Vintage Road Race Digest #21-30


VintRR-digest         Thursday, April 24 1997         Volume 01 : Number 021




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 8:00:00 -0400
From: John.Martin@fluordaniel.com
Subject: VintRR BSA/TRIUMPH TRIPLE TH6 CAMSHAFT TIMING

     I am trying to time the full race camshafts of my friends Rocket 3 
     vintage racer. I have a leaflet from Norman Hyde which states valve 
     lift at TDC on overlap at .230/.245 thou for inlet & .175/.190 for 
     exhaust (from memory). With a dial gauge on the valve collars the 
     readings are .020/.030 too low. Advancing the timing pinions one tooth 
     opens then too much. I gather I have to put the pinions back on the 
     cams using one of the three different keyways which will alter the 
     lift in smaller increments. (One tooth equals 15 deg, each keyway 5 
     deg. change) Do I put the camshaft at the correct valve lift & the 
     crankshaft at TDC & then use the best tooth/keway combination? Does 
     anybody have the opening / closing figures with valve clearances 
     stated for these cams?
     
     Maybe if I dont get this done correctly I will be able to beat him at 
     the first race of the year tee hee!

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 18:07:57 +0100 (BST)
From: Philip Pick 
Subject: Re: VintRR BSA/TRIUMPH TRIPLE TH6 CAMSHAFT TIMING

On Wed 23 Apr, John.Martin@fluordaniel.com wrote:
>      I am trying to time the full race camshafts of my friends Rocket 3 
>      vintage racer. I have a leaflet from Norman Hyde which states valve 
>      lift at TDC on overlap at .230/.245 thou for inlet & .175/.190 for 
>      exhaust (from memory). With a dial gauge on the valve collars the 
>      readings are .020/.030 too low. Advancing the timing pinions one tooth 
>      opens then too much. I gather I have to put the pinions back on the 
>      cams using one of the three different keyways which will alter the 
>      lift in smaller increments. (One tooth equals 15 deg, each keyway 5 
>      deg. change) Do I put the camshaft at the correct valve lift & the 
>      crankshaft at TDC & then use the best tooth/keway combination?

In short, yes.


>      Does 
>      anybody have the opening / closing figures with valve clearances 
>      stated for these cams?

If using these out of date and nasty cam forms I always use the old
favorite figues, of lobe centre inlet 98 ATDC, and exhaust 102 BTDC

Clarances suggested are .005 inlet  .007 exhaust

One set of quoted open/close figures, at unspecified follower lift are:

     43 dtc / 59 abc
     63 bbc / 39 atc

Hope this helps.


- -- 
Philip Pick, Triple Cycles, 228 Henley Road Ilford Essex IG1 2TW England
Telephone +44 181 478 4807  Fax +44 181 478 4807

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 16:44:44 -0400
From: tharris@nornet.on.ca (Tim Harris )
Subject: VintRR 350 Honda

What year did they first put Disk Brakes on the 350 CB Hondas????

Thanks in advance...
Tim Harris   Tim's Euro-Passions  http://www.nornet.on.ca/~tharris/
1972 Ducati 750 GT Imola Cafe Racer
1975 Ducati 860 GT
1985 BMW K75
1988 Yamaha 250cc Virago "Route  66"
1990 Honda Hawk GT

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 13:08:14 -0500 (EST)
From: ben.english@DMVMS.mailnet.state.ny.us
Subject: VintRR CB350 Honda disc brake

Tim Harris asked:
>>What year did they first put Disk Brakes on the 350 CB Hondas????<<

It was the last year. It was known as the CB350K5 or CB350G. The next year we
got the CB360, proof that "progress" frequently amounts to making things
cheaper, rather than better. And as a relative sales flop, that manufacturers
need to provide some high tech razzle-dazzle to distract the buyer from the
throwaway nature of his new toy.

But what was that year? 1974 I think for the last 350, 1975 for the first 360.
Or am I off by a year? If so, which way?

Ben English

1972 Norton Commando Combat Roadster #201695 / 1972 Olmo 10 speed
Amtrak National Timetable / Pocket full of bus tokens / Good shoes

ben.english@dmvms.mailnet.state.ny.us                Albany, New York, USA

------------------------------

End of VintRR-digest V1 #21
***************************
VintRR-digest          Friday, April 25 1997          Volume 01 : Number 022




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 24 Apr 97 16:54:56 EDT
From: Mark Hatten <102136.3317@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: VintRR Vintage Race Report

Hey All:

I know an Ascot is not really a vintage bike, but it's eligible for WERA
Vintage, so what the heck.  For the terminally bored, here's my race report from
Summit Point.  I'll spare you and only report on my Vintage race on Saturday.
If you're a real glutten for punishment and want to read about my Clubman and
Twins adventures on Sunday, check out my web at
http://members.aol.com/hatman97


Mark



SUMMIT POINT, WV --   April 12-13 -- Id heard the lore of Summit Point --  or
Scummit Point, or Slippery Point, depending upon who you talk to.  Stories of
non-existent traction, a racing line six inches wide, a surface so polished that
you can actually be blinded by its reflection late in the day.  Mention the word
rain¶ in the same sentence with Summit Point, and the locals just look at you
with a somewhat maniacal grin.

So it was with a fair amount of trepidation that I headed to Summit late Friday
night with two racing buddies for a WERA regional race weekend.  One buddy had
cut his teeth racing at Summit, and the other, also a local, had turned quite a
few laps on the track in race cars. They spent much of the trip recanting Summit
Point lack-of-traction horror stories.  Factor in the same from our DC-based
friends we hooked up with at the track, and I was convinced that just remaining
upright in the pits might be an accomplishment.  However, with a AHRMA National
being held there May 3-4 (with no Friday practice day -- something tells me you
guys will be hearing about that at the rider's meeting, John G.) it seemed like
a good chance to acquaint myself with a new track.

After a leisurely three hours of sleep at Seans parents house, we hit Summit
about 7 a.m. Saturday.  The first practice session didnt seem bad.  Armed with
the advice of never, ever, ride anywhere but the concrete patches in the
corners, the Mighty Ascot (tm) and I felt our way around the track.  Fun layout,
not too bumpy, and the section of the track (three corners) that had been
repaved was actually quite nice.  The bike was running well, and I was looking
forward to the days Vintage racing action.  That is, until the rain drops
started hitting my shield in the closing laps of the session.

Great.  Im already psyched out about the track in the dry, and now its
raining.  And here comes more stories about people crashing, even while simply
riding down the straightaways.  So, now swathed in my $10 Yamaha rainsuit, I
prepared for my second and last practice session of the day.  First problem --
the crotch of my rainsuit blew out when I swung my leg over my bike.  I lost
weight over the winter, but I guess not where it counts :-)  Second problem --
pouring rain, wet tires, and wet metal starting rollers are not a good
combination.  No traction, no starting.  Third problem -- wet tires and wet
asphalt are almost as slick.  A few runs and well-timed drops on the seat got
the fire going, and after my heavy breathing stopped fogging my shield, I headed
out for practice.

Naturally, in the very first turn, a rider crashed in front of me, going maybe
20 mph. I filed that in my brain for a data point (do not exceed 20 mph in turn
one¶).  Unfortunately, after one lap my mind was full of data points as people
were slithering off the track left and right.  I now only had one brain data
point -- do not crash in practice;  if you must crash, at least save it for the
race.

My race, Vintage 4, was the first race of the day.  As I rolled to the line
after yet another shield-fogging bump start, it was raining with a monsoon-like
intensity.  The starter, who had spent at least 20 minutes during the riders
meeting explaining exactly how the starting procedure would take place,
proceeded to completely ignore his own instructions, catching nearly the entire
grid, myself included, with our shields up and bikes in neutral.  Despite the
surprise start, I still tiptoed into the first turn in second place, and
immediately took the point when the lead rider crashed.  Me lead was
short-lived, however, as I was passed while cautiously exiting turn two.  That
rider -- and as Dave Barry would say, Im not making this up --  then proceeded
to crash in front of me ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY!

It had now become obvious to me that, despite riding like a complete weenie, I
was on the threshold of physics.  Like the speed of light, nature was dictating
that the Speed of Mark could not be exceeded.  Try, and the ground would rise up
a smite thee.

