VOLUME ISSUE NOVEMBER , P127
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(Right) John
Huetter spent a
small portion of
his busy life as
the Feature Editor
for Cycle News
in the mid-'70s.
(Far right) Known
for its success in
off-road racing,
Penton began
making a name
in motocross in
the 1970s.
fast enough to use up the sus-
pension's capabilities. There may
be such courses, but we'll bet
most of them are called Grand
Prix circuits…or maybe one of the
Belgian-Dutch sand tracks after
four or five motos."
Huetter, by the way, had worked
as a freelance journalist covering
the World Motocross Champion
-
ship battles and thus knew well
the bumps and bulges that com-
prised the European MX tracks.
Cornering with this motorcycle
was dealer's choice. The Pen-
ton rider "can use the berm…or
ignore it completely to make the
turn or come off the berm at any
point you want and get on the
straight line to the next corner."
The Penton 360 did it all well,
giving the rider a boost of con
-
fidence that encouraged them
to execute the next corner even
faster and then hit the next one
faster than that last corner.
"There's a feeling of personal
indestructibility," wrote Huetter,
"that you get while pushing the
Penton 360 hard."
Looking for the power of the
devil? Are you feeling the cloven
hoof, imagining the bifurcated
tail and inwardly snarling at the
safety-conscious speed limits
observed by most motocross
bikes? Open the gates of hell!
Release that Magura clutch lever,
twist that throttle and…spin?
"The mind and chain-snapping
burst of power," CN wrote, "when
the 360 KTM engine comes on
the pipe results in instant wheel
-
spin if you're a gear too low."
Huetter advised Penton racers
to make certain that they are in
the correct gear and let that 4.50
Metzeler (an aftermarket buy
for most racers, but showroom
stock on the Penton) eat dirt!
Plenty of power, though the
Penton seemed to be gasping
for air at its most extreme high
speeds, with Huetter and the staff
noting that at the top of fifth gear,
looking to shift into sixth, the mo
-
tor suddenly stopped pulling and
"wouldn't even stay near the pow-
erband." The plug reading was
fine, and the carburetor jetting
was spot on. After numerous calls
to the distributor, Huetter and his
friends determined that the un
-
dersized airbox was suffocating
the bike. "Had the Penton been
ours," Huetter wrote, "we would've
stuck in the highest volume filter
element we could find and drilled
holes in the side panel."
The Penton 360 was officially
marketed as the Penton Mint 400,
a somewhat odd choice since the
Mint 400 off-road race wasn't a
motocross event. The snow-white
Penton was as rare as a white ti
-
ger; this model was a loaner from
an MX-riding businessman, and
it was one of only about 30 in the
country at the time.
John Huetter left us this past
September, just a few months
shy of his 81st birthday and per
his request, his family sent him
off Viking style. With his cre
-
mains tucked inside a miniature
longship and a die-cast 1/12
scale Suzuki Boulevard strapped
on deck, the vessel was lit afire
and cast upon the waters. Per-
haps an icicle white, best-in-class
Penton Mint 400 will be awaiting
him to enjoy in the afterlife.
Valhalla, Mr. Huetter!
CN
