AMCA VIKING CHAPTER NEWSLETTER

June 2015 [email protected] PUBLISHED QUARTERLY http://www.vikingmc.org Viking Chapter AMCA Inc. P.O. Box 18304, OFFICERS Minneapolis, MN 55418 PRESIDENT: VICE-PRESIDENT: INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Ron Spargo Kerry Rasmussen 952-443-2020 651-430-1332 Upcoming Club Events ………... 2 [email protected] [email protected] President’s Message & DIRECTORS: Editor’s Note ………….……….. 3 Bob Hopf Mark Jilk Club News Items.....………….…. 4 651-207-2190 612-867-5654 [email protected] [email protected] Donnie Smith Show 2015 …..…. 5 Timothy O’Keeffe Craig Kotval Vintage Bike Spring Ride ….…... 8 651-675-6560 651-269-1975 Ton-Up Club Spring Social ……. 9 [email protected] [email protected]

Racing With Chris Spargo ….... 10 TREASURER: MEMBERSHIP:

You Did What??? ……….…….. 11 Roy Williams Kathi Rimnac 612-202-4905 612-825-2550 When We Played Outdoors …... 11 [email protected] [email protected]

R.I.P. Sir Geoff Duke ……..……13 SECRETARY: WEB/EMAIL: Meets, Rides & Runs …….…..…14 Diane Nelson Doug Nelson 612-965-1415 612-559-9595 Seen in Passing ……...….……... 16 [email protected] [email protected] Want Ads ……………...... …..... 17 DEPUTY JUDGE: NEWSLETTER: Classified …….…………...…… 18 Roger Rimnac Tim Gadban 612-825-2550 651-235-5898 [email protected] [email protected]

CLUB HISTORIAN: AMCA Viking Chapter welcomes the Tom Jones following new members: 763-533-9163 Sean Haas Wayne Johnson Paul Sollid Marshall Brunelle

For our National Meet remember that the Snelling Ave exit over I-94 is CLOSED. Alternate approaches to the fairgrounds are: Hwy 280 to the Larpenteur/Hennepin exit, then East to Snelling ..or.. Hwy 36 to Snelling, then South to the Fairgrounds ..or.. Lexington Ave North to Como Ave, then West to Snelling …. and don’t forget there’s a South entrance to the fairgrounds from Como Ave.

1

UPCOMING EVENTS

Note: Board of Directors (B.O.D) meetings are open to all members. When held at a chapter member’s home, please notify the host ahead of time.

Wednesday June 3, 7pm Saturday August 1, 8am B. O. D. Meeting Viking Chapter Ride to Sturgis Roger & Kathi Rimnac’s Home, Hollywood Roadhouse 5516 13th Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55417 5475 Co. Rd 33, New Germany, MN 55367 612-825-2550 952-353-2222

Saturday June 6, 10am Friday August 14, 5-9pm Ride to Hollywood Roadhouse Victoria Volkfest Ride-In Bike Show (Hiway 7 & Co. Rd. 33) Main Street, Victoria, MN Meet at Bob Hopf’s.at 10am (ride at 11am) Contact: Ron Spargo 952-443-2020 8784 Knollwood Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55347 612-867-5654 Saturday August 15, 8am-6pm Friday June 12 & Saturday June 13 Gear-Head Get Together & Swap Meet AMCA Viking Chapter Maple Lake, MN 612-756-2373 & Vintage Japanese MC www.gear-headgettogether.com Antique & Classic Motorcycle Show Progress Bldg., Minnesota State Fair Grounds Sunday August 16, Noon Chaska BBQ & General Meeting Sunday June 21, 10am-3pm (Chapter Officers to be nominated) Blind Lizard Rally McKnight Park Nicollet Island, Minneapolis 3001 McKnight Rd, Chaska, MN 55318

Wednesday July 8, 7pm B. O. D. Meeting Wednesday August 26 (leaves at 8am) Kerry & Sue Rasmussen’s Home Ride to Davenport #1 9282 Stonebridge Trail No, Stillwater, MN Little Oscar’s Restaurant 651-492-0735 23470 Emery Ave, Hampton, MN

