CALVMX Race 2. Glen Helen Raceway

Well Race number 2 was not nearly as nerve wracking as the first one.  I had a much better idea of what to expect and what I was capable of.  Still ran the 74 YZ, but this time brought along the newly aquired 89 ATK 604.  This put me in the sportsman 125 class, and the GP3 500 class.  I have never been to Glen Helen Raceway before this time, and it was mind blowing.  The facility was enormous, and the tracks were huge and carved right out of the hills.  This was a lot different than the tracks I was used to.  My local tracks are flat and they build the jumps out of piles of dirt they truck in.  Glen Helen used the natural terrain and dug the course right out of the hills.  Lots of elevation changes, and blind turns.  I was used to seeing turns or jumps coming up a few hundred feet in advance.  Some of the course at Glen Helen went up, down, around hills, and you had to remember what was around the bend or over the hill to know how fast or slow you should be going.  It was pretty intimidating for me being a new rookie racer.

There were a lot more people who showed up to this race than did at Milestone as well.  More die hard vintage racers, and more amazing vintage bikes.  This is what I saw when I showed up.

Thankfully with me this time was my wife Candace, who was my drink holder, cheerleader, photographer, and pit crew.

 

 

The racing was just as intense as the first time, except this time it involved more speed due to the size of the track, and my first experience with a starting gate.  I pretty much just let it fall all the way and probably a second or two after everyone took off, I was off.  I felt more star struck as I saw a lot more familiar names line up, and a lot more very rare motorcycles getting involved.

I didn't do to bad either.  I actually got first place in my class, novice GP3 500, but lets just not mention that I was the only one in that class.  I was also super excited to get a great CALVMX 1st place shirt out of the deal. 

 All in all a GREAT day of racing.  I had some issues with the YZ in the second moto, but I believe it was partially gearing, and me trying not keeping the bike screaming in the powerband heading up some of the steeper hills.  So those issues will be resolved and ready to go next time.  I will miss out on round 3 at Milestone MX, but will be back at Glen Helen for round 4.  New brakes and sprockets  on the YZ, and a much smaller and better suited MX tank and seat on the ATK.  Should be a lot more fun! 

The other, other bike

Well I had the opportunity to trade the 86 YZ250 for an 89 ATK 604.  What?!  Never heard of ATK?  I made the trade and it is my second ATK.  The first being a Utah built ATK 605 dual sport, and this one being a California built 604 MX/Cross country.  Here is a brief history as I know it.

Early 80s a top ranking European off road motorcycle racer Horst leitner teamed up with Boyesen, they same boyesen who later started boyesen reeds, teamed up to create ATK motorcycles.  An american company that had ideas way ahead of its time and had some unusual ideas.  These were the California owners of ATK.  The bikes had top of the line parts, some trick parts, and some interesting parts on their bikes.  Rotax 2 and 4 stroke motors, WP upside down forks, WP shocks, Chromoly frames and swing arms made by world famous C&J frames, chain torque eliminators, countershaft mounted rear disk brakes, electric start, and a few had fuel injection in the later 80s.  These bikes meant business!  One big reason I think there were never a lot of them around was because of the prices for these exotic bikes.  They were several thousand dollars more to buy than the competing japanese brand bikes.  The company was bought and sold several times, once in 1993 and moved to utah and redesigned, and a few more times still staying in utah.  The company is still in utah, they still made rotax powered and unique bikes until 2003.  Rotax stopped producing the 4 stroke motors they were using, than the company bought what was left of the failing cannondale motorcycle company and produced more bikes and rebadged them as ATKs.  Now they are doing the same with another asian brand street bikes and rebadging them as ATKs. 

Here is the pics of the crazy rear brake setup and the chain torque eliminator.

So its just a cool bike all around.  I hardly ever see any other ATKs on the road or at the track.  I kind of like the odd ball bikes a little more for that reason.  There are still several suppliers for parts including ATK-USA in utah, and American Dirt Bike in Norco, CA.  I can also say my bike was build in America.

Other than basic maintenance the bike was pretty much ready to ride.  I even tracked down an MX tank, but it wasnt until after my first race with it.  It is a great do it all bike.  I can run the 4.6 gallon tank and seat and haul in the desert or swap to the 2.2 gallong tank and seat and run it on the track.  Lots of power, and flat track racers have gotten 60-70 HP reliably out of these motors, so parts are still available for the motor.  A lot of the suspension and body work is shared with similar era KTMs.  I like it a lot and can use it for more than one discipline of off road riding.  There is also a cult following of die hard ATK fans out there.  So check them out if you want to read up on a unique history and production of a very cool American motorcycle company.

