19255 Forest Lane Circle
Phone: (281) 689-9557
RACER'S PROFILE


KNOCKIN' at HEAVEN'S DOOR
by Becky as printed in Skunk Dot's Mag
'09 Aug Issue
There are no easy words that can possibly try to comfort anyone’s grief over the lost of a loved one…be it a father, son, brother, or best friend.
On June 13, 2009, Ronald “Ronnie” Alan Belsan passed through Heaven’s Gate. January 1, 1970, he was born to Robert and Patricia Belsan…needless, to say,
they will never get over the loss of their child.
In 1979, Ronnie’s father better known as “Uncle Bob” started a well-known motorcycle shop in Houston, TX – Southern Motorcycles…an after-market Harley full service shop.
Uncle Bob was gearing up to have Ronnie take over the family business full-time - he was getting closer to be in the “retirement mode”.
Ronnie has left behind his pride and joy, Amanda, his 16-year-old daughter. She’ll always be missing him but in her heart it will be full of fond memories that no one can take away.
Everyone that knew Ronnie has been affected with his passing…especially his family. Anyone’s future plans can be changed in the present time in an instance.
Ronnie was a loving father and his best friends were his parents. With the support of his best friends, Ronnie was able to drag race.
He started on a Sportster in the 80’s. Then progressed to a Harley Nitro Top Fuel…it turned out to be a “family” adventure. When he showed up at the drag strip, he was the “show”, the brightest, and the loudest with a huge fan base that followed and hee-hawed each time he came up to the starting line.
He definitely was a crowd-pleaser and favorite. Ronnie was always accompanied and encouraged by his best friends-his parents. They were his crew along with Uncle Bob’s best friend Country.
He’ll always be their son. Because of the Belsan family, they’ve encouraged and sponsored other racers and their families to become involved in the motorcycle drag racing sport.
For years, they brought a “gang” of sponsored by Southern Motorcycle bikes to each drag race including Harley Top Fuelers to Harley sport bikes.
What is not important are the dates to which he was born or died but the dash that is between – which is the length of time he lived.
Ronnie lived life to the fullest – thanks in a very large part to his parents for their support – he cut his teeth in the motorcycle business, experienced the thrill of motorcycle drag racing, and was blessed with having his daughter.
Ronnie was truly dedicated and loved by all of his friends. Ronnie’s had an unforgettable laughter which will forever echo thru the Heavens…in many hearts he will forever be missed and remembered.
Ron is now forever free from life’s trials and tribulations and pain and sorrow. His beloved family must now concentrate on keeping his memories alive in their hearts and rejoice for the time he had spent with them.
We must respect their time for grief and sorrow. Help them to remember Ronnie’s life as a celebration. His time on earth was a gift.
Look up to the Heavens and listen for his laughter…smile and then laugh with him.
He’s at the starting line…waiting for his “best friends” and for the drag race to start.


WHERE is "MAD MAN"?
by Becky as printed in June '09 Skunk Dots
There use to be a unique machinist that owned John’s Motor and Machine Shop and lived in Spring, Texas.
He respectfully earned the nickname “the Mad Man of Spring, Texas”. John Koehnle is his real name. This righteous, humble man could and is fully capable of fabricating and producing about any part or do-dad made out of metal.
No request was too big or impossible for this “Mad Man”. But where has he gone? To Willis, Texas, of course. John has built a brand new building and has moved John’s Motor and Machine Shop to 12150 FM 2432, Willis, Texas 77378 with phone number (936) 890-6590.
This guru of motor building and machining is the most resourceful and underpaid owner that I’ve ever met.
You say you have a problem with a drag car…no problem either from one special made part to building the whole motor…John can handle that…he races one.
You say you have a boat that can’t go when it’s afloat…he can fix that…John has been a recognized racer of boats in his own right.
Oh, from regular street to drag racing motorcycles…John is well-known for fixin’ anything.
He has a top fueler you’ll never see any place else cause he built 99.9% from scratch everything but the tires. John would have processed them if he had a rubber tree.
I asked him once why his beloved “Turtle” (his nickname for his Nitro Top Fueler) only had x-amount of cubic inch…he said, “that was only how big of a piece of aluminum that could fir in my lathe- bigger lather-bigger cubic inch”.
So if you want a mechanical problem solved – John’s the man – the “Mad Man of Willis, Texas”. Tell him Becky sent you.



