Long Live 3Wheeling Magazine

[yater]

elephant balls

[3WW Star-oldfart]

Ah, that's a good one, but not correct.

[200xadam]

One of the coolest conversions we ever did was to install a 200S engine/tranny into an ATC200X frame. What we ended up building was a one-off, 200X Automatic! We still used a rope starter from the 200S, and had to make a new brake lever. The top mount was a mismatch from the 200X and 200S. It was super easy to ride, and freaked a lot of people out. Even Honda asked to ride that one.....

that was popular conversion here around new orleans. I even remember the article in the magazine.

thats how my 200x originated, my friend made his own conversion..took some welding and cutting of the cdi and coil brackets and a custom break pedal was welded to the triangular piece that connects behind the footpeg, but it was an awesome trail bike...but ive put the original x motor back in to get some more speed...

[3WW Star-oldfart]

Okay, I guess the Mike Coe nickname was a little too tough to know about... So, here is the answer. Mike is a tad bit on the hairy side, I mean he could/should shave his beard twice a day! Stevie Wright came up with "EB" which refers to his "eye brows" going across the bridge of his nose. In order words, he has ONE eye brow!

[Dan Tenn]

Ahh, the unibrow

[3WW Star-oldfart]

Okay, since my last story about Mike Coe wasn't exactly the most flattering... here's another gem. Honda came out with a three-wheeler scooter called the Gyro. The first version was your basic Honda red, and we got one from the Honda loan pool, and liked it so much, we bought it outright. In fact, Tim Orchard still owns it today. Anyway, the Gyro, or G-Ro as we called it, was popular as a pit bike, and everyone got a chance to mess with it. As you may recall, it would articulate in the middle, so both rear tires would remain on the ground flat, during a turn. Very cool engineering, but a little tricky to do much in the dirt with. Try as everyone might, no one could do a wheelie with it, as it would always bend in the middle, and the front end would go one way or the other... and never straight. Except for Mike "EB" Coe! This guy could wheelie anything on wheels, including the G-Ro. Amazing balance. Even Stevie Wright could not wheelie that scooter.

[3WW Star-oldfart]

I was thinking about how hard Dean Sundahl rode ATCs, and I began to recall one off-road race that we were shooting photos of the 3-wheeler class. Now at the SCORE Parker 400 (Parker, Arizona), the ATCs would run only on the California loop, unlike the cars, that would do loops on both CA and AZ sides of the Colorado River. This one February morning, all of the ATCs riders came by us at this one point, so you really got a good idea of the different riding styles and who was going to it! The area was a low sand wash, but the course took the riders down the wash at speed, then made a sharp turn up the enbankment, and across a rise to a hard flat area. Most riders picked their way through this tricky spot, and some, downright idled their way across the crest of this wash. But not Dean! We heard this 300cc kit just buzzing down the wash, and we knew it was an "open" bike class. Sure enough, Dean hit the bank of this wash flat out, the when he got to the top, he jerked the front end sideways, and pitched the backend around. When we took the photo, he was totally sideways, engine on high-C, and the rear tires were spinning so fast that they looked like a Top Fuel slick during a burnout! He was flat flying at this point, but never missed beat, or lost any control. Of all the ATC riders that came by us that day, NO ONE hit that spot that hard, or that fast, then Dean Sundahl. My hero.

[MO350X]

Funny how so many folks have like-interests....
I'm a true-blue VW junky ('66 Cal-Looker Beetle, '65 Manx copy) AND a trike addict.

Hey Dean,
It was a true honor to finally chat with you at Competition Engineering in Phoenix before the Bug-O-Rama a few years ago.
You described the finer points of Christensen's EARLY ('49?) Beetle to me.
I was at Frenchy's in 2004-THAT was an experience I'll NEVER forget!
My wife and I fly down there for the big VW show from St. Louis.
Awesome event.
You also snapped a pic of our Beetle (blue Cal-Looker, polished Empi's) at the Mid-America Motorworks show and posted my car in the magazine!
I remember the exact moment you took that picture.
When I saw it in the magazine, I almost had a heart attack.

