When I first moved to California, my first taste of the big city life was with a geeky friend that I raced with in the Dakota's. We did quite well there, he rode and I wrenched and consistency was the mantra that paid off. We took first in the state that year. Then came winter.
We moved to CA and the first thing that my friend did was tell me that we had two tickets to the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) awards banquet being held in Anaheim. Yes, Ok, I think that's cool and let's go. There were no reservervations (other than the tickets) and we found a couple of empty seats with a group of people. They were friendly and we got along well.
It turns out they were from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and had come to present a world champion ring to Kenny Roberts, the first American road racing champion of the world. Goodyear was a major sponsor and their tires bested the likes of Michelin at the time. They passed around the ring, it was certainly impressive and heavy too. It's funny because Kenny is not a big guy anyway and the ring all but dwarfed his hand.
World champion Kenney and national champion Bob Hannah were on stage arguing about "their" Goodyear blimp. I had a lot of fun rubbing shoulders with motorcycledom's royalty and wished I had learned quicker how to talk to prospective sponsors.
It would have made my racing life easier, that's for sure. Still, it's a memory that I like.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Drifting Around Las Vegas
I savor thrills. Though I wouldn't classify myself as a thrill seeker, I have been known to go after them with great relish. A thrill is like lathering with testosterone, rinsing with adrenaline, then basking in liberal amounts of gasoline (or other accelerant). With a dash of speed, It's visceral.
The new craze with the younger set is drifting, made popular by several movies, one of which is "Tokyo Drift". My movie is simply entitled "Drifting Around Las Vegas". Catchy name don't you think?
I can say with perfect candor that growing up on gravelled, back country roads allowed me to satisfy my adrenaline appetite at an early age all the while honing my driving skills going sideways - with none of the angst of worrying about needing new tires afterwards. There was a toll to pay however, since I was driving my own car, on my own money I might add, things did break. But, I've grown out of that kind of driving.
One compelling reason is the tow truck retrieving me, and my car, out of some ditch that one mistake or another resulted in me being parked there, stuck. Um, more than once...
But with someone else's car? With their permission? On a skid pad? Yeah Baby!
Color me turn'n, burn'n, and drifting around Las Vegas.
The new craze with the younger set is drifting, made popular by several movies, one of which is "Tokyo Drift". My movie is simply entitled "Drifting Around Las Vegas". Catchy name don't you think?
I can say with perfect candor that growing up on gravelled, back country roads allowed me to satisfy my adrenaline appetite at an early age all the while honing my driving skills going sideways - with none of the angst of worrying about needing new tires afterwards. There was a toll to pay however, since I was driving my own car, on my own money I might add, things did break. But, I've grown out of that kind of driving.
One compelling reason is the tow truck retrieving me, and my car, out of some ditch that one mistake or another resulted in me being parked there, stuck. Um, more than once...
But with someone else's car? With their permission? On a skid pad? Yeah Baby!
Color me turn'n, burn'n, and drifting around Las Vegas.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Vintage Or Antique It's Rust, Rust & More Rust
Working on an older bike is consistently a challenge.
May I say that my taste in bikes run to the exotic and this bike fits this mantra very well.
Lately, I acquired a train wreck's pair of Honda 450's, a '68 and a '74. I'm ending up making one out of the two and elected to keep with the '68, fortunately most parts are interchangeable. Honda did a good job of development with few updates over the production run so interchangeability between years is good. The keeper bike is a CL version, first full year of high pipes.
There was a '67 model but it was a low pipe CB model that was a kit for up pipes. Good luck finding one!
Almost every part has needed some refurbishment and I've given up on a restoration in favor of just getting it together for a riding bike, warts and all. Oh, and did I mention rust?
The bike was covered, dipped in, grown over, changed color...in rust.
Now we know that rust is a chemical process of oxidation and that oxygen particularly likes iron with the product being iron oxide, or rust. In this case, lots of it. No part escaped. You can see in the photo that the front rim is rusty though useable. This is more than a repair, it's an eventual replacement. ugh. Not going to do that right now, it's still useable but truly uglified. Same for the rear.
