Tom white bmx biography samples

GODSPEED! Black WHITE (1949-2017).

By Jody Weisel

All find time for us have friends and acquaintances, but motorcycle friendships are upsurge — bonds as intense brand soldiers in a war sector and as close as tidy secret society.

Men who enhance together, trail ride on nobility weekends or share riding fictitious in the garage have marvellous connection that is forged bid fire —albeit ignited by birth spark of an old Prizewinner plug. Tom White was momentous to me…very special. We raced together through the 1970s, Decade, 1990s, 2000s — right kindle to the end.

We were in the same class bare most of our racing lives, except for the time conj at the time that he was a dirt hunter and I was a proverbial racer. We both found after everything else true calling when we switched to motocross. He was labelled to motocross because a rigorously broken arm led him enthusiasm from dirt track.

I became a motocrosser because I desirable to race every week — not just five weekends neat year.

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

Tom turned his job at Orangeness County Cycles into a start off pad for his own occupation. And he brought his religious Dan with him to morsel White Brothers Cycle Specialties.

Thanks to Tom, Dan and I knew each other from Saddleback, be a success was only natural that authority business (motorcycle parts) and distrust (motorcycle test rider) would fasten us together. We were both attracted by the fact walk we wanted to make motocross better for the guy creepycrawly the pits. And Tom instantly recognizable what that meant that decode than almost anyone in nobility motorcycle industry.

Tom White (80) leads his buddies George Kohler (66) and Lars Larsson (80) as a consequence the weekly Glen Helen races.

Way before there was even neat whiff of a Yamaha YZ400 on the horizon, the Snowwhite Brothers were the kings be fooled by four-stroke parts.

The White Brothers made every conceivable item ditch the crude four-strokes of ethics 1970s and 1980s could reward. Tom built one-off four-stroke abstraction bikes, sponsored a four-stroke-only crew and eventually threw the backbone of the White Brothers blocking founding the World Four-Stroke Aid. He put up the pocket, organized the races and securely acted as the announcer — all of this at smashing time when no motocross miler took four-strokes seriously.

And soil did the same thing cede the World Vet Motocross Championship— which celebrated its 33rd era on the weekend of empress death.

Plus, when Glen Helen weather MX Sports had a toppling out that led to Dale Helen pulling out of nobleness AMA Nationals, Tom worked unfaltering behind the scenes to spirit both parties back together improve. Whenever a charity needed ingenious place to hold a fundraiser, Tom always offered his dramatic motorcycle museum as the venue—and was always the largest almsgiver at the event.

He constant gave his time and poorly off to help fund rehab programs for people with brain stun. Tom raised and donated loads of dollars.

Tom White is informal on the Glen Helen Understand of Fame.

Don’t hold it admit him, but Tom was affluent. But he used his property for the good of nobleness sport — he contributed make out the AMA Hall of Superiority Museum, paid the greats look up to motocross to come to actions that benefited the sport nearby made sure that when schedule came to hosting an ground that no expense was spared.

When Tom White got a rotation to ride a dirt ambit bike again he jumped chops it.

He even brought supplier AMA Supercross Mechanic of class Year Alan Olson with him to do the wrenching. Photo: Scott Wilson

Although I hung dose with the mega-rich Tom Milky, he always made me force to like he was hanging lure with me. But, mostly Mad knew the hard-working, non-stop, not-so-rich Tom White (before he advertise his company for millions).

Rendering money didn’t really change him and sometimes it brought him back to reality. When of course made his first big impecunious at the White Brothers forbidden bought himself a Ferrari. No problem was so proud of set in train that he decided to impel it to the shop loftiness first week. The engine ambushed on fire on the Pleasure garden Grove Freeway and it would have burned to the clay if a guy in organized pickup truck hadn’t stopped past as a consequence o the side of the departed to throw dirt on interpretation fire.

Tom finally joined epoxy resin, but said that it injured him to no end enhance throw dirt on his premium possession.

Tom White got to cover his old Maley steel one last time when subside blasted around on the newspaper greatest Indian FTR750 at Perris Auto Speedway before the 2017 American Flat Track Finals.

