Motorcycling’s trailblazers are mourning the passing of Triumph aficionado extraordinaire, Pat Owens, whose exploits accumulating 500,000 miles on a 1970 Triumph T120 RT have been chronicled in Rider magazine and elsewhere. Pat, former Western Service Manager for Triumph, acquired the bike while tuning for AMA racing champion Gene Romero.
Pat later became the advanced semester instructor of motorcycle mechanics at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, a position he held for nearly 20 years. He left that post when elected to the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees, where he became an outspoken advocate of vocational education and the motorcycle curriculum in particular. Pat helped initiate the annual Hansen Dam British Ride in 1980, which still draws the likes of Tonight Show host Jay Leno and other legendary riders. Pat’s widow, Donna, is hopeful of donating the high-mileage Triumph to a museum, and is retaining his never ridden 1977 Silver Jubilee in their den as a fitting memorial.
I just found out that Pat Ownes passed away.
I propose that he be placed in the hall of fame.
He has done so much for the industry. Besides all that was mentioned in the above Jan. 2012 article, he placed many students in excellent positions.
I graduated his program and he placed me in a training position at Petersen Publishing (Motorcyclist) and then at Yoshimura R&D of America. I held many positions there including mechanic, team manager, and Managing Director. I then I was hired by Motul USA Inc. where I am now President.
Don Sakakura the current President of Yoshimura, also graduated from Pats program.
There are many lives that Pat enriched and he deserves this honor!
Sincerely,
Dave Wolman
President
Motul USA Inc.
I am also a graduate of the L.A. Trade-Tech Motorcycle Mechanics Program, and remember Pat, Donna, and his amazing Bonneville. A fine man and an excellent instructor, as were the others, Pat Malloy and Bob Sirkegian. Rest in peace, Mr. Owens — we are very fortunate to have known you.
I worked with Pat at Homebase and also attended L.A. Trade Tech years prior. His dedication to furthering education and promoting motorcycling was beyond compare.
Rest in peace my friend.