page 4 2014 Bernie Schreiber feature interview
Len Weed is synonymous with Bernie Schreiber. Len along with Bernie wrote the "Observed Trials" book and took many of the photos. He also wrote a similar book with Lane Leavitt and Brad Lackey.
Len and this book is the reason why so many of us feel that contact and affinity with Bernie. It's because we've got his book that we've read all about Bernie and know all about Bernie. This book is special to us.
It's because of Len Weed that this book happened in the first place.
I thought it would be a great contribution to this interview and only fitting if Len then wrote a foreword for this huge interview. Len very kindly obliged and also gave permission for his photos to be used.
Len and this book is the reason why so many of us feel that contact and affinity with Bernie. It's because we've got his book that we've read all about Bernie and know all about Bernie. This book is special to us.
It's because of Len Weed that this book happened in the first place.
I thought it would be a great contribution to this interview and only fitting if Len then wrote a foreword for this huge interview. Len very kindly obliged and also gave permission for his photos to be used.
foreword by Len weed 4-28-14
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Time flies. You should a been there. Seems like only yesterday.
Ah, nostalgia. Four score and seven years ago doesn’t apply. But… two score does work. Forty years ago I discovered the challenging, frustrating, fulfilling sport of motorcycle observed trials. 1974. The same year I joined the staff of Dirt Bike magazine. And joined VOTE: the Valley Observed Trials Enthusiasts club. Doug, Bruce, Howard, Tom, Boyd, Joe and all the others who guided my intro to trials told me about the California wonder kid. Yeah, uh huh, sure. |
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo len weed
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And then I saw him ride. Wow. So amazing on his Sherpa. And charismatic off. Enthusiasm was his constant companion.
For the next three years I got to hang out and practice with a future world champion. America’s first off-road (trials or motocross) world champion. Bernie got there first, in 1979, ahead of the American motocross champions we’ve seen since.
Oh, those practice sessions. Sometimes just the two of us. The SoCal whiz and the struggling Senior class rider. Hey, look at this. Isn’t it neat what you can do on a motorcycle? And always the persistent smile. (Was Bernie the Magic Johnson of observed trials?)
Competitive instincts helped drive his training sessions. (He had to face Marland Whaley at every local event.) What sessions they were. He’s really going to try that? And clean it? Always with his characteristic flair and his obvious love for the sport. What a privilege it was to see the moves he would later take to Europe. Moves that triggered new world class riding techniques.
And then a new chapter in his life. Off to Europe. Seventh in the world in 1977. Then four wins in 1978 to finish third. Next, the magic year, 1979. Another four wins and the world championship.
At this point, we could play the What If game. What if Bultaco didn’t fold? What if Bernie could have continued to pilot his Sherpa? Instead…a new factory and prototype bikes. Still, six wins in 12 starts. But two mechanical DNFs placed him runner-up to a rider who won just one of his 12 starts. If Bultaco had survived, how many more world titles?
But, back to the real world. The happy-go-lucky kid from LaCrescenta matured, married, fathered, carved a successful career for himself after stepping off the pegs. And somewhere in there we collaborated on a book: Observed Trials.
Being a retired, old sore-armed pitcher, I often recall Roy Campanella’s historic observation: It takes a man to play major league baseball, but he’s gotta have a lot of little kid in him. That’s what I remember, all these years later. The Kid. That’s meant as the sincerest of compliments. His enthusiasm. His excitement. His talent. The SoCal Kid who remains today, as he always will, America’s first Trials World Champion.
For the next three years I got to hang out and practice with a future world champion. America’s first off-road (trials or motocross) world champion. Bernie got there first, in 1979, ahead of the American motocross champions we’ve seen since.
Oh, those practice sessions. Sometimes just the two of us. The SoCal whiz and the struggling Senior class rider. Hey, look at this. Isn’t it neat what you can do on a motorcycle? And always the persistent smile. (Was Bernie the Magic Johnson of observed trials?)
Competitive instincts helped drive his training sessions. (He had to face Marland Whaley at every local event.) What sessions they were. He’s really going to try that? And clean it? Always with his characteristic flair and his obvious love for the sport. What a privilege it was to see the moves he would later take to Europe. Moves that triggered new world class riding techniques.
And then a new chapter in his life. Off to Europe. Seventh in the world in 1977. Then four wins in 1978 to finish third. Next, the magic year, 1979. Another four wins and the world championship.
At this point, we could play the What If game. What if Bultaco didn’t fold? What if Bernie could have continued to pilot his Sherpa? Instead…a new factory and prototype bikes. Still, six wins in 12 starts. But two mechanical DNFs placed him runner-up to a rider who won just one of his 12 starts. If Bultaco had survived, how many more world titles?
But, back to the real world. The happy-go-lucky kid from LaCrescenta matured, married, fathered, carved a successful career for himself after stepping off the pegs. And somewhere in there we collaborated on a book: Observed Trials.
Being a retired, old sore-armed pitcher, I often recall Roy Campanella’s historic observation: It takes a man to play major league baseball, but he’s gotta have a lot of little kid in him. That’s what I remember, all these years later. The Kid. That’s meant as the sincerest of compliments. His enthusiasm. His excitement. His talent. The SoCal Kid who remains today, as he always will, America’s first Trials World Champion.
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo len weed
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Aged 13 2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo Bernie
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo matt liberatore
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These 3 photos are from the 1978 World Trial at Roaring Branch, Pennsylvania .
This is from one of the waterfall sections . There were 10
sections in the waterfalls. They were called Cascade Run, starting at one
getting progressively steeper. It was an amazing trial! Matt Liberatore who was there, said that he had not seen anything
like it, in terms of atmosphere or spectators. It was unbelievable. Bernie came in to the
event in fifth place tied with Vesty. They had two wins each. Bernie won this trial. Vesty was second, Ulf 3rd. Lampkin 4th, Whaley 5th, Comer 6th, Rathmell 7th, Mick 8th, Gorgot 9th, Coutard 10th.
Over here in the quiet and reserved Europe we all know that the America supporters make one heck of a noise whistling and hollering :).
Over here in the quiet and reserved Europe we all know that the America supporters make one heck of a noise whistling and hollering :).
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo matt liberatore
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2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo matt liberatore
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Now onto the interview