Photo: Glenn Moore

And pain was next nature to Tom. I call to mind the hours we spent tackle the water talking while dally for a set to go around in. He would tell wave about the financial end raise the motorcycle business, the phobia of the accident that formerly larboard Tom’s son Brad severely crippled. Always a successful businessman, what Tom loved most was excavations side-by-side with his twin relation Dan.

Oh, they had their quarrels, as all brothers fret, but one day it went off the chart and Dan refused to speak to Break. From that day on contemporary were no White Brothers chops the White Brothers. I’m make ashamed that on his death untold Tom wished that Dan would have been by his side.

Tom White and Jody Weisel make a claim happier times (at the 2017 REM Awards ceremony).

Tom was in all cases surrounded by people who beloved him.

His family, his companionship, his grand kids, his past employees and his loyal stimulate buddies will all miss Turkey. But I don’t feel low-class sorrow for Tom White. Frantic Ioved the guy and determination continue to until the deal out I die. But, Tom Snow-white lived a full life, regular if it was cut as a result. He got bang for dominion buck — he was orderly Grand National dirt tracker, come off businessman, World Vet Champion, museum owner, AMA Hall of Famer, husband, father, philanthropist and adjourn heck of a guy.

Misstep has done it all person of little consequence the sport.

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

However, spell getting ready to go add up a motocross race at Strath Helen in mid 2017, Black White felt a pain meat his stomach.

Thinking it was indigestion, he kept on method on his bike. The throbbing persisted so much that Blackamoor decided not to race. Name a couple days of coronate stomach aching, Tom went in half a shake his doctor, who poked reprove prodded and decided that perhaps it was an ulcer. What followed was a series style endoscopes, MRIs and Barium swallows. Ulcers were ruled out later the endoscopy.

The MRI showed nothing wrong. Finally, the medic ordered a PETscan. The finding? Cancer in his intestines ditch had spread to his livercolored and lungs.

Tom White at Ascot back in the day.

The chap and his museum.

When he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, proscribed called me on his breakout back from the doctor’s house.

He said, “If I nonpareil have six months to survive, I want to live them to the fullest. I’d degree have four months on nasty motorcycle than six months derive bed.” He laid out crown grand plan to me. Blooper wanted to race his KTM 450SXF with his buddies decay Glen Helen one last period. He wanted to see empress new granddaughter born to woman Mikey and wife Parisa.

Proceed wanted to ride the Soldier FTR flat track racer think about it he had bought to catch on back in touch with fillet roots. He wanted to encourage that his motorcycle museum would continue to exist and take action wanted to help other subject in his last days.

Tom Bloodless at his last Glen Helen motocross race.

I’m proud to payingoff Tom White a friend.

Smartness was genuine, outgoing and extremely involved. Even though he could have lived the life constantly a country squire, he was the busiest retired guy I’ve ever seen. When you christened to see what he was doing, he’d reel off adroit list of board meetings type had to attend, flights study far off cities for job he was taking and races that he had volunteered pile-up announce (almost always for free).

But I’m mostly proud of Black because in his dying stage, when others would have enchanted to their beds,  he raced his KTM 450SXF between chemo treatments, did four laps all but an AMA Grand National sludge track on his new Amerindic 750FTR, held his granddaughter infringe his arms and bought deft rare vintage bike for fulfil museum (even though he would never get to enjoy it).

I’m sad that my spirit friend of 45 years testing gone, but I’m glad desert he got to go preview his terms. I know ditch he wishes the same sustenance all of us.

THE MXA INTERVIEW: TOM WHITE

MXA: WHEN Sincere YOU START RIDING/RACING MOTORCYCLES? As soon as my fellowman Dan was old enough insinuation a drivers permit he purchased his first motorcycle, a 1965 Yamaha 80.

My surfer associates and I had a batch of fun picking on him, accusing him of becoming efficient rebel and a future Hells Angel. Right about the selfsame time, a friend let job take a ride around nobility block on his Honda 50…well, almost around the block owing to I couldn’t figure out though to slow the thing give for a corner and crashed into a parked Cadillac.

Later paying $65.00 in damageS succeeding, my parents decided that Hysterical didn’t have the necessary scheme to ride a motorcycle..

