AHMRA experience

[WOZERD]

Anyone??

I am going to give Historic Production a shot in 2009 . Got me a 1970 CB450.
If that goes well, I'll do Sportsman 500 the following year or sooner.

Sure could use some advice. I wish I had decided this before Mid Ohio Vintage days-- could have walked around the pits and gotten some ideas. Now, looks like I'll have to go to Barber (boy-- that bums me out!:rolleyes: ) to do some info gathering.

It would be great to find someone else to share travel costs with!

My goal is to be ready for Daytona 2009 as a first race. First though, got to get the bike to turn 30,000 RPM! I'm thinking of adding cathode ray tubes to the ECM :smash:

[bprodoehl]

Give bill at http://www.bore-tech.com/index.htm a call. Great guy with tons of ARHMA experience under his belt.

[ohiocaferacer]

Anyone??

My goal is to be ready for Daytona 2009 as a first race.

I've raced with AHRMA.....good group....fun time...and Historic Production will be a great place to start with the CB450. Only one thing......AHRMA requires you to have raced at least 2 other tracks with them before they will allow you to enter/race Daytona or Mid-Ohio. But....if you can prove to them that you have raced with other organizations....they might wave it....thats what I did with Mid-Ohio a few years ago. Now Daytona may be a completely different story....they may stick to the rules on this track...dont know????

As for the bike......tires and suspension are the best adds to make right now. Bite the bullet and get a nice pair of Works shocks....you will have them for a long time...worth the money. Up front.....stiffen the springs with a spacer and run 15 to 20wt fork oil. Tires......purchase them from Barker Engineering in Florida....he gets some great compound tires that other dealers dont have. He has adds in the AHRMA rule book...he's out of Florida...dont have his phone number off hand and he doesnt have a website. Motor wise...fresh tune up and oil....and your good.

Hope this helps,
Greg

[WOZERD]

Bill & Greg-- Can't thank you enough !!
This is the kind of info I was hoping for!

Never thought of the restriction for Daytona!! Gotta do some quick thinking. I was entered in the 50 mile amatuer in 1977 (or was it'78) at Daytona when the company I worked for cancelled my vacation because they transferred my assistant manager. As a result, I never got to race at Daytona. Maybe 2010 will be the year.

[slikchik]

Got the bike ready? We've got a race school this weekend and two more races this season. Vintage classes and races too.

[WOZERD]

Got the bike ready? We've got a race school this weekend and two more races this season. Vintage classes and races too.


WERA? FASTRAX?? Nelsons??

I may very well go just to check on what mods I can do-- but-- ready??

I wish (I really do!!).

Just got it-- matter of fact, it's not even home yet. I'm picking it up Friday.

Just to get it on the track I will need bars, tires, oil change, maybe a clutch, valve and cam chain adjust.

This winter it gets all new cables, valve grind, cam chain, clutch, brakes and anything else it needs.

It's not clear in AHMRA rulebook but-- can I switch to aluminum shouldered rims (like the old Akronts) that EXCEL now makes? Can I cut the seat down?

It sounds (and looks like in the few pictures I've seen) that I can replace the exhaust as long as it's still 2 into 2-- right? I have a little bit of fabrication experience and I'm tempted to make my own reverse cone "cans" with a removable baffle. But thats just a pipe dream right now (pun intended--groan:lookup: )

Plus, I want to re-paint the tank-- it has faded from Candy red to sissy pink:eek:
I'm thinking of a Chromium yellow (like my 2000 Super Hawk) with a stylized replica of the tank stripe in a candy blue. And maybe, a
St Andrews flag embedded in the stripe in white pearl.
http://re3.yt-thm-a04.yimg.com/image/25/m2/2224166126 (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTefdbUZpItjMB4I6JzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBpc2VvdmQ 2BHBvcwM3BHNlYwNzcgR2dGlkAw--/SIG=1h6tg4v9g/EXP=1218159323/**http%3A//images.search.yahoo.com/images/view%3Fback=http%253A%252F%252Fimages.search.yahoo .com%252Fsearch%252Fimages%253Fp%253Dst%252Bandrew s%252Bflag%2526fr%253Dmy-myy%2526toggle%253D1%2526cop%253D%2526ei%253DUTF-8%26w=300%26h=175%26imgurl=ukgoods.com%252Fimages% 252Fflag-st-andrews-cross-lg.gif%26rurl=http%253A%252F%252Fukgoods.com%252Fi mages%253FD%253DD%26size=19.9kB%26name=flag-st-andrews-cross-lg.gif%26p=st%2Bandrews%2Bflag%26type=gif%26oid=2c 8d92733017d272%26no=7%26tt=651%26sigr=10ttds89s%26 sigi=11fapi8as%26sigb=12v9sjs76)


But-- who knows, come next spring I may find another windmill to go tilting at.

Funny -- if this does happen, I'll be ending my "carreer" just like I started it-- on a 500 twin. I started in 1974 on a TX500 Yamaha, at Nelsons. I looked at old Yamaha TX 500's but the head cracks faster than you can fix em-- great handling-- way better than the Honda but-- I want to race, not spend my time pulling heads.

[WOZERD]

clutch is on the way, gaskets too. all new cables are here.
Can't find wheel bearings --yet. Trying to bite the bullet for non DOT race only tires. Don't bitch about big azz 190 series radial tires til you see what they want for these skinny little bias ply tires!! OUCH!!

This is what I'm shooting for:http://www.ahrma.org/machines/hon_cl450.htm

[jimcor]

Had a 73 CB 450. The engine's big end went south at about 53,000 miles. Keep the oil changed often. For all practical purposes it has no filter. Found out talking to others that the engine's weak point is the bottom end.

[WOZERD]

Had a 73 CB 450. The engine's big end went south at about 53,000 miles. Keep the oil changed often. For all practical purposes it has no filter. Found out talking to others that the engine's weak point is the bottom end.

OUCH!!
Don't tell me that!!


to whom it may concern,
I'm totally surprised I got home from Westchester.
Took it out the other day, just expecting to ride around the block. It started and idled fine and, on accelleration, it was great til about 7K then just acted like it ran out of gas. I barely made it home.
Today, pulled the petcock. The screen was 98% blocked with varnish. Cleaned that (polished the little sediment bowl too!) and put it back together. I really expected it to run right this time. Started it up-- ticked em off like a Timex. Revved it up-- no problem. Headed out to the road and, bam-- off we went-- right to 7K. Then same problem. Only this time, it just died out!. There I am-- about a mile from the house and it starts but barely runs on only one cyllinder. I pulled the float bowl on the right side (just flip a wire retainer-- how cool is that?), found a small bird feather and used the quill to push the float pin out, caught the needle and then turned on the gas-- drip, drip- drip. Certainly not enough to feed the right cylinder. Pulled the left float bowl and turned on the gas-- nice steady stream. HMMMMMMMM. Ok, the needle seat has a screen in it-- I bet it's clogged too. All back together, the trick is, let the float bowl fill up and then idle along on one cylinder so the drip-drip-drip can almost keep up with demand. Every once in a while the left cylinder would fire and off we'd go but, just for a moment.
Once home, I decided to let it cool before seeing what I could find. Took out the wire brush and went back to cleaning 39 years of aluminum oxide off the cylinder fins and suddenly, I have a spark plug in my hand!
The left cylinder spark plug fell out! That explains the left cylinder not running.
Sunday, It's pull the needle seat and see what the clog is.
I looked at the points -- craters!!
It's a wonder this thing even runs-- but it runs good for a moment, starts right up-- and now I have the carbs synched-- idles great.
I keep intending to clean the carbs but except for the right cylinder running out of gas-- they work fine!

Front and rear hub bearings on the way, NOS plugs, condenser and points too.
I'm getting a front tire from Sporttour (they can't get a rear) and a rear tire from tiresunlimited (they can't get a front tire!)

For now, Pirelli Sport Demons.
http://sp1.yt-thm-a04.yimg.com/image/25/m8/4072710918 (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTefXe5rBID6sAiHuJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBpc2VvdmQ 2BHBvcwM3BHNlYwNzcgR2dGlkAw--/SIG=1jitova0l/EXP=1219639390/**http%3A//images.search.yahoo.com/images/view%3Fback=http%253A%252F%252Fimages.search.yahoo .com%252Fsearch%252Fimages%253Fp%253Dpirelli%252Bs port%252Bdemon%2526y%253DSearch%2526fr%253Dmy-myy%2526ei%253Dutf-8%2526js%253D1%2526x%253Dwrt%26w=214%26h=225%26img url=www.racercafe.com%252Fproductimages%252Fpirell i-sport-demon.gif%26rurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.racercafe. com%252Findex.asp%253FPageAction%253DVIEWPROD%2526 amp%253BProdID%253D662%26size=29.1kB%26name=pirell i-sport-demon.gif%26p=pirelli%2Bsport%2Bdemon%26type=gif%2 6oid=1d088de125c609a6%26no=7%26tt=60%26sigr=125qdn qvh%26sigi=11n48ckct%26sigb=1390paj3q)


I'm looking for one of those gawd awful huge headlamps off the Euro spec XJ920 (or is it XV) Yamaha chain drive V Twin standards that accidently made it here. They sold like little bottles of typhoid. But, I've seen a few so, they are out there!
And, right and left switch assys to a 250 Honda Nighthawk so I can eliminate the ignition key and use the kill switch as an on/off switch. The switch wires run externally (unlike mine designed to run through the bars) so I don't have to drill holes in my clubman bars.

[witttom]

I'm looking for one of those gawd awful huge headlamps off the Euro spec XJ920 (or is it XV) Yamaha chain drive V Twin standards that accidently made it here. They sold like little bottles of typhoid. But, I've seen a few so, they are out there!That would be the XV920R (the XV920 without the "R" being the shaft-driven Virago).

[WOZERD]

That would be the XV920R (the XV920 without the "R" being the shaft-driven Virago).


Thanks TW!
That would explain why all I'm finding are those Disco era square ones!!

[jimcor]

Thanks TW!
That would explain why all I'm finding are those Disco era square ones!!

Local shop had one they took in trade. Couldn't unload it and used it as the company go-fer/beater bike. One of the staff finally bought it for less than a half a song.

I checked out that reflector,too. Really wanted one, could never find one.