These are just a few pics of the bike as it stands.

And some with the MX tank and seat.

CALVMX Race 1

This is the rookie debut of my MX career...lol  This is Race 1 of the CALVMX vintage motocross series.  Never been to one of these races so I had no idea what to expect.  Was I going to get the evil eye from the older guys?  Were my bikes up to par?  Were they considered a joke?  Was I going to look like a circus act on the track?  I had no idea what I was doing.  This is what I parked next to.

Probably the most custom "vintage" bike I have ever seen.  DKW tank, Yamaha 100cc tricked out motor, custom swing arm, modern forks, some super trick shocks, the airbox was carbon fiber, disk brakes....the WORKS!!  Right than I though I may be in way over my head, bike wise and skill wise. 

Never the less, signed up, got my membership, and started wondering around and checking out the dirt floor museum of vintage bikes.  Everything from what looked like museum quality restorations, to total customs, to pieced bikes pieced together from all the best parts of the day.  Everyone I spoke with was really amazing.  Nothing but good advice and great stories.  Lots and lots of friendly people just looking to have a good time and continue their passion for vintage bikes.

Did I mention I have never raced before?  Luckily my bikes, because of year and my skill level, were placed in the first and last race.  being first I had no clue with how good or bad I would look compared to everyone else.  The series is setup for 8 races to cover all the classes and bikes, and 2 motos each.  Each moto had 6 laps, than you waited for the next series of 8 and jumped in when your class comes on the line.  The first race was on the 86 YZ250, lucky for me because it gave me a chance to get more familiar with the track, and the brakes work a LOT better than the 74 so I could push it a little more.  As far as never racing, I had no idea what I was doing on the starting line.  The start was a line drawn in the dirt, and a flagger about 50 yards away.  All I knew was the guys around me had engines screaming waiting to drop the clutch and take off.  Flagged dropped and I can see the smoke come pouring out the back of my bike.  I am still not sure if that was a jetting issue or what, because it never happened again.  The only thing I kept thinking about was "Race yourself," and don't worry about everyone around you because they maybe on a bigger bike or a higher skill level.  If that was the case I could get myself into a lot of trouble.  The other thing was "To finish first, you must first finish."  That one kept me from just pinning it around each and every corner or jump.  Honestly I was so into just trying to be smooth and stay upright, I couldn't tell which jump I was on most of the time, and what gear I needed to be in to clear it.  I was just trying to stay in one piece.  I think I did 5 of the 6 laps before the leader crossed the finished and we were brought in from the track.  Good times!

The last race was on the 74.  I realized how much different the bikes were riding them back to back.  I almost have to jump up and over to get on the 86, and the 74 I just threw my leg over and sat down on the bike.  I also have to remember to get all 15 horsepower out of this bike it has to be screaming!  The start went the same as on the 86, I kept to myself and just tried to stay upright.  The first big tight turn I forgot the brakes on this bike are almost non existent, and I have to use every ounce of strength in my hand to make it do what I want.  After almost blowing the turn and flying over the burn, I was able to readjust and remember to use both brakes much harder than a modern disk brake bike.  Than I was around corners more like a dirt tracker.  Luckily I stayed up and didn't crash, suspension worked ok as I didn't chip any teeth or bruise a kidney.  Another good race for me.

When it was all over I had a blast.  Heard a lot of familiar names from the glory days.  Saw some incredible riding from these guys.  They were pushing the limits and probably surpassing them on some of the older bikes.  Most of the looked like they should have been in a museum, but they beat on them like it was the race of their lives!  I was just blown away with the skill of a lot of these people.  Met a lot of great folks, and think I am addicted. 

The Other bike

There is no way I was going to survive just riding and racing the 74 YZ.  It is jsut to brutal to ride for an extended amount of time, especially on track designed for more modern bikes.  The vintage bikes were never designed to take serious jumps or whoops, so you will be bruised and battered on some of the tracks.  So I opted for another ride that was a little more modern and plush, but still had a class in the series.  I found an 86 YZ250 that needed a top end, and was in decent shape.

Other than the piston and rings being shot, torn seat cover, and painted radiator shrouds it was in good shape.  So i tore into it getting it ready to race.  If anything it gave me something I can push a little harder on and be able to develop a little more track skill than I could get from the 74.