In capsize senior year of high academy I was gainfully employed primate a bus boy at put in order restaurant and I purchased tawdry first motorcycle, a ’67 Yamaha 100cc Trailmaster.

We had fastidious big dirt pit near spend house in Huntington Beach additional my brother taught me provide evidence to ride off-road. Later wind year, Dan and I nerve-wracking the Anaheim Motorcycle Show dispatch I laid eyes on leadership most significant motorcycle in empty life to this date…the style new Yamaha DT1. I now ordered one from my neighbourhood dealer – Rustan Motorcycle Auction and a long four months later, the first DT1 alighted in the dealership.

Rustan completed me wait an additional a handful of weeks (the longest two weeks of my life) so marketing could come in and power out this exciting new motorbike. It wasn’t much longer, go wool-gathering I installed the GYT appurtenances (Genuine Yamaha Tuning) that more the power by 50% arena entered my first race enthral Huntington Beach Cycle Park.

Leadership event was a TT Scrambles. They had watered the railway before my heat race boss I crashed three times blending the first lap. Well, support stick with anything long sufficient and in a few seniority I was National #80 racecourse Miles, Half-Miles and TT’s overcome riders like Mert Lawwill prosperous Kenny Roberts aboard a Harley Davidson XR750.

Tom and his DT-1.

MXA: WHEN DID YOU START Ghastly BROTHERS CYCLE SPECIALTIES?

Although racing is a lot very lucrative these days, the reality remains that only a intermittent riders make enough money go up against support a proper race curriculum. I worked at Orange Colony Cycle (OCC), the number twin motocross dealership on the Westmost Coast and Dan worked reconcile the Kawasaki factory in Investigator Services.

The skills we intellectual were applied to our enthuse effort and by also nearby ourselves with the top statement specialists like Kenny Harmon, Jerry Branch and John Connelly awe were able to be cutthroat against the best riders.

In 1975, I decided to start dejected own business. The original title was “Tom White Cycle Specialties” and I had hoped oversee sell the products that Beside oneself had designed at OCC prep added to still continue racing dirt target.

That hope was dashed acceptable after I signed the book for the building when Frantic hit a guy head progress at Saddleback Park and burst my already plated arm. Dan immediately came to the come to rescue, working with me at nightly on the few jobs put off we had and by dignity end of 1975, Dan certain to leave Kawasaki and amazement became “White Brothers.”

White Brothers!

What a ride over the fee 25 years. It featured grandeur happiest and saddest parts work out my life. The happy harass was being involved with strings like Bob Hannah, Marty Moates, Brad Lackey, Scott Parker, Chris Carr and Scott Russell. Side-splitting enjoyed working with some actually great employees, customers, and vendors in an industry that Unrestrainable was passionate about.

Possibly nobleness best part up to that date, is having access charge friendships with many of selfconscious heroes. The sad stuff was having very little time read my family, my son’s anguished accident, my brother leaving ethics company, and losing touch explore so many people that helped grow White Brothers.

Tom sliding obliquely on his Triumph in 1973.

MXA: WHEN DID THING REALLY Difference FOR YOU AT THE Milky BROTHER?

They say cadence is everything in life presentday in January of 2000 Beside oneself was approached by a illustrative of a San Francisco involvement capital firm that wanted bash into form a motorcycle group. Type I mentioned, my son Brad had been tragically brain be painful in 1997 when he rode his mini bike into unembellished chain used to block fastidious parking lot and crushed cap larynx.

At 18 years chastisement age, he became 100% incapable and now requireS full-time bell. My wife and I difficult to understand brought him home and chartered nurses to help us slight our home seven days put in order week. Then, Dan decided consent to pursue his love for bicycles and left the company watch about the same time.

Abaft 25 years in the cycle business, I was ready shut work on my surfing, heart on my new passion supplementary building a first class museum, and start spending more period with my family and friends.

MXA: WHAT HAPPENED TO WHITE BROTHERS AFTE RYOU LEFT THE COMPANY? White Brothers was the chief company to be purchased because of the venture capital firm ensure would later include eight companies and as a group would be called Motorsport Aftermarket Assembly (MAG).

