STURGIS "The 75th" - 2015

I wasn't real ready for Sturgis this year . . . I had a couple glitches with the panhead, etc.  I got my shit together and hit the highway with Dad, Tommy Rice(from California) and Kike.  I try to run 75mph so their big inch 100+ motors can stretch a bit.  Mandatory stop at the Wagon Wheel !  Interior, South Dakota

Always share your cheese !  This macaroni & cheese with bacon bits . . . mmmmmm good.

The Michael Lichter Show was killer as usual.  It's great for Michael to gather up all these builders and showcase their talents.  The food is always excellent - and the perfect time to hook-up with everyone for the week.  Me & Hux check'd out the show - then hit downtown Sturgis to party like a 49 year old . . .

Hux and his bros got kinda wild at The Dungeon - the house party with the South Africans was kinda crazy too . . . That was fun.

 It's only Sunday - 5 days to go . . . Holy shit it's tough to be a biker.

I was beat.

MONDAY MORNING - Let's check the schedule:

 I make a spreadsheet schedule, I wouldn't want to miss anything.

 Darrel's tricked out FXRT runs parts from S&S, Thunderheader and Race-Tech suspension.  He follows the AMA circuit real close, so we went down and had a talk with Mees, Baker & Kenny to see how to beat the Kawasaki . . . Mees outfoxed Coolbeth with a quick start to take the National Tues Nite in Rapid City !

I hook up with Shea and Shannon at the Drag Strip and we proceed to drink beer,

hang out, rock out with Mothership(twice), spray sunscreen on each other - and see some killer bikes for the next 3 days . . . Awesome time with you both - really super cool.  It was fucking awesome !

 

After a long, hot day of great rock-n-roll and riding . . . I took Tuesday off and went to find Irish Rich, Denver Dan and Chopper Dave at the Speed Merchant booth in City Park.  SM(Speed Merchant) has expanded their company and products since the last time I talked with Dan.  Everywhere you looked, SM was well represented - and the builds that Brawny & Crew have put together with the new H-D 750s are so bad freaking ass.

Irish Rich, Denver Dan . . . and Fish(Dan Gurney) chill and jive.

Irish Rich (his bike pictured above) won the Street Chopper Winner Take All and the
Cycle Source Show with his totally rad custom built - Dick Allen wheel'd - Jesse James chopped and
modified El Diablo and CFL frame (by JJ himself).  Real sweet bike Rich.  Great hangin' with you and Steve and hope to see you again real soon . .  -Noot

Me and Taime Downe(Faster Pussycat) chillin' in the grass.

He's put over 60,000 miles on his twin cam so far . . .
This dude rocks and rides !

He'll come and rock Charles City whenever. . .

Fuckin' Aye Dude . . . nice talkin' with ya.

Like I always say . . .

Where There's a Whip, There's a Way !
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THURSDAY 

 Thursday morning I thought I'd run by the fairgrounds and see if anybody showed for the Hooligan Half Mile and right next to the gate, here's Fatty and the FTWCO crew with his rider Jordan Baber, ready to make a go of it with their 10 day Flat Track Sportster Build.  

This bike had borrowed pieces from about everybody.  Race tech parts off Brad's own Dyna.  You may even recognize the pipes (I did) . . . A conglomeration of race & street parts.  Jordan is a great rider, and he was pumped to try it out . . . that's when shit started breaking.  And falling off.  Then electrical problems.  We all had to work on it after every practice session.  Fellow racers are lending parts - but shit just keeps happening.  Jordan wanted to ride so bad, but more gremlins.  It was looking grim.

When the bike ran . . . Jordan looked fast and smooth.  He said it was handling great.  After messin' with a fuck'd up sprocket (the gear he wanted) - it was almost perfect.  Then the pipes broke again - this time it was really broke - and the bike was running like shit.  The first heat race is at 7pm - It's 5:45 in Sturgis, everything is closing.  Fatty taped a license plate on the race bike, I tied parts to the panhead - and we set out looking for a guy to weld this pipe.   Gypsie Vintage Cycle was closing for the day . . . but this way cool cat named Curtis said he'd give his welding a try - and fix the pipe.  It wasn't pretty, but we'll see if it will hold?  Trying to work on a hot bike, in the heat, and replace the pipe (still hot) was a challenge.