[WOZERD]

to whom it may concern,
Well, FUG!
Drilled out the brass pick up tubes (the reserve one was broken off flush, the other was cracked all the way to the base. On reserve, gooy crap in the tank would clog the pick up), made new ones and staked them into the petcock. Put it together, the petcock leaked. Took it apart, monkeyed with the little round rubber thing with holes in it and spent the day putting gas in the tank and draining it out until the petcock didn't leak. Then, fuel beagn to leak from the right carb at the fuel line. replaced the line-- still leaked. Hose clamped it-- STILL leaked. Finally went out and bought 3/16" ID vinyl tubing-- didn't leak. YEAH!!
Started it up, took it out, whacked it-- that hair raising 180' parallel Honda twin wail sounded great! A little stumble in the middle but that could be points--right? At cruise-- one cylinder only-- points-- right? No, wait-- at idle great-- at full whack-- great. Gotta be the right carb--right? But I've been thru it and been thru it-- what could it be?
Well, will worry about i tlater. Let's start tearing this thing down, adjust the valves, replace points, condensr, plugs, cables and get the rims off ready for new tires and wheel bearings. Once we know the ignition and the valves are correct, we'll go back at the carb if that cutting out problem is still there.
Up on the stand-- pull the dyno cover to get to all the timing, TDC. marks. Hmmmm-- that explains the weep-- there is NO bottom half of the dyno gasket-- weight savings ploy (as somone suggested)?
Pull the cam covers. 22 cigarettes and 5 cups of coffee later and they are shining pretty good-- still some corrosion marks but, not bad for steel wool by hand. Even went so far as to wire wheel the bolt heads AND washers!
now, let's get this thing TDC. Re-install the shift lever, grab the back wheel and-- OH-- wait, better pull the plugs.
Tum de dum, remove the left plug-- the one that had fallen out in my hand while wire brushing the head fins. Now for the right-- pull the cap-- WTF? Looks like it's barely in there! Grabbed the plug and it was loose-- I could wiggle it up and down-- turn it out with my fingers-- 1/4 turn and resistance. 22 cigarettes and 5 cups of coffee later, I find my spark plug wrench-- in my back pocket! Should have sat down sooner-- would have saved on cigs and coffee!
Turned the plug-- resistance. Turned it back in a little-- resistance. back out-- back in-- resistance. This isn't looking good.
Prayed to Snap On, the god of expensive tools and to Craftsman just in case. I even did a quick genuflec to ODD LOTS and the lesser god, "Made in China" to cover all my bases.
The gods were not listening today-- the plug came out with much effort and about 1/4TH the threads off the head.
There ain't nothing uglier and more heart rending than the sight of aluminum spark plug hole threads stuck to a spark plug. My guess is, the old guy that sold me the bike had, at some point, pulled the plugs then hand threaded them back in a few turns. The left one fell out without damaging the threads. The right one bounced around until it bunged up the threads. Why didn't I check the right spark plug when the left one fell out? Why didn't I check the spark plugs when, after driving it 54 miles, it suddenly started to run bad?
It was one of those kick the wall and break your toe moments-- one of those throw your $64.00 wrench into the soy bean field cuz you're so pissed off times.
Dug up my old plug thread chaser. Try to get the right angle, try to catch sme threads-- AH! Got a bite. some resistance but it's feeling ri-- no-- it's not feeling right-- hard resistance. Remove the chaser-- totally wrong angle. Too low. Wow, that intake valve is sitting right there-- my luck I'll bend it with the thread chaser. Turn the engine til the valve seats. Try again-- this time at a more 45' angle-- AH!! got a bite-- nope, again-- nope, again-- finally-- it's cutting. Two turns and hard resistance. Pull it out--$hit. It's toast.
My only hope is, go at it from the inside and if that doesn't work-- helicoil. Either way the head has to come off.

There goes my hopes of taking it to Saluda. There goes my hopes of a track day at Putnam. There goes my hope of The Alley Shop meet-- at least on this bike.
With all the money I've spent on clutches and gaskets ($111.00)cables
(126.00), plugs/points ($28.00), petcocks ($48.00)and tires($300.00) to say nothing of the bike itself ($900.00), I'm tapped out.
Plus, I've got Saluda and MotoGp coming at me.
To put it mildly: FUGG!
So-- to the back of the garage it goes. The Beemer gets it's maintenance and my attention (I haven't ridden it in a month!) and, I'm going to concentrate on this GL1100 turd that has taken over my garage since March-- get it running and get it back to it's owner.
This is how dreams end I bet. I hope I can get the motivation-- once all this other stuff is over-- and I'm back to being in the black financially, I can go back at it.
I have to pull the head. To do that, I have to break the cam chain. Once the head is off-- hey, why not pull the cylinders-- why not do a top end overhaul? Hell, why not send it to Hanson or Henning and have them give it the full whack? Maybe if I sell my car and my Beemer, I can get the money to do it-- OOOOH, and I can sell my lawn mower! I bet I could get a few bucks for my dog too! I don't need a TV-- or a couch. Hey!! I can sell my bed and sleep on the floor! That carpet looks pretty comfortable! Wait-- I could sell the carpet!! Carpet? Hell! Sell the house!! Ya-- sell the house!!That should do it!!!

Anybody know anybody that has a cam chain breaker and staker I can beg, borrow or buy? Or trade for a dog or a car? Or carpet-- a bed? How about a nice BMW motorcycle? :(

[WOZERD]

Funny -- if this does happen, I'll be ending my "carreer" just like I started it-- on a 500 twin. I started in 1974 on a TX500 Yamaha, at Nelsons. I looked at old Yamaha TX 500's but the head cracks faster than you can fix em-- great handling-- way better than the Honda but-- I want to race, not spend my time pulling heads.

AKA: "Famous last words"

[witttom]

You're giving up too easy. I think it's the coffee and 3am moon talking. ;)

[WOZERD]

crap-- 3:44AM and no nap today! Uh, er, I mean yesterday!

[jimcor]

You sure you can't use that thread chaser in a more brute force fashion? Use some wheel bearing grease on it to pick up chips, I had the same thing happen to the head on my first engine. Ya got nothing to lose, cut some metal. Use a vacuum cleaner if you think you got some chips down in the workings. If it doesn't work and the head must come off...

Use a dremel to remove the master link in the cam chain.

[WOZERD]

Just got off the phone with Terry Naughton of Team Hanson.

The dude saved me bundles of time and money-- told me about steel spark plug inserts (VS helicoil) and do it without pulling the head. He says he found out about them at Daytona one year-- did it right on the bike.
He even pulled the item number from the JC Whitney catalog. We had a great talk-- He races (or raced) Putnam and has spent a lot of time at Grattan. He remembers what we used to call speed bumps at the end of the Grattan straight. The track was so badly rippled (from?? dragsters braking? Cars braking for turn one??) that you could hear your, and everyone else around you, forks bottoming out under braking-- clack clack clack.

So-- The CB gets a second breath-- we might still make Putnam!!

Great guy!!

[WOZERD]

Won't make Putnam. Ran out of money. Thread "sert is installed and worked great. New points and plugs. Valves adjusted, new petcock and lines. Took it out for a clandestine rip down the back roads. A slight midrange stumble and slow to idle down (but it rips!!). I'm betting it's the carbs being out of sync.
Started to install NOS throttle cable from E-Bay. Correct part number but, housing is too long and holds the butterflys 1/4TH open. So, trimmed the housing. Tomorrow, sync the carbs and try again.
I want to go to Barber but I also want to ride it to The Alley Shop. To ride it to The Alley Shop, I need a new rear tire (already got the front). That cuts deep into my Barber budget!:nono:

[WOZERD]

New cables and sync'd the carbs. Slow idle down is gone. Another clandestine run-- 32 miles. I almost ran out of gas. I took some curves on these dry rotted, cracked, inner tube sticking out of bulges in the sidewall tires and it seems so effortless. Little skinny motorcycles sure are different than big 140HP bikes!! The stumble in mid range is negligable and may be characteristic. Jetting should fix that.
I got a couple of good curves in and couldn't resist "crawling under the paint" and winding it out. Funny, 75-85MPH on this old crate gives the same rush as 140-150 on a new sport bike!
I'm still grinning and it's been over an hour!

New tires next week, check the brakes, new brake and clutch cable (The clutch did slip but after the oil was changed-- it doesn't. So, will get some more life out of it) and change the fork oil. Once all is as it should be, I start stripping it all back down.

[WOZERD]

New front tire on-- did it myself!! by hand!!! and didn't pinch the tube!!
With therapy, the DR says I should regain use of my hands in about a week (damn are they sore!!). Thats not all that's sore. My floor jack took a dump. The bike slowly was getting closer and closer to me as I was mounting the tire. I was sitting in my little Scooby Doo camper chair, straddling the front forks.I was wondering what the heck was going on when suddenly the bike rolled off the center stand right into my giblets!! I managed to grab it and keep it upright (try doing that with a 450LB sport bike--or a BMW R1150RT!!)
But that Pirelli Sport Demon shur do look purty

Front brakes are worn out-- Damn.

Terry at Western Hills says he should have a set-- was supposed to call me back-- didn't.

I'll probably stop this "journal". I'm boring myself as well!

[Hyflyer]

..........
I'll probably stop this "journal". I'm boring myself as well!


:what: Don't stop. I'm enjoying your 'saga'. Not boring to me.

Keep 'em coming:cheers:

[Dave Bannister]

Yes a good story in the making for sure!!!

[WOZERD]

In that case-- I shall continue.
Not much physical today. Shoulders and hands are still sore. steel wool polishing those front spokes and hand mounting that tire took it's toll. Spent the day trying to get front shoes-- no real luck. I called Terry at Western Hills. He apologized for not calling me back. He told me he has two shoes but, one is OE and one is aftermarket. -- I told him I'll keep looking. Not really interested in possibly two different compounds-- both 30 plus years old.
I called Garry Gallagher (met him at Indy-- nice guy)at EBC. He gave me the part number for racing compound shoes but EBC doesn't make them anymore. He told me to call Z1 Enterprise in New York. I talked to Rob at Z1. He has a real heavy New York accent! He promised to hunt them down if they were out there. That made me pretty happy. No call back today but will try him late tomorrow. My fingers are crossed.
I just bid on some CL450 scrambler pipes on E-Bay.