The race was unfolding like a Laugh-In skit -- riders were falling left and
right.  A torrential river of mud and water flowing between turns seven and
eight claimed more than a few bikes.  (I discovered that, like in cattle drives
in the Old West, you merely needed to enter the river at a point upstream of
where you hoped to exit.)  In fact, one rider fell victim to the river directly
in front of me.  Due to the low speeds, he didnt even slide off the track.
Realizing he was laying on the racing line, the rider was furiously attempting
to crawl to safety.  However, the lack of traction basically had him spinning in
place,  like a cats initial acceleration on a hardwood floor.  My eyes tearing
from the laughter, I managed to avoid him and not crash myself.

Okay, at some point in the race (which was shortened to four-laps -- the longest
four laps of my life) some guy -- who obviously didnt pay attention during
physics classes -- did manage to flaunt Marks Law, pass me, and not crash.  He
was riding a BMW, and I have theorized that perhaps the cylinders acted as
outriggers or pontoons.

So after, four stress-filled laps, I managed to remain upright and finish
second.  In fact, out of about 12 starters in my class, only two finished!  Its
usually not too thrilling to see your name listed last on the result sheet, but
instead of washing mud off my bike, leathers, and repairing crash damage, I got
to prepare for the next day of racing with a fine Italian dinner.


Mark Hatten
Swingin' Singles Racing
AHRMA, WERA #97
Honda FT500
http://members.aol.com/hatman97

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 16:24:10 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: Re: VintRR CB350 Honda disc brake

>>What year did they first put Disk Brakes on the 350 CB Hondas????<<

My Honda MC Identification Guide shows the CB350G with a disc brake.  
Sell Date 1973, Release date 01/01/73.

CB360G is model year 1974.  That year also had a CB360K0 with a drum.

The Honda single piston brakes were not particularly wonderful units. 
I'd swap one for a cast iron RD brake in a second.

Cheers,
Michael
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 23:12:23 AST
From: "Darrell Hingley" 
Subject: VintRR oversize pistons

I have my question for the day. I have a 1975 CB-400F which I race in 
vintage. I am always looking and thinking ( sometimes too much ), how 
to make it faster with parts from other models. Now the fun part. I 
want to use a big bore kit and would like to use pistons from another 
Honda model ( besides CB-500F ). I was thinking around a 54 or 55 mm
Dia. piston  would be just about right, with a high dome to aid 
compression.( the 500 pistons are flat tops). Does anyone know of 
such a beast?. In additon I found that a piston from a 1989 CB-1 
honda has the Dia, ( 55mm ) weight and modern rings I like but the dome is not 
high enough and the valve recesses are too deep. Has anyone heard or 
know of someone who can build up the top of a piston so it can be 
remachined to the needed shape etc. Last but not least Thanks to 
everyone out there who has replied to my questions in the past, if 
you have your own ideas on how to make a 400f beat the dreaded two 
strokes I would love to hear them. And if you ever come accross an 
old 350f or 400f race part or bike keep me in mind. Long Live the 
Screaming Fours. Darrell

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 21:28:16 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: Re: VintRR oversize pistons

> I have my question for the day. I have a 1975 CB-400F which I race in 
> vintage. I am always looking and thinking ( sometimes too much ), how 
> to make it faster with parts from other models. Now the fun part. I 

Hello Darrell,

Get yourself a Wiseco catalog and start by looking at all the pistons 
with the same wristpin size.  A stock 400 uses a 13mm wrist pin, and 
as I recall when I bought Carillo rods for the 350/4 racer Craig 
recommended going up to 14mm on the wrist pin size.  The GPZ550 
Kawasaki uses a 14mm pin but is a 58mm bore (this is what I use in my 
CR216 Honda).  A stock XR100 piston is 52mm bore with a 14mm wrist 
pin (what I'm using in the 160 trials bike) and has a flat top with 
minimal valve notches.  A 1mm oversize brings you close to the size 
you are looking at.  There doesn't seem to be a big selection in 14mm wristpin 
pistons.

> want to use a big bore kit and would like to use pistons from another 
> Honda model ( besides CB-500F ). I was thinking around a 54 or 55 mm
> Dia. piston  would be just about right, with a high dome to aid 
> compression.( the 500 pistons are flat tops). Does anyone know of 
> such a beast?. In additon I found that a piston from a 1989 CB-1 
> honda has the Dia, ( 55mm ) weight and modern rings I like but the dome is not 
> high enough and the valve recesses are too deep. Has anyone heard or 
> know of someone who can build up the top of a piston so it can be 
> remachined to the needed shape etc. Last but not least Thanks to 

A high dome is the LAST thing you want to use, especially one made
by welding on a piston.  Run a flat top piston and have someone weld
up the combustion chamber to get the compression.  You'll have less
heat losses into the head and piston due to the reduced area, a
lighter piston, a shorter flame front, and plenty of squish area
between the piston and the head.

> everyone out there who has replied to my questions in the past, if 
> you have your own ideas on how to make a 400f beat the dreaded two 
> strokes I would love to hear them. And if you ever come accross an 
> old 350f or 400f race part or bike keep me in mind. Long Live the 
> Screaming Fours. Darrell

You need a good ignition, and start off with somewhat less advance 
than stock (if you weld up the chamber you'll probably be able to get 
away with about 28 degrees total advance timing).  Don't get suckered 
into excessively large headpipes - certainly no bigger than 1.25" OD 
- - and my CR216 runs pretty well with 1" OD pipes.  Check around with 
your local Guzzi riders and get a set of 30mm Dell'Orto carbs.  Due 
to a rule change that I still haven't heard a convincing arguement 
for, the CR Kei'hins which are historically correct for your bike 
aren't legal (the no integral-float smooth bore rule).

Get some real front forks and shocks, and ditch the Honda disc brake 
calipers.  The frame can benefit from some bracing, and bronze 
swingarm bushings are also a good idea.

If you are building a 500, Craig has told me that in many ways he 
feels the CB500 is a better way to go than a big bore 400 - but then 
you've already got a 400.  He can do anything you need to get a 400 
going quickly - how about a nicely lightened and rebalanced 
crankshaft to go with the Carillo rods the bike needs to live?

Cheers,
Michael
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 10:26:33
From: Ed Scharnhorst 
Subject: VintRR Wrenching with Rob

I've been trying to use Rob Tuluie's articles from Motorcycle Online to
determine if 250 Duc is plumb. One of his measurements, s_r from figures 1
and 3, is not terribly well defined. Has anyone else used his method? What
is s_r, vertical height? 
TIA,
                          Ed Scharnhorst   (ducboy@VT.EDU)
          Always looking for Ducati pushrod & 2-stroke singles parts.
  '86 fz-600,    '61 Ducati 98,'64 Ducati 100,'6? Ducati 160,'6? Ducati 250
It's FrankenSTEEN   resting   the Smack-quack  It's dead Jim  Diana wannabe
       

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 22:13:43 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: Re: VintRR Wrenching with Rob

> I've been trying to use Rob Tuluie's articles from Motorcycle Online to

Hello Ed,

If you'll send the URL for the page I'll take a look at it.  

Cheers,
Michael
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

End of VintRR-digest V1 #22
***************************
VintRR-digest          Monday, April 28 1997          Volume 01 : Number 023




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 10:10:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: Elin Phinizy 
Subject: VintRR Re:RD Brakes.

>------------------------------


>My Honda MC Identification Guide shows the CB350G with a disc brake.
>Sell Date 1973, Release date 01/01/73.
>
>CB360G is model year 1974.  That year also had a CB360K0 with a drum.
>
>The Honda single piston brakes were not particularly wonderful units.
>I'd swap one for a cast iron RD brake in a second.

Michael is correct, as even Jim Reed (who wrote a really thorough and
excellent series of articles on race preparation of R's/RD's) prefers the
stock, cast RD brake. If I remember the articles, the more 'trick' race
brake had a bad habit of disintegrating. Once is enough. Anyway, it follows
with the 'cheeseburger' theorem. Just eat one less a week, and the weight
difference will be compensated for adequately. Some of Reed's
recommendations vault the simple and relatively affordable R project into
the next $$$ level, but -then- that is a matter of choice just how far one
wants to go, literally and figuratively.

Of course, one can go nuts and get a 4ls racing drum from Japan or Italy
for $500 and going north fast!

I have a friend in the next town over who has one of the drum CB 360's.
Nice competent little bikes!

