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By Karel Kramer
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Smoke from a brushpile draws my eyes to a smaU group of men coaxing a bank of
the San Antonio River into becoming a state-of-the-art motocross track. As I puU
through the gate and park, I note that these men are not merely hired help. Every
worker wears a pair of motocross gloves in van'ous states of disrepair. A powerfully
built young man in a Suzukijersey jumps down from his bulldozer. I shake a blue
and yellowJT glove and learn that he is Kent Howerton and the bulldozer is not his
new Open cl4ss machine. Several hours later I know a great deal more.
Kent Howerton was born in Wichita, KS onJuly 11, 1954: He lived in Kansas
only a short time and was raised in Denver, CO. Motorcyclingfor Kent started with
a Kawasaki 100 Trail Bross his parents gave him for his l'th birthday. San
Antonio, TX, where he now resides, became his home at 16 and he soon began tTWln'ding near his home. While trailnding, Kent met a friend who eventually lent him
his Yamaha 12' to race. After practice, Kent decided to ride in the Expert cl4ss.
Steve Staclcable won, but Kent was third. Kent won the third race he entered and
went on to nail down 'second Teun" in the Texas Series.
Husqvama supplied him with a bike and parts in 1974 and he won one National
and two Trans-AMA races. In 197' Kent signed afuU contract with Husky - he
lost the 2'Occ Nationals by one point and feels he would have won the 'OOcc Nationals if an injured wrist had not put him out ofcontention.
1976 was to be Kent's year - a secretary from Husky's U.S. headquarters became
his wife and he won the 'OOcc National Championship. Husky showed their
pleasure by mounting his winning Husky as a trophy.
Bike problems followed Kent into '77 along with a gradtUllloss of rapport with
the Husqvama factory. Because his season had not been too successful, Kent was a
little surprised when Suzuki hired him at a much better salary. Kent did not have
much time to enjoy his new n'de - a hole caught his foot and turned it around
backwards. His foot was still tender six months later.
With Suzulti Team Manager Mark Blackwell's help; Kent regained his winning
form and spent '78 and '79 winning everything in sight.
We worked on Kents new track until dark, then went to a restaurant where Kent
and his WIfe Jill talked about what has been and what is to come. Also present was
Kent's personal doctor Michael Bradshaw. Dr. Bradshaw rides a Husky in the
Intermedi4te or Over JO cl4ss. His son Milce holds the number one p14te in Texas
fOT the 'OOcc Expert cl4ss.