Friday July 10 thru Sunday July 12 Thursday August 27 (meet at 6am) President’s Ride & Rally Ride to Davenport #2 Money Creek Campground Freedom Gas Station, Prescott, WI 18502 Co. Rd. 26, Houston, MN 55943 Contact: Tom Jones 763-533-9163 507-896-3544 Saturday September 5 (meet at 8am) Wednesday July 15, 7pm Viking Chapter Ride to Wings & Wheels Ice Cream Social Kerry & Sue Rasmussen’s Home Veteran’s Home 9282 Stonebridge Trail No, Stillwater, MN 5101 Minnehaha Ave. So. 651-492-0735 Minneapolis MN Wednesday September 16, 7pm Saturday July 18, Noon-2am General Meeting (vote for Chapter Officers) Bearded Lady Motorcycle Freakshow Fury Motors, University & 13th Ave. N.E. 740 No Concord Ave, So St Paul, MN 55075 Minneapolis, MN 651-251-8230

Saturday July 25 Sunday September 20, 6am-2pm Bring Out Your Dead Rally Viking Chapter Fall Swap Meet Sir Benedict’s Tavern MN State Fair Grounds (No. Parking Lot) 805 East Superior St, Duluth, MN Contact: Tom Whittles 651-636-5492 218-728-1192 Note: volunteers meet at Perkins Restaurant in Roseville at 5am - Co. Rd. B just East of Snelling near Target

2

SPARKY’S PLUG By Ron Spargo Here we are at Memorial Day and I’ve been riding as much as the job jar and the weather permit. I like riding in the cool weather but rain is something altogether different. I don’t mind being caught out in the rain because I always have my rain gear in the saddlebag but leaving for a ride in the rain is a bummer. Our warm up has been slow to come and just when you think it’s time to break out the lighter riding gear another cold spell hits. At least the cold snaps are getting warmer and shorter. With my luck as soon as the weather really gets ideal for riding we will be looking forward to fall. And then winter is right behind, again!

As all of you know our big June National Meet just a couple of weeks away. June 12th and 13th for those of you who need a re- minder. I want to use this opportunity to ask each and every one of you to bring your bike to the meet. The last couple of years the number of bikes for display has fallen and we need every one of you to bring a bike or two. We are almost 200 members strong right now and I can’t believe we can’t have at least that many bikes for the display. Several of you will bring more than one bike (I will bring at least 4) so I can let some of you off the hook. But understand that if we see you at the meet we will expect that you have a bike or two on display. A note from your mechanic won’t cut you much slack! This is the “Big One” so let’s show the folks what we spend our spare time and money enjoying. Even if you may think that no one wants to see your bike consider that most of our bikes are riders and not 100 point show bikes. These are the bikes that new members need to see as an introduction to our hobby. So dust it off and bring it to the show. We will be able to start loading in bikes on Wednesday afternoon and will continue until at least 8pm Thursday evening. If you need help transporting your bike let me know at [email protected] or 952-443-2020 and we will try to help. The building will be locked after dark and security will be provided.

You may have seen the e-talker reminder to reserve your tickets to the Friday evening (June 12) banquet. Don’t put this off as there are a limited number of tickets available. The food is great, the company is terrific and the conversation is all about our favorite sub- ject. We are also going to have an excellent guest speaker (no, it won’t be me!)

Events like this don’t just happen. It takes a team of dedicated members to plan and organize this meet. That is the hard part. The easy part is for you to bring your bike and enjoy the show. Without you and your bike there simply won’t be much to look at. Don’t let that happen! I’m counting on you.

EDITOR’S NOTE

June is a big month for us … hosting our National Show. It is up to each member to rally to the flag for this event. Bring a bike and get the word out. Flyers are available and if there is only one event you get involved with every year this should be the one. Like Sparky says … “It’s up to YOU!!” And it doesn’t have to be a show queen … daily riders are welcome, barn finds are welcome …. hell if it’s got two wheels and some vintage patina that’s wel- come too!

The riding season is well under way now and Ma Nature has been kind to us in the second half of May. Our Vintage Bike Spring Ride was well attended ….. a blistering ride through twisty Wisconsin backroads (see feature story on Page 8). The Ton-Up Spring Social was another gorgeous day with huge turnout and a great variety of machines (see feature story on Page 9).