You have NO idea how much I enjoy reading your posts on here about "back in the day".
I remember reading those old 3 wheeling magazines like it was yesterday.
And dreaming of what goody I'd buy next or what new trike I wanted to replace the trike I had at the time-the good old 200S.
Ahh....simpler times.

Sorry to ramble.
Thanks for the memories and stories.
Looking forward to seeing you in Phoenix again HOPEFULLY 2006.
Best Regards,
Bill

[3WW Star-oldfart]

We just topped 30,000 hits on this thread.... amazing. Dean

[Billy Golightly]

Hey Dean, I just posted some pictures that were sent to me by Rodney Shedenhelm. If you go to the main page, www.3wheelerworld.com I've got a link to them. They are from the first time Dean Sundahl raced a 250R on a closed course. Thought you might enjoy that.

[3WW Star-oldfart]

I remember that day! The big buzz around San Diego was that Honda was going to bring out the 250R! These two ATCs were all early/pre-production units, and #2 is the one that Darryl Bassani now has. These still had stock pipes, stock rear axles, but at least had Carlisle rear tires and Mitchell wheels. #32 on the Tri-Moto is Bob "Ace" Williams, the #43 Honda is Curtis Sparks, and behind Ace on the top of the hill is Tracey Dickson. Notice all the Levis pants and some tennis shoes. My back is in one shot (with the yellow T-shirt and blue cap). Speedway 117 was where is all started!

[250rAL]

I was thinking about how hard Dean Sundahl rode ATCs, and I began to recall one off-road race that we were shooting photos of the 3-wheeler class. Now at the SCORE Parker 400 (Parker, Arizona), the ATCs would run only on the California loop, unlike the cars, that would do loops on both CA and AZ sides of the Colorado River. This one February morning, all of the ATCs riders came by us at this one point, so you really got a good idea of the different riding styles and who was going to it! The area was a low sand wash, but the course took the riders down the wash at speed, then made a sharp turn up the enbankment, and across a rise to a hard flat area. Most riders picked their way through this tricky spot, and some, downright idled their way across the crest of this wash. But not Dean! We heard this 300cc kit just buzzing down the wash, and we knew it was an "open" bike class. Sure enough, Dean hit the bank of this wash flat out, the when he got to the top, he jerked the front end sideways, and pitched the backend around. When we took the photo, he was totally sideways, engine on high-C, and the rear tires were spinning so fast that they looked like a Top Fuel slick during a burnout! He was flat flying at this point, but never missed beat, or lost any control. Of all the ATC riders that came by us that day, NO ONE hit that spot that hard, or that fast, then Dean Sundahl. My hero.

If that one was in the magazine, I know which one you're talking about. All three wheels in the air, sideways, rocks flying and tires like a 110 at 70MPH!

[esande151]

Dean, In '85 I started racing my uncles new '85 250R. Racing every weekend, we enjoyed alot of early success which took us outside our local tracks. We had the privlidge of racing with Marty Hart, Carey Jones, Tim McQuaig, Jimmy White, and Rodney Gentry. Back then there were races at Daytona International Speedwqay on Mondays before the supercross on Saturdays. Our best finish with the pro's came there. My uncle still talks about that to just about any one who will listen. I would like to try and find the magazine that cotained this race coverage to give to him to put on display. The article is started with a shot of the first corner off the line in the second moto with me ( # 25 ) right next to Rodney Gentry ( # 6 or # 1 ). The problem is I can't remeber which mag it's in, but I beleive it's either '85 or '86. The races were held in March. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Elliot

[3WW Star-oldfart]

Elliot, hmmm. We covered so few races in that area, other than the AATVA race in Miami. You're going to have to give me a little more information about that particular race, so I can look through the back issues. I suspect that it was freelanced for us, so no telling who took the photos. I'll see what I can find... Are you sure it was 3Wheeling magazine that covered that race? Dean

[esande151]

Dean, The races were held in early March at the Daytona Supercross track. I think the coverage article appeared in the April or May issue, either '86 or '87. It was a full two page photo of the first turn. It was Rodney's last season on an ATC before switching to the TRX. I wish I had more. I'll try to pick my uncles brain a liitle. Thank you, Elliot