The world is a small place

[admin]

Reading some of the posts recently and also doing a little re flexion on where and how this Hodaka thing got started for me has me thinking.
I would have never been to Athena if it were not for Harry and that was about a Hodaka connection.
Would never have gone to Portugal if it were not for the Hodaka connection.
Most likely would not have gone to Australia twice now if it were not for the Hodaka connection.
Ed and I were lucky enough this past June to travel together in and around part of Australia. Doing this with Ed and meeting and knowing Ken would not be possible if it were not for the Hodaka connection.
I am sharing this photo that I just opened on my computer. It is a shot from the North Head looking into Sydney Harbour with the city of Sydney in the background . How dang beautiful is this photo!! The photo was sent to Ed and I to remind us of a beautiful spot we saw this past June. Would not have been possible without the Hodaka connection and the great friends we meet along the way. Thanks Kenny for the photo makes a great way to start the day.

[Bullfrog]

The photo came up on the screen and I thought, "Hey, I thought I clicked on the Strictly Hodaka link . . . not the e-mail icon." Ah, good. Now that photo can be easily be seen no mater where I "go" on my computer!

Paul, your message also makes me think of a spam message I received the other day (hang in there, this paragraph WILL get better). Ennnnneywayeee, the subject line was something like, "Eight Secret Habits of Happy People" For what-ever reason, I decided to see what the eight "secrets" were. One of the "secrets" was to be grateful for the happenings/things/people in your life. Um, CHECK THAT BOX! Got it - doin' that one! (this is a secret?)

Interestingly, near the top of the list was one about helping others/volunteering. Seems like a bunch of people on this chat group can CHECK that one off too! (this is a "secret"??? True, but not "secret" IMHO)

Ennnnneywayeeeee, thanks for posting the photo and the comments. Good times. Good memories. Grateful for having them.

Ed

[admin]

Amen brother !!
We are a couple of very lucky guys Ed !!
Great family
Great friends
Great brand of motorcycle the help tie it all together!
Australia has great beer and Kenny lives there too. So in Oz you get two for the price of one.

[socalhodaka]

Thanks for taking my phone call sometime around 2001, I picked up my first Hodaka and needed some parts. 2002 my first Hodaka days and not long after that the trial ride of my life and a friend for life. Thanks Hodaka

[thrownchain]

I too have been to places I might not have gone if not for Hodaka and even other brands. Wouldn't have gone to Oregon twice with Hodaka, California for Van Tech, multiple places with Penton. Met a lot of very nice people and seen some really nice bikes. As well as seen a lot of the country from the road. I may never get out of the country, ( although I would like to go to the Isle of Man and see the bike museums in England) but it's been a fun ride.

[Hilly]

Look at these handsome roosters, taken classic dirt 2015, green park, Connondale, Australia

[Jack Elliott]

Hi Hilly
Have met Ken -he lives near me in Sydney, i believe your fine looking SC was the sole Hodaka at Cannondale last year. I hope to double or triple that number there soon (Wombat I am riding now and Super Combat in progress) . Look foward to one day meeting the other "roosters" in the photo,
might have to get to Hodaka days for that!

[Bullfrog]

Jack, a small correction -- Hilly's Super Combat was certainly the fastest Hodaka at Classic Dirt . . . but not the ONLY Hodie there. Ken's Wombat (Model 94) got thoroughly thrashed by your's truly. There is photographic evidence of the track time on the Wombat in VMX magazine even! As I recall, the photo even shows ROOST coming up behind the rear tire!!! (OK. OK. It is 125cc, mild mannered, street legal, trials tire "roost" . . . but it is still roost!)

Ed
PS: That must be where the nickname "roosters" came from - right?

[Hilly]

The more the merrier, had some jetting issues at classic dirt, turned out the main jet was super glued in as someone had stripped the thread in the emulsion tube. Gonna throw the HT2 pipe on for this weekend, just need to get jetting sorted. Can't wait for CD again this yr

[vmxken]

The world is indeed a small place and I know one day I'll even get back to that smallest of small places, Athena, and catch up with all the wonderful Hodaka people again one day.

And yes, Ed did give my Wombat a good caning, but it took it all in its stride. What's more, I did at least get him to ride three green bikes as well and he threw some roost on those too!!

[vmxken]

I guess I should have also said that the '74 KX 125 on which Ed is sitting is more proof that the world is a small place. That very bike was dismantled by me in Harry Taylor's shed and then packed in boxes and shipped to me back in Sydney. Small world, yes indeed.

[admin]

Small world indeed. Speaking with a guy from Sydney Australia back in 2006. Explaining that the Mid-Ohio event is a huge event and you need to come and see this firsthand.This guy from Sydney came that year to Mid-Ohio and set up a small booth in front of the Hodaka tent to promote his magazine ( VMX). Same guy met Ed, Harry, Chuck and a few others that great weekend. He mentioned to me as we were just meeting for the first time face to face that he had just stayed at Tom White's house. I could not have finished my sentence asking him to introduce me to Tom White if Tom was coming to Mid-Ohio. No sooner did I finish that sentence then Tom White walked up and shook my hand.
Great great great friends and great great memories. Some of the folks are gone now but the smiles and memories live on. Look at this photo of Ed on your KX 125. The three smiles tell the entire story of that week!

[Jack Elliott]

All this talk of Wombats being thoroughly thrashed and caned , roosters raising roost.
Sounds like what I imagine a meeting in the Hodaka marketing department in 1973 must have sounded like.
Did Super Rooster never make the short list?

[Bullfrog]

No, I don't remember "Super Rooster" as a potential name . . . but there may have been a few Foghorn Leghorn impersonations during some naming sessions. (You DO remember Foghorn Leghorn don't you?)

Ed

[Jack Elliott]

Ed
Sure do remember Foghorn Leghorn . We were raised on a solid diet of bugs Bunny cartoons here in Sydney in the 60's . Think I liked the Road Runner and Coyote the best.

[thirdstone]

Hi Jack I live in Sydney as well, maroubra. Give me a call on 0425376807 to talk Hodaka

Kev