MO readers get to ''Ask Ponch''!

[SuperBill]

First post!



Were the close-up riding shots real or in the studio? (Lots of 'em look kinda' phoney to me!)

[dardas]

I'd kind of like to know what Erik Estrada has to do with motorcycles at all. Does he even own a bike? It's kind of like asking Tom Hanks (Apollo 13) what it's like to be in outer space.



I'm not trying to be mean, but couldn't you get anyone decent for an interview?



I have one question, though.... How on earth did that terrible show stay on the air so long?



That's another one for the polls: What's the worst/best motorcycle show/movie you've ever seen.



Mine?



Worst: Silver Dream Racer with Davix Essex (Although I haven't seen BikerBoyz yet)



Best: Any which way you can (if it counts)

[crazybike_37]

Dude, I used to watch reruns of that show when I was in preschool and grade school! I long for more CHiPs, but I haven't seen an episode in at least 10-12 years.



As much as I dislike getting tickets for not doing anything unsafe ("but you WERE technically breaking the law, so I'm gonna go ahead and f*ck you out of 150 bucks because I don't want to see you get hurt"), and having to put up with obese, condescending, power-trippin' pigs, I still have the strongest urge to give up engineering and be a moto- po po whenever I see one. Call me crazy.

[veefer69]

Ask him how it feels to be regarded as an influence to those of us 30 somethings out there, who watched not the original episodes, but the reruns that were on after Scooby Doo, and on right before reruns of Gilligans Island and the Brady Bunch.



It wasn't classic tv at all, it was the only place a young man could see 2 guys on bikes chasing the likes of Dune Buggies and old Torinos. There must be a studio lot in L.A. somewhere where there are hundreds of 71-78 Ford Torinos in mint shape. But, my point here is that the show was important because of what it inspired in me. The love of a two wheeled machine. Your not an old Hollywood joke to me Ponch,,, Thanks for the memories...

[roadlizard]

If the interview is to have anything to do with motorcycles, shouldnt you be interviewing the stunt guys?



The foot dragging on the turns has always bugged me. Whats up with that?

[sarnali]

Why? Talking to real CHP officers might be interesting but Erik Estrada? k'mon now.

[ebass]

Pretend this is Jeopardy and please respond in the form of a question.



If you couldn't care less about CHiPs that's fine but for many of us, the show in general, and the characters of Ponch and Jon in particular were the virus that infected our pre-adolescent minds with motorcycle fever. Which makes for a nice trip down memory lane. Now let's try this again.



Ebass

[F451]

WTF?

[Neal]

I know a couple ofguys who have been Hollywood stunt men and they (and I believe a few others) were dirt track and motocross riders.That may explain the foot draggin...its their style.

[The_Aerodynamic_Head]

Answer: the shame that some of us feel upoin realizing that out moto-dreams were sparked by the KZ1000-P.



Question: What is the feeling that my balls are crawling up into my brainpan?



I used to watch the reruns, too. But for me, it was summertime; after Phil Donahue and before The Price Is Right.



Everyone I knew wanted a pair of those stormtrooper boots. Everyone I knew wanted to be the balding, wisecracking captain that was always make their lives difficult.



Evryone wanted to live in California where the weather was always good, the riding was always great, and the chicks they pulled over were always Farrah Fawcet. Bring on the 70s jive music.



I want to know about Estrada's booming career as a Spanish Soap Opera star.