RACIN' FLOWS THRU PAT'S VIENS,,,
BY BECKY
  
This profile is about Bryan, TX’s Patrick Cole. He started riding a motorcycle when he was 5 years old. His grandfather worked for Sears and bought him an Allstate Moped. Pat was hooked from then on. When he moved to Texas at 14, he rode his bicycle and got a job at the local Honda dealership. Pat worked for them until his parents bought it in 1975. At that time, he started working there full time and was able to earn his Honda Master Technician License at the young age of19. All his spare time, he went drag racing with a Blown 67 Chevy II. Pat’s quickest time was 9.20 at 144mph at Little River drag strip outside of Temple, TX and he went to other tracks around Texas. When the Honda shop was sold, he worked at a Cadillac/Olds dealership where Pat achieved his ASE Master Technician Certificate. With GM, Pat started as a line mechanic and left there as a service manager. From 1999-2004, he went to work for Russ Welch H-D in College Station/Bryan, TX where he did all the sales. While there Pat started to race a 94 FXR in the Sportsman Harley Heads-up J class. Then he went to the T class in 2004 with a bike he’s currently riding. He built this bike with the help of Lang Smith LSR Racing, Lang and Pat totally built his present bike from "homemade" scratch. Pat currently owns his own Independent M/C Repair shop in Bryan, TX and works on all types of motorcycles from H-d to Metric bikes. Pat has won many class events with his motorcycle. However, he won KING OF THE CASH race in San Antonio, TX in April 2008 at the Texas Motorcycle Drag Racing event.


Granny's Leather & Lace
by Becky
     
Out of Republic Harley Davidson in Houston comes a fine lady racer that they help to sponsor. Let me mention they sponsor a whole bunch of racers but I’m just going to talk about one…right now. We at Texas Motorcycle Drag Racing encourage racers of all sexes and ages (the age depends on the track permission, of course). This story is about Melinda Malone. She is married to Republic H-D’s service manager Donnie Malone. In the past, Donnie was a Harley racer in his own rights but now has stepped aside to support and encourage his wife’s racing dreams which has turned into a reality. Of course, her kids and grandkids believe Melinda’s awesome and at the same time a little “touched” to go drag racing.
Melinda’s love affair with riding bikes started before she was born when her mother was pregnant with her and would ride behind her dad on his Harley. That’s probably when she got the “feel” for the love of the vibration that only a Harley can produce. When Melinda was just old enough to hold up a dirt bike, her Daddy got her one. From a very young age, both of her parents encouraged her to ride – enjoy life!!
Melinda is relatively new to drag racing her Harley but has successfully won each event in her heads-up class N which is Super Street FL. Melinda has been a fine example that no matter what age, gender, or even make of bike – if you have a dream, a desire to race…you can do it. Nothing is never to too late – unless you make it that way. So next time you come to our event, look up the Republic H-D bunch, say “howdy”, and cheer this fine lady on.

HAFASST RACING'S PHILLIP MATLOCK
as told by his wife "Cat"
Here's a little to-do to get to know the new kid that's comin' as said in his wife's (Cathy Matlock) own words as follows:

"It all started almost 5 years ago when we were going to build a chopper that looked like a drag bike.

My husband was looking on web sites when he came across Weekend Frame Co. in Meneola,Texas owned and operated by John Storace.

He hollers "Hey baby come see our frame for our bike" I go in the office and there's a picture of this monster frame and I said "Looks too long to me and he says that's our new drag bike. I said "No way".

Needless to say I for one was not happy about it. We haven't owned a bike in about 10 years and I was really looking forward to getting back in the wind again.

Well one thing lead to another and John Storace told him (the husband) to go to Johnny Vickers at Hawaya Racing for the engine.

It is a 120 cu.inch motor called the Derringer. And from there 4 years later our pro drag/fuel was built.

Philip started learning how to ride it in November of 2006 at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, Louisiana.

That's where we met Randall Andras, Rocky Jackson, Mark Blackmer and Mike Nolen. Mike has the sister bike of ours.

I must add he is making her scream down the track. We have been meeting up with them at the races ever since. They are some damn good people.

We went to Gainesville the first weekend of March 2007 for our first points race so he could get his license.

We went up to Bowling Green, Kentucky in March 23rd - 24th for the AMRA National Season Opener and won our first race.

Then to Reynolds, Georgia in April 20th - 21st and won that race.

We are now the points leader in the AMRA in the pro fuel class for 2007.

We just got back from Bowling Green but nobody did well because it rained. We all got some points though.

Next points race will be in Union Grove, Wisconsin on August 25th - 26th then the National Finals in Bowling Green September 28th-29th.

Even though we didn't get a bike for both of us to ride Phillip is having a blast. I go for the ride, the company and the party.
Oh yeah and to video his races.

I call him an extremist from hell. He has bungee jumped, scuba dived, cave dived, base jumped and before the drag bike he was skydiving. The boy ain't scared of nothing.

Oh and we will be getting that bike for both of us to ride soon reeal soon. LOL.... Everybody wish us luck!!"

Cathy (Cat) Matlock
(please note- Phillip is the points winner in the AMRA 2007. They also bought a new Ultra-classic.)


James & Dinky early years

Dinky Davis

Kid Slider
Three Generations of Racin’
By Becky

Whenever there are father and son teams, there is history in the making when you add racing -this is a rarity BUT three generations are for sure a real treat and something to brag about.

This story started way back in the late forties with a fine man named James Edwin Davis. Some people called him Jim, some called him Ed, and still others Jed.

He lived up in Illinois and worked for the Wabash Railroad all his life. Jim was a flat tracker on the Springfield Mile in the 40’s and 50’s and was sponsored by the local Harley shop there.

