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UPCOMING 2011 TAPING SCHEDULE: Check Out Facebook

 

2011 Motorcycle Brunch

One of the things I personally enjoy every year is the annual  “Legends Of Chicagoland Motorcycle Racing Brunch” ... It has evolved, over time, into what amounts to a reunion of those of us who raced motorcycles at Santa Fe Speedway Chicagoland’s “Action Paction Track Of Clay (You ain’t seen nuthin’ til you’ve been to Santa Fe)” as my friend Jan Gabriel used to say (We haven’t forgotten you Jan). The annual brunch which was originally designed as a motorcycle dealers gathering morphed into a gathering for motorcycle racers of every stripe and finally into a kind of Santa Fe reunion ... Perhaps I should say Flat Track motorcycle racers reunion as many attendees raced At Bob Joe’s Sycamore Speedway in Sycamore Illinois or participated in motorcycle ice racing during the winter but never raced Santa Fe ... Doesn’t make any difference, it’s all the same crowd (racers will know what I mean) ... In any event, the Brunch is something I looked forward to the first Sunday after Thanksgiving every year. It was a chance to chat with the guys I used to race with and reconnect with a part of my life of which I have so many fond memories. You can imagine how disappointed I was when I was notified this year they weren’t going to have it ... It seems, among other things, attendance had been dropping and it was risky to commit the significant resources it took for the elaborate banquet room and catered brunch ... I understood ... but I didn’t like it ... I suppose there is a certain inevitability to gatherings of this kind to diminish in size over time (I don’t think they have any more Civil War Veterans reunions because they have all passed on ... the same can almost be said for WWII veteran reunions ... the numbers get smaller every year ... even in our group it seems we are losing one or two a year ... Don Otto, one of the two guys who started this event, and of course Ace Cycle World’s Basil come to mind). After giving it some thought and determining I didn’t want to see a year pass where we didn’t get together for a few hours, I decided to chat with Dan Schmitt and see if we could put something together that didn’t cost anything. After all, it was really about the guys. We didn’t need a fancy room or catered food ... it was nice, but not really necessary. We found a room at the Franklin Park Denny’s we could have for nothing (they make their money from people ordering food) ... We had to make a couple of concessions. Denny’s needed the room for their regular Sunday breakfast customers until about 12:30 or so but we could “book” the room for 1:00 PM, so we did it ... It will be a little different of course I guess you could call it the “Legends Lunch” rather than Brunch ... There won’t be room to display bikes as has been part of past brunches ... matter of fact Dan & I don’t quite know what to plan for. It may well be it will be Dan and I having lunch in an empty room and if that’s the case, so be it ... we’ll enjoy lunch together (Let’s face it, we are both capable of telling huge lies about our racing prowess ... the older I get, the faster I was). On the other hand, there may be others, like us, who value this annual get together and decide to join us and match lies ... We hope so. We know it’s late notice but the good news is, we are going to have the annual gathering ... and ...  it won’t cost anything except the food you order for yourself. This gathering will give us a opportunity to chat with others in the group (we hope there is a group) who might have access to a room large enough for the bikes to be displayed for future reunions. So that’s it, we’re trying to make lemonade out of lemons and invite you to join us ... Oh, one more thing, the gathering is not just for the guys who raced. We’d love to see some of the fans who used to make their way to Santa Fe Speedway to watch us race on Wednesday nights ... You see this gathering is about not forgetting Santa Fe Speedway and the motorcycle races that were held there for nearly 50 years. There was no one more important than the people who bought tickets ... If all goes well we should have guys representing every decade of those who raced at Santa Fe (for me it was 1970 though 1975) but we usually have racers from the 50’s, 60's, 70's, 80's ... until it closed ...

So here’s the deal ... Dan and I will be at the Franklin Park Denny’s at 1:00 PM Sunday November 27, 2011 ... for this year’s “Legends Of Chicagoland Motorcycle Racing Brunch / Lunch”

Denny’s
2447 Mannheim Rd.
Franklin Park IL 60131
(between Grand Ave. & Fullerton on Mannheim Rd.)

If you have any questions call either Dan or me ...
Dan Schmitt ...  realteamchicago@sbcglobal.net
Bill Wildt ...  msutv@aol.com

 

Left Photo: Bill Wildt honored at the 46th annual World of Wheels car show. 2008 Right Photo: Bill Wildt inducted into "Skip's Fiesta Drive-In Dragracing Hall Of Fame" July 6, 2003. Click on photo to enlarge,

46th Annual WOW skips

Bill Wildt honored at the 46th annual World of Wheels car show See Trophy Pic

Bill said he was pleased and flattered to be on the podium with these fine men who have contributed so much to the Motorsport community. He went on to say, "Apparently the Legends of Motorsports Guild selection committee felt I belonged there but I must tell you sitting next to the first man to make a 200 mph pass at a drag strip (Chris "The Golden Greek" Karamesines ... Alton IL 1960) is a little humbling ... It was quite an honor" ... He went on to thank those who helped make Motorsports Unlimited what it is including the Lovely Ladies of Motorsport, the crew and the underwriters ...
He concluded by saying "I sure didn't do it by myself" ... Bill

The three inductee's were: Chris Karamesines ... Racer Bob Stange ... Builder (Strange Engineering) Bill Wildt ... Media

Remember, to purchase a copy of a show jot down the show number mentioned at the beginning of the program or check the NEW UPDATED PROGRAM CATALOG for the information. Send your written request and your check or money order for $25.00 to Motorsports Unlimited, PO Box 66242, Chicago IL 60666. If you missed the show number or the program title is missing, state in your request the subject of the program, the date and location of the event and the date and town it was aired if you have just watched it. E-Mail BILL WILDT

 

 

SPONSOR'S LINKS

 

Bridgestone/Firestone Jimmy's Red Hots @ Grand Ave
JC Whitney  

 

 

 

 

Due to the great viewer response we have received in regards to the motorcycle road trips, here is a listing of the motorcycle road trip's shows. If you missed them, as always, DVDs are available for $25 per disc. Cost includes shipping.

From the Webmaster FB:

Bill Wildt heard some talk of my musical background from an old band buddy Chuck Soumar , a Chicago area drummer sitting in with the Ides Of March. Bill introduced the band at a car show with Jim Pietrick and another friend Larry Milas who is a great engineer and fills in as bass player for the Ides.

Bill asked me if I would add the Ondavon music link to the MSUTV site and I said I would. Just click on the Image to enter. You can also find updated information on the current Trillion project. Two new songs have been written and released for download. You can order at this site. http://www.trillion-music.us

 

SPECIAL NOTICE: Bill had an very enjoyable boating experience a couple of summers ago. In fact, he enjoyed it so much, he took pen in hand. If you would like an "E"mail copy of his account (four parts ... He's not known for brevity)send an "E"mail request. Just say "Send me an account of Bill's excellent adventure."

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