[WOZERD]

OK, it does stop-- kinda. I don't think the front suspension moves either-- I put my hand down and touched the fork leg and the fork spring cover-- I don't think the forks move on bumps. On the other hand, the friggin thing vibrates so bad I can't find anything moving because-- everything is moving. I had a thought that, if I rode this thing long enough, the vibration would eventually split one of the atoms somewhere in the bike and set off a nuclear chain re-action. Maybe that's why they don't make them out of plutonium or whatever it is that explodes.
Wednesday I got the back tire on. Thursday I took them both to be balanced, Last night I got in ten miles at sundown-- the front brake is worse than before I fixed it.
Today, I was supposed to clean up the garage then go for another road test to make sure all was in order before the Alley Shop ride. The first thing I picked up was some steel wool. That's as far as I got. I started cleaning the handlebars. Then I broke out the Never Dull, then the wax and brass brushes and-- well, then it was 1PM and I hadn't had breakfast (or lunch) yet. I ate a piece of left over Hilshire Farms smoked sausage and a half can of Coke. That's all I could stand. I put on the jacket, gloves and helmet (the big helmet-- not the little 3/4 helmet with a comp shield) and rolled down the driveway-- popped the clutch and off I went.
I went north on 571 then east on 40. Boring-- I want some curves. I went north on North Hampton (how aprapo) and right on Milton Carlisle which took me into Enon. I turned left onto Lower Valley and took it to Old Mill.
Now I remember why I got 26 points in 6 months when I was 17. This bike makes the same wail as my 305 Super Hawk. It's not a growl or a roar. It's not a scream like a 4 cylinder. It's not a "burrrrp" like an L twin. It's a song-- that's the only way I can describe it. And, every chance I got, I would play that song. Grab a handful, the song plays. Blip the throttle and drop to fourth, again and drop to third. Hit the apex and grab a handful. Like those chicks on the island in that Hercules movie, I couldn't resist.
This thing turns in quick. Not quick like a steep rake quick but, fall in quick. It's horribly top heavy. I never found a corner that I had to really slow down for. Even 15MPH marked corners were 50MPH more or less. I have a feeling it will just go and then, without warning spit me off. Let's just say you don't get much feedback. To be honest-- you don't get any. It's pure blind faith.
I stopped at Comp Acc and Tim came out and looked at it. He laughed. He thought it was cool. Then, down to the Shell to fill it up and have a Coke. I took the back roads home again but, I kept hearing this grinding noise. I looked down, back, front-- couldn't see anything dragging or rubbing. I pulled in the clutch and the noise was still there. Crap!! A wheel bearing?? They seemed OK but I knew I should have replaced them!! Trans? What the heck is that grinding noise?
As I pulled over to see what I could see I looked at my speedo-- I was going 0 mph. There, laying against my headlamp ear was the speedo cable, spinning away and rattling against the ear. Whew. Re-install and tighten it, take off, speedo works-- no grinding sound-- WHEW!!
When I got to an intersection of Old Mill and Renart (or whatever) a guy goes by on an R6. I was supposed to go straight but, the bike turned right and I went after him. I caught him before the curves (a series of S curves then a decent right hander). He wasn't wearing a helmet or much of anything-- T shirt and shorts. He was cruising. The wear on his back tire told the story-- brand new on the sides, near bald in the middle. Could have passed him on my scooter-- no fun here. I turned around and headed back.
Got home and the ODO says I rode 37 miles. Feels like 100-- no, 200 miles on my RC51 or, 400 on the RT. My finger tips are still slightly numb. I was thinking, as the thing vibrated my giblets into pudding-- it's a wonder I ever sired a kid!
No clock or gear indicator (I kept looking). Brakes that seem more like an adornment, vibration that removes the tarter from your teeth (and, I'm certain could make you sterile), suspension like a brick and a piece of wood, turn signals that you have to find the middle spot to turn them off, headlights you actually have to turn ON--
and the thing is so narrow, tiny feeling! It's a wonder why I ever rode something like this when I was young.

Then I gave it some gas and-- now I remember-- that song!!
Glorious music!

[Sherpadude]

OK, it does stop-- kinda. I don't think the front suspension moves either-- I put my hand down and touched the fork leg and the fork spring cover-- I don't think the forks move on bumps. On the other hand, the friggin thing vibrates so bad I can't find anything moving because-- everything is moving. I had a thought that, if I rode this thing long enough, the vibration would eventually split one of the atoms somewhere in the bike and set off a nuclear chain re-action. Maybe that's why they don't make them out of plutonium or whatever it is that explodes.
Wednesday I got the back tire on. Thursday I took them both to be balanced, Last night I got in ten miles at sundown-- the front brake is worse than before I fixed it.
Today, I was supposed to clean up the garage then go for another road test to make sure all was in order before the Alley Shop ride. The first thing I picked up was some steel wool. That's as far as I got. I started cleaning the handlebars. Then I broke out the Never Dull, then the wax and brass brushes and-- well, then it was 1PM and I hadn't had breakfast (or lunch) yet. I ate a piece of left over Hilshire Farms smoked sausage and a half can of Coke. That's all I could stand. I put on the jacket, gloves and helmet (the big helmet-- not the little 3/4 helmet with a comp shield) and rolled down the driveway-- popped the clutch and off I went.
I went north on 571 then east on 40. Boring-- I want some curves. I went north on North Hampton (how aprapo) and right on Milton Carlisle which took me into Enon. I turned left onto Lower Valley and took it to Old Mill.
Now I remember why I got 26 points in 6 months when I was 17. This bike makes the same wail as my 305 Super Hawk. It's not a growl or a roar. It's not a scream like a 4 cylinder. It's not a "burrrrp" like an L twin. It's a song-- that's the only way I can describe it. And, every chance I got, I would play that song. Grab a handful, the song plays. Blip the throttle and drop to fourth, again and drop to third. Hit the apex and grab a handful. Like those chicks on the island in that Hercules movie, I couldn't resist.
This thing turns in quick. Not quick like a steep rake quick but, fall in quick. It's horribly top heavy. I never found a corner that I had to really slow down for. Even 15MPH marked corners were 50MPH more or less. I have a feeling it will just go and then, without warning spit me off. Let's just say you don't get much feedback. To be honest-- you don't get any. It's pure blind faith.
I stopped at Comp Acc and Tim came out and looked at it. He laughed. He thought it was cool. Then, down to the Shell to fill it up and have a Coke. I took the back roads home again but, I kept hearing this grinding noise. I looked down, back, front-- couldn't see anything dragging or rubbing. I pulled in the clutch and the noise was still there. Crap!! A wheel bearing?? They seemed OK but I knew I should have replaced them!! Trans? What the heck is that grinding noise?
As I pulled over to see what I could see I looked at my speedo-- I was going 0 mph. There, laying against my headlamp ear was the speedo cable, spinning away and rattling against the ear. Whew. Re-install and tighten it, take off, speedo works-- no grinding sound-- WHEW!!
When I got to an intersection of Old Mill and Renart (or whatever) a guy goes by on an R6. I was supposed to go straight but, the bike turned right and I went after him. I caught him before the curves (a series of S curves then a decent right hander). He wasn't wearing a helmet or much of anything-- T shirt and shorts. He was cruising. The wear on his back tire told the story-- brand new on the sides, near bald in the middle. Could have passed him on my scooter-- no fun here. I turned around and headed back.
Got home and the ODO says I rode 37 miles. Feels like 100-- no, 200 miles on my RC51 or, 400 on the RT. My finger tips are still slightly numb. I was thinking, as the thing vibrated my giblets into pudding-- it's a wonder I ever sired a kid!
No clock or gear indicator (I kept looking). Brakes that seem more like an adornment, vibration that removes the tarter from your teeth (and, I'm certain could make you sterile), suspension like a brick and a piece of wood, turn signals that you have to find the middle spot to turn them off, headlights you actually have to turn ON--
and the thing is so narrow, tiny feeling! It's a wonder why I ever rode something like this when I was young.

Then I gave it some gas and-- now I remember-- that song!!
Glorious music!
Are you heading to AHRMA at Barber? Play it again, Sam! :D

Jeff

[WOZERD]

I am hoping to. Have you decided your mode of transportation? I'm planning on riding the RT

[svguy]

Today, I was supposed to clean up the garage then go for another road test to make sure all was in order before the Alley Shop ride.

I'll be at the Alley Shop looking for ya! I'll have the RC if you don't try to steal it! :gunsup:

[Sherpadude]

I am hoping to. Have you decided your mode of transportation? I'm planning on riding the RT
I was originally going to ride the V-Strom down, but now I'm pretty sure that I'm heading down there with the Hatman (Mark Hatten) in his RV. I believe that he is racing his 749R in the BOT class.

Are you going to hit the museum?

Jeff

[A4est]

I'll be at the Alley shop too.
Looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones!

[WOZERD]

I'll be at the Alley Shop looking for ya! I'll have the RC if you don't try to steal it! :gunsup:
:rolleyes: That would be very tempting.
I'm looking forward to seeing how you've been taking care of MY bike!
Can't wait!!

[WOZERD]

I was originally going to ride the V-Strom down, but now I'm pretty sure that I'm heading down there with the Hatman (Mark Hatten) in his RV. I believe that he is racing his 749R in the BOT class.

Are you going to hit the museum?

Jeff

see AHRMA ROLL CALL

[WOZERD]

Ever wonder why old people wear short(er) shorts?

I was wondering that too as I watched an old guy ride by on his bicycle. I had to let the dog out so, I grabbed my coffee and stumbled out the door only to see this old guy riding by. Then, I remembered that video from the
70's of the 24 hours at Nelsons (can't find it-- was going to post a link). As I was concluding that we all wore short shorts back then and it's just a style we can't shake, I stubbed my toe on a package.

My Vesrah brake shoes are here! My brake shoes are here!!

They're green!
They say "ORGANIC" on the box.
I suspect they are made of lettuce.
Also in the USPS box was my stainless steel Allen Head screws for my side cases! I noticed also, 3 sweet looking countersunk screws with allen head insets for my dynamo (hum?) cover!
Wow! Xmas in October!!

A special thanks to Rob at www.z1enterprises.com
Specializing in new parts for vintage Japanese street motorcycles

(promised I'd give him a plug on LR.)
I recommend them!

I wasn't expecting them for a week and a half at best. They got here 5 days early!

I can stop! What a concept!!

The garage shall stay in disarray-- I'm putting in front brakes-- and maybe a clutch (if I can get my plates bead blasted!).

Once done, I will have to take the bike out for a test drive.

[Old Sport]

A man possesed!

