Byron Meltdown Drags Road Trippin'

After riding through a little wind and misty rain . . . I made a stop in Galena, Illinois.  My bike is running great, except my brake light quit . .

At the track I found Hartman's bike pretty quick . . . then here he comes in his Henry J . . . !

The drags run "heads-up" all day and into the night.  Over 600 entries.  Lee ran his knucklehead . . . Andrezzi was there too . . . Flathead running over 100mph . . . Vintage gassers going 7.50 in 1320.  Vintage, period survivor original race cars.  A decent swap meet and car show too !  This event was really well organized, they kept it moving.  The announcer was excellent !

Kurpius, Warren, Lil' Chris & Dan(cool cat, nice to meet ya). . . . came to join the party.  Me and Ryan were racin' through the Illinois countryside after the races Friday Nite.  Lighting mechanicals.  Dark river roads.  We all flew through the gritty backstreets of Rockford, Illinois . . . The Rue ! . . . Drew's garage . . . cops, fireworks . . . and a couple choppers in the grass.  These guys roll hard.  Kinda nuts. Thanks for the fun fellas !
Respectfully & Yours Truly, -Noot

It wouldn't be a party without some pyro . . . and the cops showin' up.  Thanks Drew !

Sunny skies, the wind at my back . . . and a stop in Savanna, IL at the Iron Horse just in time for the afternoon band and a cold one.  A bar full of vintage race bikes - doesn't get much better than that . . .

Vintage Drag Racing This Weekend

The Meltdown Drags

Byron Dragway 
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Vintage Dragsters, Motorcycles, Rails, Nitro, Alcohol, Gassers, Altered,
Swap Meet, Car Show, Vendors . . .
Beer, Camping, Food, Party, Sunny Skies . . . America ! 
Friday - Saturday - Sunday 

Summer Evening Rides

I gassed up the WLA and hit the backroads . . . threw a drink in the backpack and made a big loop around the city - watching the Iowa sunset.  The days are still long enough to take in a long evening. 

Busy Bee

The razor is for trimming the gaskets (not shoppin' lines) and I've got this ironhead pump all aligned, breather timed and spinning free.  I like the steel-type shifter shaft seals the best.

My dad's a TV repairman . . . "Ultimate set 'o tools"  Pinion gear correct depth.

Got this transmission all together with correct end-play.  FL shift cam is lubed and timed.  This will be my first ratchet top 4-speed.  Built a few for other folks, but never had one for myself.  I restored an original mousetrap to go with it !  

Kenny's kinda crazy . . .

 . . . but you gotta love him.  Nice to see you again Kenny !

I'm think' about gettin' a new fancy phone? Hmmmm?

Last Weekend

Last Saturday was a fun time . . . about 300+ miles, up and back to the Full Tilt Chopper Show.  We met as usual in Kenyon(Hux & JB met Big Noot, Ricky and yours truly) - then Jordan had a couple blips . . . then a few more - but, we made it.   As for the show, I liked the shovelhead (one above) with the Burkhardt Magneto.  If I had a shovel, I'd like to have this magneto set-up. Cool.

41 was hot !

Yellow & Black . . . to Black & White (Checkers)

Don't for one minute think you could beat  
Kenny Roberts on a motorcycle.  

He's still fast as _____.

Sprocket Countdown: 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17 . . . 16 ?

I like gearing down the early 900 Sportsters and K Models with 20, 19, 18, 17 . . . (and you can get really crazy with a 16 tooth transmission sprocket).  It's fun to race around town and crank it up.  I set my chain length for a 19, so I can run a 17,18 or a 20 without adding links, etc., and keep my rear wheel in a good "adjustment zone" for my range on the swing-arm slots.  I keep extra chains of different lengths to run the 16 or a 22, 23 or 24 tooth.  My road bike runs the best with a 22T . . . anything much higher just lugs the motor, loses power, and you run the risk of low oil flow, scored pistons, etc.  I've found these ironheads need some revs to survive.  My 1961 XLCH runs a 21 most of the time.  I like to add an 18T now and then and she really rips !  You start power shiftin' with that 18, and the front wheel will pull up.  Don't miss a gear, 'cause it grabs rpms real quick.  With the XLR straight pipes, PB cams, XLR heads and other goodies, it's not long before the whole town just wants you to shut that thing off . . . and go home.  Quietly.