Chip's Corner
What is a Legend? An Icon? A Hero?

In the early 1970’s I drove into the entrance of the Mankato race track, then followed the long road to the people waiting to let us in. There stood a tall man with a smile. “Welcome to Kato, that will be $2.00”, exclaimed the man. We proceeded to watch that days events. As the day went on, I noticed both workers and riders tended to ask this person many questions. As we were leaving, there he was again. “I hope you had a good time, come back again.” I had just met Lester Bublitz for the first time, as had so many before me. Little did I realize I had just met a person that is a valued player in Minnesota motorcycle history!
As time went on, I had returned to the Kato Cycle Club many more times. Both for hillclimb and motocross events. I would watch people approach Lester many times throughout the day. “Hey Les, how should I do this?” It appeared this man knew about everything going on. As I spoke with him he was always the same person. Very friendly, and full of answers concerning the days events. 
The years went by and I was elected to the Dist.23 board of directors. I would go to meetings, and there was Lester. Representing the members of the Kato Cycle Club. He would sit quietly, listen to the issue at hand, and on occasions give his point of view. Which was always with a lot of thought behind it. He didn’t speak much, but when he did it was always a respected and valid point. On several occasions I had personal chats with Les whenever I was at Mankato. Whenever he spoke it was always with concerns for the riders of Minnesota and the Kato club members. It was never about himself. The Mankato club members would always ask for his advice and became very reliant on him. He would work the checkers at a motocross and he always had a smile. He would work at a hillclimb and he always had a smile. There wasn’t a job around the Kato Cycle Club that he couldn’t step in and do. A very valued person indeed. 
It wasn’t until many years later that I found out he first joined the Kato Club in 1955. Which was before Dist.23 was even a reality. When the opportunity came about, Lester made sure that the Kato Cycle Club was one of the very 1st clubs to join Dist.23. I was told by one person, “Lester invented Dist.23.” I don’t know how much truth there was behind that statement, but I’ll guarantee he was there from the beginning days. His heart was always there for the riders of Minnesota. For almost an incredible half century he gave himself to the riders asking nothing in return.
In late December of 2002 Lester Bublitz passed away. He never mentioned the disease taking his life. He rarely mentioned his large family. But he always mentioned his concerns for the riders of the Kato Cycle Club and Minnesota. He was always giving, caring, and asking nothing in return.
Was Lester Bublitz a legend? As time and history dictates what legends are made of, I sure would think so! Was Lester an icon? He sure was around the Mankato clubhouse! Was Lester a hero? He sure was…. He was my hero! He represented everything good about motorcycling.
“Lester, I will miss you dearly. You showed all of us by example, and showed us the values we can base our life on! It was a pleasure knowing you!”

Chip Donaho
Questions or Comments: Email Chip

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