Matt Weisman

An interview with Matt Weisman: by Alan Buehner

Originally published in the Winter 2002 issue #17 of "Still....Keeping Track"

Matt riding his Penton Jackpiner at the 250 mile Little Burr Enduro in 1973.

Anyone that has seen a “PENTON” motorcycle ad in one of the “old” magazines has experienced a small part of Matt Weisman’s talent and the vital role that he played in working for John Penton from 1969 thru 1986. He created all of the Penton Motorcycle and Hi-Point print media advertising, as well as all of the dealer and consumer literature, such as “Keeping Track” newsletters, service manuals and parts catalogs. He maintained the dealer and consumer mailing lists, and handled all of the correspondence including the reply letters to consumer questions. He established the Penton and Hi-Point amateur racers sponsorship program. His department worked with dealers and race promoters supporting their efforts to promote the dirt bike sport. Anything that was printed for the Penton motorcycle was assembled from Matt’s creative genius. His involvement with motorcycles brought him in contact with John Penton at the right time. His 17 years with Penton Imports and Hi-Point Racing Products were memorable and rewarding.

When did you first get involved with motorcycles?

My interest in motorcycles began when I started reading motorcycle magazines as a youngster. I would walk to the Elyria Harley shop in Elyria, Ohio where I grew up. I really liked the Harley Hummer.

What was your first bike?

My first bike was a 1957 50cc Puch Allstate. That year a new law was passed in Ohio allowing 14 year olds to ride 50cc bikes legally on the street. I saved up $200 from my paper route and bought the Puch new from Sears. It had two speeds and in a crouched position I could get it to go 35 to 38 MPH. After my initial year of owning the Puch, I rode my first enduro on it. I didn’t officially enter the event, I just followed some of the riders for 4-5 miles and enjoyed riding the course. When I turned 16, I sold the Puch to buy a car as transportation to High School.

Matt Weisman on his Sears 50cc Puch Allstate in 1957, Elyria, Ohio. This was Matts first motorized vehicle.

Tell me more of your background history that led up to your being employed by John Penton.

After I graduated from High School in 1961, I went to the Cooper School of Art in Cleveland, Ohio. It was a two year commercial art school. I lived in Cleveland while attending art school and worked part time in commercial art designing menus, signs, catalogs, layouts, and proofing. After graduating, I worked as the Art Director at an Advertising Agency where I was involved with television and radio ad work. I had met my wife, Barbara Strabele, when we both were attending Cooper School of Art and we began dating.

I got back with motorcycles at the end of 1963 when I bought a used Truimph Tiger Cub for transportation. I liked that bike even though I spent a lot of money and time at Sills Motorcycle shop in Cleveland, buying parts to fix it. It was at this time that I got involved in motorcycle racing. I kept up to date with Ohio race results reading the Columbus Star. My first race was an enduro held in Killbuck, Oh. I rode the Triumph, but only went a mile or two because I had sport tires on it. I bought knobbies for the Cub after that race. It was at this race that I became aware of John Penton, who was also riding. I went to a race in Michigan where I met Russ and Riba Steers who became our good friends. Russ was an enthusiastic Michigan enduro rider who rode a BSA.

In 1965, I rode the 500 mile Jackpine Enduro for the first time on my Triumph. My ride lasted only a few miles from the start in downtown Lansing, Michigan. I decided to listen to Russ, sold the Triumph and bought a new BSA 350cc. It worked well for racing and I rode it in a lot of enduro and scrambles events. As I entered more off-road events, I became better acquainted with the history of John Penton and the story of his racing career.

Barbara and I were married in 1965 and we moved from Cleveland to Elyria, Ohio, my hometown. I had picked up a job there working for American Standard doing their catalog work. Barb had been working for the Bailey Company and the Halle’s Department Store as a fashion illustrator. After our move to Elyria, Barb worked for Higbee’s Department Store doing their window displays.