Jay
USCRA#47

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 07:49:15 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: Re: VintRR Re:RD Brakes.

> Michael is correct, as even Jim Reed (who wrote a really thorough and
> excellent series of articles on race preparation of R's/RD's) prefers the
> stock, cast RD brake. If I remember the articles, the more 'trick' race
> brake had a bad habit of disintegrating. Once is enough. Anyway, it follows

Hello Jay,

Everything I heard in re the RD vs TZ caliper was that the RD
caliper was more rigid in use - the TZ aluminum caliper would flex
under heavy use. I saw a number of TZs equipped with the RD caliper
instead of the original aluminum unit.  My friend Craig made
patterns and made some aluminum copies of the RD caliper for a while
shortly after the RD came out, but I don't think too many of them
were made or sold.  The were marked "Grizzly" as his shop was
Grizzly Engineering.

Cheers,
Michael
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 12:06:57 +0000
From: "Glenn Thomson" 
Subject: VintRR CF Pushrods - again

On 11 Apr 97 at 22:59, YamiRacer@aol.com wrote:

> There was a guy in the USCRA who tried them at Daytona one year. They broke
> almost immediately (as I heard the story) and ruined his trip. Apparently,
> the entire lot of them were defective.
> 
> This was 2 or 3 years ago. I would advise checking for more current info.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Chris Stein

Hi Chris
Do you (or anyone else) know what the failure mode was?

Glenn
   msgr@hookup.net
   Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 15:10:30
From: Ed Scharnhorst 
Subject: Re: VintRR Wrenching with Rob

At 10:13 PM 4/25/97 -0800, you wrote:
>
>If you'll send the URL for the page I'll take a look at it.  
>
The URL is http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcnuts/chassis.html
The measurement looks to be the relative vertical height of a given point
on the tire. But how can you measure this and be sure your consistent from
side to side? It's a nice couple of articles, but I wish Rob would have
posted they third installment before leaving M-O. Thanks for the help!
                          Ed Scharnhorst   (ducboy@VT.EDU)
          Always looking for Ducati pushrod & 2-stroke singles parts.
  '86 fz-600,    '61 Ducati 98,'64 Ducati 100,'6? Ducati 160,'6? Ducati 250
It's FrankenSTEEN   resting   the Smack-quack  It's dead Jim  Diana wannabe
       

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 13:10:24 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: Re: VintRR Wrenching with Rob

> The measurement looks to be the relative vertical height of a given point
> on the tire. But how can you measure this and be sure your consistent from
> side to side? It's a nice couple of articles, but I wish Rob would have
> posted they third installment before leaving M-O. Thanks for the help!
>                           Ed Scharnhorst   (ducboy@VT.EDU)

Ed, the s_r I see is just a true vertical line for use to compare 
against the top and bottom sides of the wheel to see if the wheel is 
also vertical.

Let me think and see if I can come up with some alternatives for you. 
Do you have access to a vertical milling machine or something else 
with a nice flat surface, preferably with a hole or T-slot in it?

Cheers,
Michael 
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 18:45:04 -0400
From: Chris Stein 
Subject: Re: VintRR CF Pushrods - again

Glenn Thomson wrote:
> 
> On 11 Apr 97 at 22:59, YamiRacer@aol.com wrote:
> 
> > There was a guy in the USCRA who tried them at Daytona one year. They broke
> > almost immediately (as I heard the story) and ruined his trip. Apparently,
> > the entire lot of them were defective.
> >
> > This was 2 or 3 years ago. I would advise checking for more current info.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Chris Stein
> 
> Hi Chris
> Do you (or anyone else) know what the failure mode was?
> 
> Glenn
>    msgr@hookup.net
>    Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA
Glenn -

No idea as to the specific technical issues involved. However, my first
race is next weekend at Loudon. If the individual is there, I will ask
him and let you know. The tuner's name is Seppo Suovo. Greg Nichols was
riding for him. You may know one or both of them.

Regards,

Chris

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 18:55:35 -0400
From: Chris Stein 
Subject: Re: VintRR Re:RD Brakes.

I agree with Michael. 

The TZ 750 racing service manager at the Yam shop where I worked
replaced his alloy bodied calipers with stock RD units due to flexing.

Chris

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 28 Apr 1997 15:02:00 -0400
From: John.Martin@fluordaniel.com
Subject: VintRR 90 deg norton crank

     I am cosidering building a 90 deg Norton crank using the existing 
     journals bolted to a new self made flywheel, anybody out there been 
     this route or any suggestions?
     I will have to cut & rotate one half of the camshaft 45 deg & modify 
     the Boyer pick up plate &/or magnet rotor as well. Anything else?

------------------------------

End of VintRR-digest V1 #23
***************************
VintRR-digest        Wednesday, April 30 1997        Volume 01 : Number 024




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 28 Apr 97 13:57:53 -0500
From: "Raymond P. Farrell" 
Subject: VintRR Tire questions

Hello people, I have a couple of questions, hopefully, they are not too
neophytish.

The first is, what do racers use to balance your tires?  I have been using
lead solder successfully for my street bikes and can't think of a reason not
to use it on my (still being put together) 750 Norton, to be used as an
AHRMA racer.  Any comments?

The second is mostly just a point of discussion.  John Goodpaster wrote in
the April issue of Vintage News to use metal valve caps that have the rubber
gaskets in them.  Evidently, some metal valve caps do not have the rubber
gaskets and at speed the valve stem collapses and permits air to escape past
the valve cap and without a sealing washer, causes a flat tire.  Wow!  That
is hard for me to believe, although coming from John G., I surely can't
argue.  Any comments?  Any tube brands to stay away from, or good tube
brands to buy?

That's all the questions for now.

Thanks everybody,
Ray Farrell

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 05:35:45 -0400
From: tharris@nornet.on.ca (Tim Harris )
Subject: VintRR 350 Honda

Found my 350 Honda today....
A 1971 Model...

What I need now is a Canadian Source of things like
Clip-Ons, Exhaust, Rear Sets etc...

Anybody out there help me????

Also does anybody have a scanned image of a typical
CB 350 racer decked out in Period 1 fasion they could e-mail me....

Thanks 
Tim Harris   Tim's Euro-Passions  http://www.nornet.on.ca/~tharris/
1972 Ducati 750 GT Imola Cafe Racer
1975 Ducati 860 GT
1985 BMW K75
1988 Yamaha 250cc Virago "Route  66"
1990 Honda Hawk GT

------------------------------

End of VintRR-digest V1 #24
***************************
VintRR-digest           Friday, May 2 1997           Volume 01 : Number 025




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 18:40:23 -0400
From: tharris@nornet.on.ca (Tim Harris )
Subject: VintRR 350 Honda

Found my 350 Honda today....
A 1971 Model...

What I need now is a Canadian Source of things like
Clip-Ons, Exhaust, Rear Sets etc...

Anybody out there help me????

Also does anybody have a scanned image of a typical
CB 350 racer decked out in Period 1 fasion they could e-mail me....

Thanks 
Tim Harris   Tim's Euro-Passions  http://www.nornet.on.ca/~tharris/
1972 Ducati 750 GT Imola Cafe Racer
1975 Ducati 860 GT
1985 BMW K75
1988 Yamaha 250cc Virago "Route  66"
1990 Honda Hawk GT

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 8:16:00 -0400
From: John.Martin@fluordaniel.com
Subject: VintRR 90 Deg Norton crank

     Thanks for all the replies so far, but nothing substantial, One person 
     has already gone this route Brian Tyree, & another with a 60 Deg 
     crank, both who I shall contact personally.
     The reason for 90 & not 180 is that when the pistons reach TDC or BTC 
     they want to stop, with a 90 Deg crank one piston is nearly at its 
     maximum speed & this stopping action will be reduced (Phil Vincent 
     suggests 76 deg, but this depends on the stroke of the engine, when 
     the rod is at right angles to the crank).
     An added bonus is that all the secondary forces are canceled out (they 
     occur at twice crankshaft revs in different directions with a 90 Deg 
     crank). Yes I know there will be some rocking couples, but I dont even 
     know where to start in canceling them out, but I'm sure they are a lot 
     less that a 750/830/920 parallel twin!
     I am thinking of a balance factor of 50% & the engine will be mounted 
     in a featherbed frame, the isolastics only work in a one directional 
     plane (up/down front/back) not with rocking couples.
     Please keep the ideas coming.

