More info on the San Diego TonUp race bike coming soon. As of now it's a pile of parts, but it's a good size pile.
Here is what is going on in North Carolina.
This is Patman on Fiona.
22 Oct 2004
Well, "Fiona" and I survived our first
weekend of AHRMA vintage racing with only flesh wounds. Much was learned,
friends were made and improvement occurred.
Friday: Friday was a much-needed practice day as Barber Motorsports park is a
rather technical track. Lots of elevation change, blind corners, and decreasing
radii corners. After a slow but event free morning practice session, I pushed it
harder in the pm and learned lesson #1: Good tires are crucial! I crashed when
my tired old front tire just refused to stick anymore. I did a picture-perfect
lowside, sliding for about 75' across the asphalt before stopping in the grass.
The rest of Friday was spent repairing the bike for Saturday racing. No major
damage: a scuffed and cracked fairing, broken clutch lever, and bent footpeg and
brake lever. Back in the pits, experienced riders said my tires were shot: rock
hard and finished. I ran the rest of the weekend on 'em anyway.
Saturday: Lesson #2; 500 Premier is NOT the class I want to be racing in! Guys
in this class include a former Isle of Man winner and some very fast Manx
Nortons. I'm going to race Sportsman next year. Anyhow, I had two goals: finish
the race and don't be last. I achieved both goals. I finished 15th in a starting
grid of 20. BTW, our friend Malcolm Dixon from Houston, started in the wave
behind me and passed me during the race. And he fucking waved as he did it! Talk
about adding insult to injury! We had a laugh over that one.
Second race of the day Saturday was my "bump-up" race. Again, I was
WAAAY out of my league. My only goal was not to make anyone else crash! I went
too hot into the same corner that got me Friday and took the scenic route
through the gravel trap. I stalled the bike and called it a day. No harm done.
Sunday: A wet, foggy start to the day made morning practice sort of surreal.
Bikes were coming through the fog and disappearing back into it. I didn't go out
until the fog lifted. Fog didn't stop Malcolm! Tires notwithstanding, Sunday was
a much better day. The sun came out by race time and the track heated up. I
finally found my line around the track and pushed as hard as I dared. My front
tire shuddered and skipped every time I pushed hard into the corners but it
never let go. I finished 13th in Sunday's race, improving two positions. No
crashes and a much smoother race on my part. (But again Malcolm passed me 
)
Conclusion: "Fiona" ran well and pulled hard. She deserves a more
experienced rider than I. But maybe by this time next year I will be that rider!
Mechanically she didn't let me down once. I've got leaks at the cylinder base
and head gasket that leave my boots bathed in oil, but I'll fix that this
winter. Suggestions are encouraged. Thanks for being interested enough to read
this far.
I'm going to forward a photo to Larry for attachment at his leisure.
Patman
