Frog ready to race

Frog ready to race

Name: John Bundy

Home City/State/Province: Seattle, WA

Age: 62 (Started racing at 45 – quit at 56)

Year’s raced: 10 (1993 to 2002)

Race Organizations: WMRRA, OMRRA, AMA, AHRMA

Other M/C Organizations: VME, Velocette Owners Club of North America, Four Stroke Single National Owners Club

Motorcycles raced: 1969 Honda CB160, 1982 Honda FT500 Ascot, 1986 Yamaha SRX600

Best motorcycle raced: Honda CB160

Tracks raced on? Seattle International Raceway, Portland International Raceway, Bremerton Raceway, Hoquiam Street Course, Sears Point, Spokane Raceway Park, Pacific Raceways.

Favorite track? This would have to be a toss up between the old configuration of the Seattle track as Seattle International Raceway and Sears Point. I took to Sears Point like a frog to a lillypad. I enjoyed Sears Point and had a blast down there even though AHRMA seemed to make a point to try my patience to the utmost each time we went down.

Most memorable racing experiences (good or bad)?

Good. Racing with my son around Portland wheel to wheel for two whole laps, stuffing him in several turns only to have him draft by me on the back straight and beat me in the last 2 corners. Wonderful feeling.

Good. Poking Simon-Pierre in the side with the index finger of my throttle hand to let him know I was there before he pushed me off the straightaway at Portland.

Bad. Spending seven days in Emmanuel Hospital with injuries from a simple low-side crash.

What started you racing? I was at Portland helping Scott Borem (a fellow Velo owner) with his Ducati equip and we were watching Tim Fowler and the Watson brothers at Portland on Vintage day. I turned to my lovely understanding wife and said I’d like to do that. She looked at me and said “so do it”. more

Why did you like racing? Drafting down a straightaway with a train of 4-6

motorcycles and pulling out and taking the lead only to lose it to someone else who got a better draft was so much fun you would find yourself laughing out loud in your helmet. Going three abreast in turns with people you trusted, and who trusted you and just wailing away down the next straight or to the next turn was amazing. The camaraderie within the group of racers is great. Usually when a rider needs help, someone steps up and helps them so they can make the next heat. And when a rider has been hurt, everyone steps in and packs up the riders gear.

Other remarks: I want to thank all the people I raced with, particularly

Fats Fowlinski and Simon-Pierre, the two I started racing with. The whole group is a great bunch of guys and gals. I’m really glad I had a chance to race with all of you. I want to thank all the people that helped me prepare the motorcycles. And I also want to thank all of the people who volunteer within the race organizations who keep them operating. GREAT JOB FOLKS! And I’d like to say that I liked the racer so much that I put lights on it and put it on the street. It is just plain fun to ride.