Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: It's the Cops!!!

« on: August 12, 2010, 10:20:38 am »

Back some time in 1980 I was visiting a friend who sort of lived on the fringe of the forestry.  When I left, I rode the trusty old XL185 from his drive way which emerged from their property which was fully treed.  Just as I emerged I spotted a new falcon and a kid in the passenger side of the car pointing towards me or the property.  I knew the kid to be about a year older then me from school and thought he must have been a family friend of the people I was visiting.  So I duscked out onto the unsealed road and headed off home at normal speed (flat out).  The unsealed road went for about 5 ks, i ducked across a bitumen road onto private property and down across a soccer field, across another road and long the edge of the my road across my road and half way through the gate when the same falcon pulled up out front, after dropping speed back rather quickly. The kid turned out to have had a PE 175 stolen the week before and was on a ride along  trying to spot it in the forestry.

A couple years later we were riding in the neigbours MX track when a mate crashed his RM250 on a just and busted his collar bone pretty bad.  I jumped onto the nearest and quickest bike for a mercy dash to grab the local GP  The nearest bike happened to be a YZ250H.  Rode the couple of ks to the Drs, grabbed him in a panic and headed back to the property to guide him to the fallen comrade. Looking down a side road on the way back I noticed another mate getting some attention on his bike from the local police.  I was still waiting for the doctor at the roadside when the squad car pulled along beside.  I guided the doctor to the carnage and got off with a stern warning.  The kind police officers did drive up and check on my mate, or was it just my story before giving that warning though.

With liability these days those types of warnings will be far and few between.  Retro

2

Competition / Re: Conondale Classic

« on: August 04, 2010, 06:14:47 pm »

Video was recorded on a Oregon Scientific ATC2K which I purchased from Aldi about a year ago for $150.  Probably cheaper on Ebay now as there are heaps more betterer models. Just fun to watch.  Seems much slower than it was on the day though. 

Some times you can even hear me muttering and cursing as it is mounted to the mouth guard of the helmet and gives a really good view.

That is my freakish little YZ125J.  Not a giant killer but soooo much fun to ride and just keeps coming back for more.

Retro

3

Competition / Re: Proper passing?

« on: August 04, 2010, 06:01:50 pm »

Rubbing shoulders is generally OK as you have some warning.  It is the unexpected GILLARD sneak up stab in the back that riles me. You really have to be a pretty inept rider to be behind me and to need to resort to desperate passing techinques to get past.

Have found a series of photos and I can not see how it was never going to end well. The other rider even has a look over at me in the last photos as I check to see if my leg is attached after having it rammed.  Maybe he thought I was going to bring out a chain and finish him off or something as apparently it was Death Race 2010

4

Competition / Re: Proper passing?

« on: August 04, 2010, 07:35:36 am »

3 of our group got crash tackled on the weekend.  Riding at a good to reasonable rate and the rider behind executed the pass with full contact.

Sad that it is acceptable to bash past other riders.  Does that also go for in the pits after the race.  Full contact being acceptable to get your point of view through?

5

Competition / Proper passing?

« on: August 04, 2010, 07:12:02 am »

It has been a couple of decades since I raced properly and am not sure if I properly recall the rule of passing.  I thought it to be that the rider in front had the right of way and the passing rider has to be able to cleany complete the pass without contact?

I am getting old and slow and have a family to feed, so I poke around mid field taking as few chances as possible. When I pass I follow the above. When someone is behind me an obviously quicker, I generally let them through.

At both CD7 and the Conondale Classic I was taken out by other riders while passing.  Both by pre 85 250 bikes which seems to be a popular class.  The CD 7 crash is recorded on helmet cam and has me on the inside line for some distance and just approaching the entry to the corner, another rider take the entry to the inside line via my front wheel leaving me on the ground with a broken clutch lever.  The other rider rides off to take the victory.


At the CC I am also cornering and have a line close to the inside. Another rider takes the almost non existant inside inside line line via my right leg.  The unforseeable occurence of me leaning into the corner (this is an odd techinque I have adapted) aggrevates  this and I end up hobbleing around for a couple of days after the ride. I do stay sunny  side up this time. The victor goes on to take the solid gold 13th place cup and the bulging purse of prize money.    Both riders had the same number, same brand, but different year bikes.

What are the proper passing rules these days??  retro?

6

Competition / Re: Conondale Classic

« on: August 04, 2010, 06:52:49 am »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V98cV_NoqAA

Sunday 125 race. Had a rapidily deflating rear tyre, flat by second corner, otherwise I would have grabbed 8thish place instead of 9thish!

retro

7

Competition / Re: Conondale Classic

« on: August 03, 2010, 07:07:19 pm »

http://www.vmxshotz.com/

I meant here. Forgot to drop in the link?

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Competition / Re: Conondale Classic

« on: August 03, 2010, 07:06:18 pm »

Tim.  Heaps of pics here, not free though.

