Bull City Rumble 12: Sept. 2-3, 2016 -North Carolina's Largest Vintage Motorcycle Show & Rally -Downtown Durham, NC (Labor Day Weekend)

September 2-3, 2016

The Bull City Rumble is a world-renowned vintage motorcycle and scooter rally hosted by Ton Up NC annually on Labor Day Weekend in Durham, NC. Thematically, the event has its roots in the traditional rivalry of Mods vs. Rockers, the sensationalized clash of two youth cultures- scooter riding mods and motorcycle riding rockers, in 1960’s England. The event has evolved from its humble beginnings in a parking lot in 2005 to a multi-venue, multi-day rally drawing thousands of enthusiasts from all over the world.

The hosts, Ton Up NC, are a small not for profit group of enthusiasts with a singular goal: to promote the riding, restoration and racing of vintage motorcycles. 2016 marks Ton Up NC’s 13th anniversary as an organization and marks the 11th edition of the Bull City Rumble. When not organizing events, the members of Ton Up NC compete nationally in vintage dirt and road motorcycle racing.

On Labor Day weekend, 2016 (Sept. 2-3), downtown Durham will again be filled with the sights and sounds of vintage scooters, motorcycles and enthusiasts from all four corners of the globe. The historic Lucky Strike Tobacco Warehouses in Durham’s Brightleaf District serves as the backdrop for the annual bike show on Saturday, September 3 where judges are not necessarily looking for the prettiest and cleanest machines but who are looking for well ridden bikes with personality and craftsmanship. Later, festivities move indoors to the Social for some of the finest burlesque dancers in the South, Rock and Roll music and refreshments.

Make plans to come join us for one of the best two-wheeled events in the South: The Bull City Rumble September 4-5, 2015.

Pre-Register Here

BIKE SHOW CATEGORIES INCLUDE:

• Vintage British (up to 1979)
• Vintage European (BMW, Guzzi, Ducatti etc. up to 1979)
• Vintage Japanese (up to 1979)
• Vintage American (up to 1979)
• Post Vintage (1980-2000 classic sport bikes etc. vs. cruisers)
• Retro Modern (Modern Bonnie, Guzzi V7 Classic, Kaw w650 etc.)
• Competition (vintage dirt/road race bikes)
• Vintage Scooter/Moped

All entries must run.

THE SCHEDULE:

Fri. September 2 

7:00pm-?  Rumble Registration Pre-Party

Green Room

1108 Broad Street, Durham, NC

Sat. September 3

11:00am Motorcycle Breakfast

1:00pm Vintage Motorcycle, Scooter and Cafe Racer Show

1007 W. Main Street, Durham, NC

4:30pm Bike Show Awards and AHRMA Charity Raffle

1007 W. Main Street, Durham, NC

5:00pm-? Bull City Rumble After Party at The Social

Featuring: 

Little Lesley and the Bloodshots

Hearts and Daggers

The Low Counts 

plus Burlesque

1007 W. Main Street, Durham, NC

WHERE TO STAY:

Days Inn ($51 and up)
3460 Hillsborough Road Durham, NC 27705 (919) 383-1551

Red Roof Inn ($60 and up)
1915 N Pointe Dr Durham, NC 27705 (919) 471-9882

Hilton Garden Inn ($101 and up)

2102 West Main St, Durham, NC 27705 (closest to the Rumble epicenter)

Hampton Inn Suites ($101 and up)
1542 North Gregson Street, Durham, NC 27701 (919) 688-8880

Marriott City Center ($139 and up)
201 Foster Street, Durham, NC 27701 (888) 236-2427

Homewood Suites by Hilton (from $125)

 3600 Mount Moriah Road, Durham, NC 27705 (919) 401-0610

PRE-REGISTER HERE FOR $20 AND SAVE:

http://tonup.bigcartel.com/product/bull-city-rumble-11-pre-registration

Please support this year's sponsors:

Hemo Bioscience

Combustion Cycles

Durham Tire

CITY LIMIT MOTO

Viking Bags

Motorcycle House

James Joyce Irish Pub

Alivia's Durham Bistro

"What year is your Triumph?" How to read and identify Triumph engine and frame numbers (VIN)

Triumph Engine & Frame Numbers 101 Here's a quick and dirty crash course on identifying that amazing vintage Triumph that just pulled up to the rally without outing yourself as a noob by asking "What year is it?"

