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.  

Go Johnny Go !

Jose and Johnny Cecotto with Barry Sheene

Johnny Cecotto at age 19 (youngest World Champion ever) defeating

the great Giacomo Agostini.

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 Cecotto qualified on pole for Daytona 200(with a stock race bike) but a pre-start motorcycle problem put him on the back row for the start - which he then passed the entire field and finished a solid 3rd Place.
One of the greatest race rides ever recorded.
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Cecotto has one of the highest pole position(qualifying) to win ratios of any racer
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Italian born, but he grew up in Venezuela - and still announces race coverage there.

Thanks Randy !

Randy got his new machines all set-up in his basement . . . so he made this steel adapter sleeve to run a 1" clutch perch on 7/8" handlebars.  I can still use my stock, standard, heavy H-D clutch cable and perch. After turning, he cut a mill-slot for some "pinch."  I did all the precise measurements, gave him a print - and """Hocus Pocus Poof""" . . .  It was in my hand so fast . . .

Gettin' what ya pay for . . .

During oil changes, I dump in my quart of oil.  I let it sit, for a minute or two - then after it's pretty much all gone, I add the next quart to the tank.  All my "empty" quarts I turn-em-upside down in my Ratio Rite.  Almost every time, it drains an additional 1.50 to 1.75 fluid oz. per quart.  It's like your cat licking out the ice cream carton . . . there's more in there !

"Did someone say ice cream?"

PS.  Morty Spring Pest Control Totals :
2ea birds
1ea big rabbit
2ea little rabbits(don't wanna call 'em babies)
1ea jack squirrel
. . . and Morty is an "old timer !"

This is 80s Hair Metal ( 1979 . . .close enough)

I like the Silver !

All stock, except for the "Blue Silicone Pushrod Seals"

Harley VL

Waiting for parts . . . everything blasted.  Still need a good hot-water wash and dry.  Take your time and do your best.  We're talkin' an 80+ year old engine here . . . Can you spell V.I.N.T.A.G.E. ??????  Hell, it's an A.N.T.I.Q.U.E. . . .

Sonny Boy Paint

I like this Winged Wheel by Sonny Boy Paint.  It would make a neat tattoo right up your left arm !  Good Luck and safe travels to all the Born Free "riders and travelers" headed west to the big show. 

Caswell Tank Sealer

I'll seal this tank (even though it doesn't leak yet).  Always a good idea to drain fiberglass tanks when not-in-use . . .

Thanks Dale Walksler . . .

Dale Walksler

I know you've see him on TV, and you know his Wheels Through Time Museum.  I first met Dale at the Springfield Mile, he was pushin' Resweber's blue & white KR up on the stage and we talked flat track and K models.  I think he still lived in southern Illinois then?  I see him at Davenport every once in awhile.  He's always cool to me (he doesn't even really know me, or who I am) and I can call him with a question - and he helps me out, or reinforces what I already think is correct.  I really appreciate a guy with knowledge of old Harley engines that's nice enough to take your call, share knowledge and answer a question.  I talked to him recently, and he gave me good advice on a 1934 VL engine I'm learning about.  Keep up the good work, (and like Kevin Baas always says) "May the vintage bike addiction run in your soul."  . . .  or something like that . . .