It's a good thing someone has something in common with my wife.

We are pretty much opposite in every way. We just agree to disagree.

Reilley ----Just Kidding...


or is that "I picked a bad day to quit sniffing glue..."

[ March 30, 2007, 02:02 AM: Message edited by: Mrs. Red Baron ]

"Jack don't want no help, Jack don't get no help."

[ March 30, 2007, 02:04 AM: Message edited by: The Red Baron ]

I used to race Jon Anderson pretty often. Jon was a great compettitor.
He's a few months older than me. So I would race him the first few months of the year.
I've beat him before. But come crunch time "the mains" he often won.

I remember racing Jon in my moto at the 81' NBA Super Nationals at Rancho.
He was in first and I was in second.
He came out of turn two and crashed really hard right in front of me.
He should have been done for the day.
But he got up, dusted off, and came back and did pretty well the rest of the day.

Here's a photo of Jon Anderson (Red Line) and Doug Davis (Diamond Back)
that day racing 11-13 Open.
Figure since his uniform is clean, it was before that crash he had in front of me.


I remember he quit for a few years.
Then he came back to BMX, got sponsored by CW racing, turned Pro and did really well.
Won the Pro class at the 86' ABA Grands if I'm not mistaken.
-
-
Funny thing,
Just before I started racing in 78',
I lived in Grass Valley for most of 77'.
Wish I could remember the name of the grade school I went to.....
Would that be a trip if Jon and I were classmates!?I'm class of 1986.

Johnny Johnson
San Diego, Ca.

p.s. Did you know Dennis is part of my film crew (Bryan Esser's Dennys joke)
Hahahahahahahah!

[ March 30, 2007, 11:11 AM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

I'm wondering how many people understood the meaning of the pictures way up there?

But then again, as long as you and Double D got it, it doesn't matter!

I got it!

Everytime I see that I catch something I missed.

Reilley, since you, Dennis, and I are the only one who threw out quotes quite spontaneously I would have to say that we lost the rest of the guys in translation so to speak!

Hey WE KNOW who has the great sense of humor around here... even if no one else got/gets it.

Dear Mrs. Red Baron,

I'm wondering, when you first dated Dennis did he take you out in that moth-eaten, derelict Chevy Nomad he had back then? And if he did, I'm wondering how in the WORLD he ever won you over?

(P.S. Tell Jon that Bob Osborn says hello.)

Oz, for your information it was Dennis’ rather flamboyant and one of kind look/attitude, including the moth-eaten, derelict, and might I also add, rust-bucket of a car, that originally caught my eye. (What can I say about my expectations at the time?).

I am sad to say that the car has been gone for quite awhile, but equally amazed that Dennis drove that 57 Nomad from Long Beach to Nevada City, up hwy. 99, 465 miles one way, once every month or so for a year and a half. Though he can tell you the stories of being stranded on the side of the rode Christmas Eve ….

As for Jon, I will pass on your greetings. I am bummed he wasn’t interested in going last weekend but understand his reluctance. Since he is not a part of this website, I will have to be the one to represent the early years in Grass Valley. (love the Nationals photos on the ABA site, btw) You will be seeing at least a few Jon photos in the future.

"...rather flamboyant and one of a kind attitude..."

Yup, that's Dennis!

P.S. Susan (Mrs. Oz) and I used to love going up to Grass Valley and Nevada City. Always stayed at the Holbrook. Cool towns.

P.P.S. How is the (Very) Red Baron's sunburn???

The Holbrook is still around. Though I think it has been purchased several times and may have a new name as well as a facelift. Haven't been in town in a few years... Sure miss the small town.

Dennis has survived the MOLTING process and emerged from his shell.

Here is an early shot of the trophey presentation at the Grass Valley track, circa 77 ish?

I sure wish I could tell you who all of these riders are, though I do know Jeannette Niles - from Loomis or there abouts, is on the far left. Jon Anderson (bro.) is 9th from the left.

Anyone want to guess about the others?



[ March 30, 2007, 11:52 PM: Message edited by: Mrs. Red Baron ]

Ok, one more Nor Cal photo for tonight. Spring Nationals, June 26, 1977, at Rheme Valley---- Jon Anderson (1st), Dennis O'Brian(1st), and Hugh Howard (2nd).

Johnny, how funny that you once lived in GV. Dennis and I were saying that the funny thing is in 78 he started coming to town for the races, and me... Small world -- how many paths were crossed unknowingly...sounds like an episode of LOST, or 6 degrees of separation.

As for Jon, If I have it figured right he graduated in 85 from NUHS. We are 6+ years apart so I was out of the house and actually overseas at the time of his Grad ceremony.

