Armandos Last Ride

[c.o.]

I found this article awhile back and just re-found it. I figured it may prove to be of interest for some of you folks.

http://www.pashnit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4919

[Chris Haynes]

Here is Armando's My Space page.
http://www.myspace.com/armandomagri

[junkyarddog]

Armondo

Thanks for posting.
Don't we all wish we knew Him
Jim

[c.o.]

Don't we all wish we knew Him
Jim

Yes, I would have loved to have hung out at the burger stand to listen to the stories....

[Chris Haynes]

I heard a lot of good stories from Armando. I spent a couple hours with his brother Ernie at the Dixon meet a couple years ago. More great stories there.

[Tom Lovejoy]

Very nice and a good read, thanks much for posting.

[Robert Luland]

What a great read! Thank you Cory. Bob

[RichO]

Armando Magri

For those of us who call Sacramento our home the memories of the man himself are held near and dear. I came here from SoCal in 1975 and he was the first person I met in my need for contacts for old motorcycles locally. He was a member of the Capitol City M/C from the late 30's on. They are still in town and use the same old club house. They were the HD club in town. The rival club in town was the Fort Sutter M/C which was the Indian club. Armando was one of our twelve founding members of the Fort Sutter Chapter AMCA here in town. He was involved in alot of things but one of his passions were tops as in spinning tops. He would fashion them out of plastic, wood, metal, etc. He knew about size, balance, RPM's. It was a science with him. When we would ride around through the hills and such when we stopped for a Coke or whatever and he saw a child or several out came a top. They would light up as he put it through it's paces. A hell of a racer, businessman, friend, and man. His brother Ernie is still with us in his early to mid 90's. He quit riding his Sportster at age 89. Lou, Armandos lovely wife just passed away several months ago. Great people. Stories for days. Quite a few of his restored Harley's are still displayed at his old dealership here in town, Sacramento H D. I proudly fly one of his old metal license plate frames on my '40 EL bobjob and a Murrary's HD dealer decal on my oil bag. Armando bought out Murrary in the early 50's after working for him since the late 30's..

[Chris Haynes]

Folks. Those of you who go to the Dixon AMCA meet should spend some time with Ernie Magri, Ray Weisher, and a few of their old riding buddies. They love telling stories of their youth on motorcycles. You will never have a better time. Their stories never end. Stories like riding their bikes onto the Delta Queen or Delta King and taking the over nite ride on the river into San Francisco. The hijinks they did while on board would have the feds after their asses if anything like that was done today. But back then it was just plain old fun. Ray Weisher can tell great stories by the hour. He reminisces of the days when he was a racer, and AMA official and a Harley-Davidson district manager. Be sure to find them.

[redfred84]

I tried to reply to this thread a few days ago, but my attempt failed (most likely my own fault). But I wanted to chime in on how much of a gentleman Amando was, and how he was a major figurehead of the Sacramento facet of the fun. I had also mentioned Rich Ostrander in my phantom post, about how he is probably the most knowing, respecting, and direct conduit to this rich vein of our history. Rich was able to re-locate to Nor-Cal, and immediatly infiltrate amongst these masters. Now, he are one.
Rich is probably the one who has been absorbed the most by the history makers up our way, and further North. Thankfully, he writes well, and shares his experiences. I only wish my previous post came through.
I remember Arando, and the huge photos blown up in his comemeration at the dealers in Sac. Great stuff.
Rf.

[c.o.]

Folks. Those of you who go to the Dixon AMCA meet should spend some time with Ernie Magri, Ray Weisher, and a few of their old riding buddies. They love telling stories of their youth on motorcycles. You will never have a better time. Their stories never end. Stories like riding their bikes onto the Delta Queen or Delta King and taking the over nite ride on the river into San Francisco. The hijinks they did while on board would have the feds after their asses if anything like that was done today. But back then it was just plain old fun. Ray Weisher can tell great stories by the hour. He reminisces of the days when he was a racer, and AMA official and a Harley-Davidson district manager. Be sure to find them.

Sounds like a blast Chris... I'm really going to have to get down to that Dixon meet one of these years!!!

I tried to reply to this thread a few days ago, but my attempt failed (most likely my own fault). But I wanted to chime in on how much of a gentleman Amando was, and how he was a major figurehead of the Sacramento facet of the fun. I had also mentioned Rich Ostrander in my phantom post, about how he is probably the most knowing, respecting, and direct conduit to this rich vein of our history. Rich was able to re-locate to Nor-Cal, and immediatly infiltrate amongst these masters. Now, he are one.
Rich is probably the one who has been absorbed the most by the history makers up our way, and further North. Thankfully, he writes well, and shares his experiences. I only wish my previous post came through.
I remember Arando, and the huge photos blown up in his comemeration at the dealers in Sac. Great stuff.
Rf.

Anytime I see an article written by Mr. Ostrander I know that I'm in for a good read!!!