Passing the (Greasy) Torch

The time comes for every motorcycle enthusiast to pass the torch... My father and Uncle David passed it to me, now I am handing it to my son, Wesley.

My father told me to "be careful" riding with Wesley (we only go around the neighborhood on regular streets, no highway obviously). I told him that I was extremely careful, and also reminded him that we did the same thing in the 70's and we didn't wear helmets!

His usual response, "That was a different time." Yes it was.

Even though it has been over 30 years, I still miss you Uncle David. You would be happy to know I am passing the greasy torch to the newest Povenmire...

New Friends

With my project here I have made some new friends in the blogger world. I have also discovered some people I already knew that had cool blogs I was unaware of. One of those people is John McGregor from North Carolina.

John was raised in Mississippi and has moved all over the country. He is an avid tennis player and colorful guy. His blog is worth checking out.

http://www.johntmcgregor.com/

Some Crazy Choppers

I have been attending the Greaserama car show since it's second year. Over this time I have seen an increase in home built bobber/choppers that young guys are creating from leftover Japanese bikes. This movement intrigues me because 1) I have an interest in all motorcycles and 2) because many are doing this themselves in their basement or home garage.

Two interesting local bloggers who are part of this are here:

http://northeasteric.blogspot.com/

http://www.theanchormotorcycleshop.blogspot.com/

People have asked me a lot over the years why do you ride a Harley? My main answer is that my dad usually rode one, and because they are easy to rebuild and find parts for. I am at a loss to explain any further than that!

The Origins of Worth Harley-Davidson Kansas City - Ray Worth

I was at a bike event last summer when a younger rider asked me if I bought my bike from Gail's or Rick's dealership. I told him my bike came from Ray Worth. He responded, "Who is Ray Worth?" I realized then that a lot of the newer Harley riders around KC are not aware of the people in the Worth family and how their Harley-Davidson dealer network developed. I thought I would post this info to make it easier.

Ray Worth has been a friend of my dad's for longer than I have been alive. He and his wife Beverly started the whole deal purchasing the dealership in Belton in 1978. Ray Worth is an extremely colorful character, shrewd businessman and all around interesting cat. He oversaw the dealership during some of the darker days of AMF ownership. He told me that on more than one occasion he was "30 days from closing the doors." He and Beverly managed the business through these times by continuing to support HD customers and diversifying into dirt bikes and watercraft (in a separate building at the Belton location).

They also opened a north location in Kansas City on North Oak. They started in a smaller building on North Oak that is south of the second North Oak location they opened later. Blue Springs HD was started in 1998 and has remained at the same location.

Around 2000 Ray and Beverly sold out to the children. Gail Worth bought the Belton dealership, Rick Worth bought the north store and Ray and David Worth became partners in the Blue Springs location.

In 2004 Gail moved her dealership from Belton to the current Grandview location.

In 2009 Rick bought the building off I-29 on Prairie View road and moved the North Oak dealership there.

Lori Worth is the only sibling who does not work for the family business. Last I knew she had an advertising agency that did a lot of work around Kansas City.

Here is a family photo from a feature story in the Kansas City Star that ran back in August of 2003 with everyone identified. 

More from the Old Days!

I got around to scanning some more bikes that were "in the family" over the years.