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 28 Apr 1997 18:50:39 -0500 (CDT)
From: "\"Colin R. Sharpe\"" 
Subject: VintRR Re: 90 deg norton crank

On Mon, 28 Apr 1997 John.Martin@fluordaniel.com wrote:

>      I am cosidering building a 90 deg Norton crank using the existing 
>      journals bolted to a new self made flywheel, anybody out there been 
>      this route or any suggestions?
>      I will have to cut & rotate one half of the camshaft 45 deg & modify 
>      the Boyer pick up plate &/or magnet rotor as well. Anything else?
> 
Why 90 degs?  I would have thought a 180 deg crank would have offered a
smoother ride.  Didn't the early Jap twins have this set up?  This has all
the hallmarks of being the most interesting discussion on the list in a
while......

English.

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 28 Apr 1997 13:56:31 -0700
From: DONALD MACPHAIL 
Subject: Re: VintRR oversize pistons

Darrell Hingley wrote:
> 
> I have my question for the day. I have a 1975 CB-400F which I race in
> vintage. I am always looking and thinking ( sometimes too much ), how
> to make it faster with parts from other models. Now the fun part. I
> want to use a big bore kit and would like to use pistons from another
> Honda model ( besides CB-500F ). I was thinking around a 54 or 55 mm
> Dia. piston  would be just about right, with a high dome to aid
> compression.( the 500 pistons are flat tops). Does anyone know of
> such a beast?. In additon I found that a piston from a 1989 CB-1
> honda has the Dia, ( 55mm ) weight and modern rings I like but the dome is not
> high enough and the valve recesses are too deep. Has anyone heard or
> know of someone who can build up the top of a piston so it can be
> remachined to the needed shape etc. Last but not least Thanks to
> everyone out there who has replied to my questions in the past, if
> you have your own ideas on how to make a 400f beat the dreaded two
> strokes I would love to hear them. And if you ever come accross an
> old 350f or 400f race part or bike keep me in mind. Long Live the
> Screaming Fours. Darrell

	I may be some what off here but it could pay off to look at small bore 
Honda single dirt bikes as donors - some very fast 500/4's were built
around these
or old twins like 150 160 cb72 77 where you may find more domed pistons
than in Honda fours - it 's not neccessarily an answer more of another
question - don

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 16:43:26 AST
From: "Darrell Hingley" 
Subject: VintRR oversize pistons

Don, thanks for the tip, you maybe very right. Ther was a 400 racer 
built in England not too long ago and they used pistons from a 125 
single, the problem is that I do not think this was a model that was 
ever imported into this country or the U.S.. Darrell. 
    To the person building the 350 Honda twin racer, the best place I 
know of for race parts for the twin would be Todd Henning in Boston
he has great pipes pistons etc. etc.. The worst part will be the cost 
I am afraid, but if you would like his address and phone number I 
will pass it along if you would like it. #62 AMCRA 

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 20:36:40 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: VintRR Willow Springs AHRMA races

Did anyone go to Willow Springs, and if so would you be willing to 
post a report to the list on the weekend's activities?

Thanks,
Michael
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 15:15:28 -0400
From: Ellis_Holman 
Subject: Re: VintRR oversize pistons

> Honda single dirt bikes as donors - some very fast 500/4's were built
> around these
> or old twins like 150 160 cb72 77 where you may find more domed pistons
> than in Honda fours - it 's not neccessarily an answer more of another
> question - don
> 
> 
Not sure about deck highth, wrist pin size, ect. But, the 125 twin
piston might be a way to go on this. The CB72 piston size is 54 MM, very
early CB72's used a 10.5 compression ratio. Ellis

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 19:08:46 -0400 (EDT)
From: Elin Phinizy 
Subject: VintRR Re:Tubes, &c.

Hello Ray.
I will try to get Seppo Souvo's address & phone # for you or maybe Chris
can remember.  Seppo has set up some of the most ferocious,
track-scratching Nortons I have seen. He has a 750 that Greg Nichols rides;
while Greg is an excellent, aggressive rider, that Norton can burn up the
track and hold its own with anyone. As far as I can remember it has a 5v
close ratio gear box and the usual and unusual mods. Maybe John Goodpaster
has some suggestions re Nortons.

As for tubes... the best is the cheapest in the long run. If you are going
to flail yourself and this road hungry Norton what's a few $$$ versus your
life. I have always used top brand stuff even on the street... Avon,
Dunlop, Michelin, etc. I am relatively new to recent vintage racing but did
alot of spec. before I got started & have seen various approaches, when it
comes to weights. If you use the self-sticking rim weights, cover them with
a bit of >>>>good quality <<<<< racing tape. If you use crimp/spoke weights
either girdle them with lockwire or a bit of racing tape or both, both is
nice. The trick appears to be making sure they remain on the bike vs. the
track. Per weights, John G. would know best or Chris Stein who used to tech
bikes...

I used to do alot of dirt-biking years ago; I even lock wire the spokes to
each-other where they intersect. While I don't go really fast, I feel just
that bit more secure. Being anal works just fine. JC Whitney's sells a very
acceptable pair lock-wire pliers for around $20.00

Good Luck & have a blast. Nortons are absolutely neat bikes. They look and
sound wonderful throbbing around the track. The roadholder fork may be 'old
hat', but it really does a good job.

Jay
USCRA #47

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 20:11:30 -0400 (EDT)
From: "'Teflon'" 
Subject: Re: VintRR 350 Honda

>Found my 350 Honda today....
>A 1971 Model...
>
>What I need now is a Canadian Source of things like
>Clip-Ons, Exhaust, Rear Sets etc...
>
>Anybody out there help me????
>

An excellent exhaust builder(F1200/1600/2000, Stock car, vintage & modern
bike) is Wolf Racing in Cambridge. Gary used to mass produce those Wolf
headers in the early eighties. He's made quite a few pipes for some pretty
fast 350's (including Todd Henning's). If you're at any of the races you'll
see them.
Clip-ons for smaller fork diameters can be found through Waldridge Motors in
London(he specializes in british bikes but is a good source for vintage
stuff like tires, aluminum rims, ignitions, shocks etc.)- matchless@std.net
I run a '72 350 in Period 2. It was period 1 legal in '95 when you were
allowed modified motors. I still use a Suzuki T-500 drum with Forodo
linings-it works better than a lot of disks!
,-------------------------------,
|    Dave "Teflon" Thompson     |
|      teflon@golden.net        |
| http://www.golden.net/~teflon |
`-------------------------------`

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 19:43:33 +0100
From: John Goodpaster 
Subject: VintRR Valve cores

>The second is mostly just a point of discussion.  John Goodpaster wrote in
>the April issue of Vintage News to use metal valve caps that have the rubber
>gaskets in them.  Evidently, some metal valve caps do not have the rubber
>gaskets and at speed the valve stem collapses and permits air to escape past
>the valve cap and without a sealing washer, causes a flat tire.  Wow!  That
>is hard for me to believe, although coming from John G., I surely can't
>argue.  Any comments?  Any tube brands to stay away from, or good tube
>brands to buy?

	Frankly I do not see how something that weighs less then a gram,
held by a spring and 30 psi behind it can be forced open. I can only assume
that the spring is weak. I do know that the weight increases due to the
centrifcal force and then becomes much heavier overcoming the spring
tension. The valve cores with the internal spring seem to be stronger. I
think Metzler, Continental, Michellen and Dunlop tubes are the best. They
cost more then the others but are very good quality



>
>The first is, what do racers use to balance your tires?  I have been using
>lead solder successfully for my street bikes and can't think of a reason not
>to use it on my (still being put together) 750 Norton, to be used as an
>AHRMA racer.  Any comments?

	No problem useing solder just tape over a bit to keep the weight in
place.............

John Goodpaster
   AHRMA

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 18:05:07 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: VintRR ISP difficulties for the lists

My ISP (Sirius) had the mail server crash and out of service all last 
night, so that is why some of you didn't see any traffic on the lists 
for awhile.  They say that no mail was lost - only delayed.

Sorry for the interruption in service.

