Vintage motorcycle racing is a disease. It comes on innocent enough, disguised as an opportunity to spend the weekend with old and new friends in a sea of rusty motorcycles, pop-up tents and pickup trucks. ...nights spent sitting around the campfire, cold beer in hand, sharing stories of broken bikes, past races and secret formulas for mechanical success. Then it happens, race morning dawns, your number is up, the flag drops and you're a goner, sucked in by the adrenaline rush, hypnotized by the engine roar and consumed by the smell of race fuel. The disease begins to take hold. You push yourself each weekend to to catch that elusive point leader, best your last lap time or just get a little closer to the finish line before you or your bike break. Then there's no turning back, there's nothing but the next race. What follows are some musings from TUNC members as the AHRMA vintage race season lingers off in the not too distant future. Race #1 for most of us is White Lightening Cross Country March 12-13 in Chester, SC. For more info. on our racing schedule click here.
Eric on his 2012 XC racer, the Hondapatomus
You know I was trying to be calm about racing this year. Spend more time with the family, try and make it to more bike rally's, race a few races and not get so consumed with the whole thing.
All was good until I started registering for races and realized it was only two weeks away... Now I got the f'n DT's, can't think straight, worried about getting the bike right, worried about points, how many races can I possibly make it to, and how the hell am I going to afford it...
If they let me loose right now I'd smoke a tree with the throttle pinned before the first 100 feet.
IT'S A F'N DISEASE!!!!!!!!! LET'S GO RACING BOY'S!!!!!!!!! HHHAAAWWWWW!!!!!!!!!
...while doing the pre-registration this AM for White Lightening....I started gettin all twitchy wound up - nerves on edge - thinking about season 2.
Last year...I was a wreck at Gatorback...the tension nearly drained me, the partial lap I could muster took what was left. But things got a lot less taxing as the season went on. White Lightening was a milestone - completed many (for me) laps...had a blast doing it...felt confident and the bike did what I needed it to. But...at all races...lining up at the start, watching each wave go....disappearing into the wooded unknown....then off with my wave....hoping not to kill myself, or someone else....make it out as unscathed as possible - lap after lap...managing the muddy climbs..over the slick roots trying to guide the bike over the edge, or into the trees...the narrow rock littered descents that want to launch you off trail...the long stretches of tight tree slaloms that want to bust your knuckles, the grassy open runs wet with dew that want to spill your ass in front of everyone....and the finish - the relief, the sense of accomplishment...the exhaustion, the exuberance.....then later...when we're all in....the stories, the hanging out with my boys, grillin', smokin' & beveraging up...and looking forward to the next race...
Vintage Cross Country (VXC) is a staple in the Ton Up N*C racing program and the annual White Lightening VXC race in South Carolina is one of the first scheduled events of the year on the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association's (AHRMA) calendar. The race has taken place for that past couple of years on Marvin Grant's old farm in Chester, SC.
Cross Country Riding is how motorcycling began, because roads were very few and far between when motorcycles were born. As the motorcycles and roads improved, the riders still challenged themselves with off road competitions on acient Roman roads in Europe and "cow and wagon" trails in the USA. Eventually, the competitions organized into ISDT type reliability runs in Europe and Enduros and "Hare and Hounds" in the USA. Further organization and land closure issues brought the closed course Hare scrambles to prominence (AHRMA).
Beno Rodi's collection of XC bikes. Beno participates in excess of 100 races a year.
The Ton Up Fla. transport van and machines: Triumph TR5T and the AJS Model 20
Chad and I headed five or so hours south for the two day event early on the morning of Saturday, March 19, 2011. I was along in the role of "Pit Monkey," while Chad was intent on racing his two BSA 441's in the Classic 500 division. The weather was warm and clear when we arrived at the farm.
The 441's. Chad had recently overhauled the square barrel he is seated on.
Chad at the starting line.
Here's Chad's race report on Day 1 of the 2 day event:
It took me a few kicks this time to start the bike which was rare since I installed the PVL (German-built electronic ignition system). After firing it up I headed out on the very challenging and long (5.5miles) course. After 2 laps I noticed Scott (Ton Up Fla.) off to the side after start/finish and decided to join him and to inspect my bike which started pinging again and losing power. According to the pre-registration list I thought I was all alone in my class so it made sense at the time to save the bike and save myself for day 2. Then I noticed a TR5T ride past me. It was another rider in my class and he was already a lap ahead with only 15 minutes remaining.
I completely screwed myself in race 1 and learned a valuable lesson in racing. Whether you're racing against another rider or yourself, race hard and never give up.
Scott rounds the corner on his AJS.
Post-race pow-wow day 1: Beno, Scott and Chad.
Here's Chad's race report on Day 1 of the 2 day event:
After my boondoggle the day before I prepped the dry framed round barrel for racing on day 2 and despite not seeing the TR5T on the line I decided to race like he was there anyway. I knocked out 4 hard laps with good and consistent times which improved with each lap. The bike ran solid the entire race and I crossed the finish in 1st.
I realized after the second race how much I really like the round barrel. The engine feels de-tuned and very forgiving. My only complaint is the shortness of the swing-arm and the terrible front Triumph suspension.
Max (Ton Up Fla.) buzzes the check point/finish tent on his Triumph...
Chad takes the checkered flag.
Don't call it a comeback, Chad took 1st place on Day 2.
Ton Up NC = Riding, Restoration and Racing of Vintage Motorcycles
The chill of fall, the smell of burnt oil and gasoline, the twist of the throttle and the cloud of dust that follows. There's nothing quite like a dirt-bike ride on a cool autumn morning. The trails and tracks at Henderson, NC's North Carolina Motorsports Park have been a weekend playground for us Ton Up NC folk for some time now. Here's some pics and video from some recent weekends at NCMP and a few from the not so distant past...
Marcus and his Taco
Brian on Chad's 441
Alex and Jim sort the T25T "Field Pig"
Chad in a moment of XR200R love.
Eric and son on the TT.
Trail videos...
If you know of other great NC places to ride, public or private, do let us know. We're always looking to explore new and interesting dirt.
Ton Up NC = Riding, Restoration and Racing of Vintage Motorcycles
Dick Mann was born June 13, 1934 in SLC, Utah. Dick Mann is the two-time winner of the AMA Grand National Championship. Dick Mann was inducted in the the Motorsports and Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998. Dick Mann raced flat track, TT, motocross, observed trials and road races. Dick Mann was the second winningest rider in the AMA Grand National Series history (24 national victories). Dick Mann is known as one of the most talented and versatile riders ever and for wearing a cheap straw hat while working on his motorcycle. On July 28, 2012, at the ripe old age of 78, Dick Mann designed the AHRMA scrambles course in Terra Alta, WV and posed for pictures with members of Ton Up N*C.
The campground was thick with old American iron, the sounds of thumping engines echoed through the countryside and the smell of burning gasoline and oil permeated the air...
Thanks again to the AMCA for having us and thanks to everyone who stopped by our tent to say hi and/or to buy some Bull City Rumble gear. The next AMCA Southern National Meet is scheduled for May 16, 17 and 18, 2013. We will be there, you should plan on attending too.
If you missed us at the AMCA meet and would still like to get a Bull City Rumble shirt, patch or poster please visit our store.
Ton Up NC = Riding, Restoration and Racing of Vintage Motorcycles
