My uncle raced for Maico and passed away in 2011. But before passing I showed him an old video. As soon as he saw Jim he lit up and called his name with a big smile. I never learned of their relationship or friendship from back in the day, but something about him had made a lasting impression on Furman. Sure wish he had not left so early. So many questions I still had about the Ironman days of the late 70’s. Lots of great riders I watched as a child including my uncle are now gone. RIP guys!!! ✊🏼👊🏼
Jim came up to Canada in 1982 to teach a mx school which i and a bunch of local racers took part in. I remember there was this wide, flat, hard packed 180 corner that we were to approach and take and exit and he would then critique each of us and give us pointers after. Tha fastest kid says to Jim lets see you do it! So Jim who was wearing his gear gets on this kids 1982 CR 250 (a bike that is not set up for him) and hits the track. Jims first run at this corner had each of our jaws hanging open! His second run was even faster! And his third run was so unbelievably fast we could not believe you could take that corner that fast as his speed on approach with rediculously late braking which blended seamlessly into 2 wheel drifting! He was atleast a gear higher than any of us going in and was catching another gear on his exit! I never saw anyone ever take that corner that fast and i rode and raced at that track for 9 yrs! After the mx school Jim took me bar hopping as it was my 18th birthday and he bought me my first beer! How great it was to Pal around with him. I even remember one of the hottest girls in highschool was into him and checking him out at one of the bars we went to. So he still had "it" Ha ha! The following race season i won the 83 125 intermediate championship and i attribute a lot of that to some key things Jim taught me for which i am forever greatful! Thank you Jim!
My friend Mike Petty his brother used to ride and race with Jim. Mike was getting good brother Quit and wrenched. Mike was about to go pro. Girls booze dope killed that dream. He still has all his trophies at least 100 +.
I started to watch Jim in early 70's. He rode Bultaco. I had many friends that were into Bultaco for flat track. I never really knew how good Bultaco was. Jim was very successful with Bultaco. Looking back, I think Bultaco was very under rated.
Jim came over to my parent's house in St Louis for cocktails just a couple years before he passed. A mutual friend (Tim Hamilton) introduced him to us and brought him over, he signed me and my buddy a couple black-and-white vintage posters. Never thought I would hear a year or 2 later that he was no longer with us. Still have that poster to this day.
Can still remember Pomeroy's Cycle Shop on Fruitvale Ave. Yakima, WA. The building still stands and is called Motocentre with classic MX bikes. A small town called Cowiche has a memorial Motocross track named after Jim. Never forgotten we still remember what a rider he was.
i never got to met him hell i even raced in a couple of races at saddleback with him ...he was testing ..shyt he must have past me five times a lap!! never got to met him! i looked for him he was always someplace else...all my friend met him...such is life god speed !st american
My friends and I have a saying when something is good...or great on a riding/racing day. "Jim Pomeroy approved" Thumbs up! There will never be another like Jim or the great Bultacos he rode. What a time.
Jim was the reason I bought a mdl 120 way back in ‘74.... still got it today. Of all my old dirt bike racers in my barn, taking this old Bull out for a little ride, is still is a thrill.
For myself as a youngster, Jim Pomeroy was the first finger in the eye of the Europeans flagrance of dominance.....then came Des Nation's... hahaha boys!
I was fortunate to have seen pomeroy race in the prime of his career. From the inaugural superbowl of mx at the LA coliseum to the ‘77 1st moto win at the fim 500cc USGP carlsbad & assorted trans ams thrown in. he was an elite American mx’r. I used to love reading about his adventures in europe contesting the fim 250cc world championship and rooting for his success..
RIP jimmy, I was racing a 125 Pursang when he won the Spanish GP man did I go nuts, I think I won every race that season because of him, man those were the days
I raced a 125 a 250 a 360 and a 370 pursang. I miss those days. I saw Jim Pomeroy at Zoar Valley in western New York back in probably 1974 or 5. I miss those days. We all had so much fun.
Great video! I met Jim when Spanish bikes were the "Featured Marque" at VMD in Mid Ohio. He was the Grand Marshall that year. I wish I would have had a video camera when he was pulling wheelies down the straightaway of the Road Race Track on his parade lap. Glad I had the chance to meet and visit with him for a few minutes. Godspeed Jim!
Fullguy104 Jim Pomeroy...a true life, motocross American hero,...he made the World know, the Americans were coming.... they did and they dominante...after him, many great American racers followed...but he was the first to start American Motocross history...my admiration and respect to the late. "Jim Pomeroy"........ASG
Been a Big fan of Jim Pomeory for many years, I raced a 250 Pursang back in the early 70's and always looked forward to getting the latest Cycle Newspaper so I could keep up with his race results. I got to see him race at the 1973 Trans AMA MX in Livermore California, Adolf Weil and Roger Decoster were up front and pulling away from the pack except for Pomeroy. About 10 or 15 minutes in Pomeroy passed them both at once on a steep down hill section, he had all of us spectators hanging over the snow fence cheering him on. He pulled a 20 second lead on two of the fasted guys on the planet before his bike broke, Man that was some Great Racing. God's Speed Brother Jim. Thanks for Sharing FallGuy.
