Like DP said, things were different back then. Major riders that I considered Gods were just regular people and very accessible. Roberts was the first person that did anything that was my own age that I considered Godlike. I well remember the Cycle (best mag of the era and Cook was the ed) article and the prominent quote "they don't pay me enough to ride that thing".
And in 76 while busy winning races for BMW, Reggie was helping me build as close as I could get to a replica of the "NASCAR" R90S they were racing. I was running my Granddad's old gas sta. and working on bikes and sports cars at the time. My partner would say hey, It's Reg Pridmore on the phone again. He wants to talk to you. He sold me pistons, Sig Erson cams, followers, springs etc. and did machine work for me - just a make the beast with two backsing great guy. Goleta was a world away from what I called S.C.
It was a different time, but much like now, a "golden age" of motorcycling with some really advanced product being offered and an economy that was not in such good shape at the same time.
I felt fortunate to be alive at the time and I amazed to still be here. My Monster commuter bike makes more power than the race bikes of that era.
I did notice how quickly Roberts grabbed that ball cap to hide that bald top of his too. Long live the King.
LA
