Hurst Tx you came down to our riding area in a Hodaka van and pulled out 2 of the trickest Hodaka's I have ever seen. I remember a short tracker that the front wheel rarely touched the ground. I was ah struck and wished my clapped out ace 90 was that trick. You also had a mx Hodaka that was way cool. Did you ride for the factory or what. I also remember a road racer you rode at Green Valley race way.
ReplyDeleteTerry Smith
Dallas Tx
If you read this Charlie McClure I remember you from DFW Honda and Guy worked there also, I was the parts guy and had a xr 185 I rode cross country on.
Terry-thanks for the comment. I hope that you are enjoying the blog. As for the Hodakas, I worked for the distributor and they furnished me with the 4 race bikes and beautiful red custom Hodaka van, which I took around a 5 state area to race for the different dealers. All 4 of the bikes were VERY special and way ahead of the times as you remember. I plan to do a story about them in the future. Thanks for reading. REL
ReplyDeleteI can hardly wait for the Hodaka story. Do you have any pictures of the bikes or van to share? I must say I am enjoying the BLOG and love to remember the good old days from the 70's and Ross Downs era. I rode there for quite a while but was never up to your standards. I did have a a 100 Yamaha that I copied from Freddie Spencer, trackmaster frame etc. I only beat him once in a heat race by about one inch only because he got such a poor start and the heat was only 4 laps. He smoked us in the main event.
ReplyDeleteTerry
Terry, I'll be digging in all the old boxes looking for the photos for the story—I hate to post without pics for backup. REL
ReplyDeleteRobert what disributor did you ride for? I have generated some interest about this on the Hodaka owners forum and people are asking about it. I told them it must have been a Texas based outfit but was not sure.
ReplyDeleteTerry
Terry—it was Major distributing out of Oklahoma and they had a five state area in which to set up dealers. REL
ReplyDeleteHey Robert,
ReplyDeleteIt is great to read about you! I think our paths crossed before Bultaco moved me off the Tenn. Somebody in a previous post mentioned getting their boot between the shock and rear wheel....well, I did that very thing with Jimmy. It was at Lake Lavon....seems it was a Motocross event...not the scrambles......
Moved back to TX in 1980..Stephenville, since my 10 year stint with Bultaco. Do you happen to know the whereabouts of Jim Cortney? I hear from Bill Dutcher every once in a while.
So much for the rambling...Take care of yourself!
The older I get the faster I was!! HAHA
Al Locke
Hey Al good to hear from you. I do remember you from around the tracks in the DFW area. Funny that you mention the foot thing. I found the picture where Mike Kidd is draging me off my bike by my right foot. I don't know where Jim ended up or how to find him. It has been a many of years since I've seen him. Send me a PM at juno so I can have your email address. REL
ReplyDeleteHi Robert, I loved the artical they did in Cycle News about you. You were truly one of my heros. I was a sportman rider out of Lubbock. I rode for Virgle at the Suzuki shop. In 1972 me and David Fisher turned 18 and he got his card and I pitted for him. We went to Mew Mexico and ran Albuquerque Friday night and David was leading you and the grove was up high and he ran off the track. We got there early and your van was in the parking lot and you had your TV antennas on the side of your truck. Then Saturday night was La Luse and then Sunday was Ruidoso Downs. Do you remember Warner Sailsberry. He was great on indoors. And Gary Bailey and Larry Baughman. The Amarillo civic center were the best indoors I ever saw. The best nationals I ever saw were Santa Fe in 76 and 77. It was a war between Poovey and Eklund. In 73 I went to Ross Downs and I knew main was eather you or Kidd. I think Kidd got you that night. Anyway I'm glad you are still around and doing good. You are not forgotten!
ReplyDeleteRicky Billings#14
hey Ricky you still in Lubbock I used to flag for Jack Halpain those were the good old days
DeleteRicky-thanks for the email. I sure do remember all those riders, a good bunch of fellows. All of us sure had a lot of fun racing together. Thanks for reading my blog, send me your email address and I'll send you an update notice. Robert
ReplyDeleteHi Sir, I live in the same hometown as Joe Yeager. He won multiple races at Californa Missouri, one night you where there on an ossa and you ran the entire race side by side with Joe and you won that night. I thougt it was cool that an ossa won that night. Rosie
ReplyDeleteHI Robert - I raced mini man class in Amarillo coliseum in the early 70's many times and won - saw you win many times!
ReplyDeleteShannon Thompson
I sure did have a blast racing in Amarillo back then, I'm still riding and just returned from a 10,000 mile ride to the Arctic sea on the North slope of Alaska.I hope that motorcycles are still bring you as much excitement as they are for me. Thanks for the email. REL #54
ReplyDeleteHi Robert,
ReplyDeleteI know you don't remember me, but I bought one of those Hodakas from Jimmy. I just ran across pictures of it. One was after a race in Bowie. That was a LONG time ago. Have a lot of good memories from Ross Downs. I wasn't as good as you or Mike Kidd, but did manage a few trophies. I didn't start until I was in my 20's.
Hi Robert my name is Steve and in 1976 Itraded in my oil leakingAMF HARLEY for aKZ 900 LTD and then proceeded to log in over 100,000 miles glad to see your still going strong
ReplyDeleteRobert you were hero to me and my brother at the ok fairgrounds.The little general from Fort Worth Texas.Also saw you there at grand national 1971 riding a 650 bsa back when flat track was in its prime.Gene Romero won that race.also saw you and don castro go at it.saw you on the wide world of sports at the Louisville half mile.love your game,I will always cherish those days. Dale and Phillip Walker
ReplyDeleteRespect and I have a neat give: Where Do You Get The Money To Renovate A House house reno on a budget
ReplyDeleteHi Robert, you were one of my favorites to watch at Tri-City Speedway you guy McClure, Dan Kirkland, Jimmy Watching you guys every Tuesday night inspired my racing career. Good to read all the quotes and comments from everybody. Stay safe from Rusty 42P.
ReplyDelete