Cheers,
Michael
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 1 May 1997 09:36:14 -0400 (EDT)
From: bc180@freenet.carleton.ca (Peter Alan Engelbert)
Subject: Re: VintRR 350 Honda

>
>Found my 350 Honda today....
>A 1971 Model...
>
>What I need now is a Canadian Source of things like
>Clip-Ons, Exhaust, Rear Sets etc...
>
>Anybody out there help me????
>
>Also does anybody have a scanned image of a typical
>CB 350 racer decked out in Period 1 fasion they could e-mail me....
>
>Thanks 
>Tim Harris   Tim's Euro-Passions  http://www.nornet.on.ca/~tharris/


Try Walridge Motors in Hyde Park, Ontario. They are primarily a supplier
for Brit bike parts but have clipons etc in their catalogue. They can also
get Swarbrick exhaust systems from England.  (519) 641-2770. Check out
last month's Cycle Canada for an article on vintage racing with lots of
pictures to show you what the bikes look like. If you're near Toronto,
Jammie Cummings has just finished a nice CB350. He would certainly let you
have a look at it. (416)264-2960. 

I made my own megas out of the original mufflers then sanded down the
chrome and painted them black. They work very well. A pair of Swarbricks
for my bike costs $220 CDN. Those are next on my list to purchase. 

BTW I took the new engine (CB450) that I built over the winter out to
Shannonville last weekend for the test days. Apart from a few small
gliches it ran great. Took it easy all day breaking it in then let it rip
down the back straight at the end of the day. Stayed with a CB750 the
whole way down the straight. YeeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaa. 

- --
Peter Alan Engelbert: bc180@Freenet.Carleton.CA  or  mariner@istar.ca
God does not subtract from the span of a person's years on this earth
the time spent vintage racing. 

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 02 May 1997 07:58:44 -0400
From: John Markowski 
Subject: VintRR Tommaselli Clipons for Sale

For Sale
	Tommaselli "racing professionals" Clipons  (marked on box as Item 231)
	Will fit 35 mm forks with reducers for 30-32-33 forks 
	fitted to a bike years ago but never used. In very good condition  
	$ 50.00 plus freight I will UPS COD.

	Please e-mail me at john_markowski@brushwellman.com

------------------------------

End of VintRR-digest V1 #25
***************************
VintRR-digest          Saturday, May 3 1997          Volume 01 : Number 026




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 2 May 1997 05:09:26 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: Re: VintRR Tommaselli Clipons for Sale

> 	Tommaselli "racing professionals" Clipons  (marked on box as Item 231)
> 	$ 50.00 plus freight I will UPS COD.
> 
> 	Please e-mail me at john_markowski@brushwellman.com

For anyone who is interested I think this is a pretty good price, as a friend 
of mine has paid similar prices for used clipons at swapmeets.

Cheers,
Michael
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 2 May 1997 7:14:00 -0400
From: John.Martin@fluordaniel.com
Subject: VintRR Jokes to amuse you, hopefully

     
     >Friday we ran this short story:
     >
     >This is the result of a programmer who didn't check his >spelling 
     before releasing the product.  The prompt in >the software reads: 
     >
     >"Please insert dick in Drive A and hit enter to continue....." >---- 
     >In response to that I received this from a loyal reader of >Joke A 
     Day:
     >
     >"Back in the 70's I worked for Honeywell doing some of the >liason 
     work with NEC, in particular polishing up the >documentation from 
     Jinglish to English.
     >
     >"At one point during the introduction of the then new, >NEC-100 I 
     received a 12-page document extolling the virtues >of hard dicks over 
     the limitations of floppy dicks.
     >
     >"Another piece of software was called a 'File Fondler'.  I >objected 
     to Tokyo and suggested it be called a 'File
     >Handler'.  Tokyo then telexed back (that dates it, doesn't it?) >ask 
     for "perceived difference between verb 'to fondle" and >verb 'to 
     handle'".  My response was "difference is one of >intent".  No more 
     questions followed."
     
     ______________________________________________
     
     A man decided to call home to see how his wife was doing. A strange 
     woman answered the phone. He immediately asked the woman "Who are 
     you?" 
     
     The woman replied "I'm the maid".
     
     "But we don't have a maid" the man said.
     
     "Oh, I was hired this morning by the lady of the house". 
     
     "O.K, where is the lady of the house?". 
     
     "Who wants to know?" asked the maid. 
     
     "This is the man of the house" 
     
     "Well, she just went upstairs with a man I thought WAS the man of the 
     house". 
     
     The man, now furious asked the maid if she wanted to make a quick 
     $5000, she agreed and asked him what she had to do. He told her to go 
     into the den and find his gun. 
     
     He said "I want you to shoot that bitch and the bastard she's with". 
     
     The maid put the phone down and the man heard two shots fired.
     
     The maid came back and asked him what she should do with the bodies. 
     He told her to put them in a garbage bag and dump them in the swimming 
     pool. 
     
     She said "But we don't have a swimming pool."
     
     There was a long pause and then the man finally said "Uh, is this 
     237-6547?
     
     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     
     One day a nun was fishing at a river and caught a large fish. 
     
     A man was walking by and said, "WOW!! What a nice Gauddam Fish!" The 
     sister said, "Sir, you shouldn't use God's name in vain." The man 
     said, "But that's the SPECIES of the fish --- a Gauddam Fish."
     
     The sister said, "Oh, ok." She took the fish back home and said, 
     "Mother Superior, look at the Gauddam Fish I caught."
     
     Shocked, the Mother Superior said, "Sister, you know better than 
     that." The nun said, "That's the species of it --- a Gauddam Fish."
     
     So the Mother Superior said, "Well, give me the Gauddam Fish and I'll 
     clean it."
     
     While she was cleaning the fish, Monsignor walked in and Mother 
     Superior said, "Monsignor, look at the Gauddam Fish that the sister 
     caught." Nearly fainting, Monsignor said, "Mother Superior, you 
     shouldn"t talk like that!" Mother Superior said, "But that's the 
     species of it --- a Gauddam Fish." Monsignor said, "Well give me the 
     Gauddam Fish and I'll cook it."
     
     That evening at supper there was a new priest at the table, and he 
     said, "Wow, what a nice fish." In reply, the sister said, "Thank-you, 
     I caught the Gauddam Fish." And Mother Superior said, "I cleaned the 
     Gauddam Fish." And Monsignor said, "I cooked the Gauddam Fish."
     
     The priest looked around in disbelief, quite shocked, and said... "I 
     LIKE THIS FUCKING PLACE ALREADY!"
     
     
     >_________________________________________________ >
     
     >Three cowboys are sitting around a campfire, out on the >lonesome 
     prairie, each with the bravado for which cowboys >are famous. A night 
     of tall tales begins.
     >
     >The first says, "I must be the meanest, toughest cowboy
     >there is. Why, just the other day, a bull got loose in the corral 
     >and gored six men before I wrestled it to the ground, by the >horns, 
     with my bare hands."
     >
     >The second can't stand to be bested. "Why that's nothing. I >was 
     walking down the trail yesterday and a fifteen foot rattler >slid out 
     from under a rock and made a move for me. I grabbed >that snake with 
     my bare hands, bit its head off, and sucked >the poison down in one 
     gulp. And I'm still here today."
     >
     >The third cowboy remained silent, slowly stirring the coals >with his 
     penis.
     >
     
     
     
     ___________________________
     
     There is this American tourist on a trip around Ireland.
     
     When the tour arrives at Belfast he decides to go for a stroll with the 
aim 
     of taking in this new culture. After he's been walking for a while 
someone 
     rushes up behind him and sticks a gun in his back.
     
     The person says to the tourist, "What religion are you?"
     
     The American thinks to himself "Great--if I say I'm Catholic, this guy 
     is sure to be Protestant. If I say I'm Protestant, he's sure to be 
     Catholic. Either way I'm dead." Then he has a brain wave and says to 
     the guy, "Actually I'm Jewish." This, he thinks to himself, will surely 

     keep him safe.
     
     The guy behind him then replies "Gee, I must be the luckiest Arab in 
     Ireland."
     
     
     -------------------------------------------------------------- 
     >
     >Two young guys were picked up by the cops for smoking >dope and 
     appeared in court on Friday before the judge. The >judge said, "You 
     seem like nice young men, and I'd like to
     >give you a second chance rather than jail time. I want you to >go out 
     this weekend and try to show others the evils of drug >use and get 
     them to give up drugs forever. I'll see you back in >court Monday."
     >
     >Monday, the two guys were in court, and the judge said to the >1st 
     one, "How did you do over the weekend?" "Well, your honor, >I 
     persuaded 17 people to give up drugs forever." "17 people? >That's 
     wonderful. What did you tell them?"
     >
     >"I used a diagram, your honor. I drew two circles like this... >      
                _
     >        /   \
     >       |     |        O
     >        \ _ /
     >
     >
     >and told them this (the big circle) is your brain before drugs and 
     this (small circle) is your brain after drugs." 
     