When we got back to the track, the real problems started . . . popping, banging engine - ignition problems - and then we discovered it wasn't charging - which ain't real good considering it runs an electronic ignition.  Shit.  The exhaust now ran only one muffler, since the other one fell off.  What a cobbled mess.

 Fatty's Go-Pro was the next thing to fall off.  $300 trampled by Maxxis !  Shit.

It started running decent after Chopper Dave suggested we make a wire, jump the battery directly to the coil and run it "hot all the time" to bypass all the switches & circuit breakers . . . after we made up a connector spade to cut the power, to shut off the bike.  Jordan went out and won his heat, solidly - going away.  Now for the Main Event.  (but after a charging check(it's not charging)  Now a total-loss battery system with electronic ignition !  Hope it can last 20 laps ??? !!!! )

Well folks, the rest is history.  JB got the holeshot, and checked out - he put-it-on-cruise control for the win.  Iowa over California - but he needed the help of California to pull it off.  The neatest thing about racing, everybody helping each other, borrowing parts, lending parts . . . and it never hurts to have a hot shoe rider like Jordan Baber.  His ol' man Terry will sure be proud.  Thanks fellas - it was the highlight of my trip.
Hat's off to Speed Merchant for all the promotion and all the other sponsors too - the stands were packed and the beer chics were very very hot . . . Whew !
The hot dogs were delicious . . .

More photos of Sturgis coming up this week !

Kinda Cool . . .

I'm sure it took a lot of work and thinking . . .

A fitting tribute, but I like the original best - and I know it's faster !

Reaming Side Car Loops

It appears a "locator" off lower seat post tube - and this power-reamer aligning the loops.  Mostly likely a couple other operations while on this table . . . ? Lack of electric welds? 1937 ?

Tech Tips: Breaker Points

Personally, here's how I do it - with good results . . .

FIRST:  I make certain point faces are parallel and square to each other - equal distance across from each other.  I bend, pry, tap with hammer & punch, use a needle nose, whatever . . . just get the faces as straight as possible.  If you don't, they are just barely touching at one point - and you may not get a good ground, more arching of spark, more pitting of point's faces, etc . . 

NEXT:  I check my Points Gap on both the "Narrow" and "Wide" lobes.

Magneto Points = .015 to.016 gap (.018 new set)

Cone Points = .020 gap (.022 new set)

If they are a new set of points, I add a couple to compensate for the fiber block wearing.

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NOTE:  If the gaps are different on each lobe - I will "true up" the shaft with a small brass hammer or a punch with tape on the end . . . (see below) Otherwise you have (2)different points gap setting for each cylinder - which is lame.  I think my motors run better with equal point gaps.  

I just lightly tap the shaft opposite side I want it to move.  Most of the time it works.  Sometimes the shaft won't move much.  Sometimes it's off quite a bit.  If I can't get the shaft to move, I'll split the difference from each lobe and set my gap at that . . . kinda in the middle.  Example: .022 and .018 - I'll set it around .019 or .020 - ( a shaft with .005+ run-out needs trued )

Spark Plug Gaps

Magneto = .020-.025

Breaker Points = .025-.035

The more powerful your coil, the more you can open up your plug gap.  Most electronic ignitions can jump a .030 or more . . . really get that flame to travel.  The wider gap, the more your coil will "strain" to jump that gap, possibly damaging a stock coil?  I usually run what the H-D Service Manual recommends.  Check your cone points every 10K miles.  Magneto Points last longer.  I've had the same sets of points in my magnetos for about 10 years now - and they all still look good.

ALWAYS grease your cam lobe (fiber block)

With advance weights:

ALWAYS set your timing with weights in advanced position ! Use a screw driver or needle nose to advance your cam to the stop in the direction it turns when engine is running . . .