What I like about the 450's is that starting the early '60's, Honda applied some of their racing expertise and technology to include double overhead camshafts and torsion bar valve springs. Very unique. Honda made lots and lots of this design up to and through 1977. No other bike at the time was as technically advanced.
They handled reasonably well though with some quirks. I'm convinced it's all to do with the less than stellar rear shock absorbers. Yes, I've replaced them here. I think too, that there are some steering geometry changes in later years that this bike would respond to favorably. Certainly, this bike model is actively ridden in vintage races across the country with great success.
The front suspension comes under some criticism for not working well, note the external springs in the pic. Once I got inside to clean and sort it out, I found that there is a significant dampening tube inside and that there are a number of similarities to the present day cartridge forks. Hmmm, Honda didn't start doing cartridge front suspension until 1978 on the CR250R - the first production version of Marty Smith's works racer. They worked well...until the next year of development. But, it was and still is, a leap in suspension technology. One can't find a decent suspension today that isn't a cartridge type. I think the forks the CL came with can be made to work and work well.
Here's another pic, showing my shiny new rear shocks, from China... Please disregard my garage/background clutter. It's mid winter here and I'll clean it all out this spring.
Remember the 1960's Honda slogan, "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" ? If you see me on the road, give me a high five!
J
May I say that my taste in bikes run to the exotic and this bike fits this mantra very well.
Lately, I acquired a train wreck's pair of Honda 450's, a '68 and a '74. I'm ending up making one out of the two and elected to keep with the '68, fortunately most parts are interchangeable. Honda did a good job of development with few updates over the production run so interchangeability between years is good. The keeper bike is a CL version, first full year of high pipes.
There was a '67 model but it was a low pipe CB model that was a kit for up pipes. Good luck finding one!
Almost every part has needed some refurbishment and I've given up on a restoration in favor of just getting it together for a riding bike, warts and all. Oh, and did I mention rust?
The bike was covered, dipped in, grown over, changed color...in rust.
Now we know that rust is a chemical process of oxidation and that oxygen particularly likes iron with the product being iron oxide, or rust. In this case, lots of it. No part escaped. You can see in the photo that the front rim is rusty though useable. This is more than a repair, it's an eventual replacement. ugh. Not going to do that right now, it's still useable but truly uglified. Same for the rear.
What I like about the 450's is that starting the early '60's, Honda applied some of their racing expertise and technology to include double overhead camshafts and torsion bar valve springs. Very unique. Honda made lots and lots of this design up to and through 1977. No other bike at the time was as technically advanced.
They handled reasonably well though with some quirks. I'm convinced it's all to do with the less than stellar rear shock absorbers. Yes, I've replaced them here. I think too, that there are some steering geometry changes in later years that this bike would respond to favorably. Certainly, this bike model is actively ridden in vintage races across the country with great success.
The front suspension comes under some criticism for not working well, note the external springs in the pic. Once I got inside to clean and sort it out, I found that there is a significant dampening tube inside and that there are a number of similarities to the present day cartridge forks. Hmmm, Honda didn't start doing cartridge front suspension until 1978 on the CR250R - the first production version of Marty Smith's works racer. They worked well...until the next year of development. But, it was and still is, a leap in suspension technology. One can't find a decent suspension today that isn't a cartridge type. I think the forks the CL came with can be made to work and work well.
Here's another pic, showing my shiny new rear shocks, from China... Please disregard my garage/background clutter. It's mid winter here and I'll clean it all out this spring.
Remember the 1960's Honda slogan, "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" ? If you see me on the road, give me a high five!
J
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Same On Both Sides, Mon
Ah the Carribbean.
For me, it's love at first sight and it's all good. So finding myself back there is no surprise to me, even if it is a makeup trip, the first of which my lovely wife missed. You see, a long time and several jobs ago, I had a business assignment to Sint Maarten for a week and at the last minute, our daughter got sick and she had to stay home. Meanwhile, I still had a job to do.
Work sucks but you know, someone has to do it so I soldiered on and suffered working for a whole week in the Carrib.
