Once again, Richard defines the true vintage spirit. Nothing wrong with
finishing last if you do it with style and the proper attitude. I wish he'd
write more often.
Jim Hill
Madison WI
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Taylor" <n196x@mindspring.com>
To: "Mike Rose" <lytspeed@hotmail.com>; <fot@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 5:31 PM
Subject: Re: Oil - what kind?
> 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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