Team Bultaco Page

 “Rusty” Hermsen opened his Bultaco dealership in Green Bay WI in 1974. He later took on Hodaka, and in the last few years of the shop added Can-Am.  The shop closed around 1982.  He loved his racing, and in true racer fashion, he enjoyed making his own improvements to the machines.  He was a successful and skilled rider and machinist.  He won the WI State MX Championship one year.  When the shop closed he put the inventory and his collection in a steel pole building and explored other interests. After he passed on in January of ’09 a neighbor contacted me and asked if I would be interested in his collection.  I thoroughly enjoy getting bikes up to snuff, so this was a real opportunity for me to have some fun.  A deal was struck and I and a friend Scott, flew out to Milwaukee, rented a 26’ truck and with the help of a kind neighbor loaded it up for the trip back east. Only a couple of the bikes were completely together, most had been disassembled to some extent.  I intend to bring most of them back to their original glory.  We will be adding photos to this page as they are completed so you can see the progress.  So far I’ve been able to finish two.  There have been a few times during the restorations where I felt as if Rusty was looking down and smiling on me and the bikes.  Kind of gives you a warm feeling. Sure is nice to hear them fire up after all these years. God Speed Rusty.........and thank you.

 Al

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