 5 ohm coils = Points Ignition

3 ohm coils = Electronic Ignition

(You can run a 3 ohm coil with points, you just risk burning your points a bit faster over time . .

See you on the road !

Sam Wills 187mph - 1/8 Mile Eddyville, Iowa 2015

Sam backed up this run with a track record 4.01 @193mph later in the evening.  Nitro mixed with cool night air equals BIG HORSEPOWER !  Congratulations to Sam and his entire team.

Eddyville Drags by S&S Cycle

Vintage bike drags Friday & Saturday brought out vintage, nitro, pro stock and you could even make a run on the S&S 143 . . . . Ride the Dragon !  (you get a free t-shirt and an interview)

Dual engine Triumph pre-unit, originally built in 1953 . . . and Bruce had his bright orange 99inch Sportster runnin' great.  I watched him shut down a Hayabusa and a ZX14, both with wheelie bars.  Must be the Baisley heads ?  He can ride it awesome, smooth & consistent.  Dingman should be a proud sponsor.

Lil' CH is just right - Pop & Kid Race Team - Wisconsin.

Local iron - JRs Stroker, Clarksville, Iowa

Drink beer, tell stories and have some fun . . .

These guys know what it's all about - Nice meeting you !

Sam Will's crew in action.  1500 horsepower.  

Numerous 200+ mph passes

Many records . . .

4.25 in the 1/8 @185+mph

Nitro discussion . . . Jeff Wiley & Sam Wills

T-Handles & Speed-Wrenches !

 More my speed . . .(above)

It's the people you meet at an event like this that I dig the best.  Vintage racing is sure coming back.  Most of these racers had already ran Meltdown in Byron, Humboldt, Farley, etc . . . some driving 700 to 1000 miles just to race their bike at the Midwest tracks.  They all like midwest tracks -  no hassles, good tracks and lots of fun.

Red Helmet

The red helmet - one of his best trademarks . . . 

I wonder who has it?
Observed:
Shortened XLR pipes (about -2 to 3")
Rear brake direct by aluminum arm (hand made)
Seat bracket bars
Struts (no shocks)
Road race front drum brake
Huge fuel line (nitro)
Modified sprocket cover
Solid bars on lower tree
High Gear Only - Slip Clutch . . . Rocket away like no tomorrow
Rear slick is hot & sticky
Wonder how many cubes it is? 
Lions Dragway (pre 1972)
I can just hear race announcer Larry Huffman . . .
"Check that watch, Iowa's Payne just shucked a 169.66 mph in his first pass of the day . . .
look out Brits, King Leo is here and coming for you . . . wowza !"

 

Two is Better Than One

See you soon for a full fast pass . . . !

Eddyville, Iowa 

This Weekend

VINTAGE NITRO DRAGS

Warren is FAST !

Fastest guy I know over 200lbs on a 45 . . . Period.

C gets a new cat . . .

Rebuilt '41 FL

River of Time

It's very quiet . . .  just riding my bicycle on the early morning trails the last few weeks, before the heat of the afternoon.  Out of the trees and grass, I kick up big cottontail rabbits, baby rabbits, baby squirrels, mice, a skunk going home, birds, etc. busy with their day.  Animals, going about their life.  Busy doing.  They aren't worried about phones, computers, taxes or dish network.  I stop for a picture - It's quiet.  As I'm riding, sometimes I think of people that I've known all my life - forever . . . wonder where they've been?  Then, I remember, they passed away - a year or two or more, but it still seems like they're still around.  You know what I mean?   These people would probably just love to ride this trail just one more time.  Hear the water, hear a certain voice, hear a bird's song, just once more.  The river just keeps flowing.  Sometimes it rages.  Sometimes it's really slow, barely a trickle of water.  Just like the lifetime of a human.  A river can teach you so many things.  Living on a river can make a life more beautiful - and educate you to the importance of people in your life - and what really matters.  I'm lucky to have a river near.  I just got an idea . . . we should go fishing.  Fishing is a good thing.  Good for your living soul.