1969 - on Note: The engine number is located on the left side of the engine immediately below the cylinder barrel. The frame number is stamped on the left side of the frame, on the front engine mounting lug. The first letter indicates the month of manufacture as follows:- A - January B - February C - March D - April E - May G - June H - July J - August K - September N - October P - November X - December The second letter indicates the season year of manufacture as follows :- C - 1969 D - 1970 E - 1971 G - 1972 H - 1973 J - 1974 K - 1975 N - 1976 P - 1977 X - 1978 A - 1979 B - 1980 The third section is a numerical block of five figures which commence with engine number 00100. The fourth section indicates the model. Example: NC00100T120R - N=Month C=Year, Number, T120R=Model. 1963 to 1968 Unit 650cc 1963 - DU101 to DU5824 1964 - DU5825 to DU13374 1965 - DU13375 to DU24874 1966 - DU24875 to DU44393 1967 - DU44394 to DU66245 1968 - DU66246 to DU90282 1957 to 1968 Unit 350 & 500cc 1957 - H101 to H760 1958 - H761 to H5484 1959 - H5485 to H11511 1960 - H11512 to H18611 1961 - H18612 to H25251 1962 - H25252 to H29732 1963 - H29733 to H32464 1964 - H32465 to H35986 1965 - H35987 to H40527 1966 - H40528 to H49832 1967 - H49833 to H57082 1968 - H57083 to H67331 Frame number prefix : Rigid - 3T = TC Rigid - 5T, T100, 6T, TR5 = TF Swing Arm - all pre-unit = S Swing Arm - '21' = H 1950 to 1962 Pre-Unit 500 & 650cc Engine numbers had a prefix indicating the model type along the lines above such as 3T, 5T, 6T, T100, T110, 3TA, 5TA etc. This was followed by a number from the list below. YEAR - Pre-Unit 500 & 650cc 1950 - From 100N 1951 - 101NA to 15808NA 1952 - 15809NA to 25000NA then 25000 to 32302 1953 - 32303 to 44134 1954 - 44135 to 56699 1955 - 56700 to 70929 1956 - 70930 to 82799 then 0100 to 0944 1957 - 0945 to 011115 1958 - 011116 to 020075 1959 - 020076 to 029363 1960 - 029364 to 030424 then D101 to D7726 1961 - D7727 to D15788 1962 - D15789 on 1937 to 1949 The year and model were used as a prefix to the engine number From 1937 to 1939 the final digit ( 7, 8 or 9 ) was used. From 1946 to 1949 the final two figures ( 46, 47, 48 or 49.) The model numbers were T or 5T for the Speed Twin, T100 for Tiger 100, 3T for 350 twin & TR5 for Trophy. Typical numbers were thus: 8-T-1234 ( 1938 Speed Twin ) 47-5T-23456 ( 1947 Speed Twin ) 9-T100-45678 ( 1939 Tiger 100 ) Pre-war frames ( 1937 / 39 ) used the prefix TH for the 500cc models ( 5T & T90 ) and TF for the Tiger 100. Engine numbers commenced at: 1946 - 72000 1947 - 79046 1948 - 88782 1949 - 100762

TUNC Budget Racing DIY Files: Repair/Replace a Battery in a AMB TransX MyLaps Transponder 260/160

In a sport where $$$=Speed and a new AMB transponder will set you back $400 you may want to take a chance on repairing your DOA transponder.

When the battery on your AMB transponder withers or dies, place it on your trusty workbench and give this hack a whirl. What do you have to lose? Besides your AMB warranty of-course?

My transponder laid dormant for a couple of years and completely died in storage. I had the earlier model TranxX 260 with the 4 screws (seen below). The later ones appear to be completely sealed which may need a little more labor.

Here's a video of a guy cutting out the battery from a sealed unit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZXUOUzy-J0

Another option is sending your unit to Australia for a more professional repair:

http://www.transponderservices.com/

The last and least expensive option is making the repair yourself. Below are the steps I took to repair my transponder which is still working fine after a year.

STEP 1: Remove the 4 screws

STEP 2:  Liberate the old battery.

Notes:  Use a heat guy and take your time.  I placed foil over the sections I was not removing and used several small picks and a box cutter to expose the battery and connectors.  Once the epoxy was free I broke the weld from the battery posts and removed the battery.

 

STEP 3:  Install and secure new battery.  

Notes: I purchased a 1.2V 2700 mAh battery from the local battery store (Batteries Plus) for $3 and asked them to weld/arc the tabs on for me.  A couple of dabs of solder to the existing leads is enough to hold.  I mounted the battery with craft glue.

STEP 4: Re-install screws, charge and spend that $400 you just saved on that new set of cams you've been wanting.  See you in the paddock!




-#281 TUNC

Shh, White Lightnin'

Chad fires up the BSA 441 for the first time in 2014.

...or so the late George Jones lyric goes. Since 2009 the American Historic Motorcycle Racing Association (AHRMA) has held one of the East Coast's best kept secrets: The Carolinas White Lightening Cross Country Classic. The race has been held for the past several years in Chester, SC and is one of the highlights of the AHRMA vintage cross country calendar. The course is a great combination of single track trails, fire roads and grass track as it zig-zags in and out of the woods on the South Carolina farmland. Ton Up NC members have particapted in the event for most of its history and it typically signals the beginning of the racing year for most of us. What follows is a quick glimpse at what you've been missing out on if you've never attended. This year the event is scheduled for March 12 and 13, 2016. More info. here.

Jim and his Triumph T25T

The starting line.

Ton Up NC's Eric P. gets the hole shot on his Honda Elsinore MT250 (unfortunately, the Elsie blew up after a lap)

Camp Ton Up Chester, SC.

Talking shop with Malcom Smith's former mechanic.

The post-race steak dinner.

Chad takes home first place and hold's Scott's "Cool Bike" award for his AJS (pictured above).

Ton Up NC = Riding, Racing and Restoration of Vintage Motorcycles.

If you would like to be a support our mission and the annual Bull City Rumble Vintage Motorcycle show, please visit our webstore and purchase a shirt, poster, patch or sticker.

Ton Up NC webstore: tonup.bigcartel.com