Thanks for the great story about Jon. He has not changed much over the years. Determined, classy, and a bit reserved. All around good guy, kind of like my hubby... but don't tell him I said that.

As for GV elementary schools until recently you had 4 choices, Hennesy, Gilmore(5-8), and NC was NC Elementary and Seven Hills(5 - 8). Jon would have been at Seven Hills in 1977-78...

Did you know that according to a much earlier post by Thumperpilot, Red was married to Jon Anderson??

I

Yeah, I heard that rumor too.

But in the words of that wonderful writer, Mark Twain, "The rumors of "his marriage" have been greatly exaggerated."

[ March 31, 2007, 02:25 AM: Message edited by: Mrs. Red Baron ]

{In Seinfeld voice} "Not that it matters"

OMG Reilley, you could never know just how appropriate that Seinfeld quote was in the middle of a discussion about my little bro. Seinfeld is Jon's FAVORITE show. Seeing the quote made me chuckle.

I'm trying to figure out the school.

I have a Jan b-day that made me one of the
oldest students (by a month or two) in my grade.
77' I was 9 years old.

I recall the classes had an intercom system.
A big speaker built in the wall in the front center of the class above the blackboard.

If you looked at the front of the school,
the right side of the building,
you could walk right on to the playground.
As you passed the end of the building,
you could turn left and you would be behind the school.
I also remember a big tree near the door of the back of the school.

[ April 01, 2007, 02:00 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

Johnny... Ok, one last thought on the school, was it on more of a city street or tucked into a wooded neighborhood? It sounds as if you would have been at Hennesy. Older tan colored building "downtown" GV. Near the freeway (all 3 miles of it)

In 77 you were 9, let's see Jon would have turned 10 later that summer. Usually that means you would have been in one grade and he would have been in the next year. But who knows.

City street I do recall.
Would that be Hennessy?

Hey RandyS,
I was gonna ask you about Grass Valley a few months ago....

Johnny

I never got a pic of me racing Jon. Wish I did.
Please tell him what I said about him being a great racer and all.

Now only if we can get Mr Red Baron and Mrs Red Baron back on the track!!!!!!!
Hmmmmmmmmmmm.....................


RandyS
Wow you're a connected guy. Panda, Prime numberplates, The Patterson Family,
John Crews, started oldschoolbmx.....
Geez! I need to do more with my time!
Sorry I never got back to you.
My Grass Valley roots are pretty much what I wrote here.
Less than one year I believe.

Johnny J

[ April 02, 2007, 08:48 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]

Johnny J - Hennesy would be the place

Randy - Yeah, Dennis and I were up there 2 years ago for my HS reunion, you can figure out the years yourself - I refuse to count - We ate at the newly rebuilt Friar Tucks. It would not be a trip back home without a fondue! That place is an icon. It is so funny how many other restaurants have come and gone....

I can remember going down to listen to Burgess Merideth's (think Rocky's first trainer) son play guitar in the bar.

I am glad that much of NC has stayed the same. I would hate to see both towns update tooooo much. But to date myself and my life, in Nevada County, I do remember when the FIRST stop light was put in in GV, parallel to the freeway, just north of the road past Hennesey school, if you were heading toward the mine. For about 9 month no one was ticketed when they stopped and then turned left (i.e. the way we used to before lights). No one was used to the whole light thing....

But then again McDonald's in GV was built my senior year. So the next question is.... when did we get electricity? ha ha ha!

Red Baroness-I used to come up here for races but didn't move here until the mid 90s. My wife grew up here, she's a year or two younger than Jon. Her family owned(until last year) Country Cabinets/Broad Street Furnishings and the Alpha building.

Oh, Alpha Hardware (Prior to Alpha building)! Now that brings back memories! Use do walk down there from the house with Jon so he could buy a new Hot Wheel or Matchbox car, and we get a piece of the old fashioned stick candy (peppermint, cherry....). Great memories of that store.

Yeah, it sounds like you were up there WAY after all our modern additions were put in. ha ha ha.

PS love the new name... I like it... Red Baroness... I might have to change my online persona.

I vote for a switch.
"Red Baroness"

Sorry Dennis!

Done, though I kept the old name for now so I don't confuse those not reading this thread.

Red liked the Orange Y track.
He'll be dumping $2500 into a new bike, uniform, and membership......
OK Im kidding.
But he thought the track was allright.

Reilley, is that your friend "Auto". He needs to wipe that silly grin off his face.

Thanks for the tip JJ. I hid the credit cards, atm and checkbook!

Reiley - what can I say to that post? Still chuckling to myself... and can't come up with a clean comeback.... I am speechless

So was Auto....

Welcome Baronness! Nice to have more ladies on the site. Great old photos posted!


How 'bout some coffee Johnny!
"No, thanks."

...bump...