LUNCH: You've Got (1)Hour - Ready, Set, GO !

I worked on other people's shit for 41 minutes.  Then I worked on my own shit for 19 minutes.  In my 19 minutes, I made a custom throttle cable (twice) for my Dellorto PHM Carburetor which has about 8 different fuel adjustments (of various types) and each of the 8 adjustments has a dozen combinations, so that's about 90+ different combinations.  I hope it doesn't take all that !  At the least, it's all hooked up with this Motion Pro Gunner Gasser - with Biltwell Grips and Honda XR75 kill switch. Time is up.

H-D Part No. 165-32

70+ year old product . . . still in the package.  Unwrap the cosmoline and oiled wax paper - and the valves are still new.  No rust or corrosion.  Made with the highest quality.  New old stock, right off the shelf.  Preserved in time.  Only the Egyptians could do it better.   

Genuine Motor Factory Replacement Parts

They've passed THE MOST RIGID INSPECTION

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Cosmoline: Was first developed as a petroleum based product for military storage applications requiring a rust inhibitor.  It has a thick, oily wax-type viscosity.  It can be removed by scraping, or applying gentle heat, and washed off completely with common light solvents.  A song was sung by GIs that "cosmoline" will keep my weapon clean . .  ! . . .

Jordan Baber #72

Jordan had a bit of an off-night . . . shit.  But I got to have some beers and pizza with him later - Fun times JB . . . good to see you again.  -Noot

Springfield All Star Short Track

46 Races . . . In case you wondered who was there ?

Kenny Coolbeth ( Exclamation Point ) !

Early evening, the day before The Springfield Mile.  This historic track was prepped for a sunny Sunday.  Ready to soak up the evening dew . . . fast racing awaits ! 

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Here's what happened:

#42 Bryan Smith was so fast, all day.  His Kawasaki was the fastest motorcycle on the track. The fastest in practice.  The fastest in qualifying.  The fastest heat. Smith won the Dash-For-Cash by jumpin' to an early lead and pulling away a full (1)second/lap.  Chris Carr (announcer) noted that "At this pace . . . Smith potentially could win by a full 25 seconds in the main event." That would be what we call "checking out" or "a run-away" . . . This is a huge margin, since many Springfield Mile finishes are within .0001/sec.  

In almost a full field of Kawasaki's . . . Jared Mees' team bikes seemed well prepared and ready.

One of the most popular riders, Mees signed autographs between bites of broccoli and rice.

H-D factory rider Davis Fisher's 750 lacked power to make the main . . . but,. it looked cool !

I caught 9-Time Champ Scott Parker's interview on the big screen.  He mostly talked about his bar in Michigan, and how he wants to sell it.  Parker is one-of-kind.  Love ya Scotty !

As the afternoon sun went down, the grandstands cast a big shadow on the starting line-up.  I had my fingers crossed that somebody could at least stay with Smith . . . and not let him get away and break the draft.  I think the whole crowd felt the same way - WE ALL WANTED TO SEE A RACE !   . . . and we sure did.

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In all my years of Springfield's . . .  I never saw anything quite like it.  As expected, after warming the tires with laps one and two . . . Smith tried the break-away in the early laps.  It didn't work this time as #2 Kenny Coolbeth hung to Smith's pipes.  Breathing in massive amounts of race fumes - lap after lap.  You could see Smith subtly trying some different lines - but Kenny stuck to him . . . like on a string.  The tension in the crowd built - lap after lap.  That's a lot of tension and nerves after 20 laps I'll tell ya !   Smith and Coolbeth holding a 5 sec. gap on the next group, with Cory Texter trying to catch up.  

Lap after lap - One wrong slip could allow Smith's Kawasaki to the break the draft - and he'd get away - but the crafty #2 held on his tail . . . The crowd was edgy - veteran fans knew the way this race can go . . . holy shit - the tension was high when the White Flag came out - still, Coolbeth did not pass . . .

As the pair shot the back straight, Coolbeth finally broke loose with a bold draft pass to Smith's outside - taking the lead, and gaining 3 bike lengths in the process.  Expecting Smith to counter, the crowd came alive - on their feet !  Screamin' to the finish, Smith went for it - and came up .009 tenths too short.  Kenny Coolbeth Jr. wins The Springfield Mile !  It went from one of the most (I hate to say "boring" main events), but - to one of the best ever.  Coolbeth announced with pride:  "Harley-Davidson Wins Springfield" . . . possibly the most fitting ending which could be the final hurrah for the greatest motorcycle racing engine ever manufactured . . . The XR750.  Congratulation Kenny - You made my weekend !  

I would like to add that Bryan Smith was most gracious in his 2nd Place speech about the race.  Smith is a true champion racer in his own right, and a senior member of the dirt track fraternity.  I'd sure like to see Bryan get that #1 plate (it ain't for lack of trying) and congrats to Cory Texter for his on-the-box finish.  Texter just gets better on the miles every year, and will see the top spot soon.

 Kenny & Hux earlier in the day . . .

Picture perfect - See ya'll soon ! . . -Ricky

Davenport Swap, Race, Party, Sleep?

