Laine E Wright

HOWDY. This here is a short bio (?) of yours truly.

I was born in Iowa in 1946 and yeah, I'm one of those actual baby boomers. My Dad flew back from his years in Europe during WWII on a B-17 and was discharged from the Army Air Corps in 1945. Our family, Mom, Dad, my brother Mike, born in 1949, & me made the move to California in 1951 and remained here for the duration.

After high school, Dominguez in Compton, and one semester at Compton JC, I joined the US Marine Corps and spent 4 years on active duty. One of those years was in Nam at Da Nang (67/68). I was a plane captain on F-4 Phantom II's with VMFA-122 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Verdi. In my opinion there has never been a finer officer to wear the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. My pilot was Major Donn Beatty and my RIO (the guy in the back seat) was Captain John Cummings. Two very fine Marine Corps officers. During a later tour in Vietnam with another squadron, John and his new pilot, Tom Lasseter, got the only confirmed Marine Corps air-to-air Mig kill during the Vietnam War.

Before going to Nam, I bought my first motorcycle, a 150cc two stroke Suzuki in early 1967. I rode that thing back and forth to my folds house in Apple Valley from El Toro. It wouldn't go over the pass soooo, I'd get gas in San Bernardino, let the bike cool, pull and clean the plugs, then ride up through the mountains and down the other side into Hesperia, the dam wasn't there back then, and to my folks place in AV. Side note: my first ride on it was up and over Saddleback and down the back side into Corona. That was not a fun trip, cause of all of the shale up there I had to walk beside the bike and lean over to operate the throttle. And it's a good thing that bike and I didn't slide off of the side of Saddleback; I hadn't told anyone I was going to AV.

Anywho, after my discharge from the Corps, I attended Fullerton JC and earned 2 AA degrees. Then it was off to Long Beach State for a few years majoring in Industrial Arts and taking creative writing classes in the English Department. I finally graduated with a BS Degree and student taught in the "shop" class at a middle school in Placentia. After six classes, I was assistant trach coach there (I had run 3 years cross country & 3 years track back in high school). Once student teaching was accomplished, I received my partial teaching credential and was offered a teaching position in the Saugus, Newhall area.

Did I ever go into the teaching profession after that? Nope. I ended up spending over 30 years in the aerospace industry, 14 years in the Space Shuttle, Satellite, etc. end of the business and then completing those years in the other end, i.e., private jet industry supplying life support systems (oxygen) to companies like Gulfstream (we were an OEM), Cessna, Bombadier, and the, back then, Douglas C-17. Most of those years were spent attached to Engineering as a senior technician doing proto-type and customer qualification testing. One of the most remembered moments was when I was given special recognition from a full bird Colonel. He had flown in from the Pentagon to thank our company for a project I was in charge of completing quickly; I broke my folks into two shifts working, myself included, 12 hours a day, 6 days a week for over a, month (the satellites were needed NOW for the Air Force for our troops in the sand pit).
As for the important stuff. I've loved motorcycles since the first 150cc putt, have owned 17 scoots that I can remember, through the years and toured into all of the Western States & Canada. A few memorable tours was riding in very heavy cross winds in Wyoming all day on a two lane road, cold rain all day in Oregon, and frozen fingers, toes and nose riding in show & hail in Wyoming and Idaho. Heated gear; what's that? BUT, the finest event that can still remember is getting my first Harley-Davidson back in 1991 right here at this dealership (25 years already?) and was that ever a thrill! I've enjoyed all 5 of the Harley putts I've purchased here, cause there ain't nothing like the sound or the feel of an HD or dealing with dedicated, friendly folds. Yeah, I still ride my Honda & Yamaha too, but have a wider smile when riding my FXDL. You all know that feeling.
By the way, when I was still working I'd always stop by the Dealership on my way home, have a cup of coffee, and yack with the folks. However, when I quit working, I had to change that routine. And since I'm a morning person, I started riding over every morning for my coffee. And it's all worked out great, cause the folks in charge allow me to help out instead of just sitting on my butt drinking coffee. Yeah, I still do that, but after I do some things here. This has & continues to be a Super dealership to me with Fantastic people. It's been and is a wonderful journey.

You all ride safe, enjoy those Harley-Davidson machines & Semper Fi.