User:FlashGordon9/Piet Boonstra

Piet W. Boonstra (born 10 June 1925) is an American veteran of World War II and the Korean war. He is a motorcyclist and author known for his almost 50 years of Enduro motorcycle racing and long-distance motorcycle touring. He participated in Enduro motorcycle racing mostly in and around the New England states and Canada on a regular basis starting in 1956 until the early 80's and continued occasionally until the early 2000's. In 1977, at the age of 52, he embarked on a series of long distance motorcycle tours across the U.S., with several trips from his home on the east coast of the U.S. to Alaska. He is also the author of several books documenting his enduro racing career and adventure touring rides.

Early Life
Piet Boonstra was born in the same house in Buchanan, New York where he lives today. His parents, Dirk Boonstra and Pieternellie Dykstra, were originally from the Netherlands before moving to the U.S. and marrying in 1922. They lived in Manhattan, New York until they moved into their new home in Buchanan in 1924. After his father died in 1932 his mother remarried in 1936. Piet served in the Navy during WWII and later in the Korean war. He bought his first motorcycle soon after being discharged from his service in WWII, a new 1947 Harley Davidson 74 OHV. Later the same year he stripped the bike down and entered his first enduro competition with it (inset yonkersrun.jpeg pic). In 1948 he eloped with Lillian on the same Harley Davidson. (inset Piet n Lil 1947.jpeg pic)

Military Service
Military History (need references to his Navy service in WWII and Air Force service in the Korean War)

Piet served in WWII from July 1942 to ? 1944 with the US Navy as a petty officer first class and aviation radioman with active duty in the Northern Solomon Islands and later in Leyte Gulf during the Philippine Liberation. Piet was enlisted into the Air Force in March 1953 and served as Technical Sergeant during the Korean War until 1955.

Career
Between his stints in WWII and the Korean War Piet served with the New York Air National Guard from ?? to ??. In 1955, after his 2-year stint in the Air Force Piet embarked on a 25-year electronics career with IBM, beginning as a computer technician and later holding various management and staff positions in the manufacturing division.
 * (need references to his IBM employment or Air National Guard)

Enduro Riding
List of championships - 1959 - District #5 Championship - First Place Class A Lightweight - 1961 - 200-Mile National Championship - First Place Class A Lightweight - 1961 - 150-Mile National Championship - First Place Class A Lightweight - 1963 - District #5 Championship - First Place Class A Heavyweight - 1964 - District #5 Championship - First Place Class A Heavyweight - 1965 - Heavyweight Enduro Championship, New England (points) - 1966 - Enduro Grand Champion, New England (points) - 1966 - 150-Mile National Championship - Senior Class Champion and NYS Champion - 1967 - 150-Mile National Championship - Medium Weight Champion - 1967 - Heavyweight Enduro Championship, New England (points) - 1967 - 350-Mile Canadian National Enduro - Best Opposite Class Champion - 1968 - Heavyweight Enduro Championship, New England (points) - 1969 - Heavyweight Enduro Championship, New England (points) - 1970 - 150-Mile Curly Fern National Enduro - Heavyweight Champion - 1970 - 150-Mile Sandy Lane National Enduro - Senior Class Champion - 1971 - 150-Mile Curly Fern National Enduro - Senior Class Champion - 1971 - 150-Mile Sandy Lane National Enduro - Senior Class Champion - 1973 - Metropolitan Sports Committee - Woods Class Champion - 1973 - 150-Mile Curly Fern National Enduro - Senior Class Champion - 1974 - Metropolitan Sports Committee - Woods Class Champion - 1975 - Metropolitan Sports Committee - Woods Class Champion - 1980 - 100-Mile Greylock National Enduro - Super Senior Champion *

Long-Distance Riding

 * (need references such as from friends that journeyed with him)

Later Life
. They enjoyed motorcycling together for 52 years, up until a month before she lost her battle with breast cancer in 1999. They had five children together and he is the grandfather of ten. Photo taken around the time of the elopement in May 1948 (inset pic)

American Motorcyclist Magazine

 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Aug 2003
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Sep 2002
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Jun 2000
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Feb 1999
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Oct 1997
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Feb 1996
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Aug 1995
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - May 1994
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Jan 1987
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Oct 1986
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - May 1986
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Jul 1983
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Jun 1971 - Piet Boonstra Senior Class win
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Mar 1971
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Dec 1970
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Dec 1965
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Feb 1965
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Dec 1963
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Dec 1961
 * | American Motorcyclist Magazine - Jan 1958

External links

Piet Boonstra's Blog