Makes for a good read! :thumbsup

[WOZERD]

Alright, last Sunday, going to Marks, I found the real weak link in this CB450. The ground clearance sucks! I scraped the right foot peg bracket (not the foot peg) without trying (coming down the "corkscrew into Oregonia on Wilmington). Then, I scraped the left footpeg bracket leaving Marks on Nixon Camp RD. Then, on Burlington-Roxanna I scraped the right bracket and brake lever!
The Pirelli tires never once acted funny. I don't think they were even close to a traction concern.
The front brake finally bedded in and started working (if you can call that working!)
My 1/4 turn throttle got here today. I'm bidding on CL450 foot pegs and rear brake lever. Unlike the CB peg brackets, that must loop out around the exhaust, these hug the engine cases and give at least another 3 inches (or more) of ground clearance. I'm hoping the kid at the local auto repair/muffler shop can bend high pipes that run along both sides about mid level. He says it will be a piece of cake-- we'll see.
On the way home from Mark's, I had to keep adding slack to the clutch cable. On the very last few miles of my homeward journey, cable fully slack, anytime I gave it gas, the clutch would slip. (WHEW!!)
This may be it's last ride for '08. I might install the clutch and the special clutch spring pressure enhancers (AKA spark plug washers) and take it for a burn but-- that's about it.

It's getting stripped to the frame. Hopefully, it will be ready by mid April or sooner. Very tempted to go into the motor and just do everything to it I can afford to do. But, I think I'm sticking my money in the chassis and suspension and brakes. I'm having the frame gussets welded, grinding off uneeded brackets and getting the swing arm and steering head "right". Then, the forks get a full teardown. It has external springs-- so, got to come up with a way to make them look nice. I don't want to put gaitors on em, I don't want to chrome them-- at least so far. Paint? Bright yellow? Black? Green? Wire wheel them and a clear coat? We'll see.
Big expense will be Works shocks-- $630.00 or thereabouts. Seems absurd to spend that kind of money putting premium shocks on the back but have peanut butter forks up front!
My latest paint scheme concept is candy blue tank with large white crossed stripes (the flag of Scotland). The only thing that will be painted (besides the frame) will be the gas tank.
I called Cindy Cowell. AHRMA road racing official in North Carolina. I got a lady named Sandy-- Cindy was out but, Sandy was sure Cindy knew of a fairly reasonable personal injury insurance policy that would cover me to allow me to race. She then reminded me that Cindy is pretty tied up preparing for Barber (:doh: ).
So, I'll wait til after Barber and give her a buzz.
Once I tear into it, I'll keep both of you :) posted.

[WOZERD]

update.
New AHRMA rules. Basically, HP class must be stock right down to carbs, side covers (really puts a crimp on installing pod style air filters) and exhaust.
Didn't make sense to rebuild the 69 to "stock". Even if I cheated, the exhaust restriction would make any mods pretty feeble.
So, I decided to get a lower mileage model with a disc brake (saves $300.00 spent at Vintage Brake) making the TWS drum half as good as a disc brake model with $38.00 worth of race compound pads. I found a 72 with 13K on it (my 69 has 23K and is tired, cam chain is loose, adjuster is bottomed out).
Then , I found a 69 with only 6800 miles on it-- bought it too as a back up motor.
Now, I have three 450's.

I have decided the 1972 will be the racer for AHRMA Historic Production.

Just got to take it all apart, sand blast and paint the frame, put in new steering stem bearings, racing brake pads, bronze swing arm bushings, new shocks, race tires, Barnett clutch, set the engine up (points, timing, valve adjust, cam chain adjust, jet and sync the carbs), re-do the forks, take off everything I can, safety wire it, make a catch pan, get my license, and................??
For $1000.00 I will put your name on my bike as a sponsor.


(Thanks Nick for the info on getting my license!)

[WOZERD]

The 72 is down to bare frame. Engine has to come out. Thought I would drain the oil first. The drain plug is a stump thanks to the previous owner. It's not budging with vise grips. It's not budging with a pipe wrench. I'm going to have to get the motor out, lay it on it's side and use an impact driver. I'll have to clean it before using heat. Heat on aluminum has never worked for me before but, if I have to, I'll try warming it a little.
Pray for me.
A guy up the road will do the sand blasting on the frame for $50.00. Then, I'm going to use the Duplicolor wheel paint system to paint the frame. Black? Bright silver? Charcoal metallic?
I just want to say thanks for all the help and advice everyone has given me.

[witttom]

Then, I'm going to use the Duplicolor wheel paint system to paint the frame. Black? Bright silver? Charcoal metallic?
I just want to say thanks for all the help and advice everyone has given me.I'd suggest lime green or hot pink.

[WOZERD]

UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
no!

Got the drain plug out-- cost me a mashed thumb. Laid the bike on it's side and went at it hammer and pipe wrench. I heard a loud crack and thought-- She---ITE! I've cracked the case. But it was the plug breaking free or maybe it was the sound of my thumb whacking the side stand bracket. The next sound was me yelling and doing a jig that would make Michael Jackson proud.
Back up on it's stand, Hospital pan ready, I loosened the drain plug. Expecting to see slow, black molasses pour out about 3 QTS, I was surprised when a gusher of gas and oil came spewing out. The pan filled to within a 1/4 inch of the top. Easily double or triple what I expected. Apparently, the petcock doesn't really shut off. More to fix or replace.
Well, at least the inside of my engine is clean!
And, the cylinder walls are washed down too I bet!
I was suspicious of the washers between the shift lever and the side case. I took the shift lever off to get the dyno cover off. The shift shaft slides in and out about 3/8". I checked my other two 450's. Virtually no movement. I bet a circlip is off. I bet the circlips is inside the cases. I bet the circlip is mangled iron powder. Check the service manual-- YUP!
Split the cases or install the K1 motor? HMMMMMMMM
Running out of time!!

[RENCRN8]

I was thinking Repsol orange for the frame and wheels. Yeah baby!

[WOZERD]

Thought I'd polish off this thread and add some stuff.
FWIW, I completed the certification and got my racing license on May 22nd at Blackhawk Farms in S. Beloit, IL.
The old '72 450 ran great. The big puffs of smoke I experienced at my shake down track day were due to the throttles being closed completely. I removed the idle stop screws as a back up in case my kill switch (cheap kill switch) didn't work. The completely closed throttle plates caused such a huge vacuum draw that it sucked oil past the valve seals. Problem solved. The GPS showed 94MPH on the straight.
The engine still misfires (or the valves float) at around 8K on the TACH. I re-installed the original tacjh and a NOS cable. On my first run, the tach pegged at 12K (and beyond) and stayed there. I'll mount it on the wall with a little sign that says "OOPS!!". I installed the tach off my 69 (the one that never would show more than 8500RPM and -- either valves were floating or points bouncing causing engine misfire) and it stayed at 0 RPM til I revved it. I set the idle at around 1500 and tried the new tach. The new tach, although advertised as fitting "CB Hondas up to 350, didn't mount the same so I had to drill new holes in my highly polished super fancy, 6061 aluminum alloy, tach mount. The NOS tach-- for a CB125, per the original Honda parts tag, with the handwritten note saying it was for Darryl Smith's CB125, "not paid", also showed 1500 RPM. So, it's on, it works very smoothly, hope it's right. The engine misfires at 8500 RPM on the new tach also.
We had a mock race at the end of the day (run in conjunction with a full CCS (Championship Cup Series) race schedule. It was supposed to be 6 laps, I counted 7, someone else said 8. I was worn out. I was gridded on the inside of row 5. 14 bikes ahead of me. I got a good start. Ended up in 6TH exiting turn one. I actually got to race with some riders for almost an entire lap. My goal was to not be lapped. No such luck. The instructors lapped me just at the end of the second lap. They were covering two miles in about 1:13 ~ 1:15. I was barely able to get under 1:40. My best lap was a 1:36.4. Even the GURL on the Ducati Monster SR4 passed me! But, at least she didn't lap me, she was two rows ahead of me and I got her at the start.
I certainly was the curiosity! People kept coming over and looking at my bike. I bet I talked to 100 people ---at least.
The atmosphere was great. Families, dogs, little kids-- knock out girls and women. Imagine going camping and everyone knows and really likes each other-- that's the best I can describe it. Great camaraderie!
I got a Pirelli T shirt and a Learning Curves CCS T shirt (the Pirelli T shirt was free. The other T shirt cost me 200 bucks!!)
Plus I got a Valentino Rossi tire for my grandson to swing on in his back yard. I left my old take off tire from my RC51 in my back yard when I moved and he wanted another one. Got him a big old gnarly, badly worn and gumballed 190/55ZR17 slick!
The amount of gray haired riders really made me feel good. Still, I was the oldest on the track-- by far.
I also was flabbergasted by the amount of Buells!. I mentioned it to one guy and he looked at me and said-- "Uh, Milwaukee??"
OH! Yeah!! That's right!! :oops: I said.
Matter of fact, the place was almost wall to wall Harley's as far as spectators go. Normally, at a road race, you are lucky to see one or two being ridden by spectators. Everyone is normally on sport bikes or BMW's, KTM's etc. On the way home, I bet I saw a thousand Harley's on their way north to the Motherland". I heard they were having a big to-do at the museum.
Blackhawk Farms is a real "local" track. The same people ride there year in and year out. The instructor speculated he had at least 5000 laps on that track since 1984. I had a heck of a time on the first tack session. I couldn't remember if the turn coming up was wide or tight. I'd over brake for one and damn near overshoot the next. Plus, many of the corners are "linked" meaning, you better get the first right to be set up for the next or you are in deep doo doo. The surface is smooth. I wasn't getting hardly any tire wear. I thought it was because I was going too slow (which I was). I lowered my pressure but it didn't really help that much. I did get a few "step outs" on the up shift exiting a turn before I lowered my pressure but, nothing serious. Like I said, the surface was smooth but-- the corners were nasty. Where the cars apex the corner, they dig up the asphalt. You only get about a 18" line along the curbing or your in it and it shakes your teeth out!
The bounce is gone on the corners since I had my tires rebalanced like I wanted with tape weights, dynamically. When I saw the weights on the opposite side of the rear sprocket and front disc, I knew is was done right. Those lead "sinkers" on the spokes may be politically correct but, they don't account for side to side imbalance.
They didn't give us much time between class and track sessions. I wasn't the only one that suffered dehydration. Saturday night I woke up about 2:30AM (guess you could call that Sunday morning --eh?) in screaming pain. Charlie horses in both my outer calf muscles. I swore there were going to break both my legs outward between the knee and the ankle! I walked and walked. Finally, I was able to sit for awhile. I drank water, ate a banana and, fell asleep in the drivers seat of my van.
Lesson learned!!
I woke up to the sound of some big Buell Rotax engines firing up for morning practice. I looked blearily around and crawled back into my bed in the back of my van. Slept another two hours! I was beat! Still AM!!
Might be a picture of me on a website called Gron4.com. I'm number 112

It was great!
Road America very soon. 4 miles per lap!! Talked to a guy who says his 16000RPM Yamaha R6 hit the rev limiter in three places on the track! That old 450 won't take redline for that long-- or often!!Got to get a 16T front and 34T rear so I can come up with the right combo to keep it just below redline in top gear on those loooong straights! plus-- got to get electronic ignition!! Mount a breather catch can, the crankcase catch pan, kinda go through everything and-- I'm off!!