I'd like to first say it was great to see some of my best 2-wheeled friends like Ricky, Amber, Hux, Sonny, Steve & Toby, Jeff & Fatty, Jordan, Klein & Co., Warren & Kendall, Jeremiah Love, Julie, Hartman, Drew, Jeremiah & Carney, Pete, Dave, Nick Haint, DA & Cyn, Griz, and many others (Hey Sid !) who . . . I'd like to say thank you for taking the time to come and hang out . . . and catch up.  It was really really fun.  Warren won his class after a little bit of hassle, but totally worth it.  The weather held out - and a good time was had by all.  Ridiculously awesome this year !

 Mike Lange (far side) super-tunes this vintage racer . . .

 Jeremiah phones home . .  "Davenport, Iowa !"

(I know where he got that shirt)

 Terry takes the checkers !  Again !

 Trying to change Warren's flat (I had a spare tube and irons in my saddlebag).

Me & Bake went to work . . . but the damn thing popped again !

Racing is hard work . . 

(photo by FTW Fatty) 

 When Jeff Wright lit-it-up by the bathrooms . . . I knew it was time for bed.
Early AM after pizza . . .
See ya'll soon !  Respectfully, -Noot

Gas, Ass or Cats . . . ?

 I need a shot-'o-gasoline . . .

 Poor Man's Willys?  Nope, just a Chevrolet . . .

 Packed.

 Buddy Seat.

 Shop Dope on Bearing Retainers

 Bob Spina - Still at it 50+ Years !

Morty "The Official Shop Cat"

Nerd stuff . . .

Can I be considered a "nerd" 'cause I enjoy reading technical information?  Why, the answer is YES. 

Morning Commute

I kick started the 1950 Schwinn and hit the trail . . . down the brick street, over Arlen Ness Bridge.

The river was like glass (slight fog over the water downstream).  The recent high water has washed all the goose shit off the trail !  The geese are still here, so more shit coming soon . . .

Downstream fog is lifting . . .

Over the stone bridge and around my exercise loop . . . then past Frank Lloyd Wright's house.

The river is back to normal levels, with good flow.

The kayaks will be out this weekend . . .

McQuillen Place construction seems slow, but they say they're on schedule.  A worker was on the boom early this morning . . . time for a cafe' . . . .

I sit with the bankers and financial wizards of our fine city.  I get the el cheapo $1.38 coffee-of-the-day (black, no room for cream) then I sneak in some half & half anyway . . . and talk politics, city history, and what I did last night when they were probably all in bed by 9:30 . . . . I don't buy any coffee that's from Africa, because I heard they exploit children really bad over there . . . all over coffee beans.  Fuck those dudes.

120 Mile Clutch Test

My clutch basket was leaking oil into my dry clutch plates . . . so I cleaned it all out, and hit the road to Clapper Restoration outside Clear Lake to check out some parts.  On the way back, I rode out to girlhood home of women's rights leader Carrie Chapman Catt (my wife is a docent volunteer in the visitor's center).  The retired farmstead, with brick house is beautifully restored.  It's peaceful out here.  My clutch is working
now too.

This lady founded The League of Women Voters . . . and then, she kicked the ass of all the stuffed shirt men back in the day . . . which was instrumental in giving women the right to vote - which is very cool.

2017 Land Speed Record Attempt

Andy Green (United Kingdom) is planning to shatter his current land speed record of like 750+mph with this new rocket and jet engine propelled vehicle.  He's pretty sure he can go over 1000mph this time out . . . and they've cleared a track with a length of 14 miles in Africa to make a go of it.  I suppose that open cockpit is where the driver sits with his head sticking out so he can see, with his leather racing cap and goggles on ?

Vintage Shine

Bill (Harley Museum Bill) has us doin' a rebuild of an early CH motor.  The rockers had that "aluminum disease" corrosion all over . . . so I wet sanded and buffed 'em up a bit.  The plan is to make the engine have some vintage-shine patina . . . like a polished up barn find Ironhead Sportster . . . soon ready to hit the streets of Milwaukee !  Again !
PS.  I still haven't finished my Grain Belt.....

Do you know any Idioms ?

I just talked to a dude about motorcycles, bike builders, bike shows, mechanics and about everything motorcycle related.  Everyone we chatted about, he had some type of "idiom" to relate me to how he felt about such doings . . .

- "Hey, It takes one to know one . . . "
- "Revenge is a dish best served cold . . . "
- "That's the pot calling the kettle black."

Huh, the pot calling the kettle black?  I guess here's how that one goes.  This pot and kettle are beside each other on a stove top.  This "pot" (which is very shiny and looks real polished, almost like chrome) calls the "kettle" (which is a dark, black and stained finish from doing all the work) . . . The pot calls the kettle Black.  I guess the kettle responds that, on the contrary, "It is "You, the Pot" who is Black, and you are seeing your own reflection on my shiny surface.  It's the kettle who intellectually outsmarts the "simpleton" pot who was eager to degrade the appearance of The Kettle, who plays a mind-game type trick on the pot and . . . Of coarse that gets the pot all pissed off . . . and they still hate each other to this very day !  * The photo of Cindy Crawford has nothing to do with this post.  She's just got that 80s hotness that most all younger women of today seem to lack a bit.