Jay Maher saw my previous lowside road race photos (here and here), so he thought he’d send me a flat track version. Here’s what he wrote:
Your shot filed under “hang on sloopy” reminded me of one i had lying around in my pile. It’s of me at the York, PA fairgrounds half-mile last memorial day weekend, racing (actually falling) in the 50+ class. It was taken by Len Breech, who has been shooting district 6 and 7 (MD,DE,PA) dirt track races for more than 30 years. Back in the late 70’s/ early 80’s he was shooting pics one race, and showing up at the next one with a big book full of prints for sale at quite reasonable prices, and he’s still at it- he hits me up for a few bucks every time he sees me… he knows I’m an easy mark!
Your site is great fun, never know what’s gonna pop up next, keep it up!
Jay
Jay Maher showing us the beginning of a lowside, flat track style. (Photo by Len Breech)
Rider Files 
Thanks for sharing Jay
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I’m glad to hear that Len Breech is still recording motorcycle racing on his cameras. Len supplied Cycle News with hundreds of photos and race reports from tracks in Pennsylvania and Maryland during my days with Dixie Cycle News, Cycle News East and the original Cycle News in California. Dirt track racers in that area owe Len a big thank you for without him, much of what happened in that area would have been overlooked.
Jack Mangus
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Hey Jack! Glad you found the site. Hope all is well.
Jack is the former editor of Cycle News and was serving in that capacity when I started covering races int e early 1980s.
Larry
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Larry;
How do I attach a jpeg file to send to you?
I’ve got another one of Jay Maher from 90 or 91 that I found scanning my color negatives over the winter.
On the scanning subject, do you know (or know of someone) who knows how to get good scans from Black & White negatives? I’ve got a Nikon 5000 that is fantastic for color, but not too good on silver based negatives.
GOOD SITE AND FABULOUS ARCHIVES ARTICLES IN CYCLE NEWS!!
Where do you come up with the background information for them??
len Breech
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Len
Thanks for stopping by the site and for you kind comments on my Cycle News column. I normally try to talk to the subject of the article. If they’re gone I talk to friends and relatives or use old magazine and newspaper articles to give me the background I need.
Send me photos anytime. I’ll be more than happy to run them.
When you send email just click on “Attach” and then click on the photo you want to send. My email address is: lawrencemedia@hotmail.com
I feel your pain with trying to scan old black & white. If I could transport myself back in time I would have shot everything in color and just used filters to come up with black & white prints, or shot a C-41 B&W like Ilford XP2. That scans beautifully with Digital ICE correction.
Most of the black & white you see on my site are old 5×7 prints scanned on a cheap flatbed scanner. Trying to scan Tri-X or other silver-based black & white is a tough one. Epson makes an expensive flatbed scanner (V-750) that features fluid mounting of the negatives. That’s supposed to eliminate a lot of the scratches and imperfections.
I haven’t tried it yet. I’m waiting to buy one of those or hoping that a technology similar to Digital ICE comes along for silver-based back & white. I’m holding off on scanning a lot of my Black & white for that very reason.
Thanks
Larry
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