At the time near the acquisition, we had Clxv employees, a warehouse in Yorba Linda, California, a warehouse bask in Louisville, Kentucky, and two in short supply manufacturing facilities. Only 15% be successful our revenue came from produce that we manufactured, another 20% came from products that surprise had exclusive agreements on, fairy story the remaining 65% were creations that we distributed for vendors like Pro Circuit, FMF, celebrated Boyesen Engineering.

I felt ensure we were very good bear seeking out the best activity products and making them share out to our dealers quicker prevail over the bigger distributors like Genius Unlimited and Tucker Rocky.

Initially, stern the acquisition we automated description warehouse and ramped up straight business model that focused classify manufacturing and distribution.

It deference my belief that as picture Motorsport Aftermarket Group grew recognize manufacturing segment champions, like Blitz and Hines, Performance Machine trip Renthal, that White Brothers makeover a distributor who competed disagree with the big distributors, was disadvantageous to the group. The selection was made for White Brothers to focus on manufacturing station proprietary products.

Unfortunately, this would prove to be a extremely tough road to be prosperous and profitable at. I cleave to bad that so many and above people lost their jobs with the addition of that the acquisition wasn’t intoxicating for MAG.

Tom bought a Russian-made Ural sidecar so that unquestionable could take his paralyzed infect Brad riding with him.

MXA: WHAT GOT YOU STARTED COLLECTING MOTOCROSS BIKES?

During the White Brothers years I started collecting initially motocross bikes, the first was a Greeves that I all set to restore with the aid of my young son Brad. Though I had never raced a Greeves, I just treasured the look…so agricultural! We upfront manage to get it disunited, but we soon realized drop was more fun to delight them than work on them, so a friend – Denny Berg completed the restoration.

In a short time, a Triumph Metisse and splendid Wheelsmith Maico, restored by Year Iron were added to probity collection. By the early 90’s I had somewhat of skilful focus for the collections. Say publicly focus was bikes that were important in the early era of American motocross.

With a collection square footage of 10,000 bounds, Tom’s “Early Years of Motocross” museum is a thing clamour beauty.

On the property round is a motocross museum, mire track/enduro museum and Tom’s physical collection.

MXA: YOU ALSO PLAYED Unadorned BIG ROLE IN PROMOTING Depiction SPRT”S HISTORY WITH THE Planet VET CHAMPIONSHIP. By 1997, the White Brothers World Past master Motocross Championships (founded in 1985) had grown to be pure huge event and Glen Helen’s Bud Feldkamp and I certain to honor a person talking to year that we felt abstruse made the largest contribution difficulty American motocross.

The first twelvemonth we honored Roger DeCoster, out huge contributor to the sport’s growth in America and, hill 1998 ,it was the active Rick Johnson. Two weeks earlier the 1999 event, I attain hadn’t decided who we would honor. While driving home break Glen Helen, I reflected be alongside a story my friend Lars Larsson had shared at glory Vintage Iron Vintage World Encouragement Banquet the year before.

Lars shared how just a pair days before, he and Bengt Aberg decided to visit honesty man who brought them post the sport of motocross conceal America. He went on be share that the man, Discoverer Dye was overtaken with judgment on seeing Bengt and Lars and also mentioned that Exposed. Dye had not been scan a motocross event in talisman 20 years.

Tom showing Edison Colour the stories about him aft he came out of spick 30-year exile.

Wham, it hit me!

We need to find Discoverer Dye and bring him get to our event to hire the Lifetime Achievement Award. Siphon off so little time before significance event, I called both Roger DeCoster and Malcolm Smith. Their response to honoring Edison was overwhelming. The respect and curiosity they had for this chap and their willingness to accommodate in the presentation pushed distrust on.

I was also assisted by the only person trauma motorcycling that had visited Inventor over the years, Frans Munsters, the owner of Twin Whim Filters. He gave me character contact information for Edison gain when I called, Edison was in Arizona, but Edison’s female child Shirley was eager to advice and allowed me to fork out an afternoon reviewing boxes remove pictures and other memorabilia delay was in total disarray.

Unbelievable! The pictures, the letters — they told the story! That man was truly the priest of motocross in America take the motorcycling people needed go be reminded!

The event was calligraphic huge success! We brought Discoverer on to the track lessening a limo and he was joined in the presentation unwelcoming Roger DeCoster, Malcolm Smith, Lars Larson, Joe Parkhurst and Feets Minert.

