Al Perrett

Pioneer -Motorcycling - Inducted 2008

By, Jim Greenwood - 2008

Al was born in New Westminster June 23 1938. He went to Edith Cavell Elementary School and on to King Edward High School finishing in 1956.

Al’s first motorcycle ride was in 1953 in Tahsis while working on a summer job. It was a BSA C10 250cc and he was hooked. However, motorcycles would have to wait, for his love for skiing got in the way. He competed from age 16 until he was 22, even trying out for the Olympics and on to Europe in 1961.

A 500cc Matchless took him around England and three months of touring around Europe that summer. Running with the bulls in Pamplona, seeing Rome, Venice and Berlin.

After owning several BSAs and other bikes Al borrowed $4,000 and bought five Suzukis from Ray Deeley (Radco Sales) to start Richmond Motorcycle Sales on No. 3 Road in 1966. The motorcycle business was not easy but switching to Yamaha and acquiring BSA and Triumph in 1967 helped cash flow.

Things were tough in 1970 but with the purchase of Tyneside Repairs there was hope. It was a huge job but it was a move that enabled Al to stay in business.

In 1966 Al bought a Montessa La Cross and started motocross racing at Totem Raceways in Aldergrove. He took on Husquavna in 1969 an was a long-time Husky fan.

Motocrossing was OK but Al’s preference was cross-country riding and he raced the Ashcroft X-country numerous times, coming close but never winning the event.

In 1972, Al sold his Yamaha shop in Richmond and moved to Kamloops and started Kamloops Honda. Al was able to compete more and won his first X-country in 1972.

Al started riding Six Day Enduros in Europe in 1974,competing in Italy, Isle of Man, Austria, Slovakia and France. In 1977, trying to ride the Six Days Enduro at 59 years old he faced two days of rain and extreme mud which forced a DNF on day three.

In 1990, Al rode his first Baja 1000, and finished,

not well but finishing which is a major accomplishment, and so became hooked on desert riding. Al has ridden 13 Baja 1000s and hopefully will ride one more in 2008 at age 70.

A highlight for Al was winning the Score Class 50 Championship in 1992. In this class a rider must compete in four different events; Parker 400, San Felipe 250, Baja 500 and Baja 1,000. Al also won the Class 50 in 1993, 1994 he was a DNF. In 1995 while riding at night, a cow ran into Al causing serious injury. He had to be air-lifted to San Diego for treatment.

In 1999 Al rode with his good friend Wayne Grafton and finished first in Class 50 again. In 2000, the Baja 1,000 was actually 1,750 miles long. Al had lots of problems but still finished which is a major accomplishment.

Al took a few years off of racing the Baja 1000 then, in 2006 he was approached by Don Lewis who entered the first Class 60 team. Al enjoyed another good finish. In 2007 problems forced a DNF but Al is determined to race the 1,000 one more time in 2008.

Al’s son Guy took to the dirt just like his Dad and is a well known racer and video personality in his ‘Terra Firma’ appearances.

Al lives at Sun Peaks in BC with skiing just out the back door in the winter and dirt biking in the summer. His Kamloops Harley-Davidson dealership is growing and with good management and staff Al has more time for his house in Bahia de Los Angeles, Baja. Life is good for Al Perrett