Old war stories from 'back in the day'...

[ChrisC]

So a lot of you guys here have many, many years of lifting under your belts. How about a thread for old war stories you would like to tell to us youngins'. Tim has already written up some of his and I bet there are others here with plenty of stories too. I'm sure many of us would love to hear what you have to say about training 'back in the day' with pros etc. So c'mon, get posting!!! (please )

[In-Human]

ok I will start, I would say this was maybe 14 years a go Dorian Yates came into our gym for a photo shoot, they had these shoots two times a month for Flex and Ironmag, so Dorian was doing Incline DB Presses with 200s, so he is sitting on the bench getting all oiled up laughing and joking around with members of the gym, so the photographer is ready, two guys hand Yates the DBs, he hoists them up to the top of the movement and the photo guy says, "ok hold it", then he brings the DBs down to the bottom and starts to go back up, the photo guy says, "hold it in the middle", so Yates does he snaps a couple of pics then Yates throws the DBs down on the floor and says to the guy, "do you think I am strong or something", we all lost it, he was cracking me up...

[Ken B.]

the first time I met Arnold...............

The first time I met Arnold I think it was 1977 and I was all of 16 years old. He was my idol. My entire world revolved around finding out everything I could about him. I ate, slept and lifted by his words.

I had the chance to meet him when a big BB show came to Pennsylvania. Many stars were there from Mighty Mike Mentzer to Robby Robinson. Franco had recently broken his leg on TVs world strongest man contest so Boyer Coe filled in for him.

It was a huge auditorium. I was about halfway toward the stage to the outer left side (lookig at the stage). My older brother and best friend were with me. Arnold was to be there - but as a speaker only. He hadn't yet made the Conan movies (no long hair - that was the second time I met him). I was EXCITED.

The lights were dim and we all looked front and center expecting Arnold to walk from behind the curtains.........suddenly but quietly I hear a door open to my left, not many turn their heads but I did, suddenly there HE was 15 feet from me!

Without even thinking my voice said "there's Arnold". As I said that the crowd around me rushed him and I was doing my best to a part of it. I did make it to the inner circle as he took mags, books, anything and signed them. I knew he was expected onstage and wouldn't be there with us for long. He signed maybe 5 items.

Suddenly we collectively felt him moving away and towards the stage, but he hadn't signed my picture of him! I was so close and didn't get his autograph?!? No way! This can't happen! This is a once in a lifetime chance! He doesn't understand - I've read everything about him! (how obsessive can a 16 year old can be) I wasn't going to allow this to happen!........I couldn't!

As he was breaking away from us I reached out my hand and grabbed the biggest bicep in bodybuilding and t-u-g-g-e-d. As his head turned back to face his 5' 7" 155 lb attacker? (me) the infamous Arnold Eye stare was in full deployment. If you've seen it you know what I'm talking about, if not find a picture of it - it's powerful. As he looked at me I thought "oh great, what have I done?" but logic be damned I thrust the unsigned picture towards him with a look of total "I'm you're biggest fan, it's me , I'm THE ONE"

Looking down (Arnold eye still in effect) he kindly signed my photograph :-) and headed towards the stage.

I made my way back to my brother and friend with a shaken smile......not only had I gotten Arnold's autograph but I had gotten the stare of the Terminator (to come) at the same time.

Little did I know that a few years later he would be the guest of honor at the grand opening of my local gym where I would have the chance to talk to him one on one for 3 hours.

Ahhh youth

[Ken B.]

and yes.........I still have that photo

[Tim Wescott]

Great stories!!

Here`s one for ya`,when I was a kid training at the local YMCA, there was a guy in my town named Dave Mastorakis who also trained there.

This was early 70`s...he was a short guy, but incredibly huge in my eyes.....and anyone elses for that matter, unless they were blind!!

I was such a shy kid I never dared say a word to Dave but idolized him from afar,as he was just inspirational and trained his ass off.

Time passed, and Dave competed in all the major IFBB contests of the day, doing quite well for himself in the process, and then after he retired the first time from competing, he became famous as one of the first personal trainers in Venice Beach Ca. and trained all the movie stars and celebs, including Jane Fonda and Leonard Nimoy among many others..........Dave also made a million bucks just training people!!

Flash forward to the year 2002,I was at the gym one night to witness Glen Chabot bench 650 pounds raw...he had done 722 pounds at the Arnold Classic wearing a bench shirt!!

Glen was a buddy, and I had seen him do the 650 with ease before, but was there along with about 75 others just to offer moral support!!

I glance through the crowd, and I see a face that looks older by about 20 years.......... but very familiar!!

It was my boyhood idol Dave Masstorakis!!!!!

I was no longer the shy kid I used to be, and introduced myself to Dave, and told him who I was and we immediately hit it off.

While 75 onlookers stood in awe as Chabot benched his 650 pounds,me and Dave talked for over two hours about the old days, and people in the sport we mutually knew, and other various subjects, all concerning bodybuilding.................we could care less about Glen Chabot`s benching ability!! ;D

Dave gave me a shirt, and I ended up selling a lot of shirts for him at my gym......... as I knew everybody.

Me and Dave are great friends today, and I modeled the clothing on his site www.thelordsofdiscipline.com

Dave and his wife Tracy are great people, and he may just come back for another shot at a masters title!!

Dave competed as a 15 year old teen ager in the 1965 IFBB Mr. America won by Dave Draper..so he`s been around just a bit of time!!

More Dave stories will be in my thread concerning old buddies of mine I came up with at the gym, in the "Bodybuilding Superstars" section of the forum.

Here`s a cover shot of Dave in 1979!!

[In-Human]

Ken, Boyer still trains at my gym every morning at 5:30 am on the dot, he tells me so many stories from the old days I forget to start lifting, hes got a million of them and the nicest guy and the knowledge this guy has, incredible...

[Ken B.]

funny how it all comes around aye TJ ;D

I've only shared Emails with Dave and regret not having the time to take him up on a lunch invite he offered before leaving Boston! It would be nice to maybe get together with he and you (as I still have friends in the area) on one of your next trips back to Mass. We will HAVE TO pick up Norm Komich up in Beverly MA as well for the lunch.

Can you imagine the stories between the Mass Man and Norm? Maybe we will have to make it a dinner! ;D

InHuman, how damn lucky you are! I have never had the chance to actually meet and speak with Boyer Coe but I have seen him in person and watched him guest pose. I can, in all honesty, tell you that of those I have seen pose in person which includes Kal Szkalak, Robby Robinson, both Mentzers, Zane, Ron Teufel, Danny Padilla - that's all I can think of right now - that Boyer BY FAR was the most exciting to watch on stage! Pictures do this champion little justice! Tell him he is missed by us older guys and that his recent interview with Ellington Darden was a great treat please!

[Tim Wescott]

Ken,that would be awesome buddy,Dave is a great guy and meting Norm would be an honor to say the least !!

I met Boyer at the Mr. Mass. contest in Worcester Mass. back in the 70`s, and to this day he stands out in my mind as one of the best I`ve ever seen.

He was in great condition, and looked like living sculpture....I have more on this story later.

I have seen a lot of pros...from Arnold in his prime, to Coleman,and Coe impressed me more,although Arnie and "Big Ron" were not contest ready..............Boyer was !!

[In-Human]

The best thing about Boyer is he talks to you like you have known him for ever, he is from the south, LA to be exact, very good guy, and his ex wife is a doll, we do cardio together quite a bit...