Rat Fink Ring
1966 Malibu
60s Chevrolets are the best
Dick O'Brien (left)
An Orange and Black stampede from the 50's through the 70s with Dick O'Brien at the reigns.
Photo: O'Brien and Cal Rayborn
Lance Jones 23c
Above: Jones being interviewed by Dave Despain
Lance Jones of Gadsden, Alabama has been a life long motorcycle racer. His early years saw victories on all types of dirt tracks at Junior and Pro levels . . . all across our great country. Jones is always a threat to win. He's still known to participate in "legends" competition. Lance is a member of The Class of '79 with notables as Wayne Rainey and Scott Parker, an organization that raises funds for currently injured racers and their families.
FLAT TRACK: Bore X Stroke
88 X 61.5mm Indian
76 X 97mm Sportster XLR 900
76 X 81mm Iron XR
79 X 76mm Aluminum XR
83 X 60mm Kawasaki
I threw the XLR in there for reference !
I threw the XLR in there for reference !
Mouse Trap
This thing was a mess - hopefully usable now? I want to try and get it to function just perfect someday - so when you pull the clutch lever, it almost stays in - on it's own. Low clutch lever force. Clutch assist. It's kinda neat when they work as intended.
Rigid Horseshoe
I'm thinking about this . . . uh, oh.
The Good: Sunday Ride
The farmers in the fields. Harvest in full swing. Watch out for combines and grain wagons !
Moments in Time
Brad Baker's 450 before he crashed out of the lead . . .
Springfield All-Star Short Track 2016
'64 XLH and Jeremiah Armenta at Davenport, Iowa
Buchanan's Spoke debacle
My great uncle, Billy Strauser of Wolf Point, Montana
Ken Pressgrove and H-D KR750
Gary Nixon and tuner . . . and a cigarette
Wrong manifold for this ULH
Preserving American Heritage !
Clifford Vaughs in white pants (photo by Danny Lyon)
CHVRCH of Choppers
Springfield, Illinois
At over 120+mph . . . that's incredibly fast to be moving with nothing but packed dirt under your two wheels. Track preparation is crucial. You need equipment for track preparation, you need the track-prep managers to exchange information on "how it's done" for motorcycles. It's different than horses. Accidents happen and they've made positive track and safety improvements since the days of Leonard & Resweber . . . Flat track motorcycle racing is a dangerous sport - even for professionals.
Charlotte Kainz
I met Charlotte and her dad, at the first Mama Tried Show in Milwaukee. We're both in the little Vimeo movie that accompanied the show that year. I talked with them quite a bit during the weekend. She had her bright yellow XR750 outfitted with ice tires for the show. Charlotte was very nice, so was her dad. Charlotte was so petite and small, I wondered how she could handle a motorcycle at all, until I saw her race. This last (Labor Day Weekend) at Springfield, after a poor start - she charged through the field to just miss a transfer spot. There were some young girls in front of me who were goin' absolutely bonkers whenever Charlotte made a move, or scored a pass - they were going crazy, cheering with high fives, laughing and hugging. She was their inspiration, showing what a young girl could do with practice and determination. It made the racing (for myself) all the more exciting when 35L Kainz hit the track with her orange/red helmet. Now she's gone, and it's gonna hurt for many - for a long time, when you're taken away doing something you love to - at only 20 years young. She'll be missed - and I hope the other racers never forget what can happen in this sport. Look out for one another - do it for Charlotte Kainz, and for you, and your competitor's family and friends.
My condolences to all Charlotte's family, friends and fellow racers - and there's many of you.
__________________________________________
Kyle McGrane
More terrible news I didn't want to hear. Kyle was in a separate racing accident as Charlotte, (at the same track) and he fought for his life in the hospital, but passed away yesterday (Monday 09-26-2016). Any time a flat track racer from our community is taken - it's such a loss. You know all the names each year. The name McGrane has been a dirt-track family name for many years. Kyle was a fast, upcoming racer who was very talented. You know this is a dangerous sport when even up-and-coming professionals can fall victim to crashes and serious injuries. More heart-felt condolences to the entire McGrane family and friends and fellow competitors.
I've been a motorcycle (flat track) fan since 1975, and this is the part I hate the most. The fact that it's a fast paced and exciting sport is what makes it so good . . . but, I hope this new American Racing sanctioning body can have some serious meetings about safety in the sport - and improve conditions or possibly starting procedures to give more room for racers in early laps (when these situations tend to happen, if you look at the history) especially on these "rough" and challenging racing venues.
Kyle McGrane
________________________________________________
NOTE: I remember one year at the Springfield Mile when Chris Carr and Scott Parker became spokesmen for all the racers, after the track (due to very heavy rains) was sticky, and wet - causing practice crashes and injuries. Coolbeth had one of the worst crashes of his career that day. Racers were advised they would not be points-penalized if they elected not to ride. Maybe a senior member of the racing fraternity could be elected to govern track conditions, etc? This may hold race promoters "more responsible" for track conditions and the racing surface. In general, if the racers show up, and the track is not acceptable to 90% of the participants, action is taken: ie: travel money is dispersed, etc.
Anything towards safety goals would help . . . none of us want this to ever happen again, to any one of our racers. Deterring injuries (and worse, fatalities) in this sport should always be a top priority.
I feel this would not effect the quality of racing,
but, actually improve it.
Respectfully.
- R. Noot
PJ1 Satin Black: FAST BLACK
Cures fully after running the engine. Smells terrible ! Wear a mask . . . clean the spray tip after use.
Youth is King
Mert Lawwill
K.M.
We all know Mert's gloried history . . . but from 1968-1972, Keith Mashburn was one of the best flat track racers in the country. He was hired by Yamaha for the '68 season to ride all the short tracks, half miles and miles. He blazed victories and podium finishes in most all the nationals. Later in his career, Keith was approached by Harley-Davidson for a factory ride, but thought his place with Yamaha was secure, until they dropped him for the next season. A rather dejected Mashburn made a "real life" move and got steady employment, leaving racing behind - when he was still quite competitive. The dangers of motorcycle racing at that time were very real, with injuries and deaths from even the top pros of the sport. Today, Mashburn enjoys vintage rallies and banquets featuring the stars of yesterday . . . a role he fits in well.
1972 - Mashburn gets the silver cup and the trophy girl.
Mounts
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