The day after the USGP film Premiere, Keith Lynas, Flying Mike Brown and I were invited to view Tom White’s superb collection of early years Motocross bikes and memorabilia. Situated in a specially constructed barn at his beautiful house in Anaheim Hills, everywhere you look are great bikes, pictures and information centred on 1960 to 1975, when Motocross was introduced to an eager American public.
Tom White and his brother Dan built White Brothers Inc. from a garage based cottage industry into one of the main players in off-road motorcycle sport. Initially based on hop up parts for the popular Yamaha XT four strokes, they developed their own range of exhausts, cams etc and sponsored many of the fast West Coast riders, inc the late Marty Moates. A few years ago they received an offer they couldn’t refuse from MAG (Motorcycle Aftermarket Group) and sold their shareholdings. Tom is still retained to the MAG Board as advisor for their off-road and sports market’s and still rides motocross every weekend at the popular Saturday REM races at Glen Helen. Since moving into semi retirement, Tom has been able to indulge his passion for collecting and documenting the early years of Motocross. Tom became close friends with the late Edison Dye, who brought motocross and European riders to the USA for his Inter Am Series and to sell and market Husqvarna Motorcycles he imported. In recent years Edison had lived in a care home and Tom would regularly take him out to his chosen restaurant, enjoy a meal , a bottle of his favourite Merlot wine, listening to tales of Bickers, Hallman , Robert and how the sport developed. Upon his death, Edison gave his collection of memorabilia, records etc to Tom for the museum.
The first bike we stumbled upon was an old ISDT JAWA enduro machine.
ISDT Jawa Enduro Machine
Next to catch my eye was a great example of an early square barrel Maico, one of my first bikes back in 1973.
Maico square barrel motocross bike 1970's
Tom has a penchant for Swedish machines and has some great examples of early Husqvarna and Monark 4 strokes.
Early Husqvarna 4 Stroke
Beautiful Monark Swedish 4 Stroke, pure art!
As well as all the great machines, the walls are filled with great photo’s, old posters, quotes etc.
Small selection of old photo's
Original Perris Raceway sign
Tom with Flying Mike Brown & Keith Lynas
Spotted an Original On any Sunday film poster, signed by the cast!
"On any Sunday" Film Poster
An early version of a Yamaha Flat tracker !
Yamaha Ascot Flat tracker
Did you know that Bob Hannah once slept with Jennifer Anniston?, we have photographic proof!
Hannah to Jennifer "How was it for you?"
A couple of later bikes had sneaked in there like Mike Kiedrowski’s championship winning KX125cc and Joel Robert’s Puch 370cc
Mike Kiedrowski's KX125cc
Original Suzuki motocross bike and some interesting memorabilia.
Original Suzuki works bike!
Brand new 1973 CCM 600cc , never started!
Original Greeves scrambles bike
Greeves Hawkstone MDS Scrambler
Banners, bikes everywhere!
The day before Tom White had bid $5000 at the USGP Film Premiere in San Diego for my original painting of Marty Moates at Carlsbad. White Bros. had sponsored Marty and this will have pride of place in Tom’s Museum office.
Artist Rob Kinsey & Tom White with Moates painting.
If you are ever lucky enough to get an invite to Tom’s Museum then drop everything, even your intimate date with Angelina Jolie, a Ferrari F1 test drive, Beatles re-union concert, nothing can come close to the treasures that you will uncover in Tom’s barn.
Many thanks to Tom for his hospitality, Keith Lynas & Flying Mike Brown for the great company on a day I will cherish forever!
Hi Tom, how are you and how is the Dot Coming along, l would like to buy a Kawasaki F21M, dead or Alive Complete bikes, do you have a one, or know of one that may be for sale. Regards David.
mobile 0405 534 146.
Your Museum is brilliant l cannot wait to see the Dot on display.
Hello:
Congratulations for you great museum, you own very valuable pieces of history.
A friend of mine is working in producing a book related to the 1970 International Six Days of Trials held in San Lorenzo de El Escorial in Spain. It is happening that he is not able to find any reproduction of the event poster. We are searching in Spain’s bike clubs and institutions with no positive results.
Should I ask if you own one of it or know who has it? We will pay for any kind of reproduction, of course.
Thank you very much.
Serafin.