The Hodaka Club Forum

While reading the resonator revisited yesterday, my eye caught the mention of the Wildcat motorcycles. I had never heard of them. I would think most of us on the East Coast never did either. So, I Googled it.

Interesting lawsuit.

http://www.leagle.com/decision/19751405 ... 20PEDERSEN

It is a bunch of legal mumbo gumbo, but Frank Wheeler was involved.

Rick, You must have missed the nice example of one at Hodaka Days 2014? I know, there was alot going on and it was impossible to catch everything... I nearly missed it too but it was pointed out to me. It was a sweet looking little bike. You had to look close to realize it was not a Hodaka Ace.
Dale

Well good find Rick. I was going to use a part of that lawsuit between Wheeler and Pedersen in my next article.

The transcript of appeal found at the link provided, reduced to simple terms, merely reverses a lower court's finding of no jurisdiction over respondent. The only legal effect of this finding is to return the case to the lower court for adjudication. The underlying suit, as of the finding of the court of appeal, had not been heard. So, technically, the implied lawsuit has not yet happened, as of the appeal court's decision. The recitation of facts cited in the appeal findings are not, yet, findings of fact in the lower court so much as allegations of fact on which the lower court did, or should have, based its decision regarding jurisdiction. Having now established the California's court's jurisdiction over the Idaho respondent, the case will proceed in the California court. It is that case which may hold interest. So far, all it is is a wrangling over the question of the California court's propriety in adjudicating the case in the first place.

One man's mumbo jumbo is another's cup of soup.

Nice analysis AZ. While I suspect the case didn't go further (perhaps Pederson quit, rather than continue to fight, what sounds like a losing battle?), I also suspect that - perhaps in his next column for the Resonator Revisited - Paul may provide further enlightenment.

Looking forward to it, Paul!

Bob

Since the appeal was published in 1975, I assume you are right. Most cases of nearly all nature are dropped or settled without trial. There is not really enough detail in the appeal findings to tell just what the original complaint was, and most such cases were not reduced to computer in 1975 --- or even 1985 or 1995 for that matter. I assume from what I see that it was a tort in the nature of breach of contract. One needs to ask in such things if the guy you are suing has the cash to pay a claim to start with. In this case, perhaps not. Probably neither of the parties had enough cash to pursue a case. Arguably, if the complaining party had received all of the bikes he paid for way back when, all he could lay claim to in 1975 was some value from the alleged "partnership" with the respondent. Verbal contracts are binding in a legal sense, but are hard to prove and hard to enforce.

Someone said something about the bikes being identical to Hodakas. That is what I would find interesting, but it wasn't the basis of the suit referenced above. You could be right that Paul has some background details on the bikes and their disposition, if not the outcome of the suit.

GMc

Could anyone post a photo of a "Wildcat" ? I'm curious to see what they look like.

Thanks

Tom

Photos courtesy flyingdg. From HD '14. If the owner is here, maybe he could upload a better photo?

Roger

What about the rotary valve version ? Who knows when that one was on the market ?

Rich

Rich you are going to have to wait for my article in the upcoming Resonator newsletter.....

My family actually owned a Pedersen Wildcat in the 70's. I believe my dad got it from Frank Wheeler himself. Dad was the VP of Mikuni America at the time and I was about 13 and got my first motorcycle, a Hodaka Ace 100B when I was 11. Frank once flew his Cessna out to El Mirage dry lake with his Hodaka in it and rode with us one day. He loaded it back up and took off from the dry lake bed, buzzed us a couple of times, and off into the wild blue yonder he flew.

The Wildcat had a rotary valved Hodaka style motor (probably made by Fuji) and was very fast for it's time. The tank was similar to a Yamaha Enduro of the time and was red with some white pin striping if I remember correctly. The rear wheel had two sprockets permanently mounted, not an overlay like the Hodakas had on them. The small one was probably only 45 teeth or so, and the big one was a pizza plate, 72 teeth rings a bell, but not sure. It was a long time ago. We rode it with the big sprocket. It probably topped out at 35 mph but was very responsive. Third gear starts were no problem. It would wheelie in fifth gear with ease too. I'm sure there are pictures of it in our family archives but I don't have access to them for various reasons. I wish I did! I'll continue to try to get them though. Maybe some day.

I'm really not sure what happened to that bike. Dad passed away in '75 and it was in the corner of the garage for awhile. I had moved on to racing 125 Elsinores and that bike wasn't up to par. In '77 mom sold the house and moved in short order. My brother most likely sold it back then, along with an iron barrel '69 Penton 125, a Ducati 125 4-stroke flat tracker (so much fun on the dry lake at El Mirage), and a couple of Bultaco 100 Lobitos.

If more memories of it pop into my head I'll post them or if you have any questions maybe they will jog my memory.

John
Basslips

Great post thank you for sharing!

How long did they make them?------Clarence

I picked up a Pederson out west and brought it back from Hodaka Days last year. It was in the back of my pick up while out there and I had a couple of people ask how much I wanted for the Hodaka. I had to explain it was a Pederson and give a quick history of the brand as best I could. And besides it wasn't mine and went to Paul.