My Favorite Professional Racer 2017

Sammy Halbert has been my favorite flat track racer for the 2017 season.  Bryan Smith was my favorite last year.  I've always admired Halbert's universal skills on all the tracks.  He can ring around a short track, sky off a TT jump, ride a cushion half-mile WFO, and pull an unexpected draft pass on a mile at 130+mph.  He's never been factory-sponsored by H-D or Indian.  He's a privateer, and I've watched him changing clutches, chains, tires, front ends . . . and then shoving his dirty hands inside a pair of leather racing gloves, fueling - and push starting his own bike for the semi. (before the Main that same race, I helped him with the same ritual, and he thanked me - I was an immediate member of Team Halbert that day . . . ) 

I like that Sammy's race bikes are always "personalized" and fun, with funky flames, stickers and colors.  He wants to win, and is a hard charger on the track.  They didn't christen him, "Slammin' Sammy 'cause he rides nice and conservative. The tragic loss of his brother(also a pro rider) in-a-way seemed to fill Halbert with an added racing spirit to continue in his honor, he continues to forge on - where many racers may have retired themselves.  Competitors from the northwest(like Halbert) are known for their tenacity and versatile racing abilities.  Joe Kopp a prime example !

I can't count the times I was attending a non-points event, and Halbert showed up to race since he was in the area.  A pro rider, doin' this for a livin' . . but he just wants to ride (and make some gas money).  It's always great for the local kids who can say "I raced with a National Champion once - Sammy Halbert." 

Halbert had a great season this year, finishing inside the top 5 a total of 11 pro races.  The final race of the season is in Perris, California on a loose 1/2 mile.  This type of track favors riders like Mees, Baker . . . and Halbert !  I'd really like to see him pull a win to end the year.  (or maybe Carver)  You can watch the races by logging on to: American Flat Track - and watch it LIVE !  Go Sammy !

Sammy Halbert runs his brother's #69 to continue the legacy.

 

Two Looks Better Than One

I have a hard enough time dialing in one . . .not really, but it's

the linkage and cables that drive me nuts. 

Thanks Tom Petty for all the great music . . .

My life wouldn't be near as cool or full, if there'd been no Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.  When I watch my DVD on the Sound City Recording Studio - and I run it through the Bose speakers, and the part where Tom Petty is interviewed, and the band jams the song over and over to get it right, you see how hard they worked.  I remember the video for "You Got Lucky" on MTV when the band is out in the desert - in some spaceship deal, a motorcycle sidecar pulls up . . . Petty hits the play button on a dusty boom box to start the music.  It introduced me to a band with music I liked, but didn't really know who the players were?  Lots of musicians looked up to Petty and the way he wrote and played rock, the unique way he could sing it.  Tom Petty flew under the radar - no big interviews, no big productions - just the best blues rock with some pop . . . with lyrics and melodies to sing in your head on and on and on . . .  and when Refugee, Breakdown, I Need To Know or Runnin' Down A Dream comes on the radio - Crank It ! 

Got some work done finally . . .

I'm just so far behind on everything, my life (and toolbox) in a busy raid of disarray.  I had to make a list.  Pick the items of most importance.  Start at the top, and away we go . . .  This is ridiculous !

A large part of my life has been devoted to this vintage motorcycle addiction.

Most times I get it all buttoned up - then realized I could do it different or improve it.  I take it all apart again, do it over - then it's better. You ever do that ????

Apart and back together multiple times.  It happened with every photo you see on this post.

The clutch, belt alignment, primary cover, mounts, outer primary . . . all this took forever.

I hope the front end works good?  I snugged the fender bolts about 75%, then bounced on the front end a few times to help align the fender, then snugged up the fender bolt 100%.  I figure it might eliminate binding or cracked paint at the least???

 





Harley WR . . . "R" is for Racing !

Randy bought a WR.  You don't see these things come up for sale very often.  All the owners want to keep 'em forever. 

Randy Goss: National #1 (1980 & 1983)

During the early 1980s, Michigan's own Randy Goss was probably the most consistant and dominate flat track pro in the nation.  If it weren't for some unfortunate mechanical failures, and a severe crash, he may have earned 3, 4 or possibly even 5 national titles.  Goss was trained by Markel, and tuned by Harley's own Brent Thompson.  He won nationals on factory H-D equipment, and he won as a privateer.  Goss won national short tracks, TTs, half-miles and miles.  NOTE: I've seen a few racing photos of him "captioned as Jay Springsteen" when it was actually Randy Goss (due to their similar racing profiles)

 Above: Here it appears he's running 2 into 1 exhaust ? 
Trying to get some torque from this XR for short track ?
________________________________________
Randy is known for being a hard charger,

but very consistent, calculated . . . and not a complainer.

 Photo Above:

Randy Goss and Ted Boody

Just look at all those fans ! 

They're everywhere !
Goss is on the outside #13 . . .
coming after Jorgensen(44) and Eklund(11)

Just the Letter K . . .

