VOLUME 56 ISSUE 37 SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 P33
Ron LaMastus
1947-2019
R
on LaMastus, who com-
peted in six ISDT events and
became a racing legend in the
state of Indiana, died on Sep-
tember 11. According to friends
he suffered a heart attack while
adventure touring in Kentucky
with friends.
In 1972 LaMastus was a flat
track racer who was about to
give up racing due to the lack of
funds. Then he saw an article
in Cycle News about the Inter-
national Six Days Trials coming
to Massachusetts. Inspired by
the possibility of racing in such
a prestigious international event,
LaMastus bought the cheapest
off-road bike he could find, a
Suzuki TS185. The Suzuki wasn't
even a competition motorcycle,
but that didn't deter LaMastus.
He tackled the qualifiers on the
dual-purpose bike and against
all odds he qualified. Once an
official member of Team USA,
Rokon stepped up to sponsor
him.
LaMastus left for Massachu-
setts two weeks before the start
of the Six Days to get a crash
course on not only how to ride
the heavy (305 pound) automatic
transmission Rokon, but how to
do maintenance on them as well.
Remember, this was the ISDT
and the riders had to perform
all the bike maintenance and
repairs themselves.
During the Six Days it was
discovered the mag wheels of
the Rokons had bearing
issues. Being his first ISDT
and being a nice, hon-
est Midwestern man, Ron
played it by the book and
repaired the wheels on his
own on the trail and took
the hit on the time sheets
for it, which cost him any
chance of a gold, or even
silver medal. Others on
the Rokon squad pulled
off deep in the woods and
secretly had their wheels
changed. It was an educa-
tion for LaMastus, but he
said he never regretted compet-
ing by the book. All the Rokon
team bikes finished, quite an
accomplishment for a first-year
team with such a radical design
motorcycle.
LaMastus qualified for the
U.S. ISDT team five more times.
Over the years he raced as a
factory rider for Penton, Ossa
and SWM.
Ron was married to Cheryl
(Straley) LaMastus. He is also
survived by daughter, Toni Dock-
ery, and son, Chad (Melissa)
LaMastus; grandchildren, Hope,
Reiss, Devan, Matthew, Wyatt
and Ethan; great granddaughter,
Heaven; his mother, Wilma Dean
LaMastus, Aunt Sue LaMastus
and his companion dog, Toby.
Pastor Marion Glover will
conduct a Celebration of Ron's
life on Friday, September 20, at
Noon at Flinn and Maguire Fu-
neral Home, 2898 North Morton
Street, (U.S. 31 North) in Franklin
with calling from 10:00 a.m. to
time of service at the funeral
home. Burial will follow at Harris
Cemetery where military honors
will be conducted by the United
States Navy and the Franklin
American Legion Post No. 205.
In lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions may be made to
USO (United Service Orga-
nizations), P.O. Box 96860,
Washington, D.C. 20077-7677;
Wounded Warrior Project, P.O.
Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas
66675-8516 and/or to the Frank-
lin American Legion Post No.
205, 1200 Park Avenue, Frank-
lin, Indiana 46131.
Larry Lawrence
Ron LaMastus competed on many
brands of motorcycles but will
probably be most remembered for
finishing the ISDT in Massachusetts
on a Rokon.
