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1968 Norton P11 Desert Sled
Before the rise of motocross, desert racing was the most popular off-road motorcycle sport, and racer Mike Patrick rode this very desert sled to multiple race wins and championships.
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Sometime around 1980 I worked for Mike in his Yamaha dealership in Corona CA assembling bikes, changing tires and performing 4 stroke tuneups. The bike was stored uncovered on a relatively unused edge of the repair shop, and one day his 21 year old son Donnie came in and wanted to get it running. The main mechanic and myself cleaned the carburetors and set the points and little else. As far as I know I was the only one to ride it then. After returning from the only dirt available near the shop, a plowed field. I reported that it handled like a deep V hull boat. You don’t lift the front wheel over obstacles, just plow through them. Apparently this lines up well with Mikes published description of how he did not finesse the bike, just let it go where it wanted to go.
Great photo.
I uncrated a few of those many years ago when I was a young lad working for Hall & Burdette Norton/Parilla in Sacramento, CA. Man….I wanted one of those beasts….but never had one. A young man’s dream.
Thanks for featuring Mike Patrick’s championship desert sled. I’m the bloke who tracked Mike down, convinced him to allow me to freshen it up for him and many years later allowed me to purchase it from him. Shortly before Mike passed away I worked with Brian Slark at the Barber Motorsports museum to install it properly for all to enjoy.
Good on you Jerry. The silver fox was quite a man, by example he taught me integrity and to be honest no matter the cost. I have openly given him credit for my personal maturity for over 40 years.