3

CLUB NEWS

IN MEMORIAM - MARILYN CRANE (1929 - 2015)

Crane, Marilyn Jean age 86 of Edina, died unexpectedly on March 10, 2015. Beloved wife of and survived by husband John G. Crane, she was married for 57 years and leaves three children, Robert (Kim), Brooke and John (Theresa), two sisters, Eleanor and Dorothy Ann, many grand and great- grandchildren, nieces, nephews and grieving friends. A gracious, loving soul, Lynn was active in Junior Great Books, CCD, the Catholic League, League of Women Voters and spiritual book clubs. She enjoyed entertaining and cultivated many friendships. She is dearly loved and will be greatly missed. A private funeral Mass of the Resurrection was held on March 17th. A devout Catholic, Lynn would prefer any memorials to Catholic Charities.

Heartfelt thoughts and prayers from the Viking Chapter go out to our generous friend and fellow member Jack Crane for his loss.

19th Annual Richards Sturgis Get-Together & Chili Feed

We’ll be having our annual Sturgis Get-Together again this year at the cabin. This is always a good turnout for Viking Chapter and other AMCA members that are in the area for the Black Hills Motor Classic. This year’s date is Monday, August 3 from 12:00 noon until 6:00 p.m. Chili and beverages provided. So motor over to 21432 U.S. Highway 85 South near Lead, SD (605-584-9082). The cabin is .09 of a mile southwest of Cheyenne Crossing Restaurant (intersection of U.S. Highway 85 South in Spearfish Canyon). Look for the slow moving triangle sign at Fire Marker 21432.

Head Chef — Jerry Richards!

Wanted: Vintage Bikes to Shoot by Doug Marsh

I’m beginning a project to photograph the antique, vintage, and classic mo- torcycles of the Twin Cities, preferably those that are ridden and exposed to the elements. I plan to photograph the bikes in iconic settings of the Cit- ies. I share my pictures with those that have an interest. Diamonds Coffee Shoppe have used my pictures for three years now for their calendar.

I’ll work with the owner to arrange a date, time, and location for the photo shoot. It will most likely be in the morning or late afternoon when natural lighting is at its best. The shoot will last about an hour. I prefer that they ride their bike to the shoot as I want the world to know about our passion for riding interesting old bikes.

I’ve been shooting bikes for eight years now. I try to capture images of the machine from a variety of perspectives and details. I look for the harmony or conflict of lines on the motorcycle, or find the emotion in its elements.

If members have an interest in this project, please contact me with their name, email, phone, and list of bikes (year, make, model, interesting notes) they would like to pre- sent. If we complete a shoot, I’ll provide them with an 8" x 10” photo for their trou- ble.

Contact: Doug Marsh [email protected] 651-341-0995

4

CLUB NEWS

Viking Chapter Display at the Donnie Smith Show, March 28 & 29, 2015. By Sean O’Neil

The Donnie Smith Bike Show represents a great mix of machines. Mostly custom built and modified bikes, but also impeccably restored antique bikes. American muscle is well represented, but you'll also find plenty of Japanese, British and European iron. The same is true for the display put on by the Viking Chapter, Antique Motorcycle Club of Amer- ica. Their display included museum quality restored bikes like a '47 In- dian Chief, a '61 Triumph 3TA, a '67 Moto Guzzi V7 and a '39 BSA M- 20. A race ready, 1970 BSA Victor sat next to two Aermacchis that looked like they just rolled off the Enduro circuit. A '68 Montgomery Wards "Riverside" Gilera and a '65 Sears "Allstate" Puch reminded us of the time when department stores sold motorcycles via mail order. And daily riders like a '42 Harley-Davidson WLA were right at home next to a pair of yellow Honda "Super Sports" - a '76 CB750 and a '77 CB400. But what do all of these bikes have in common?

If you've ever had a vintage bike, or talked at any length with someone that has, ultimately you'll come to the topic of patience. Patience with the elaborate starting procedures require at the beginning of every ride (tickle, retard, choke, prime-kick). Patience when performing a critical safety check before throwing a leg over the saddle (thoroughly shake all easy-to-fall-off parts to make sure they're still firmly attached). Patience not to flog your bike when riding and all your friends on mod- ern bikes leave you in the dust. Patience when looking for that impos- sible to find NOS part that will complete your restoration. And pa- tience when waiting for that guy to finally give in and sell you his old bike that you've been lusting after for decades.