Here is how the build went.
- Seat cover
- Rebuilt and rejetted the carb
- New top end and honed cylinder
- New water pump impeller and oil seal
- New clutch cover gasket
- Ebay special front brake caliper and master cylinder
- Rebuilt the front end
- Ebay special front number plate

Fairly easy and straight forward.  I am also able to ride this bike at Pala Raceway, which is only a few minutes from my house.  So I can get some more seat time on that bike than I could on the 74.  Pala is not a vintage friendly track.  The bike ran great for what it is.  I just wanted to get something to run in another class and see how I stacked on a more modern bike, which if I made a mistake would be a little more forgiving.

Off to the races!!

vintage MX rookie in every sense

So despite every attempt to keep getting ready for Vegas to Reno, probably not going to happen this year.  Due to financial reasons, team mate being sent to the other coast and defending our freedom (trust me thats a busy schedule keeping the free world free and all), logistical complications as a one man team with single chase vehicle, school 5 days a week and work the other 2.  It is just a lot busier for me this year than I ever thought.

So instead of parking the bikes, and rotting away, and not getting any riding time on any bike, I have stepped into the world of Vintage Motocross.  When I say step, I mean a step back in time to about 30 years ago.  As  most of you know my family has been toting around a 1974 YZ125A for about 30 years, ever since my dad joined the Navy and left California.  Well I came to California in 2005 and nowthe bike has come back about a year ago, and its been getting torn down and was itching to get back in the dirt!

Not a total restore or anything, just a tear down, clean up, inspection and updating where possible.  Having only seen some pics and videos of vintage racing I just went for getting back into riding condition.

So here is where I started.
- Sand blasted and painted the frame
- New tires
- Rebuilt forks and shocks
- New seat Cover
- New MX style bars
- New cables
- went through the top end
- Rebuilt and jetted the carb
- New nuts and bolts
- New Clutch
- New levers
- New bearings

This is before my first race.  I will be racing the CALVMX series in Southern California.  The first race is going to be at Milestone MX park in Riverside, CA.  Luckily for me it is at a track I am somewhat familiar with.  I was able to drag the bikes out for one practice day before my MX debut.  Thank god I did.

By the way, I have only been on a motocross track a handful of times on a modern bike.  I have never raced motocross, ever, and have never run with other vintage bikes.  I had no real idea what to expect or what I was in for.  I just knew there would be other guys on old bikes, maybe a little better, maybe a little worse.  Hell, the bikes were 30+ years old and most the riders were collecting social security. Whats the worst that could happen, I am a pretty young able bodied guy, maybe a little daring than most.  I mean these bikes only have 4 inches of travel in the back and 7 up front.  Keep reading my other posts and you will see how surprised I was! 

On my practice day I took the bike out to check out the track and run the bugs out of it.  I actually bumped into another older guy on a vintage bike.  It was a 71ish Yamaha AT1 100cc.  Pretty much a stripped down enduro, since in 71 there was no dedicate motocross bike at the time.  Anyways we talked for a bit, and he gave me some pointers, and offered to show me the track.  He just said follow me and I will show you how to run a vintage bike on these tracks.  My first indication that I was in a world of hurt should have been noticing some trick works reservoir shocks.  These things run upwards of 500 bucks, and you will not likely see these on a amateurs bike.  Than I should have caught on when he said "I used to trick these out like this and that when they were new."  All good indicators that I was going to be in for a rough few laps.

So off to the track, I had the newer "high tech" 74 YZ, the bigger 125 cc motor, and the younger body!  I have never seen a 60 something year old guy throw a bike around corners like this in my life!  He would rip this bike, the engine would be screaming and he would take small doubles and clear tabletops!  I on the other had landed on the front face of the double, almost going over the bars, go full bore in the table tops with not enough speed and used every inch of travel on the landing, and whatever give my spine had in it to soak up the impact.  Lets just say this senior citizen put me in my place, and opened my eyes to what I was going to be in for.

I can't remember the guys name, but after those eye opening and brutal laps he came back and told me how he travels the country following the national vintage MX circuit.  Than he goes on to tell me he was a 60+ 100cc champion several times over!  Tells me all the guys he knows who race this series and that.  The series I was going to be running in had a lot of familiar names.  As in familiar names I once heard of as factory backed, and professional MX racers from the 70s.  What did I get myself into?