Balcom

Some men are forged from iron, others hammered steel,

Some men ride the easy path, others by fire anneal.

And God has granted each of us two of everything,

Two eyes, two ears, two arms, so each can do his thing.

For those who are not perfect, he helps to make them whole,

So each of us can find our purpose and our role.

John Bascom had but one leg and he used it well,

So listen to the story that I’m about to tell.

Now anyone can ride a cycle on the street,

To sit and shift and lean isn’t such a feat.

But John craved competition and the thrill of speed,

And motocross would give him all that he would need.

Bought a Husqvarna, to race the Open Class,

It didn’t have shifter and it was awful fast.

The only automatic ‘crosser in the world,

John got pretty good as ‘round the track he whirled.

At Sayers Motocross, the TV cameras rolled,

The whoopers and the jumps were there to test the bold.

At the startin’ gate he couldn’t rev it very much,

Cuz a Husky automatic doesn’t have clutch.

The starter’s flag left him last and eatin’ dust,

But soon that automatic was makin’ lotsa’ thrust.

He stood up on one peg,

with his only leg.

And when he caught the pack,

He was burnin’ up the track.

John had come to race,

And he set a torrid pace.

He hit a berm so hard,

He pushed it back a yard.

Passin’ everyone,

He was havin’ fun.

Made a double jump or two,

Proved he was a real hot shoe.

The final lap, it came up quick,

Passed the leader, made it stick.

He took the checkered flag,

Won the trophy, got to brag.

So if your life seems a bit tough,

Don’t  be gittin’ in no huff.

Be the best that you can be,

And show ‘em all, like John B.

LDT February 24, ‘24

I raced against John Balcom in the late 70’s. Once, a San Antonio TV station showed up to do a story on him. They aired a clip of him passing me.

More on the Husqvarna Automatic here: LONG & WINDING ROAD: HISTORY OF THE HUSQVARNA AUTOMATIC – Motocross Action Magazine