Mr. Horsepower 2026, Mike Jungblood's Vellocette
less faded back in 2007
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Huntington Beach, Calif. -
It's been a drizzle-filled weekend here in OC.
We didn't get a drop of rain, but it kept a lot of people inside.
At 2:00 there were only about 7 bikes, when it was all
said and done, we had 22 bikes/vehicles in attendance.
BAM: Breakdown and Legal Assistance for Motorcyclists
Crystal, our So Cal Marketing Representatives for Russ Brown Motorcycle
Attorneys were available today to promote their BAM program.
Learn more about it at: www.RussBrown.com
Greg McBride - Founder
Most people know Greg McBride, he helped start this meet back in 2004. He posted this week on
his FaceBook that he was undergoing open-heart surgery. As of today, Greg is still
in the hospital recovering. Please keep him in your thoughts.
In Memory: Jim Ottelle
Jim Ottelle was involved briefly in our group back in 2016-2018. He rode Bob Nichol's vintage
Indians to many victories. Sadly, we lost Jim earlier this month. This article has been
used with permission of S&S Off Road Magazine, www.ssormag.com
There are some names in racing that you hear once and remember forever.
Jim Ottele was one of those names.
It’s with a heavy heart and a lot of sadness that we say goodbye to Jim.
Jim wasn’t just a racer. He was a multi-year, multi-class champion who spent years doing what he loved—lining up, throwing a leg over a motorcycle, and going to battle.
He was the kind of competitor you respected when you were on the same track with him, and the kind of racer you were proud to call part of your racing family when you were off it.
Over the years, Jim collected championships, memories, friendships and the respect of countless people in this sport. But for those of us who knew him, his legacy will be about much more than trophies.
It will be about the stories. The races. The battles. The laughs in the pits. The people he touched along the way.
That’s the thing about racing—we spend so much time chasing checkered flags that sometimes we forget the people standing beside us are what make this sport special.
Today, we’re not just saying goodbye to a champion.
We’re saying goodbye to a friend, a competitor, and one of our own.
Our deepest condolences go out to Jim’s family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of sharing a starting line, a pit area, or a friendship with him.
Jim, thank you for everything you gave to this sport. The checkered flag may have fallen for the last time, but your name will remain part of our racing history.
Text and top photo from NATIONAL FLAT TRACK Facebook page
Bike of the Month Contest
Every vintage bike today got at least one vote. With 24 total votes cast, that
didn't leave a wide spread for the standouts. The top 4 were only separated by one vote
each.
Bike of the Month - Baird Bergenthal
Baird Bergenthal of Midway City with Crystal and his 1956 Garelli Mosquito Sport 50
Congratulations to Baird Bergenthal of Midway City for winning Bike of the Month
with his 1956 Garelli Mosquito Sport 50. Baird has been trying to win
with this little bike for five years!
Baird has won Bike of the Month four times in the past:
December 2021 1963 Testi Grand Prix 50
August 2021 1958 Hercules K100 J-Be
May 2021 1963 Batavus Bilonet
December 2014 1957 Moto Beta
Read all about his 1956 Garelli Mosquito Sport 50 on our Bike of the Month page.
Second Place - Jeff McCoy
Jeff McCoy of Huntington Beach with his 1972 Suzuki GT750.
Jeff has been coming to the meet longer than me, he always brings something special
and has won Bike of the Month five times in the past, including last month.
September 2026 1946 Triumph 3T
May 2025 1963 Triumph TR6-SS
June 2021 1930 Scott Flying Squirrel
November 2020 1975 Norton Commando 850
February 2019 1950 Norton ES2
Third Place Tie - Pat Beale
Pat Beale of Westminster with his 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000.
Congratulations to Pat Beale of Westminster for winning Third Place with his 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000.
Pat has owned this KZ1000 since it was new, and usually rides up on his KZ1300 which is another head-turner.
He has placed in the contest several times in the past.
Third Place Tie - Angelo Tafarella
Angelo Tafarella of Garden Grove and his son with his 1982 HMV Free-Way.
Congratulations to Angelo Tafarella of Garden Grove for winning Third Place with his 1982 HMV Free-Way.
The 1982 HMV Free-Way is a three-wheeled single-seat microcar built by High Mileage Vehicles (HMV) in Burnsville, Minnesota,
during the late-1970s and early-1980s fuel crisis.
He has won Bike of the Month three times in the past:
April 2024 1972 Rickman Yamaha IT 200
February 2024 1984 Yamaha RZ485
October 2009 1935 Triumph T80
Thanks to everyone for showing up and making this another great event. Thanks to John Zindler for helping with the
voting this month.
Next month's meet is November 8, 2026, I'll see you all there.
Keep On Ridin',
Joe Kagerer
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