In 1966 I had quit my job at American Standard and had taken a job with Zarney Advertising in Medina, Ohio. We moved from Elyria to La Grange and discovered that the Sportsman Motorcycle Club had a TT Scrambles track nearby. Barb and I joined their club and it was at one of their events that I officially met John Penton. I first met Al Born at this track when he was racing scrambles. I would submit the club’s race results to the local papers.

When did you start working for John Penton?

In 1967, Barb and I opened our own Advertising Studio in Elyria. We were still involved with the Sportsman Motorcycle Club events and John Penton began to bring his new namesake bike out to the Sportsman track. Through our Studio, I did some of John’s artwork for the new bikes and was writing race results articles in John’s motorcycle paper. By late 1969 John needed repair and parts manuals to get and keep his bikes running. He and I worked out a deal for me to work exclusively for him. I set up a studio and dark room at the Colorado Avenue building in Lorain, Ohio and shut down our Advertising Studio.

What was the most exciting thing that you have done in regards to motorcycle racing?

Before working for John, one of the craziest things that Barb and I did was to promote the first ever Professional MX race that was sanctioned by the AMA. We invested our own money in advertising, press releases, banners and posters. It was held at Dick Klamforth’s track in Delaware, Ohio. Dick Mann and Gunner Linstrom rode in that event along with many Ohio riders. We ran two classes, 250 and open. The event was exciting and attracted a large crowd, but we decided that was the first and last time we would ever do anything like that.

Matt and Barb Weisman at the Penton Christmas party in 1979.

Did you still continue racing while working for John?

I was involved in motorcycle racing almost every weekend, for both recreation and business. We did it as a family. Barb enjoyed the sport and did a lot of pit-crewing for me. Our daughter, Tammy, nearly always went with us to the races, also.

Before joining Penton Imports, I had sold my BSA and purchased a Bultaco. After coming on board with John, I rode, in order, a Husqvarna, a Puch and a 1973 175cc Penton. I quit riding in 1974 after suffering a slipped disc that had me in traction for a month.

What were some of the events that you competed in?

Among the many were the Blackwater, 250 mile Little Burr, 500 mile Jack Pine, Lonesome Pine, Burr Oak National Enduros, Berkshire, most eastern eduros and untold number of scramble events. I never rode in the Six-Days, but did some of the qualifiers.

Matt checking out the chain on John Penton’s bike at the 250 mile Little Burr Enduro in 1979.

Did you travel to many of the Six Day events?

Yes, I was at many of them during the Penton era and made movies and photos of the events for John. The first movie I ever shot was the 1972 Berkshire 2-Day National. It turned out good even though it was 45 minutes long. I did the editing, story line and voice over. Barb helped with the sound and work. Three or four copies were made and sent around to Penton dealer open houses and seminars. That movie was expensive to make, but was worth it in the positive PR it created. I do not know what ever happened to the reels for that movie.

In 1973 I filmed the Six Days in Dalton, Mass. with Barb, who contributed the drawings that appeared in the introduction. In 1974, Barb and I were at the Six Days held in Camerino, Italy, where I made a film of the events. I also filmed the 1975 Isle of Mann Six-Days and the 1976 Austrian Six-Days. The 1976 film was never put together. That was just before the end of the Penton Motorcycle era and we knew that it would be a waste of time and money to try to promote it.

When did you wind up leaving Penton Imports?

I left Penton Imports at the end of 1986. I had gotten a Job working for Webb Stiles in Valley City, Ohio. It is a manufacturer of custom engineered conveyor systems and I have been working there ever since. I enjoy my position as Sales and Marketing Manager.

Both you and Barb have been involved with the Penton Owners Group after it was formed. What is it that attracted you to it?

After I left John’s organization at the end of 1986, I had no more contact with motorcycles in the years following, until PaulDanik called to tell me about the newly formed Penton Owners Group. He told me of the group’s aim to preserve the history of the Penton Motorcycle and that appealed to both Barb and me.