I hate Chicago and I hate toll roads!!

[Hyflyer]

What an adventure your classic racing is. I'll have to come out and see it live one day

[witttom]

What an adventure your classic racing is. I'll have to come out and see it live one day

When you say "Classic", are you referring to the CB450 or to Bob?

[Hyflyer]

When you say "Classic", are you referring to the CB450 or to Bob?

Yes, you are correct

[baddean]

Hey Bob,
It was good to see the 450 at Putnam. Glad you are having fun with it. Don't go anywhere near Road America without taller gearing. That track can eat vintage bikes.
About your issue with the bike misfiring at top RPMs. Are you running velocity stacks?
Are you using the stock fuel petcocks and /or stock sized fuel lines?
I ask these things because the issue might be that you are running out of either air or fuel at top RPMs. It's doubtful that the valves are floating enough to misfire the engine and not wreck something.
If you are running velo stacks you could run out of air while pulling 90-100 mph at top speed. Because of your forward motion at that speed there will be a low pressure area behind the cylinders that could be robbing the carbs of air. Also, you could be emptying the float bowls of fuel if they are not being replentished quickly enough at top speed. You might need to open up the petcocks or run larger diameter fuel lines. Also are you sure you have large enough main jets installed?
Just some thing to ponder.
Hope this helps the cause.
Dean

[WOZERD]

Hey Bob,
It was good to see the 450 at Putnam. Glad you are having fun with it. Don't go anywhere near Road America without taller gearing. That track can eat vintage bikes.
About your issue with the bike misfiring at top RPMs. Are you running velocity stacks?
Are you using the stock fuel petcocks and /or stock sized fuel lines?
I ask these things because the issue might be that you are running out of either air or fuel at top RPMs. It's doubtful that the valves are floating enough to misfire the engine and not wreck something.
If you are running velo stacks you could run out of air while pulling 90-100 mph at top speed. Because of your forward motion at that speed there will be a low pressure area behind the cylinders that could be robbing the carbs of air. Also, you could be emptying the float bowls of fuel if they are not being replentished quickly enough at top speed. You might need to open up the petcocks or run larger diameter fuel lines. Also are you sure you have large enough main jets installed?
Just some thing to ponder.
Hope this helps the cause.
Dean


Dean,
That is starting to sink in to my thoughts. One fellow at Blackhawk told me I better put my (required by AHRMA for this class) side covers on because (he said) the turbulence will suck the gas right out of the carbs. Hard to believe! However, looking at the area behind the stacks, on the rear fender, there is a fine mist of oily feeling iquid. No clue where that's coming from. Not one hint of a leak from my engine-- anywhere.
I still think it's in the points. The new (on it's way) electronic ignition will tell.
Once installed, we'll see if we need to go up another level on the mains.
16 and 34 (one larger, one smaller than stock) sprockets are also on their way. Combined with my existing stash, hopefully I'll keep the motor in one piece.

If, indeed, I am running out of gas, I have no clue how to cure that!!

Thanks for the input Dean. I value your opinion.

[baddean]

Hey Bob,
The oily mist on the rear fender could, very well , be fuel. The motor is still pulling gas due to vacuum but if there is not enough air it will mist out of the carb throat. Maybe you should try to solve the "lack of air" possibility first since it would be easier to solve than the "lack of fuel" scenario.
I agree that putting the side covers back on could help with the air issue.
You've heard the term "ram air". That doesn't mean that air is being rammed into the carb/injector it means that air is being rammed into the air box (pressurized) so that there is enough air available for the intake system at full throttle. In your case putting the side covers back on could provide a bit more air in the area near the carb intakes to minimize the turbulence.
Velocity stacks accelerate the air flow into the carb throat provided there is enough air to work with. With turbulence, that air flow will be intermitant.
If you are running a single fuel petcock and splitting the line to each carb you could have another threaded insert brazed into the other side of the tank and run individual lines for each carb. Also try to run a larger line to the carb that would hold more fuel in it.
The limiting factor on the carbs is the float needle size and the capacity of the float bowl. You could check to see if there is a larger float needle size available for your carbs. This would allow for better flow into the bowl.
I have a 900SS Ducati with a 944 kit and Mikuni Flat slides and by the end of the straight at Putnam when held wide open it will run the float bowls empty even with a fuel pump. As soon as I let off of the throttle it picks right up and runs great the rest of the way.
Hope this helps,
Dean

[WOZERD]

You had to mention ram air didn't cha?
Now I'm trying to come up with a cheater configuration that involves cutting scoops into the front of the side covers, making ducting terminating in a 5 sided box with the open end facing the stacks all pop riveted to the inside of the side covers and undetectable by tech or any others in my class.
:multijump

[WOZERD]

My problem was not too little fuel-- it was too much. Apparently, velocity stacks and CV carbs are not a good mix. I ended up at 140's which is one size smaller than this bikes jets (PO changed??) and one size larger than OE per the book (135).
Here's a "report" of my progress so far:
I got 6th in my first race at RA, 10TH in my second (bike jammed in 4TH gear). More problems at Gratten on Saturday-- couldn't start on the re-start and ------
I got third place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on Sunday
It was a bad day Saturday. Bike ran like crap-- I was going the wrong way jet wise. In the end, I am actually one size smaller than stock. People have said that velocity stacks will do that. Then, at the riders meeting, the tech director said he has heard "some people are running velocity stacks in Production class". Nothing about them in the rule book-- nothing.
Pit politics are still going on. Add 3 women to the mix and the whining becomes unbearable. Everyone loved me when I was unknown. When I got 6TH at RA, things changed.
I was having issues with the transmission and more concerned about that than V stacks. My race was the second race of the day (40 minutes from the meeting) so I didn't mess with them. Did the warm up lap, screwed up my position on the grid (I swear it said second row-- it did-- second wave second row). I pull up and I'm like-- "Dood, you're in my spot-- and, your on a TD250!! The grid guy points at me and points back. I look to see everyone in my class looking at me! D-OH!! I waddle back, in gear, clutch in. It's as if it was a mile. I waddle as fast as I can-- I look back, I've covered 5 feet. My spot is another 20 miles back (or so it seemed). Finally, I'm in my spot. First wave takes off. I'm still in gear, clutch in. They wave us off. The guy in front (pole position) of me gets a good launch and so do I. I'm on his ass and another rider from outside row one is along side me. She comes down and takes my line. I could have stuffed her but-- hey, we're talking a piece of particle board with fake vinyl wood grain on it--OK? Exiting one, I pull her and I'm trying to catch the leader but-- RED flag! Someone in the 250GP class went down in 3. We can't even exit the track due to the carnage. We're directed to make a lap. Normally, they shunt us into the hot pit but, no one went there, instead, re-gridding. There we sat. I try to get my bike in neutral-- it won't go. We sit, and we sit-- and we sit. I'm starting to feel like the roast pig on the spit they were cooking for us for dinner that night. Finally, red flag comes in, board goes up. off goes the first wave. Suddenly, I feel a slight "clunk" and the engine quits. I yell the "F" word, hop off my bike with the intent of push starting it (which is not allowed once the one minute board is up). I pull in the clutch and try to roll the bike back. It makes about 1/2 a wheel turn and--"clank". It won't roll any further back. I thought I had the problem resolved after getting stuck in 4TH at RA but, I assumed, my Mickey Mouse repair didn't work (A new "E" clip on the shift shaft plus a set-screwed collar AND a washer between the shift lever and the case)d to keep the shift shaft from jumping inward and jamming the gears.
I pushed it to the side and motioned to the grid worker I was toast. They took off without me. Then, forgetting I was 62, out of shape, and a heavy smoker, I took off pushing the bike at a run as if I was 21 towards the exit (where the people cross the track into the infield). I got about 15 of the 25 yards I needed to go. I was badly (putting it mildly) winded and stopped. I was gulping air. Like trying to breathe through a straw. I sat there panting. I could hear the first wave going through the bowl. Ignoring the fact I was in real trouble, I started pushing again. I got 5 yards. Now I realize-- I AM in trouble. I honestly thought I would die right there. I was trying to figure out how to not look stupid for dying while pushing my bike. Something was restricting my breathing. I was gasping with all my might trying to get enough air in me to live. Somehow, I decided it was my gloves. I thought it was my helmet but in my mind I decided there was enough room to get air in. I got one glove off, threw it into the hot pit. That didn't help. Then the grid marshals noticed my difficulty and came over and asked if I wanted a push start. I shook my head and just pointed to the exit. They started pushing me. They got me off track and into the center of the hot pit. I would be in the way of anyone coming through the hot pit and-- I couldn't do anything more than keep myself upright. I had them push me off the hot pit and I coasted down to my pit lane. Finally, it dawned on me. My leathers-- size 44, more like 42 (Alpinestars-- they run one size small, I should have gotten size 46) would not let me expand my lungs. They are super tight and then, with the Bohn back protector, they are super SUPER tight!!
I unzipped my leathers and started to catch my breath. I was a mess. It took me an hour before I could get out of my chair.
That night, I lowered my forks 10mm to see if I could get it to stop running wide. And, I stuck in a set of 150 jets to see if I could get it to run better. Plus, added a new set of plugs. Morning practice, handling was 50% better. Engine ran even worse. I went down to 140 jets for the race ( I thought I would run lean with velocity stacks and straight through exhaust. 140's are one size smaller than stock!!). And, I removed my V-stacks. Thing ran like a raped ape!
I waited til the very last second to go out for my race and was one of the last to grid. John (Saturdays winner, the pole position) blew his motor (my VooDoo Hex worked!!) so I had a clear shot from the second row. I snicked it into neutral as I rolled up to my grid spot. The first wave took off. I waited til the board was sideways, put it in gear and dropped my visor. Flag dropped and I launched like a dragster. Brad was there taking pictures and he said I carried the front wheel for 10 yards. Same scenario as Sundays start. Barb (row one outside) was very fast. We were neck and neck at the braking point for one. She looked at me and I decided: I got balls, you don't, I'm not going to slow until you do. She tried to come down on me and I stuffed her. I saw her go waaaay wide-- I thought she was going off. I was in first place!! You would have laughed listening to me talk to myself. "Calm down, calm down. Ride your own race, don't worry about anyone else". It didn't work. A very slow 250 rider got in my way. It's been a long time since I've had to race/pass someone. He slowed me considerably. I got passed in 3 by a young guy named Matt. OK, OK, I'm in second. Stay calm! I tried to keep up with Matt but he's really fast. A 250 rider lapped me and I thought i would follow him. He was the eventual 250 race winner. He was very fast and sucked me into the hump at full throttle in 5TH. I never backed off. I was thinking OHHHHHHHH SH#T!! I got air!! I land and hit the brakes but didn't down shift. Made it through 5 and then downshifted and whacked the throttle-- wrong!! I was way off line and too fast for 7. Bounced off the inside curb, went wide, got out in the gooey stuff, washed out the front end, gathered it up and found myself in 5TH going into the bowl. That's where another kid passed me. Bastid!! I got my act together, caught him back in the Bus Stop and was going to slip stream him down the straight and either pass him (did it before in practice-- my bike is a good bit faster than his) or get him in turn one in the last lap. I'm under the paint on the straight, right on his tail. Then, I see the checkered flag! WTF???
I got 3RD. 1.23 seconds behind second but fully 6.96 seconds behind first. Remember the 250GP rider that lapped me? He completed 6 laps.I was the last one not to be lapped by the second place 250GP rider. Every production bike behind me was lapped by the 2ND through 6TH place 250GP bikes.
I got my first trophy in road racing. Took me 38 years but, I did it!!