I remember that big jump near the finish line, Pomeroy was getting huge air off of it. I believe his mechanic's name was Rubio and he was trying to slow Jim down to save the bike. It was a great day to be an American.
+Steve Furtado OMFG was the crowd's gasps when Pomeroy literally flew off that jump. It was as if the other riders were holding back. More like afraid. RIP The First American...Jim Pomeroy.
Thinking back, I was someplace on the course watching DeCoster and Weil in a tight race with Pomeroy back in third. When a few moments later there was a thunderous roar coming from the hillside. When the leaders came by again it was Pomeroy in the lead.WTH... go Jim. WFO
That was some of the best MX racing I have ever witnessed. So glad I was there to see it. I could hardly speak the next day as my voice was gone from cheering for him. God's Speed Brother Jim. Thanks for sharing the video Mr. Golfscotland.
Inspired by JP. After XR75 my first full-size bike was 1974 250 Pursang. Got it used at AeroPa from Martin Horn in McHenry, Il.the sole importer of CCMs back then. Loved the powerband. Lots of flywheel. Fox Shox, Preston Pettys and a new magneto, typical upgrades/maintenance. Took a bit to get used to r/h shift. Raced at Byron and Antioch(forget track name).
I was at the Livermore Trans-Am and Pomeroy was my favorite rider. I have a 71 Pursang that I'm restoring. Going to try to make a Pomeroy replica and race it in Vintage.
Anyone back in the day that raced a Bultaco Pursang can attest to the sweet soft power opposed to other less manageable bikes. Holding a Pursang wide open was narcotic, just twist, click up and listen to that sweet sound, stuff it, twist it, all day long. No other bike like it.
Jim Pomeroy & Kenny Zahrt were my heroes growing up. I bought a 1974 Pomeroy Replica Pursang brand new and raced it 74-75 in Houston TX. Too bad we didn't have GoPro's back then. Still have a case full of trophies and nice memories though.
+Hiwayman 2016 Man, that Kenny Zarht was a wildman. He was the first guy I ever saw taking his hands off the bars in mid-flight just for fun. It was jaw dropping at the time.
I raced the 74 250 Pursang at Rio Bravo in 74-75. We eventually laid the rear shocks down as an update. We raced inside Texas Stadium for the Texas Yamaha high school championships with it in 75. Fun bike to ride.
@@golftips5979 ~~WOW I'm just now seeing your reply. My best friend Bobby Parsons raced the 125cc class at that same High School Championship and despite a horrible start in 2nd moto, won 2nd place overall on his Pursang. The 1st place winner technically was not a high school student as I remember. Unfortunately I was not there that weekend to share in my friends accomplishment. One of my main "rivals" at Rio Bravo was a guy on a CZ (forget name) but his number was J3. Another "rival" was Bobby Guidry on an Elsinore from Port Arthur TX. Purchased my bike at Cycle Sport on Hwy 59 @ Westpark and was a member of the racing team. Do you remember Keith Duffy? He raced a Pursang and was the "king" of Rio Bravo back then.
I have a 1974 Mk8 Pursang here in the Philippines. It was sold new in Hong Kong in 74. I bought it in 76 and raced if for a few years. A magazine test at the time said, "If you can't win on this, you can't win on anything."
Neither. I was a compendium of tests, not a regular mag. I still have it somewhere in a pile. I had a look but could not locate it yet. What a stupendous bike it was in the day... still is. Was riding this week at the age of 69. Tough 50Km dirt trail in the Philippines in 30 Deg heat. Was throwing up at the end. Life's a bitch and then you die.
I wish i stored Pursang bikes in 70s and clothing bought some Pursang Projects and a Bultaco Go Kart engine recently but will take ages to build now getting old. Need a Pair of Bultaco pants from old days to wriggle into if can. He was the Best on Pursang and watched when could in Britain.
What a great guy! Nice video too! I was fortunate enough to meet him at the Vintage Motorcycle Days event at Mid Ohio. He talked to me like he knew me forever! A highlight was seeing him wheelie the Pursang and wave at the crowd while doing a lap of honor on the road course. I hope pictures or video of it shows up someday! Until then it's etched in my mind!
Never forget i was at Bimbo's house in Yakima,, and Factory Phil Larson took a sky dive and landed on a table,, smashing it! Classic dudes man,, classic.
grande Jim Pomeroy,rimarra' sempre impresso nella mia mente quando da adolescente seguivo i campioni del motocross ed erano i miei idoli.......Jim era sicuramente uno di questi.
¡Tiempos aquellos que las fabricas catalanas de motocicletas de montaña (BULTACO MONTESA Y OSSA trataban de tu a tu a las niponas.Many Thanks Jim,Moltes Gracies Ignacio Chivite por tu DAKAR 2013.