One of his flat tracking buddies was Ed Connelly whom was the past owner of Dallas H-D. When Daytona was still on the beach racing, he was there.

They say he wasn’t much of a racer. It didn’t matter though-he was a winner in his friends eyes. He passed away in 1989 from lung cancer after 5 years of non-smokin’ 3-packs of cigarettes a day.

Jim passed on his bad habits (ask his wife) to his son - Denny “Dinky” Davis. Dennis grew up in Springfield, IL and flat tracking.

He got his first traffic ticket when he was 13 while riding his daddy’s 1935 45” flat track Harley on the street.

During his air force service, Dennis, in 1967, was at Sewart AFB in Tennessee. He was riding Triumphs and met Paul Jones.

The sunny skies of Vietnam was his calling in 1968 and then home in 1969.

He was already too old for southern competition but did well up north. Denny held the state championships in Springfield for the 125cc scrambles in 1970.

Then by listening to Paul’s advice, he moved his family to Dallas - from 6 degrees in Springfield to 60 degrees.

Until 1975 when he quit flat tracking, he received a broken collar bone and other body parts which took a long time to heal. Then his children got more expensive.

He was racing a turbo charged Kawasaki until 1982. He won top gas at Bonnie Truett’s race in Wichita, Ks. in 81 or 82 on that Kawasaki at 8.90 et at 173 mph. Then he sold Bill Cook everything and no riding until 1990 except for his street sporty.

Denny’s wife passed away in 1996 and he was more than ready to come back racing. Since Denny’s comeback, he has earned the nickname “Dinky” and holds 14 trophies from the Texas Style Party Drags for various class wins from 2002 thru 2005.

In 2005 and in the TST F Class, Dinky had won the prestige Macho Eliminator in Noble, OK. Then turned around at the state finals in San Antonio and was runner-up for the all year Macho Eliminator for the grand Macho Champo.

His work history has been a forever telephone employee, still single, and 60 plus years young. Dinky is still a very active competitor to reckon with.

Dinky passed his addiction (racing that is) on to his son, Mike Davis of Sachse, Texas. Mike was born in 1974 and is a police officer.

He’s been racing with the Party Drags since 2001 thru last year in the JJ Class.

Mike had won his TST class: 2001 in Sealy, 2002 Louisiana, 2003 Louisiana, 2003 Dallas, 2004 Sealy, 2004 Noble, OK, 2005 Sealy, 2005 Tulsa, 2005 Noble, OK, and 2005 San Antonio.

In 2005 in Tulsa, Mike earned the nickname “Kid Slider” by winning the Macho Eliminator by sliding on his side across the finish to take the win (around his birthday). (I believe, flat tracking is in his blood.)

2005 was a good year for both Dinky and Kid Slider because father and son both won a TST Macho Eliminator patch each, both were pitted against each other at the state finals bidding for the TST Macho Champo win.

The family that races together - are blessed with their time together.
MEET CASPER
By Becky
Some “characters” of the racing type stand out at the starting line. I’m talking about Randy “Casper” Faust of Spring, TX. Whom has raced his Harley for many years now with the TST and other tracks.

In fact, we’ve watched his children grow up because every time he is granted a trophy, he makes sure his family is in all pictures.

He’s 48 years young, has a wife named Linda, and two girls, Randa (10) and Adele (5). His daytime job is working for Glidden paint company as a consumer representative for Home Depot.

Casper started eleven years ago by helping John Koehnle - the Mad Man of Spring, TX (also, John’s Machine and Motor Shop) with his “homemade” top fueler “The Turtle”.

During this time, Casper had an 80in evo motor sitting in his living room on a night stand. Then one day after watching everyone have all the fun, his wife bought him a paucho frame.

Needless, to say, he started building right away. When Casper got his project done, he had black primer paint with a big dent in the tank!!!

He was proud and took it to Sealy for TST Spring Championships in 1997. He ran an 8.20 et.

This didn’t suit Mr. Koehnle at all and he made Casper bring his motor to him. So he pulled the motor and John had it back in four days after putting his “touch” and tweeking into it.

Casper took the bike to the old Navasota track and ran a 7.30 et. Casper says, “John knows his horsepower and I just ride the rocket .” Since Casper’s addiction, he has won 6 prestige TST’S Macho Eliminator patches with the first in 1998, 3 in a row in 1999, 1 in 2000, and 1 in 2001. Those are besides numerous (32) class wins in the TST’S L Class.

Right now, Casper holds TST’S track records on the ¼ mile with a 11.02 et and the 1/8 mile with a 6.72et. You can’t miss Casper on the track - he’s the bright yellow bike that does wheelie-stands at the starting line and while his front wheel is in the air-he’s shifting gears!!!

Casper also states, “My best time is being with all my fellow racers and just racing others in general. Just let it be known that without John Koehnle’s sponsorship with all of his racing knowledge and tricks, I wouldn’t be doing as well as I’ve done. His know-how is what made that little 80ci such a horsepower maker. I think he’s got more tricks up his sleeves!!!”

So watch for this fella at the track, bring your camera, and capture his wheelie-stands.
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