Jerry Barnett's Motorcycle Memories

Jerry Barnett is famous for his automotive and motorcycle cartoons, as well as his political and satirical cartoons. He is also famous worldwide for his accurate cartoons and great story lines to go with them. Buzz Walneck is also famous worldwide, as an authority on classic motorcycles. Buzz has, for decades, published various classic motorcycle magazines, and Jerry has been there throughout - providing everything from cover art to comic strips. When I asked permission to put this collection of his into a printed book, he was very enthused so, Jerry, Steve and I have done just that. Jerry was born in Evansville, Indiana, and when growing up, he had several cycles, that you'll learn all about from his stories in this book. His love and passion for them is still just as strong. He memorizes amazing details of all kinds of bikes, be they Indians, Triumphs, Velocette, BSA Kawasaki's and Harleys plus far more. Jerry who was born on May 13, 1937. When growing up, his dad gave his good advice as dads usually do, if we just listen His future in that area would be to work in the coal mine... His decision was easy... draw for a living. Schooling provided by his dad was at the "John Herron Art Institution." They taught true art, and even had a nude model at one time Jerry did very well, but true art was not his way... he liked character drawing... The more accurate school would have been the Academy of Cartoon Art, in Chicago, but distance and cost prevented that. Jerry worked for a number of newspapers including "Gannet" with between 80 - 100 publications. He was making about $25.00 a week. Things got better but Jerry said he tired from "having to touch up photos of a politician who had a fly land on his nose when the photo was taken." Work for Peterson Publishing was about 15-years, and his love of cars too had him doing "CARtoons" for them. Moving on, Jerry found himself at a Democratic newspaper doing political cartoons that are still being done weekly in close to 100 newspapers. Jerry is still an active rider, and often drives from Indianapolis, to Martinsville, Indiana to attend Buzz's "Walneck's Motorcycle Swap Meets." And, of course, he's still drawing for Buzz, and motorcycle nuts everywhere.