     "That's admirable," said the judge.
     >
     >"And you, how did you do?"(to the 2nd boy) 
     
     "Well, your honor, I persuaded 156 people to give up drugs forever." 
     
     "156 people! That's amazing! How did you manage to do that!"
     
     "Well, I used a similar approach. (draws two circles) 
     >                      _
     >                    /   \
     >           O       |     |
     >                    \ _ /
     >
     >
     >I said (pointing to the small circle) "this is your asshole before 
     prison ..."
     >
     >
     ------------------------------------------------------- 
     > Hale-Bopp inspired Bumper Sticker:
     > So Many Stupid People; So Few Comets
     
     > ____________________________________________
     
     > A professor, teaching a college sexuality class, was
     > discussing the wide variety of frequency-of-sex that could > still  
     be considered normal.
     >
     > "Many people find that sex every other week is sufficient
     > frequency to satisfy -- and that's fine.  Yet others want to make > 
     love nightly--and there's nothing wrong with that either.
     > Let's take an informal survey of this class.  Don't be embarrassed.  
     Please answer honestly.  How many people here make love more than 
     twice a week?"  A few hands shot up.  "Twice a week?" A few more 
     hands.
     >
     > "Weekly, on average?"  Many hands.  "Once every two weeks?" he 
     continued, and "Once a month?" and "Once every several months?" and 
     finally, "Once a year?" 
     
     > At this last category, one hand shot up, waving most eagerly.
     
     > "Pardon my curiosity," the professor asked, "but if you only make 
     love once a year, why are you so excited over it?"
     >
     > Replied the student, "Tonight's the night!" > 
     > _________________________________
     
     
     From "Ann Landers" column. This is an actual quote from a kid's answer 
     on a science test:
     >
     > "You can listen to thunder and tell how close you came to
     > getting hit. If you don't hear it, you got hit, so never mind." 
     
     
     ____________________________________________
     
     The teacher had given the class an assignment.  He stresses the 
     importance of this particular assignment, and that no excuses will be 
     accepted except illness (with a medical certificate) or a death in the 
     immediate family (with a note from that member).  
     
     A smart-ass student pipes up "What about extreme sexual exhaustion, 
     sir?" 
     
     The class breaks up laughing, and when they settle down the teacher 
     responds with "Well, I guess you'll have to learn to write with your 
     other hand."
     >
     > ______________________________________ >

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 02 May 1997 22:03:20 -0400
From: Ellis_Holman 
Subject: VintRR Vintage bike stands

Anyone know where I can lay hands on a stand for the CR93 or a good
replica. Honda used to sell these as an accessory. Thanks Ellis

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 3 May 1997 21:04:53 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: VintRR Read it and weep

While going through some old Cycle World magazines just now the 
classified ads in the April 1968 issue caught my eye.

First, we've got a 1600cc Vincent dragster with 24 carat gold plated 
frame for $2000.  The same party also has a chromed Vincent road bike 
with spare engine for $800.

Nest is a Ducati 175cc F3 bike - latest five speed built in 1962 for 
the German distributor.  With less than 10 races and many spares - 
$800 or nearest offer.

1961 AJS 7R, excellent condition, Peel fairing, new tires and spares 
- - $750.

1950 Vincent Comet 500cc single.  Completely rebuilt from ground up 
to better than new condition.  A true classic at $150.

1966 HD Sprint/CRTT road racer.  Never been dropped, excellent 
original condition - $750.

Last but far from least is a Honda CR93 125cc ACA GP 1967 champion.  
Extra crankshaft, valves, gears, etc.  $650.

Boo hoo hoo.

Michael
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

End of VintRR-digest V1 #26
***************************
VintRR-digest           Monday, May 5 1997           Volume 01 : Number 027




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 03 May 1997 23:29:16 -0400
From: Ellis_Holman 
Subject: Re: VintRR Read it and weep

> While going through some old Cycle World magazines just now the
> classified ads in the April 1968 issue caught my eye.
> 
> 
> 
And then there was the Honda ad for 1962 offering a CR110 in full street
gear for a mere $2000.00. Ellis

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 3 May 1997 21:43:25 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: Re: VintRR Read it and weep

> And then there was the Honda ad for 1962 offering a CR110 in full street
> gear for a mere $2000.00. Ellis

My friend Peter has one of the CR110 street bikes - rough condition 
though.  The most interesting thing is that it came in "street 
scrambler" trim, with a nice off-road high pipe.  Just the thing for 
your 8 speed DOHC 4 valve 50cc bike.

Cheers,
Michael
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 3 May 1997 22:14:59 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: VintRR A REALLY dedicated racer

Mario Columbo's "Moto Guzzi" has a somewhat macabre story about the
pre and post-war Guzzi racer Omobono Tenni, a racer who's riding
style seemed  to defy the laws of physics (as did his ability to
survive some lurid crashes).  I'll paraphrase some comments from the 
book:

An interesting anecdote involved a crash during practice at the 
Circuito del Lario.  Tenni had to go off the road into a ditch in 
order to avoid colliding with a horse and cart (obviously an open 
roads course).  There he remained until worried race stewards mounted 
a search for him.  He was found half-unconscious with pain, groping 
around in the grass for bits of his finger bones, which he was 
placing in a handkerchief convinced that the doctors would have been 
able to put the bits together again.

Another escapade occured at the 1935 Isle of Man TT.  During practice 
while steaming down Bray Hill on the 500cc wide-angle Guzzi V-twin he 
strayed too far to the left and wound up in a ditch, but he blithely 
carried on for twenty or thirty yards before he got the bike back on 
the road under the horrified gaze of the spectators, all of whom were 
convinced that he was bound to break his neck.  ".... I could have 
got her back on the road sooner", he was to say afterwards, "but 
seeing I was in there I thought i might as well see how well she 
handled off the road . . .".  Another competitor who had been 
following him told the press that Tenni had shaved the embankment so 
close that he had torn out lumps of earth with the handlebars.

I think I'll play things a bit safer on the track, thanks very much.

Cheers,
Michael
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 3 May 1997 22:14:59 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: VintRR Vintage Racer Nicknames

One of the magazines I looked at tonight mentioned that Italian works 
rider Gilberto Milani had the nickname "Old Elbow".  John Cooper was 
known as "Mooneyes" as he had a set of them on his helmet (he must 
have known a US hot rodder).  Of course, there was Dick "Bugsy" Mann 
and David "Rubberman" Aldana.  I think that Renzo Pasolini may have 
had the nickname "Knees" from his knees-out riding style.

Anyone else recall some interesting nicknames?

Cheers,
Michael
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 12:49:29 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: VintRR More Pictures

I've been scanning away this morning, so here are the latest 
additions to the web site:

A picture of a Marly Drixyl-chassised CB72 Honda road racer.
A great action shot of Joel Robert on a twin-pipe CZ motocrosser. An
engine blueprint for a Bridgestone 175 rotary valve twin. The articles
that Gordon Jennings did for Cycle World on building a 250 Ducati road
racer.

They are all available from links on the graphics page.

Cheers,
Michael
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 13:50:35 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: VintRR A couple more photos

I also added shots of Tony Foale's spine-framed Moto Guzzi with 
floating gearcase.  The links are in Tony's section on the graphics
page.

Cheers,
Michae
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 19:57:25 -0400 (EDT)
From: Bevel250@aol.com
Subject: VintRR Clip Ons

I am interested in the clip ons. I would like to use my existing controls
which fit on 
22mm bars. If the clip ons have 22mm bars I will take them. I am planning to
use them on my Ducati/Mototrans 250 which has 35mm forks. Let me know if they
will work.

