Daves new Ducati was owned by a friend to some of us, Leon Roach form Huntington Beach, California. Leon's pretty well known in SoCal vintage circles and ironically I bought my first Hindall from him in when he had attempted to fit the 450 Ducati engine to it but discovered that he'd have had to chop it around too much. Not wanting to destroy a rare bit of gear, he sold it to me and bought the Cheney instead. Ten years later Leon heard through the grapevine that the swingarm on my Cheney Yamaha project was almost beyond use and having replaced the slightly tweaked arm on his own Cheney, sent me his original for no charge. Straightening it took only 10 minutes in the press and it now has pride of place on my own Cheney.
Leon recently lost his son in a tragic pole vault accident which probably prompted the sale of his pride and joy.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/09/07/2009-09-07_college_pole_vaulter_.html Prior to his sons death, Leon, his three sons and a friend rode 5 fully restore 66/67 BSA B44 Victors from the bottom of Baja Mexico to the Canadian border following the Continental Divide, using mostly off road trails and back roads, avoiding civilisation as much as possible. The 2800 mile journey took in Mexico, New Mexico, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Canada. The team and the old Beezas survived the journey intact and . It was planned for me to write a piece for VMX on the journey using Leons photos but the death of Leon junior has obviously shifted the families priorities.
I realise it's a bit late but I wish Leon and Mary Ann Roach my condolences for their sad loss.
