Lil Brother
New member
Years ago there was a show on television that starred Michael Parks as a guy that drove all over the lower 48 states on his Triumph 650. I loved that show with all my heart and watched it religiously every week. I'm sure that I would laugh if I saw it today, but back then, Bronson was the real deal.
I was too young to have a motorcycle so I wanted the next best thing---a Sears 4 H.P. minibike. Remember first that Mama and Daddy weren't near what we'd call rich, but after I stayed on both of them about how I NEEDED one, somehow they sweated bullets for me and got one for Christmas. We opened our presents on Christmas Eve and I still remember the moment.
We had just finished supper and all of us kis knew that it was getting time. I poked around in my food with my fork long enough to make it look like I had eaten enough to satisfy Mama while Daddy went out to the front porch and wheeled her in. After we ate we all ran into the living room and of course the first thing that I saw was the beautiful purple mini-bike!
Daddy had already gassed it up and after a short lesson, I was OFF! Back in those days, it was nothing to ride our bicycles along the service road and down Thomas Road. This mini-bike was to be no exception.
I was only around 10 years old when I got it and rode it until I was 13 which was when I got my first motorcycle, but while I rode it I rode it all over the city and never once got caught by the cops. Now that I look back on it, it wasn't very safe without a head light, but I drove it at night anyway. I was so proud of it. It was a big motor for a mini-bike and I did think it would out run anything on wheels. That is until I raced a kid down in the Lakeview Subdivision. He had a mini-bke with a 2 1/2 H.P., but he had fooled with the govenor and he beat me. We lined up at the speed bump in front of Charlie Rich's house and took off. At first, I had him but as we were getting to the end of the race, he passed me. I will never forget how my pride was hurt!
I don't remember what exactly happened to it, but one thing is for sure. It was fun while it lasted and for a short while, I was the talk of the neighborhood. I still remember those muffler burns! I hope you enjoy the pictures.
Lil Brother
P.S. I remember when Daddy and I set this photo up of my "wreck" We sent these to arkie when he was in th Navy and stationed at sea. On the back of the one of me coming at you, on the back it says in Daddy's handwriting, "Bronson Garrett" and on the wreck it says "Put on",(like John would't know it
"
P.S.S. For all of you above the Mason/Dixon line, the "sock hat" was Bronson's trademark. For all of you south of the Mason/Dixon line, the "toboggan" was his trade mark. Carol says a toboggan is a sled and I say you put socks on your feet.....so who's right?
I was too young to have a motorcycle so I wanted the next best thing---a Sears 4 H.P. minibike. Remember first that Mama and Daddy weren't near what we'd call rich, but after I stayed on both of them about how I NEEDED one, somehow they sweated bullets for me and got one for Christmas. We opened our presents on Christmas Eve and I still remember the moment.
We had just finished supper and all of us kis knew that it was getting time. I poked around in my food with my fork long enough to make it look like I had eaten enough to satisfy Mama while Daddy went out to the front porch and wheeled her in. After we ate we all ran into the living room and of course the first thing that I saw was the beautiful purple mini-bike!
Daddy had already gassed it up and after a short lesson, I was OFF! Back in those days, it was nothing to ride our bicycles along the service road and down Thomas Road. This mini-bike was to be no exception.
I was only around 10 years old when I got it and rode it until I was 13 which was when I got my first motorcycle, but while I rode it I rode it all over the city and never once got caught by the cops. Now that I look back on it, it wasn't very safe without a head light, but I drove it at night anyway. I was so proud of it. It was a big motor for a mini-bike and I did think it would out run anything on wheels. That is until I raced a kid down in the Lakeview Subdivision. He had a mini-bke with a 2 1/2 H.P., but he had fooled with the govenor and he beat me. We lined up at the speed bump in front of Charlie Rich's house and took off. At first, I had him but as we were getting to the end of the race, he passed me. I will never forget how my pride was hurt!
I don't remember what exactly happened to it, but one thing is for sure. It was fun while it lasted and for a short while, I was the talk of the neighborhood. I still remember those muffler burns! I hope you enjoy the pictures.
Lil Brother
P.S. I remember when Daddy and I set this photo up of my "wreck" We sent these to arkie when he was in th Navy and stationed at sea. On the back of the one of me coming at you, on the back it says in Daddy's handwriting, "Bronson Garrett" and on the wreck it says "Put on",(like John would't know it
"P.S.S. For all of you above the Mason/Dixon line, the "sock hat" was Bronson's trademark. For all of you south of the Mason/Dixon line, the "toboggan" was his trade mark. Carol says a toboggan is a sled and I say you put socks on your feet.....so who's right?
. Good story.