9

Stolen! / Re: Lockup's

« on: July 28, 2010, 10:37:39 am »

Landscaping around the house can also help the thieves out.  Tall bushes and shrubs are great for your privacy but also great for the would bes to hide behind while they sneak around your front yard.  There are plenty of prickle type plants that can be placed about which give you the privacy and make it extra special for a would be sneaking about in your garden.  Although not recomended by me a native plant the Gympi Gympi (Nettles on roids) would also be fun to have, not so good for your kids and pets though.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendrocnide_moroides

Very nasty work and much deserving for motorcycle thieves.

Retro

10

General Discussion / Re: Trivia....The Goondawindi Gate.

« on: July 28, 2010, 07:11:54 am »

See.  Not as smart as you think I am?

Retro.

11

General Discussion / Re: Trivia....The Goondawindi Gate.

« on: July 27, 2010, 11:29:10 pm »

I recall the Goondawindi gates to be what we see a lot of around now ayt MX starting lines, or me anyway especially at Conondale.  It is the gate that has a separate little section for each rider, and if they jump the start they generally have the gate on the front wheel holding them back while everyone else is on their merry way. They have to pull the bike back wards to allow the gate to drop and off they go. I recall the gates at Conondale in the early 80s and guess they were designed from someone from Goondawindi in the late 70s.

Retro

12

For Sale / Fire sale Conondale Classic various parts various bikes.

« on: July 27, 2010, 11:47:17 am »

I have some old parts in my shed that need to go.  Nothing too exciting, but I am tired of tripping over them.  With the exception of the KTM bits which are not mine, the currency unit is a 6 pack of Tooheys New (or $20).  I hope to make enough for a sore head Sunday morning which does not take much these days. Too expensive? make an offer.

Parts will not be taken to Conondale unless there is an interest, so if you want something send an email and we can go from there send photos etc.

DT400 barrel with serviceable piston, clutch out and transmission. 1 6pk.

IT 250/465 H/J seat.  1 stubby.  Absolutely rooted!  The only bits on this worth keeping are the rubbers in the base, the front mount bracket and the foam if you are not too fussy.

IT250 465 H/J swing arm and shock (suit rebuild). 2 6pk each
Yamaha IT490 250 K/J air box, plastic guide, metal plate, snorkel and manifold rubber 1 ctn
MT250 bottom end. I think.  Is Honda, has auto lube. Cases, sprocket cover etc.  Is frozen.  Crank rusted.  Should be OK inside, was X wreckers stock,  2 6pk.

Early 80s XT250 bottom end. Clutch cover 1 6pk.
Suzuki RV125 side cover 1 6pk
Suzuki PE175 pair engine cases 1 6pk

1985ish KTM 2T Enduro 5443000300.  Liquid cooled.
Transmisson nice, $50.
Engine casings nice, $40 each.
Swing arm. $20
Rear sub frame, $10.
Swing arm bolt and nut $10
Front Axel $10
Reed block. $10
Airbox $10

13

General Discussion / Re: 80cc Class

« on: July 25, 2010, 08:32:06 pm »

The memory loss could be a good thing.  I got knocked out a few years ago and had to trott up to the hospital.  The good wife and kids came up a little later to take me home and and I chatted with them and the Dr politely.  Taking the pi55 out of the Dr, I leaned over and asked him who the people were.  I think he was happy to get rid of me.

It is a shame to see the 80s being wasted though. I know of a couple stashed away, but not worth the dollars to fix up as they will never be worth more than a few hundred bucks unless they are pretty special and they cost nearly as much to fix up as a bigger bike.

Maybe the fella on Ebay with the very rare YZ50 and a YZ80 could get his $4,500 and free up a little bit of Ebay space for something else.

Be warned though, I have always said that you have the biggest crashes on the smallest bikes.

Retro

14

Kawasaki / Re: This Kawasaki followed me home. Can (should) I keep it?

« on: July 25, 2010, 08:13:34 pm »

I should not keep it.  I have a problem with old broken things.  I crave to make them new (ish). Stems from my younger days wandering around my uncles car wreckers. Looking at the unwanted cars, most of which were one day someones brand spanking pride and joy.

 If I keep it, I will see a part for it and buy the part.  The wife will get angry. Then I will have to sell it all and I always seem to loose out in the wallet department.

Keeping it can only lead to bad things.  But it would be nice to have a complete set of 82 jap 125s. Could do my own shootouts and fix it so the Yamaha always wins. I now have one and a bit of my collection complete if I go that way.

Retro

15

Kawasaki / Re: This Kawasaki followed me home. Can (should) I keep it?

« on: July 24, 2010, 08:36:36 am »

I'd forgotten about the salt.  Thanks.  Would do no good to burn it just to find it back exactly the same the following day.

Retro