Next race might be M-O. It's not an AHRMA race anymore but a lot of the AHRMA guys say they will run it this year. Last year it was pretty well boycotted. I swear I saw the same bikes over and over and the grids were super small. Or, I'll be racing at Beaver Run in PA on July 25TH~26TH. Then, one week later is VIR. I'm not going to drive all the way out to Miller-- not this year anyway in Sept. But, I intend to make Barber (beautiful place!) for the final in October.
Something is bent in the trans. If I just make sure to not let the clutch get hot, I think I'll be OK. I melted it at RA. Stuck in 4TH, they make us exit at 5 then wend our way up through the swap meet area, up a rather steep hill to our pits. There was a dumb bass on the side of the road-- parked-- talking to someone through the passenger window. I slowed and went to pass them on the left. Suddenly, they made a left turn right in front of me. I had to skid the bike sideways to keep from punching their door in with my front wheel. To say I gave them a piece of my mind would be putting it mildly-- you could hear me in Fon Du Lac!! There I was on a steep hill, stuck in 4TH and very mad. I melted my clutch going up the hill. That was a brand new Barnett. It held up at Gratten but it's way past the adjustment limit notch.

[Sherpadude]

Great racing and story, Bob! Congrats! :cheers:

Keep it up and keep us posted!

Jeff

[Dave Bannister]

Congrats on your Podium Finish DOOD!!!:#1:#1:#1

You wrote a great story I was laughing with you mostly only at little at ya! :ssmoker:

Congrats once again......keep bringing back these great stories to share!:yummy

And yeah.... Where those pics brad took we need to see those :D

[WOZERD]

I'll let Brad post the pics. He knows what's what.

[WOZERD]

Here's some pics I took of pit mates at RA
Chuck-- Triumph, Formula 750 race. T5-- check out the pony tail!!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4701659173_4099fe1909_b.jpg

Pete, 650 Yamaha Production HW. On his way to winning his race T5
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4701660691_59d507a923_b.jpg


Jess from Sioux Falls SD same turn-- Vintage superbike light
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4702297202_68003818d6_b.jpg

[bmbusa]

Some pics of wozerd, (BOB) at Grattan Raceway. I hope I remember which pics are which.


Bob's pit area.

<a href="http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/bmbusa/Grattan%206-18-2010/?action=view&current=GrattenRacewayJune202010009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/bmbusa/Grattan%206-18-2010/GrattenRacewayJune202010009.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Bob getting ready to launch.

<a href="http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/bmbusa/Grattan%206-18-2010/?action=view&current=GrattenRacewayJune202010033.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/bmbusa/Grattan%206-18-2010/GrattenRacewayJune202010033.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Same shot as last but more riders pictured.

<a href="http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/bmbusa/Grattan%206-18-2010/?action=view&current=GrattenRacewayJune202010034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/bmbusa/Grattan%206-18-2010/GrattenRacewayJune202010034.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Bob got a good launch, as you can see he is almost caught the first row after 25ft.

<a href="http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/bmbusa/Grattan%206-18-2010/?action=view&current=GrattenRacewayJune202010035.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/bmbusa/Grattan%206-18-2010/GrattenRacewayJune202010035.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Bob leading after 1st lap coming around last turn onto the front straight away.

<a href="http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/bmbusa/Grattan%206-18-2010/?action=view&current=GrattenRacewayJune202010036.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/bmbusa/Grattan%206-18-2010/GrattenRacewayJune202010036.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Bob coming across finish line in 3rd place.

<a href="http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/bmbusa/Grattan%206-18-2010/?action=view&current=GrattenRacewayJune202010038.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/bmbusa/Grattan%206-18-2010/GrattenRacewayJune202010038.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Good job bob, had fun and enjoyed seeing you race!

[A4est]

Great story! Congrats! :cheers:

[Hyflyer]

Good to see ya out there havin fun:thumbsup

[WOZERD]

If anyone wants to attend an AHRMA race, the next one is at Beaverun:
Michigan Engineering/Race Tech Historic Cup National Roadrace Series

The Beaverun National
Round 12 & 13
July 23—25, 2010
at Beaverun Motorsports Comlex
Wampum, PAJuly 23 - 25

July 31 - Aug 1 Bluegrass Event Cancelled




Beaverun Motorsports Park
Wampum, PA
(July 23 AHRMA run practice day)

Gate fee—$15/day, $25/2 days, $30/3 days.

Concessions—Yes.

Camping—Yes, $10/night.

Schedule—Thurs—Gate opens 3 pm.

Schedule—Fri—Gates Open 7 am. Sign up 7:15 am. AHRMA Practice all day.

Schedule—Sat—Gates open 7 am Sign up 7:15 am. Practice 8 am. Racing noon.

Schedule—Sun—Gates open 7 am Sign up 7:30 am. Practice 9 am. Racing noon.

[WOZERD]

A few more pics from Gratten:
Me, playing with fire, riding the front wheel into 5. I just went over the hump (rear suspension is fully extended).
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4760703906_557e0b5b5d_b.jpg

My pitmates (Super nice/helpful guys!!) Pat (second rider--BSA) and Chuck (at the tail--Triumph) coming through T5 into 6 in Saturdays F750 and HW Vintage Superbike combined race.
Later, Pat would toss it--big time-- exiting 4. Chuck got second place both days.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4760071219_9556df169c_b.jpg

[WOZERD]

For those of you about to race or do a track day at Gratten-- beware!! The Tar Snakes are vicious! Plus, just before last weekends Endurance Challenge, apparently the track crew got all drunked up and decided that taking buckets of sealer and squeegees out to seal the cracks would be a good idea. Here's some post's about Gratten from the AHRMA board.
Manxboy wrote:It looks like I'll be riding a 170+ hp Team Hooters Suzuki GSXR 1000 @ Grattan next weekend in the WERA National Endurance Challenge!! I've been told our main opposition will be Ben Bostrom and Co. on the R1 Yamaha!!!! At least the GSXR has traction control on it.
I'll let you all know how it goes.......
Pat Mooney.

Hey guy's, looks like I'll be riding the Hooters GSXR 1000 for the rest of the year! It has 185rwhp I'm told, sounds like it'll be a baptism of fire for me........
I've sent Kenny's video to my new team mates, just so they don't get a huge shock when they get there. Can't imagine what Jason Disalvo and the Bostrom's etc. will think of the track conditions.
Roger, I hope I only get to see you on a "social level" and not on a working level!
Pat Mooney.

Just took a track walk this evening with Brian Stokes, Jason Disalvo, Josh Herrin and his younger brother and a few others. Their eyes got quite big around when we got to the tar sealer stripes from turn four onwards! The track surface was quite hot and the sealer was almost in liquid form, I showed them the lines I'd used two weeks ago to avoid the worst of them, and they all seemed to genuinely appreciate the input. I'll keep you posted on how it all goes.
Pat Mooney.

Actually had a good day on the Hooters GSXR1000 today. I arrived at the track @ 8am and found about 20 cars/trucks/SUV's doing laps!! So I joined in with my rental car, don't tell Hertz... We all cleaned off the track the best we could.
Practiced on the spare bike, had Jason Disalvo bin it in front of me on the 3rd lap, then finally found a race line that worked in the "sealer turns" two and three. This race line was about 12 inches wide! Try to pass there or run a bit wide and it was slick as ice.
I got two laps practice on the actual race bike when a red flag came out, and that's all the practice I got on the race bike!
Tim Hunt started the race on our bike, and kept Ben Bostrom in sight for a long time. I did the second stint and quickly got used to the bike. I was on it for just over an hour. I caught and passed Ben Bostroms team mate Chris Clark, and pulled away, the only bike that came by me was Clinton Sellers on a Graves Yamaha R6! My times were a tad over 3 seconds off Ben Bostrom on the R1, so I was happy with that seeing as I haven't raced a big 4 cylinder bike in 7 years.
So the track was raceable with a bit of caution, I hope the full resurface job is finished before next year, as they have it planned to be. And I hope they've learned not to put bloody sealer down the night before a motorbike race!
Pat Mooney.