No KH.  No KK.  No KHK.  No KR  No KRM.  No KHRM 

 . . .  Just a K

Panhead Valve Seats

I've noticed on the earlier (1948, '49) cylinder heads, when the factory cast the aluminum head itself, there is not much material under the valve seat area.  The kept the port open as possible(maybe for air flow?) If you machine(bore) out the original valve seat for replacement, you don't have adequate "support" for the new steel seat on some of these heads . . .

The head above appears to have adequate support needed (without welding up the head, which can cause warping, cracks, etc.) which is a good thing.

These steel seats are an improvement.  All seats require a heavy press fitment.  If seat fitment is not tight enough, the head expands(from the heat) and the seat falls out.  I have the original bronze seats still in my panheads, stock from the factory.  Hopefully I can get a few more miles on them before they need replacement?  Old Harleys just keep on runnin' - 'til they don't !

New Old Stock Buddy Seat

This is on Ebay now.  I don't think I've ever seen one still in the box?  I wouldn't mind having the box !  This is the "later version" where the black vinyl is more smooth.  I think the one earlier has more of a leather, texture look and feel?  Below is the first version, about 1960 or '61 this one came out with a chrome steel "V" grab rail. I see it has the short, 2.2 gal tank front bracket.  About 6-7 different versions of the flat Buddy Seats.  All black, all white, 2-Tone, then colored covers available in red, blue and I think I've seen green ? 
Match your seat with the grips too . . .

Royal Bubblebags

 . . . now I got this thing for these saddlebags. 

Isn't that Red KH super cool !  I love those bags, the rack, seat, tank and low bars(it's just a beautiful motorcycle).
I'm thinkin' maybe a black set for my panhead touring bike/bobber thing I'm buildin' . ?

Nemo Guest Ranch

I see Jeff Wright and crew rode out of Nemo Guest Ranch and had a great time as planned.  The photos looked really fun.  Nemo, South Dakota (to me) is a magical place.  About 20+ years ago my "Sturgis Landlord" by the name of Alva, suggested I take a day and pack up my Kawasaki 250 and ride to Nemo via Vanocker Canyon Road, and ride some trails.  It was about 80 degrees already at 10am when I took off.  I wasn't dressed with proper gear, since I found myself freezing as I rode through the lows and highs of the (then unpaved) Vanocker Canyon Road.  The smell of pine is always with you.  This year there was an epidemic of grasshoppers which covered the roads.  The terrain around you looks like (I call it) miner's rocks.  A land of caves, streams, large rocks, fallen pine trees, pine needles and red colored clay.  Some trees are bare from fires.  It's a beautiful area, but it can catch up with you quick.  I was soon lost after selecting a trail off the main road.  Gold miner stake claim signs read "We Will Shoot Trespassers - Try Us !"  Now I was scared and edgy.  My riding ability was being tested as the trails turned to rough openings, and you had to find the trail to stay on it.  After being lost(and panicked) for about an hour, I came to a main road, and I was only about 2 miles from Nemo. 

I was so hungry.  I rode up to the main building.  It was me, my bike and 50 horses.  No motorcycles.  I was tired and needed water from hulking this "street bike that looks like a dirt bike" through the early morning hills, through fog and grasshoppers.  Black flies are also a problem.  Don't tuck in your shirt !  These flies will get under your shirt, and if they can't get out, they get pissed off and bite the shit out of you, actually taking a small chunk of flesh with them.  It hurts.  Then it itches. 

The Guest Ranch had a sign (written on a paper plate) and nailed to a pole that read: BISCUITS AND GRAVY $5.00 . . The bar has a tree growing on the inside and up through the roof (a main attraction) and I asked what else they had to eat?  She had one of those green order-taker pads flipped open with a pencil ready to write.  I asked, "What, uh, do you have a menu?"  She said, "We got biscuits and gravy." . . . Hmmm, do you have pancakes or eggs?  She said, "Well sir, we got biscuits and gravy, no eggs, no pancakes."  Uh, How about sausage?  Toast? . . . She said it again, kinda chuckled and firmly stating, "We have biscuits and gravy for 5 bucks . . with coffee or water."  I guess I'll have the ________________.  You know it.  It was kinda funny.

After breakfast, I filled my water and took a map.  After a guided direction from a horse rancher suggesting a motorcycle route around Nemo I set out and explored Box Elder Creek and a cave, and some beautiful lookouts.  It was one of the most memorable days of my entire life.  I saw a dead deer that was probably killed & eaten by a mountain lion.  I saw a coyote.  I saw trout - I saw frogs and thousands of grasshoppers.  The beautiful green hills and valleys are anything but black.  The sky is the bluest of blue.  It's just an incredible place on earth. Nemo, SD is a true gem.  The biscuits and gravy were delicious, and stuck-to-my-ribs all day - a great ride.

Smashing Air & Gasoline

Jay Springsteen Does It Best . . .

 . . . and still doin' it.  I heard he looked great at Wauseon.

Bring Back Some Color !

The last few years, H-D just doesn't have the unique tank designs as in the past.  The 2018 "Eagle Emblem" isn't too bad . . . but it's like they just decided to give you a choice of plain jane, flames or tribal?  Wouldn't it be cool to have a 1971 Sportster like this one !?!?