Bridgestone Motorcycle Parts Discussion Board
General Category => Members: Introduce yourself => Topic started by: gootie on October 24, 2013, 05:10:24 PM
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Hey
I have enjoyed looking over the site because I Had at one time 3 'stones the last one being a 350 GTR. It was stolen from me in 1974 while living in Lakewood ,CA. I'm commenting today because I have had some contact with one of the factory test riders,Carman Vaughn in the past and again today. I showed him the 1966 Daytona video as he appears early in the video sitting solo drinking a carton of milk wearing his black leather jacket. It really brought back a flood of memories for him. He commented that he did much of the 350 testing before they were offered forsale in the US. His dealership was attached to a chevrolet dealership in Fort Atkinson,WI. My Dad was a mechanic at the chevydealership. Carman did a lot of flat tracking with the factory 200 in the midwest. Carman now has aging eyes and no longer can drive any vehicle.
Thanks for listening
Bob
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gootie,
Thanks for a great story!!
Steve.
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Thanks for sharing the test rider story. Does Mr. Vaughn remember the color of the GTRs that he rode? Somebody needs to send Mr. Vaughn a BS T-shirt.
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I went to Lakewood high school! I grew up in long beach about a block away from Lakewood. Cool story! Love the history!
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I have also recalled that Carman was a Marusho dealership. They stopped production in 1967.
Getting cold here. Time to think about returning to SOCAL. The 350GTR was a great transportation piece especially with CA allowing lane splitting on their freeways. I do recall seeing my whole life flash through my brain the first time I encountered rain grooves at 70mph though.
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I won't have too much more to add here unless there are some entries with comments/questions,etc. I would like to say that if anyone encounter(s)(ed) a 350 GTR with a battery cutoff switch mounted under the fuel tank or with an obvious fuel shutoff valve that has been brazed in that could have been my former bike. i always assumed the local CA gangs wanted BS frame for a chopper build.
Bob Guttenberg
Madison,WI
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Wow Gootie! I for one, am very appreciative of you bringing this story to BS nation. ;D
I'm sure this is an historical link we would not want to loose. So I had a thought, not to impose, and I don't know how frequently you see Mr. Vaugh, but if members posted questions about his experience as a factory test rider or the 350 GTR, would you be willing to request that he answer them and post the answers here? Thanks for considering...
...bert
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Thanks for the story Bob, hope you or somebody finds your GTR.
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As Carman's eyes are failing I will have to set down with his bride to establish a log in for him..
I found this today.
http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-japanese-motorcycles/1967-bridgestone-350-gtr.aspx?PageId=1#axzz2ir8zU0DH (http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-japanese-motorcycles/1967-bridgestone-350-gtr.aspx?PageId=1#axzz2ir8zU0DH)
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Excellent. Then I'll start the ball rolling. When you speak to Mr. Vaughn or his Bride perhaps they could respond to these if it is not too much of an imposition:
1) The GTR was a very sophisticated motorcycle and to me this says that the engineers, not the bean counters ran the company (or at least the motorcycle division). I would be interested in his perspective on this.
2) As a factory test rider, I expect he was involved with not only the GTR, but other potential follow-on products to the GTR. His comments on this would also be appreciated.
thanks...
...bert
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Carmen Vaugn appears in the video at 31 seconds drinking an apparent carton of milk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhoFIwM6aP8#