Here is a video from Kenny Cummings 1968 Norton. He turns about 130's. Compare that to
Rob H's 123's or so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1do9-N5A6x4

[WOZERD]

Birds!! What kind of birds are they? It's kinda scary when even the locals don't know what they are. I thought it was a Kildare at first but, it looks more like a 1/2 size Dove. They are evil, sneaky buggers. I first noticed one when I pulled into the track. Signing in, this bird kept coming closer to all of us. Closer and closer til it was just a few feet away. Then it would stare at all of us. I thought it was hoping for a tidbit.
Next morning (Friday), I'm sipping a cup of coffee under my EZ-UP and notice a movement out of the corner of my eye. I look and, it's another one of those birds!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4830273393_b20c134442_b.jpg
when I looked at it, it pretended to be pecking at something on the ground. I looked away for a second and when I looked back-- there it was-- staring at me!!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4830883822_ffbc4cc4c3_b.jpg
It scared me!! I kept my doors locked at night. Even when I shoo'd it away, it only went about 10 feet and still kept staring at me!!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4830275217_2e7104662c_b.jpg

I tossed some bread to it -- it ran over and pecked at it but wouldn't eat it.
I have concluded that it was trying to get out of the blazing hot sun. I bet if I put out some water it would have sucked it down. I'm sure they can fly but, I never saw it actually fly.
Anyone know what it is??

[WOZERD]

Beaverun. Sad ending to my race on Saturday.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4830078153_623c14c778_b.jpg

A young (late 30's??) fellow in the GP250 class crashed exiting 10 (the uphill right hander leading onto the front straight). I had lost the lead and was dicing with a guy on a CB500 (he later was disqualified-- he wasn't legal in my class) and came up on him. I saw the corner worker pull out the yellow flag and start waving it so, it must have just happened. It did not look good. The bike was laying on him and he was all tangled up in it. His leg and head were pointing at odd angles. He was not moving. Got the red flag at the start finish and made one more lap. When I came around again. People were there, waiting on the ambulance and he was still not moving. Very grim. We were sent to the paddock and the track was shut down. About 15-20 minutes later, the helicopter arrived and set down on the track. All kinds of speculation in the pits about his condition-- none good. I took the picture as the helicopter left. A little later, somone brought back his bike, leathers, helmet, boots and gloves. The got his wife and drover her to the hospital. Another racing couple watched after his dog.
Later that evening, word spread that it was a concussion and a broken leg. Whew!!
Next morning, at the riders meeting, we got the official word. He had died three times on the way to the hospital. The track ambulance crew revived him on the track and then the helicopter crew had to do it again twice before he got to the hospital. He had broken his back. They put a rod in it Sunday morning. We all pitched in to start a fund for him. His name is John S.
Pray for him.
Bike ran great on one battery through 5 20 minute practice sessions on Friday. I checked the battery late in the day before swapping it out. It still had 12.07 volts.
5 sessions and used it as a pit bike-- one battery!! Great!! I had ridden it up to tech and then rode it over to check the grid for Saturday. I leaned it up against that stair that leads up to scoring. Hear hear the stair creaking and look up. Three gigantic people are coming down the stairs. One boy of 12 or so and either Mom and dad or Gramma and Grandpa. Holding on to the rail, they ponderously waddled from one step to the next, using the rail to keep from falling off the un-railed side. In unison. I was alarmed at the amount of swaying the starcase was doing. I worried it would collapse on me and crush me to death. Suddenly, I hear a crunch and the boy says-- "Hey, mister, your bike fell down". The swaying was so severe, they managed to pitch my bike from it's substantial lean to the right against the stair case over on it's left side. Unconcerned about my plight, they stopped and began talking to another person at the bottom of the stairway. I had to push past them to get to my bike. I then had to physically push them out of the way (apparently "excuse me" had no meaning to them) to get the bike upright again. As I lifted it, I saw a pool of oil on the ground. I looked and saw the gearshift lever bent and sticking into a hole on my side case. FU@K!!!
Quite dejected, I rolled the bike back to my pit. I figured-- game over! I was ready to pack it up and head home. I spent all day Thursday on I 70 trying to get through Columbus. It took me 7 + hours to go 258 miles. Some jack ass had left a construction sign on EB I 70 saying the left two lanes were closed. Traffic was backed up ten miles at least. I saw 2 chain reaction multi car fender benders and at first, thought that was it. After everyone duteously funneled down to one lane, we drove along at around 35MPH for another two miles. No construction, no closed lanes. WTF? Finally someone broke from the pack and it turned into a drag race. Til we got to downtown Columbus right at the 70/71 junction. Another accident-- sat there a good 20 minutes!! So, I was already in a bad mood when I finally got to B-Run. Then, realized I had no cash or gas for the bike. Had to turn around and head back into Beaver Valley or whatever it's called. Went past a "Sheets" gas station-- never heard of em-- no way I'm buying gas there!! Finally saw a Sunoco. I hate Sunoco. The smell makes me sick. Smells like deisel fuel but-- OH WELL> I no sooner start pumping gas than -- I gotta get rid of the coffee, coke and ice tea I drank on the way there. Guess what-- no bathrooms! I ducked behind the dumpster and let er rip. Wrote my name on the dumpster-- and the back wall of the Sunoco station, and the building next to it-- and even shot it over the fence and onto the sidewalk just for the heck of it. Got my gas, got my cash and head back up the enduro track they call a road that leads to B-Run's gate.
Weird ass bird is running around, keeps coming up and staring at me! Another WTF moment.
Anyway-- long story short, The guy next to me runs into town, buys JB Weld and convinces me to stay and race. I patch up my case, sweating my giblets off (had really planned on kicking back with some tunes in my redneck AC cooled van!). I made something to eat and headed for bed. Just dozing off and the phone rings-- ex-wife: "how are you doing?" Now I'm awake, go outside, bl;ow a fag and drink a coke while watching the lightening way off in the distance. The wind at my back (already beat the crap out of my EZ up) I'm watching the clouds get bigger and bigger. Full moon and stars above but, those clouds are coming out of the North even though the wind is out of the south (another WTF moment!!). Suddently, a cool blast of air smacks me in the face. Just like that, the wind changed from the south to the north!! OH-OH!! I start battening down the hatches-- not fast enough, the ind starts blowing hard. I'm hanging on to my EZ-UP, watching others fly off over the horizon. Then comes the rain-- I'm soaked. I tough it out til the wind settles down. I add more heavy stuff to my EZ-UP hold downs and lower it as low as it'll go. I climb in my van and, as I sit there, in the dark, I hear- drip-drip-drip. I had the AC unit tilted back so it would drain but, the board it sat on was level. Water was running into my van under the AC. My sleeping bag and floor and mattress were soaked!! FU@K!!
I solved it by shoving some rags under the board to tilt it back That fixed that but, the rain was coming down so hard it was coming in the side of the AC unit and the fan was spraying it out all over me. I shut off the AC and just used my little fan for the rest of the night.
This is too long
Then, I raced Saturday-- bike ran like crap due to a funky low volt battery and I barely could get off the line. I managed to get up into third but 1st place was long gone. (Damn 32 year old punk kid!!). I played with the second place guy for a bit then passed him. Then this CB500 four blows by my on the front straight like I just hit the kill switch. The 500/4 is too new to be in my class, he got D-Q'd (protested by the winner!!). I had him at the finish line though and then the crash and redflag. So, scoring went back a lap and I got second.
Saturday night-- HURRICANE!! We got about an hours warning so I took everything down and either stuffed it under or in the van. Wind was howling. Rain was coming down in buckets. I had put a tarp over the back half of the van to keep my AC dry and that tarp was flapping so hard it sounded like a Boysen reed valve at 10,000 rpm!! I was sitting in the drivers seat looking out the windshield and the guy (Pete) pitted next me me's bike leaps into the air and lands on it's side. His bike cover became a parachute. I jump out of my van, yell "PETE!!" and run over to his bike. I grabbed it through the cover and tried to lift it. I picked the spot where safety wire was and it poked my good in my right ring finger. So much so that when I tried to pull it back, it snagged even worse. I had to pull down to get it unstuck! But, before I could do that, Pete was there, barefoot, T-shirt and BVD's. He grabbed right where my hand was (the one with the safety wire stuck in it) and gave a mighty heave! I swear I felt that wire pushing on the underside of my fingernail! I screamed bloody murder and Pete let got. The bike fell back down again. It was pitch black out, we couldn't see anything but I could feel the blood spurting out.

[WOZERD]

continued-

Next morning-- over cast, gray, rain clouds threatening. Humid as hell. Everything is sopping wet. Emergency riders meeting. Vote: skip practice and go racing before the rain gets here? Get's here? It's here!! I vote no-- let's practice-- maybe it'll clear up! No, everyone wants to go race and go home. My race is #3. Side cars go out first-- maybe they'll dry the track. Race 1, wet/damp track but there is a dry line. Race 2, getting better. Then, before race 2 ends, it starts sprinkling. By final call for race 3, it's a light sprinkle. Rains suit? Naw, I head for the grid, it's raining-- ain't no sprinkles no more-- it's rain. Damn. Hot lap, good traction. Grid, green flag, bike runs great, I get a good launch. I lead for 2 laps. Saturdays winner gets me in 5, I reel him back in on the back stretch. I wave as I go by. He gets me again in 5. I reel him in and wave. It's tarting to rain harder. We come up on back markers. I can't catch him on the back stretch because a lapper has my line through the last kink. But, I catch up exiting ten and I'm watching him. He keeps looking over to see if I'm coming. I have to laugh. I let him lead into one and get him in three but, he gets me back at 5. I catch him again (and wave) and now it's really raining. Water is running down into my boots. I lead him until 5 where he gets me again and now it's pouring-- last lap. I know I can get him and maybe actually win!! WOO HOO!! Turn ten again and a gaggle of lappers going slow in the rain. It was bad, I got scared when I couldn't make out the kink on the back straight. I mean, it was pouring! He got through, I didn't and he won (bastid!!).
I packed up in the rain-- everything is soaking wet. Come 1PM, (about the time i would have raced), the sun came out (man!! talk about muggy-- all that hot sun on that soaking wet infield!!). Just before I left, I looked over at the track-- it was dry!

I gotta say this to all you guys (Rob H. ETC) that haul ass down that back straight on a modern sport bike-- yes, you got big ass tires, and, yes you got modern suspension but, it took all my giblets to hold that 42HP 100 plus a notch or two MPH bike WFO all the way through there.
You got some major testicles!!
Thanks for the advice on the gearing. I first thought I was too tall-- until I started going faster !! Then I was "just right". Got down into the 1:24's in the dry-- 1:27-1:34 in the rain. (Don't laugh OK!!)

[WOZERD]

what about the birds?

[Hyflyer]

what about the birds?

What birds are you talking about? All I see is pictures of the ground?:what:


Always enjoy your race weekend write up

[Dave Bannister]

what about the birds?


what birds! I think boob is kooko for coco puffs :ssmoker: put the blunt down and walk away :spanked

[WOZERD]

page 4 last entry
I see birds-- you don't?

