Mantorville Car Show @ Marigold Days

This blue-graphic Super Bee was at the Mantorville, Minnesota Car Show on Sunday.  The owner (Scholbrock from New Hampton, Iowa) said the blue graphics and the rear spoiler are really rare.  These old Mopars are starting to grow on me as a Chevy guy.

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A 427 Biscayne !

It was a great day . . . just stumbled on this show on the way back from Minneapolis . . . really nice cars, and it was over by about 2:00, so everybody had a chance to hit the road and do something.  Some of these car shows go 'til 4 and 5 o'clock . . . and you blow your whole day hangin' around when you could do a little cruisin' . . . the summer is slippin' away for us northerners.  The older I get, the more "stock" I like the cars.

A few of my favorites . . . and early GTOs have the best interiors - low back white buckets, stick, gauges, wood grain wheel - classy performance !

Get off the phone !

Get some shit done around here . . Oh, I guess the oil tank is on?  Cool.

Model: KR ( R = Racing Version )

Green Salsa

Coolest beer banners . . .

Vintage Gary Nixon and Jay Springsteen . . .

Mike's K

This bike had some different stuff, more than an ordinary K Model.  Race inspired. You could tell he rides it, where some of the bikes were just for show mostly. 

 Cool Bike Mike !

Huh ? I'd say, Jimmy'd

This race ID was so out-of-round . . . It couldn't be lapped.  Didn't know what the deal was until it was pressed out of the case ( it didn't have much press fit ).  Someone had welded it all up trying build up the OD - and save it from spinning.  This may be one of the motors that came from that big sale in South America?  

STOP & LOCK: Ironhead Lock

This lock is neat.  Takes the place of the spacer.  

It must have a pin that locks the hub?

The Rolling Thunder Show

The Main Event - shadows becoming long, still 90+ degrees and tire blistering may be a factor . . . but it sure doesn't show here as the field comes roaring past, in full tucks, all 18 riders, completing the first full circuit of The Mile . . . Smith leads the train - with 24 to go !

THREE National Flat Track RECORDs at Springfield

FIRST TIME IN THE 75+ Year History of the Sport:
FIRST MARRIED COUPLE IN A NATIONAL:
   - Jared Mees and Nichole Mees
FIRST BROTHER AND SISTER IN A NATIONAL
   - Cory Texter and Shayna Texter
FIRST TIME (2) WOMEN MAKE NATIONAL FINAL SAME RACE
   - Nichole Mees and Shayna Texter

All in the 25 Lap Main GNC1 Springfield 2 - Sept 6th, 2015

Congratulations !

Markel's Iron Short Rod

Bart Markel's Iron XR race bike, now owned by Bob Butler.
The spark plug in the center (like a Hemi motor) is actually a good idea since it may allow the flame travel an easier route to ignite all the fuel, make a bigger explosion, thus more power - or more efficient power.  This is why "dual plug heads" benefit the ironheads, with their high-dome pistons.  The piston dome can block the flame travel.  It's what I've read, and it makes sense.

Kosinski and Atherton

. . . hangin' with Coolbeth's camp.

Bryan Smith wound tight . . .

. . . with a full straight lead in his heat race.  Springfield 2015 Labor Day Weekend.
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2015 Labor Day Weekend Springfield Mile

The Stadium Bar & Grill - Across from the track

Bryan Smith has a good horse . . . he calls' it Old Reliable since that Kawasaki has taken him to victory more than once.  But, he's also probably one of the best Mile racers to come along in awhile.  He's paid his dues. Smith was just 15 or 16 years old when Parker raced his final season before retirement.  After 24 and a half miles (in 90 degree heat) into the last turn, we all thought Johnson had outfoxed 'em with a bold, outside move . . . then the crowd went wild when Smith went from 3 to 1.  That "Green" really shows up - you can see it plain as day streakin' down the backshoot !


A Non-Stop Ride Weekend . . .
It felt good to ride the 1964 ironhead sportster again.  Get on the road in that 90+ heat and hit the interstates and backroads - on Labor Day weekend, when it's busy-as-shit . . . and hot.  To ride 750 miles with that Ironhead Harley - all 55 cubic inches - hammer down.  I left at 6:30am, but it soon got hot.  A stop at Davenport to see that '39 Knuckle Motor the Noot's built (which runs great) and see all my old-bike friends.
I hooked up with my 70 year old dad, who's a pretty hard road rider - and we set off for Springfield - and the Saturday Nite Short Track.  On the way, a couple Chicago Outlaws blew past.  It looked like a scene from The Bikeriders.  Their Labor Day Weekend Club Run to Springfield.  This town is just so cool.  The night-life.  It's kinda a run-down old town, but the people are so gung-ho for that "MILE" - and they all know the reason you're in town.  The morning cafes are all full.  People waiting.  Race shirts everyone.  Big, Welcome Racers signs everywhere.  The Cove.  Rockin' Robins.  The Truck Stop.  The Stadium.  All the places I like to go.  We took a different, new back way home, through mid-Illinois rolling hills, then flat country, then hills again. Over, then up thru Macomb - and on to Hamilton, Illinois - across the mighty Miss into Keokuk.  The sun goin' down - we just kept going - into the dark.  Cooling off the 90s . . . now into the 70s.  The old ironhead just soundin' so sweet.  I've become this rare rider, in a handful of riders with so many many miles of listening to those ironhead pipes over so many miles.  It's one of the best sounds in the whole world.  I can still hear it.

TECH TIP: Harley 45 Spark Plugs and Wrench

I run Autolite spark plugs in my Harleys.  I always check resistance with my ohm meter, and make sure they have 0.00 resistance from the plug tip to the center electrode (small tip in the plug center).  You want 0.00 resistance with breaker points or magneto ignition.  I use the Autolite 45 plugs which have a 13/16" socket hex in all the Harley 45 engines.  They just happen to be a "Number 45 plug" and work in the Harley 45 WLs . . . a unique coincidence. 

The Autolite 45 must be the perfect heat range, since they rarely foul, and usually burn perfect.  A common plug you can find at your local auto parts store.  But, here's the problem:  A standard 13/16" plug socket is too tall to get them out with stock oil tank - if you ever need to change plugs, check jetting, etc. . . .

You need an offset 13/16" wrench like the one pictured above

It works.  

Now you can run a modern-type spark plug,

and service if need be . . .

Aromas Coffee Shop - Hot Coffee in a Cool Place

The local coffee shop's old location was kinda being nudged out by new construction . . . so the owners bought a different building, and fixed it up into a really neato "New Aromas" . . . and they were only closed for like a few days . . . wow - crazy fast !  It's got big, cushy sofas, wood tables, plenty of places to sit, great jazz tunes . . . and Bryan and Cara make the best coffee I've ever had - It's just a great new morning hangout.  Awesome job folks - Street light out front . . . newspaper machine is back - Perfect.
The best part, there's like a half dozen more places to potentially park your motorcycle !