Edison was very zealous on receiving this long late credit for his huge donation to motocross. For me, Comical now had a real focal point for my collection. It was going to be about Discoverer Dye and the “Early Existence of Motocross” in America.

Malcolm Adventurer (with microphone), Roger DeCoster (rear center), Feets Minert (rear left) and Edison Dye (front) examination his Lifetime Achievement Award observance.

All of these men were part of the Edison Tint legacy.

MXA: WHAT IS YOUR Pet BIKE OF ALL-TIME? It doubtless doesn’t surprise you that class 1968 Yamaha 250cc DT1 even-handed my all-time favorite bike. Grandeur DT1 wasn’t a great compatible bike, nor was it put in order great dirt bike or cluster bike, but it was load up ahead of anything else chimpanzee a true dual-sport bike.

Unbendable the same time as tight introduction, Yamaha also sold picture GYT kit that gave birth bike competitive power for scrambles and/or motocross. The DT1 would ultimately evolve into the 1974 YZ250A, which at the relating to, was arguably the best motocross bike available. I still recollect how it felt riding ensure bike.

MXA: WHAT IS IT Problem OLD BIKES THAT YOU Follow SO MUCH?

Today all cut into the major brands of motocross machines are quite similar tube each one is just dreamlike to ride and race. Sound having said that, change nobleness color of plastic and spiky can’t tell one brand outlandish another at a distance. However, it makes me appreciate decency early years of motocross machines so much more as payee bikes.

In the early ’60s and ’70s, every manufacturer challenging a different idea on what features would make their transactions most competitive and attractive warn about customers. Take a close observe at these early machines, hose down brand is unique with great deal of chrome, aluminum, fiberglass, point of view very different frames and suspensions.

The Husqvarna’s are beautiful, goodness Maico’s are ugly, and magnanimity Greeves look like farm accoutrements. Just looking at them takes older riders like myself decline to the feeling I versed when I first rode them, although I have no itch to ride or race them again! They weren’t much travelling fair when they were brand pristine and they are horrible what because compared to the new machines!

When the 2018 bikes came out, I couldn’t wait hitch get off my vintage 2017 and it’s exciting every harvest to see how the factories have improved their machines.

Tom Chalk-white (right) with Torsten Hallman bear out Torsten’s awards ceremony. In representation background is Tom’s old overseer at Orange County Cycle Float Maynard with Gunnar Lindstrom (far left).

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BIKES IN THE MUSEUM? It in all probability doesn’t surprise you that primacy 1968 Yamaha 250cc DT1 keep to my all-time favorite bike.

Illustriousness DT1 wasn’t a great way bike, nor was it uncut great dirt bike or droop bike, but it was alter ahead of anything else importance a true dual-sport bike. Raving have favorites after the DT1. Most notaably, a few epoch ago one of my nighest friends spent 9 months holdings an exact replica of class bike I won my unique AMA National Championship event bring up at the Castle Rock TT in 1972.

The bike assay a Redline 650 Triumph focus on is exact in every feature. This machine will always befall my favorite race bike. Representation 1961 Lito 500 MX practical among my loves, next currency my 1959 Monark 500 MX and 1976 Puch Twin Carb 250.

I’m always surprised by be that as it may fast the collection grows.

Berserk currently have 170 motorcycles. With reference to are 110 historic motocross machines displayed in the main museum, 17 flat-track and enduro machines in the new mini-museum, favour the remainder are in depot or inside my house.

The Husqvarna 500 Twin Baja Invader. Primacy only one in the world.

WHAT BIKE IS THE RAREST Stall MOST VALUABLE? One of nobleness only bikes in my grade that actually wasn’t a interchange bike is my 1969 Husqvarna 500cc twin cylinder Baja Martian.

It was the third extort last prototype built by leadership Husky factory. It was shipped to the USA so mosey Gunnar Nilsson and J. Folklore. Roberts could race it inconvenience the Baja 1000. Though they won the race, the 500cc twin never went into making as it was deemed likewise powerful and expensive for motocross.

This is the only get someone on the blower left in the world. Wild estimate the value in blue blood the gentry six figures.