Mike,
So what's wrong w/ 2.5" rear wheel travel.
I still ride my radial-head Maico 400 that I bought new in '73. It was
originally prepared by Brian Kenny and rebuilt a couple of years ago by
Barry Higgens (names you might remember). Last year I took it to a local
supercross track in hopes that they would have a vintage class. They
didn't, so I just entered the Open Class.
Yes, it was crazy, but, as you know, there is something totally compulsive
and irresponsible about motocross racing anyway. I guess it never quite
goes away.
Why I tried the second jump, I can't answer. I learned absolutely
everything I needed to know upon landing the first one. It was a
spine-rattling event even though I landed the rear wheel down way early. For
the balance of the first moto and for the entire second one, the best show I
could put on was hard-charging the jumps, aggressive front-wheel braking,
then wheelying down the backside of every single drop-off. On the
straight-aways, I'm proud to say, the Maico could still hold its own. The
whoop-dee-doos were excruciating.
In the end I came in last place, but the crowd absolutely loved it! I think
they saw me as some weird visitation of a long forgotten era; and perhaps I
am. Yes, I still wear my old High Point boots with all the buckles aflying,
a dirty-white plastic Jaffa mouthpiece and the clumsy old gloves that have
those yellow enduro rubber ribs over the fingers. And my helmet and jersey
have no flames.
Back in the pits, a bunch of the other racers (kids really) came by to see
what 2.5" of rear wheel travel really looks like. Quite honestly, I think
they were measurably awed (especially for kids)...or maybe just frightened
at the totally-exhausted, coke-sucking, gray-bearded visage sitting on his
blue plastic milk crate.
Richard Taylor
Atlanta
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Rose" <lytspeed@hotmail.com>
To: <fot@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: Oil - what kind?
> I used to use Klotz Racing Oil in a different life when I raced motocross
> (back when my race bikes had all of 2.5" of rear suspension travel). In
fact,
> I still have a Klotz sticker on my old tool box.
>
> Mike
>
>
>
>
>
>
> As I recall that is actually called Klutz oil, a most unfortunate moniker
> from a branding standpoint.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WEmery7451@aol.com [mailto:WEmery7451@aol.com]
> Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2003 7:07 AM
> To: kaskas@cox.net; gregmogdoc@surfnetusa.com; vinttr4@geneseo.net;
> fot@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Oil - what kind?
>
>
> In a message dated 5/16/03 12:52:33 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> kaskas@cox.net
> writes:
>
> << I too am a Kendall guy. >>
>
> I guess that most of the oil opinion returns are now in. After hearing
> about
> the two Pennsylvania oils (Quaker State and Pennzoil) being blown through
> the
> same pipes and mixed together, I wonder how many differences there are
> among
> the mineral oils. The only difference between Pennzoil and Quaker State
> is
> what is done to them at the end (maybe just different containers). Many
> years ago, Quaker State was briefly taken off of the shelves around here
> when
> a bad batch got out and gummed up a bunch of engines. I imagine that the
> synthetics are still being distributed in small enough quantities that
> they
> are still unique. Most of the local car dealers and quick oil change
> businesses are using Pennzoil.
>
> I did have some relatively long lasting engines in past years (compared
> with
> those of today) with nothing more than the stock oil systems. During
> these
> years, I was using Big Daddy John Garlet's Kendall 20W/50 Racing Oil. I
> don't think that you can find it around here anymore.
>
> Years ago, this teacher use to show up at Nelson Ledges with an ugly, beat
>
> up, black bathtub Porch, which blew smoke. This car was also very fast,
> and
> had Kluntz Synthetic oil in it. The teacher would get up in the middle of
>
> the night and put Kluntz decals on the Group 44 cars. As someone asked
> before, what type of oil did Group 44 use? Since Kas is a Kendall guy,
> they
> must have used Kendall.
>
> Finally, does the oil make that much difference, or is it the meticulous
> blue
> printing of the engines along with the right skills and facilities for a
> near
> perfect assembly of them?
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