Thanks
David Flynn

------------------------------

End of VintRR-digest V1 #27
***************************
VintRR-digest          Wednesday, May 7 1997          Volume 01 : Number 028




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 20:56:33 -1000
From: bsagsdgw@maui.net (Webster Family)
Subject: Re: VintRR Tommaselli Clipons for Sale

Dear John, If the Tomaslli's are still for sale, send them to me COD  .
David Webster
1094 Kokomo Rd
Haiku, Hi.96708
TIA
Aloha
Dave

David Webster
Maui, Hawaii

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 10:56:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: Elin Phinizy 
Subject: VintRR Loudon

	Well USCRA held its first event of the season, 5/3/97  & 5/4/97, in
conjunction with the LRRS. It rained a good portion of the time, but Sunday
blew clear. As always, the track was well managed and well run by the US
Marshals - no surprise. On Saturday, I raced with a few other stalwarts (I
come from a place where the men are men and the sheep are nervous!) - the
last turn onto the oval - down. It was slicker than ice just wet from a
Zamboni; there went the new rain suit, crunched clutch lever, a few file
job motifs on the left points cover &c., and a bent shifter - got lucky.
Some people had the great sense to remain garaged. Sunday was much more
fun. I finally have sorted out the jetting - no mean feat for a 4-stroke
person.
	 The only unfortunate incident was that Chris Stein droped his
verrry, verry lovely ice-blue RD 350 into Turn #3, It is perhaps one of the
more attractive racers I have seen - -. It was a treat to be garaged with
such a lovely bike. He is an absolutely spotless rider, so  a double shame.
I went by wanting to stop and commiserate ( real competetive, hunh!). Turn
three comes off the oval and switches right up a rather steep incline. It's
quite fun, but it seemed to eat several bikes this weekend, being the turn
of choice for such things.
	I had a great time dicing with a Norton Commando (there were
several waves/classes at the same time). Riding a Commando on the street, I
just knew where he was going to torque out. The little R-5 was great in the
corners and ok on the straights, but the Norton was a champ on an uphill
pull.
	If any of you classic racers from other parts of the country want
to have fun, come join us at Loudon in June for the two classic events. The
sidecar race is always fun to observe. I am now off to a  of dog-show -
talk about cutthroat and competetive.

Jay

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 14:54:46 -0400 (EDT)
From: Wilcon@aol.com
Subject: Re: VintRR Tommaselli Clipons for Sale

John,

If you still have them I'll take them.

Will Connelly
4215 S 12 Street
Omaha, NE 68104

Would be interested in matching controls and a Magura throttle as well. (350
Demo VintRR upgrade)

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 19:13:32 +0000
From: "Glenn Thomson" 
Subject: VintRR Tow Cars

Okay, not quite.

I know I 'm going to be looking for a new truck by the end of the summer, 
and a minivan seemed to fit the bill.  Then somebody told me that bikes 
won't fit in most of them.  So either I tried to load bikes on to all I 
could borrow, or I asked the folks on these lists.  Guess which?

So the questions are:  Which minivans will take racebikes? streetbikes?

Unless there is something that everybody needs to know, e-mail me directly 
to reduce the load on the lists.  If there is any interest, I'll summarize 
the results.

Thanks in advance,

Glenn
   msgr@hookup.net
   Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 07 May 1997 08:25:51 -0400
From: Ellis_Holman 
Subject: VintRR Seat covering

Anyone have any thoughts on a pattern for the seat cover for a CR72? I
know the original material was a synthetic suede, and I know that the
original patern was pleated, but down't know the exact pattern. Ellis

------------------------------

End of VintRR-digest V1 #28
***************************
VintRR-digest          Thursday, May 8 1997          Volume 01 : Number 029




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 07 May 1997 10:25:27
From: Ed Scharnhorst 
Subject: VintRR Rusted scha-wing-arm

A friend of mine sent me this question. It not _really_ related to the
vintage list, but he thought someone may have run across it before. I've
got the same problem with my spare 250 Ducati frame. We've both tried the
heat-the-crap-out-of-it route with no success. If this is too far outside
the list, I'd be happy to take it to private e-mail. 

>From: Chris_Eklund@vapower.com
>Ed, could you post something to the vintage list
>for me?  You know my friggen CR125 swing arm pivot bolt is rusted to the
>swing arm bushings.  Lord knows, this must be a regular vintage occurrence
>so I figured they might know how to get it out.  I'm reluctant to post it
>to the race list since there seems to be a lot of cannon fodder and not
>much discussion on racing, and my dirt bike repair would be a stretch.
>Clayton Oliver told me that he had read something in an old cycle world
>about connecting an arch welder to each end of the pivot bolt, turning the
>welder on momentarily then off again, to break the rust bonds.  Is this
>possible?  I'd really be screwed if it welded in there!  
                          Ed Scharnhorst   (ducboy@VT.EDU)
          Always looking for Ducati pushrod & 2-stroke singles parts.
  '86 fz-600,    '61 Ducati 98,'64 Ducati 100,'6? Ducati 160,'6? Ducati 250
It's FrankenSTEEN   resting   the Smack-quack  It's dead Jim  Diana wannabe
       

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 07 May 1997 16:53:00 -0700
From: DONALD MACPHAIL 
Subject: Re: VintRR Tow Cars

Glenn Thomson wrote:
> 
> Okay, not quite.
> 
> I know I 'm going to be looking for a new truck by the end of the summer,
> and a minivan seemed to fit the bill.  Then somebody told me that bikes
> won't fit in most of them.  So either I tried to load bikes on to all I
> could borrow, or I asked the folks on these lists.  Guess which?
> 
> So the questions are:  Which minivans will take racebikes? streetbikes?
> 
> Unless there is something that everybody needs to know, e-mail me directly
> to reduce the load on the lists.  If there is any interest, I'll summarize
> the results.
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> 
> Glenn
>    msgr@hookup.net
>    Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA

	If you must have a small van - Astro/Safari get my vote used one for 
4yrs - best load carrier -tow rating- prob worst mileage -- give
aerostar 2nd place 
a friend used one for years - overhead door is a drag - carries less
load - gets better mmileage - we both use full size now Your mileage may
vary  - don

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 07 May 1997 22:19:04 -0400
From: Chris Stein 
Subject: Re: VintRR Tow Cars

A friend used to put his BSA b-50 roadracer in his Ford Aerostar. The
front wheel of the bike came forward almost between the driver's seat,
but it did work. Personally, I think you can't beat a full sized Ford
window van.

Chris

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 8 May 1997 13:10:00 -0400
From: John.Martin@fluordaniel.com
Subject: VintRR Friday (thurs.) Funny:

     From the strange and bizarre world of real life:
     ------------------------------------------------------------
     
     Here are some highlights of ER admissions to Chicago General 
     over the past year:
     
     - A 28-year old male was brought into the ER after an 
     attempted suicide.  The man had swallowed several 
     nitroglycerin pills and a fifth of vodka.  When asked about 
     the bruises about his head and chest he said that they were 
     from him ramming himself into the wall in an attempt to make 
     the nitroglycerin explode.
     
     - A woman with shortness on breath and who weighted 
     approximately 500 lbs was dragged into the ER on a tarp by 
     six firemen.  While trying to undress the lady, an asthma 
     inhaler fell out of one of the folds under her arm.  After 
     an X-ray showed a round mass on the left side of her chest 
     her massive left breast was lifted to find a shiny new dime. 
     And last, but not least-- during a pelvic exam a TV remote 
     control was discovered in one of the folds of her crotch. 
     She became known as "The Human Couch".
     
     - The most nonemergent ER visit:  A male adolescent came in 
     at 2 a.m. with a complaint of belly button lint.
     
     - A 92-year old woman had a full cardiac arrest at home and 
     was rushed to the hospital.  After 30 minutes of 
     unsuccessful resuscitation attempts the old lady was 
     pronounced dead.  The doctor went to tell the lady's 78-year 
     old daughter that her mother didn't make it. "Didn't make 
     it?  Where could they be?  She left in the ambulance 
     forty-five minutes ago!"
     
     - A 15-year old boy was laying on a stretcher with his 
     mother sitting next to him.  The boy was coming down from 
     "crank" (methamphetamine) that he had injected into his 
     veins with needles he had been sharing with his friends.  
     Concerned about this the doctor asked the boy if there was 
     anything he might have been doing that put him at risk for 
     AIDS.  The boy thought for a while then said questioningly 
     "You mean like having sex with our dog?"
     
     - A 19-year old female was asked why she was in the ER.  She 
     said that she and her boyfriend were having sex and the 
     condom came off and she wasn't able to retrieve it with her 
     fingers.  She went to the bathroom and "gagged myself to 
     vomit but couldn't vomit it up either."
     