Seventeen short years later, she (my very lovely wife) booked another trip. This time I didn't have to work and since there are no kids, pets, lawns or anything else needing constant attention, she could go too. Yay!
The view from our terrace was spectacular, this is the view we woke up to, every morning there.
There's only one road around the island and since I like bikes (in this case scooters) was encouraged to rent one and take a spin around. So I did.
The rental place I used was in Phillipsburg and like much of the island, tucked under as much shade as possible and the proprieter was very nice, cordial. Seemingly, the island norm.
We struck a deal and I asked about laws to make sure which side of the road to drive on and he said "same on both sides, mon" repeatedly, until I figured out that whether Dutch or French, road laws are the same.
Ok then, off we go!
It's lush, green and visually rich. Looking to the interior of the island from the perimeter road.
Oyster Pond, where Catamarans are the norm.
Do you think this boat has enough horsepower?
My scoot for the day.
St. Barts
How I'm feeling today. Life's good.
But, it's not all idyllic perfection
"Be sure to chain the scooter when you stop", he said. Security you know.
I think the chain came from here, only, it was used to hold sea anchors before being recycled to anchor the scooter.
Me stopping for lunch in Grand Case, where the derelict pipe layer from the previous pic, rusted just offshore.
Lunch was island fare. In a sea of sunwashed drab, this restaurant was bathed in color and drew me in. Yum!
Peaceful water
Marigot has this fountain and a cannon with a plaque that I didn't read but imagine it's a tribute to the 18th century pirates both mooored and asail???
Front Street, Phillipsburg, a one-way street
Back home again
I can't wait to go again only this time, explore the island's interior! Or maybe go to Antigua or Anguilla, or...
For me, it's love at first sight and it's all good. So finding myself back there is no surprise to me, even if it is a makeup trip, the first of which my lovely wife missed. You see, a long time and several jobs ago, I had a business assignment to Sint Maarten for a week and at the last minute, our daughter got sick and she had to stay home. Meanwhile, I still had a job to do.
Work sucks but you know, someone has to do it so I soldiered on and suffered working for a whole week in the Carrib.
Seventeen short years later, she (my very lovely wife) booked another trip. This time I didn't have to work and since there are no kids, pets, lawns or anything else needing constant attention, she could go too. Yay!
There's only one road around the island and since I like bikes (in this case scooters) was encouraged to rent one and take a spin around. So I did.
The rental place I used was in Phillipsburg and like much of the island, tucked under as much shade as possible and the proprieter was very nice, cordial. Seemingly, the island norm.
We struck a deal and I asked about laws to make sure which side of the road to drive on and he said "same on both sides, mon" repeatedly, until I figured out that whether Dutch or French, road laws are the same.
Ok then, off we go!
I can't wait to go again only this time, explore the island's interior! Or maybe go to Antigua or Anguilla, or...
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Breathe, Squeeze, Burn and Churn
The Otto cycle engine has been a marvelous invention for more than 100 yrs. Getting the fuel into the engine, burning it, then getting rid of it later is the stuff of legend from your driveway to the Bonneville salt flats and many Brickyard miles in between.
Titanium valves help the process along with opened up ports. This is the churn part.
It's an art.
Titanium valves help the process along with opened up ports. This is the churn part.
It's an art.
Monday, September 19, 2011
an engine is an engine is an engine
I think a flattrack racer should have tiny bits (like tank and seat) with a giant motor sticking out and dominating the look. Plus it should breathe fire and brimstone...even if it's run on the street.
But that's just me.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Labor, Work, Toil and Tears
For the past five years, I've been building, welding, shaping, purchasing, wrenching, painting...
on a project motorcycle that I've always wanted. I think there were probably easier ways to go about it but in the end, I started with a rough shape, 1977 Yamaha XS650.
Today was a day of progress and much was accomplished.
Stay tuned for more progress.
on a project motorcycle that I've always wanted. I think there were probably easier ways to go about it but in the end, I started with a rough shape, 1977 Yamaha XS650.
Today was a day of progress and much was accomplished.
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