[WOZERD]

Got some pictures from Beaverun. I see I'm back to my old, bad habit of hanging my butt off but keeping my head over the tank. Got to lead with my chin!!

This looks like 2-- or ten. I'm in the lead, trying to fend off the eventual winner. It's raining but not heavy so, must be in the early part of the race.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4091/4835485090_5c574a68b2_b.jpg

If this is 10, I'm in the lead lapping a rider. If it's T5, I'm betting I'm running second. Again, Sunday in the rain.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/4835488846_77c9bbf4ee_b.jpg


Saturday, bad start. Had to fight my way to second place.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/4834862809_0fa502b591_b.jpg

[Dave Bannister]

Nice pics Bob! Your eyes are looking intense in that 1st pic!

I still don't see any birds :D

[WOZERD]

I'm off to VIR (so as the rain let's up enough for me to load the bike). I'm going to drive far as I can then take a break, sleep a few hours. Then tackle 58 for 138 miles. With any luck, I'll tag up with some other race haulers and we can have a race!! I hear it's pretty curvy.

Hope to bang some beers with some WERA/LR folks!! They'll need it after their race (100F predicted). Looks like rain Friday for AHRMA practice then a little cooler Sat and Sun for our races (only 89F !!)

Look me up!! #628
I plan on being in the SE corner of the paddock back by the trees.
Take the time to check out the other bikes-- some sweet vintage iron!! Hand shift Indians, Harleys, TD250's, Triumph twins and triples, BSA's, Ducati's and of course Yamaha, Kawasaki (twins and triples-- 2 and 4 stroke), Suzuki and Honda's! Motards, Sidecars, Guzzi's, Nortons, Parillias, Bultaco's, Aermacchi's-- the list goes on
(Bill? Rob??)

[thom_boles]

I'm planning to run up there on Saturday.

I might have to bring the car now though... You guys can ask Nick why... :lookup:

[RENCRN8]

I still don't see any birds :D

or rain for that matter.... :ssmoker:

[ohiocaferacer]

Bob....sounds like your having fun with AHRMA!!!

The guy you are talking about on the 1971 CB500/4 is a fellow Columbus racer and good friend, Tom Herlihey. Stop by sometime and talk with Tom....and it looks like you've met Pete also on the XS650....both are great guys and will help in anyway they can. Tom and I always pit with Pete at Barber....always a good time and you should look for us if you go to Barber this year.

Tom had called me on his way back from Beaver Run and told me about his DQ, but his model bike is actually eligible for production lightweight(1971 is before 1972 cutoff date)......his problem is....he has no front fender and is running a 4 into 1 exhaust....and rules say you have to run a fender and oem style exhaust(4 into 4). He's never really worried about it in the last 4 or 5 years of racing(we are all just out there racing to have fun and enjoy everyones company), but now it looks like he is gonna have to address it...which is fine....rules are rules. Like I said....Tom is a great guy....stop by and say "HEY".

Have fun at VIR and good luck!!:#1

[WOZERD]

Bob....sounds like your having fun with AHRMA!!!

The guy you are talking about on the 1971 CB500/4 is a fellow Columbus racer and good friend, Tom Herlihey. Stop by sometime and talk with Tom....and it looks like you've met Pete also on the XS650....both are great guys and will help in anyway they can. Tom and I always pit with Pete at Barber....always a good time and you should look for us if you go to Barber this year.

Tom had called me on his way back from Beaver Run and told me about his DQ, but his model bike is actually eligible for production lightweight(1971 is before 1972 cutoff date)......his problem is....he has no front fender and is running a 4 into 1 exhaust....and rules say you have to run a fender and oem style exhaust(4 into 4). He's never really worried about it in the last 4 or 5 years of racing(we are all just out there racing to have fun and enjoy everyones company), but now it looks like he is gonna have to address it...which is fine....rules are rules. Like I said....Tom is a great guy....stop by and say "HEY".

Have fun at VIR and good luck!!:#1

I met Pete at RA. We've been "hanging out" since. Hell of a guy --- for a Cheese Head!
Met Tom too. Good guy. Matter of fact, I can't think of a single person I've met with AHRMA that isn't just flat out fun to talk to and will literally give you the shirt off their backs to help. But then, that's how MOST motorcyclist are.
I know who protested Tom-- wasn't me. I didn't question his tank, seat, exhaust, fenders, side covers, rims ETC. No one is going to beat anyone because of those items. Just like the rules don't say anything about running stacks. But, it was mentioned at a riders meeting at Grattan so, I took them off. I couldn't tell any difference at all (if anything, it ran better) and, I still beat the same people and lost to the same people. I just didn't think a 500/4 was eligible in the LTWT Prod. class no matter when it was built. I was wrong-- I guess. Haven't got a clarification yet!! The performance difference is quite substantial though. Tom railed by me on the straight at about the same speed difference as Pete does on his XS650. In practice, I follow Pete and can pretty well hang with him, depending on the track, til we get to the straights. For instance, Friday, in practice at VIR, I hung on to his tail til we got to 11 and 12 (Oak Tree). I was still braking too much for 11 and he checked out-- no chance for me to get a draft -- I watched him get smaller and smaller as we went down (up?) the straight.
Some guy offered to buy my 450 at VIR, if the 500 is eligible, I'm going to sell it and get a 500/4!! To Hell with corner speed! I can park it in the corners and just run everyone down on the straights! If it hadn''t been for the red flag at The Beave on Saturday, and the rain on Sunday, Tom would have gotten second place both days!
BTW-- I swept the weekend-- 1ST place both days. Not much to brag about though-- no real competition! I had fun racing those Pre 40 Indians and Harleys!! Those doods are friggin nuts!! Hand shift, They look like some cruiser rider going by with the big wide handlebars!! No rear suspension, single spring and a friction knob for front suspension!! Those 45 cubic inch flat heads weren't supposed to go that fast-- were they?? It's one thing to have them pass you in the straights but, when your all leaned over in a turn, swearing your going faster than anyone has ever gone, pegs and toes scraping til your feet are getting hot, and this dood comes around you on the outside, takes his left hand off the bar and reaches down to grab another gear-- that's just wrong!!! I started in the second wave and we actually caught and passed some 1ST wave 200GP guys that got a half a straight away head start!
There was a Horrible tragedy on the North track, I'll let Rob H. tell about it-- really put a dark cloud over the whole event. Matter of fact, there seemed to be a lot of crashes in the WERA races. Us AHRMA doods played second fiddle, WERA got the FM broadcast, we had to strain to hear the loud speakers (we're old, we're used to straining to hear everything!). We kept tabs on the WERA Doods by listening to the radio. We only had a few crashes, a couple of broken bones-- nothing really serious. The AHRMA crashers got those Medic Alert thingys, they just push the button and say: "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!" Works great!

[thom_boles]

I was lacking in my photo skills Bob, so I didn't post any pics. I had fun hanging with the group there, that is a great bunch of people to hang out with.

The drive back home was much less eventful, not much traffic and no moto-cops protecting all the tobacco plants in the middle of nowhere.

[WOZERD]

I meant to run up to see all the LR crowd but, I got on my bike, rode about 100yds and said Fuggit and took a shower. It was so hot and humid-- I was sweating like a stuck pig. I think I took more showers over the 4 days than I do in a month!!
A certain Mr. Boles claimed he was going to post some pics-- A-hem!!
Thanks Thom for coming by. I really appreciated your help and it was great to finally meet you in person-- despite your Rotella/WITTTOM affliction!!
Speaking of that Dumb Bass, I'm gonna check and see where he's at. I keep searching the news out of Yosemite for reports of a Grizzly bear riding a Triumph or looking to see if that location thingy he has shows him in the center of an outline of a bear. No such luck-- yet!

[WOZERD]

I was lacking in my photo skills Bob, so I didn't post any pics. I had fun hanging with the group there, that is a great bunch of people to hang out with.

The drive back home was much less eventful, not much traffic and no moto-cops protecting all the tobacco plants in the middle of nowhere.

WOW-- we posted at almost Ed Zachery the same time!!

that is a great bunch of people to hang out with.

They are-- aren't they?? I stayed up late Saturday talking with the only American ever to win the IoM and a bunch of old flat trackers. The story's!! It was great. Getting a trophy kiss from two hotties wasn't too bad either! Funny how things go. You walk around a virtual nobody-- in awe of some of the legends you read about "back when" and, now, they know your name and give you the thumbs up as you head out onto the track. In the end, legends or not, they are all just regular people with an odd hobby. Real people-- good people, doing what they enjoy. It really doesn't get any better. I was pitted with some folks from Massachusetts (more or less, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut too). A bunch of side car people. The "monkey's were all women (the youngest was 40) and did they ever put on a feast!! Korean Spare Ribs? BBQ chicken, Peruti and cream cheese (no idea what that was-- but it tasted good!) Kush Kush (WTF??) salad, Pasta salad! Beer!!!!! Those damn New England liberals sure can cook!!
Sunday morning came way too early!

[RJH_5150]

I was planning on running over for a little bit Saturday evening but with all the chaos that happened on the north track I never got a chance to. What a day. Good to meet you Thom. Sorry I had to cut our conversation short and run to the riders meeting. Great job Bob!

[thom_boles]

Sorry I had to cut our conversation short and run to the riders meeting.

No problem good to meet you too. They weren't even going to let me down there, I told the guy checking for passes that I'd be quick. He took my license so I'd come back soon.

[WOZERD]

Someone posted pics of Beaverun July 23,24.
Here's Bob and Kristen honkin on turn 2
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4880589382_6f2286280d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33005058@N02/4880589382/)
Kristen and Bob Beaverun 2010 by wozerd, on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33005058@N02/4880589382/)
More sidecars!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4879979989_73047fbaa8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33005058@N02/4879979989/)
Evy, getting her pretty white leathers dirty-- and breaking her thumb.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4879979561_9aa4559a01_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33005058@N02/4879979561/)
Evy beaverrun 2010 by wozerd, on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33005058@N02/4879979561/)
Yup-- it rained! Sportsman class (yellow plates, and it's starting to come down pretty good. My race, right after this one, got the real downpour!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4879979351_3b2905de4d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33005058@N02/4879979351/)
Beaverun 2010 yup-- it rained! by wozerd, on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33005058@N02/4879979351/)
Me, running in third after a bad start, following a newbie. He was riding his ass off! He will be very good very soon!!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4880588736_9614e70f8b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33005058@N02/4880588736/)
Beaverun 2010 having fun with the new guy by wozerd, on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33005058@N02/4880588736/)