     --------------------------------------------------------- ** 
     DISCLAIMER ** None of the jokes posted are in any way 
     intended to insult or offend any person/place/race/creed or 
     sex. The jokes posted in no way represent my views or those 
     of the company I work for. The jokes posted may contain rude 
     or inappropriate words and/or content - parental guidance
     is advised.  The issuer of jokes is not responsible for any 
     hysterical laughter, headaches, vomiting or seizures cause 
     by the above.
     

------------------------------

End of VintRR-digest V1 #29
***************************
VintRR-digest           Sunday, May 11 1997           Volume 01 : Number 030




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 09 May 97 11:27:32 EDT
From: Mark Hatten <102136.3317@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: VintRR Summit AHRMA report

Hey folks:

Here's my race report from the AHRMA Summit Point race this past weekend.  I
know, I know, a Honda Ascot isn't *exactly* a vintage bike, but it WAS a vintage
bike race, and the traffic's been pretty light on this list, so here it goes:



 
SUMMIT POINT, WV -- The AHRMA road show rode into town here just one week
following the AHRMA Willow Springs race in Southern California.  Turnout seemed
lighter than usual, although that may be more attributable to Summit Point's
"stellar" reputation in the racing community than the bi-coastal scheduling.

My previous trip to Summit a few weeks back had taught me all you need to know
about Summit -- don't get off the concrete patches in the corners, and pray it
doesn't rain.

Saturday dawned breezy and cool.  The weather forecasts were iffy, and, coupled
with my four hours of sleep in the passenger seat of the van, I wasn't feeling
too chipper.  Dennis, our buddy from DC, showed up with his Krups cappuccino
maker, and a double mochaccino got things looking up.

Morning practice sessions showed the track to be slick (imagine that), and my
times were a few seconds off my race times of three weeks back.  Racing on the
"rain groves" through third-gear Turn 9 and fourth-gear Turn 10 was an
eye-opening experience, as the Mighty Ascot (tm) slid and shimmied on the cold
track.  Of course, the other riders were racing on the same track, and everyone
seemed a bit bewildered.

As my race grid was posted, I noticed I was gridded on the second row, despite
my points.  I whined a bit to the race officials, and was met with a shoulder
shrug and a "oh well."  Apparently, AHRMA's computer crashed, so grids were
filled out by the "braille" method. (Note:  requisite racer bitching about
sanctioning body.)

Grid position didn't end up mattering much, as I got a great launch off the
second row, blasting by Mike Van Slyke on the Bare Bones TZ/Rotax directly in
front of me.  I was side by side with front-row gridded Chuck Campbell on a
Yamaha 500 down the start straight, and I outbraked him into Turn 1, dropping in
behind class champ Norm Lastovica, also on a Bare Bones TZ/Rotax, who started on
the pole position. 

The sun was out and the track was warm, so the traction offered was about as
good as Summit gets -- equivalent to rough ice vs. the freshly Zambonied stuff.
I knew Van Slyke on his slick-shod bike would be all over me soon, so I guarded
the inside line going into the slow Turn 5.  Naturally, he passed me on the
outside.  He locked up with Lastovica, and the two slowly pulled away from me.
I was turning lap times consistently two seconds a lap faster than my last
Summit race, but I needed another second a lap to hang with the TZ/Rotaxes, and
I just couldn't seem to step it up.  I ended up finishing a lonely third, far
ahead of Campbell on the Yamaha in fourth and Gordon Hamilton on an SR in fifth.
Only eight or so riders were gridded.

Sunday looked better as far as weather goes, with the morning sunny and mild.
Unfortunately, just as we rolled to pre-grid -- we were race 7 of 12 --  it
started to sprinkle.  They sent everyone back to the pits while we waited out
the weather.  One cloud dumped a bit of rain then moved on.  The Bare Bones guys
were swapping from rains to slicks and back again.  I decided to stay with my
"do everything but nothing well" Dunlop 591s :-)  After about 1/2 hour, things
were dry and we went out.  Mike Van Slyke on rains, Norm Lastovica on slicks.  I
was gridded properly on the front row this time, and got a great holeshot (more
on that a bit later).  Norm still motored past me before the first turn, and we
tiptoed through a very slippery Turn 1.  Mike Van Slyke passed me between Turns
Two and Three, and passed Norm as well.  He seemed to be hooking up very well on
his rain tires.  I caught up to Norm, who seemed to be riding slower than usual.
My bike was sliding everywhere, but I was sewing Norm up, which helped me
overcome my terror.  :-0  I passed him going into Turn 10 about lap three, but
he just blasted past on the straight.  Everytime he looked back, I'd just wave
at him.  I kept right on him, but Summit is a one-line track, and he was tough
to pass with so much motor.  I finally outbraked him into Turn 1 on lap five,
ran wide off the concrete patch, slid my front tire about two feet, found
religion, promised to lead a good life, and somehow managed to stay upright and
ahead of him.  I "put my head down" (tired racer cliche #1) and put some
distance between us.  I couldn't catch Mike, who was too far ahead, but I ended
up holding off Norm by a few seconds.  I NEV ER slid a bike around so much in my
life!  Summit is a very weird track -- it's not bad if it's warm and dry, but
the small amount of rain before our race and the cooler temps (the track was
dry) made a world of difference.  Norm said he just never could get his bike to
hook up.  This is the first time I've beaten him fairly on the track (except
when he had to ride an SRX 250 at Gingerman) so it felt pretty good.

BUT . . . 

I ended up getting docked a lap for jumping the start!  It seemed like the
flagman held the green flag FOREVER after the board went sideways.  I was
creeping as I had the revs up and the clutch at the engagement point (AHRMA
rules say your rear axle can't be past your starting line)  but the guy just
held the flag.  I could SWEAR I saw him looking directly at me with a sadistic
grin!  Since AHRMA forgot the "meatball" flag, I didn't get the normal
stop-and-go penalty, and was instead docked a lap. (They warned us about this in
rider's meeting.) So I was credited with fifth place. Since John Goodpaster was
standing about three feet from my starting spot, and I was in the direct line of
sight of about half a dozen AHRMA officials, I decided not to argue my "it was
just my lightning fast reflexes" theory and took my lumps.

After the race, Norm gave me his second place plaque, saying I outrode him and I
deserved it! (Of course, he has walls full of them anyway :-))  Pretty classy.  

So, Swingin' Singles Racing next moves to Putnam Park for a WERA Vintage and
Regional Sprint weekend May 17-18, then it's off to the wilds of Wisconsin for
the AHRMA National at Road America May 31-June 1.






Mark Hatten
Swingin' Singles Racing
AHRMA, WERA #97
Honda FT500
http://members.aol.com/hatman97

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 23:59:54 -0400 (EDT)
From: Wrrduckman@aol.com
Subject: Re: VintRR Summit AHRMA report

In a message dated 97-05-09 11:48:12 EDT, you write:

<< I was turning lap times consistently two seconds a lap faster than my last
 Summit race, but I needed another second a lap to hang with the TZ/Rotaxes,
 >>
What lap times were you turning? Do you know what lap times the F750's were
turning? I race the track in SCCA races pretty often with a ITB Escort. My
best lap time is mid 1:32's. Thanks.........

Warren Rhen
93 750 SS
80 1000 SP

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 May 1997 20:35:47 -0800
From: "Michael Moore" 
Subject: VintRR Noise at Sears Point AHRMA National

One of the nice things about the Laguna Seca vintage races last month 
was being able to run open exhausts.

I'm wondering if AHRMA has inquired of Sears Point management if they
are going to enforce their usual AFM noise limits for the August
National.  It would be nice (and I think a crowd draw/pleaser, as per
the Honda 6, Benelli 4, etc) if we could run on open meggas/chambers.
 Sears Point runs some pretty noisy drag cars at the Wednesday night
drag races and I'd think the occasional 135db CR216 Honda might not
be too much more objectionable to the neighbors.

John G.,  if you could check with the AHRMA office when next you
check in and let us know on this it would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Michael
Michael Moore
Euro Spares, SF CA
Distributor of Lucas RITA and Powerbase products
Sole North American source of "The Racing Motorcycle: a technical guide for constructors"
http://www.eurospares.com
AFM/AHRMA #364

------------------------------

End of VintRR-digest V1 #30
***************************







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