Two motorcycles in the Viking AMCA display are perfect examples of how good things come to those that wait. Doug Rykel's 1930 Henderson inline-four and his 1947 Harley- Davidson Knucklehead were crowd magnets during the show. These rare and highly sought after machines basked in their "unrestored" glory of crusty paint, rust and patina. What is it about unrestored bikes that speaks to our soul? Maybe it's their barn fresh dust, cracked leather and pitted iron that gives the visitor the illusion that they just found the bike themselves? Maybe it’s the well-worn saddle that speaks more to us of past riders than any pristine leather re- production? Or maybe it’s the home-built repairs that con- nect us with that owner long ago who had to improvise some ingenious repair to get his beloved machine back on the road, long after the manufacturer had stopped making parts or even gone out of business?

For our first lesson, let's listen to Doug Rykel tell us about his 1930 Henderson KJ inline-four. In the late 20s, the "big three" motor- cycle manufactures were Harley, Indian and Henderson. Henderson was best known for their inline fours which were big displace- ment motors. Right at the start of the Great Depression, Henderson introduced a new model KJ , which produced a lot of power rela- tive to other machines of its time. They guaranteed those bikes to go 100 miles per hour, right off the show room floor. It was a favorite of police departments because it could pretty much catch anything on the road. But in 1931, Ignaz Schwinn, who owned Excelsior motors, decided that his company was better off weathering the depression by focusing on their main cash-cow - their bicycle business. He abruptly shut down all motorcycle manufacturing. Doug Rykel's KJ represents the final chapter of one of America's great motorcycle companies.

5

CLUB NEWS

Viking Chapter Display at the Donnie Smith Show, March 28 & 29, 2015. (cont.)

But the story doesn't end there. Instead, Doug shows us how the last 85 years are etched in every inch of this amazing machine. For starters, look at the engine case under the number four cylinder. An air-cooled inline four produces a lot of power and heat, but is prone to cooling problems, especially on the last cylinder in the stack. Additionally, with the huge flywheel common to motors built during that period by folks that had cut their engineering teeth on steam engines, motorcycle engines of the early 20th century were susceptible to over-reving. Doug's Henderson is no ex- ception. Looking at the case, we see that the engine must have thrown a rod right through the case. With Schwinn no longer making any motorcy- cle parts, what's a guy to do? Well, the owner did what any of us would have done, which was cut a metal plate that covered the hole and then sheet -metal screwed it into place - Frankenstein style. Sure, it's not pretty, but it got him back on the road and still keeps the bike running, decades later.

Motorcycle owners have always found ways to customize their machines to make them their own. And Doug's '30 Henderson is no exception. Slung under the muffler is a cluster of four whistles, the kind that you'd find on a turn of the century steam engine. The owner had mounted the whistles so that the exhaust could be diverted from the muffler to the whistles with a cut-out valve. In order to engage the cut-out valve, he affixed a small Indian head emblem to the contraption mounted next to his right floorboard. That way he could stomp on the Indian head and get a "woo-woo" blast from his whistles. You see, back in those days, the Henderson inline-four’s main rival was the Indian inline-four. So when you’re riding your Henderson and you'd hit 100 miles per hour - and blast past your buddy riding his Indian, you gotta rub it in and stomp the Indian head to taunt him with an extra special "woo-woo!"

When you’re into old bikes, you need to both have patience, but also need to jump at the chance when it comes along. Doug’s 1947 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead is a perfect example of what timing is all about. For starters, let’s talk about what a 47 Knucklehead means. The ’47 is the last year of the Knuck, and represents the peak of Harley-Davidson’s gamble to manufacture an overhead valve engine at a time when side-valves were “good enough”. Knucks are very desir- able, and a ’47 is one of those at the top of the list. So when Doug’s friend Randy found a Knuck for sale at the Davenport, Iowa swap meet 24 years ago, Randy presented his friends with a serious problem. The problem was that the Knuck was for sale for a mere $8k, but Randy only had $500 in his pocket and he didn’t know anyone else at the swap meet other than Doug. So Doug did what any buddy would do in that situation and rustled up all his friends until they had the full payment for the bike. Doug’s friend Elmer even trailered the bike back to Minneapolis and stored it in his garage until Randy could get all the cash together. But to pay back Doug for his original contribution, Randy gave Doug first dibs on the bike – should it ever come up for sale. So when Randy finally got to the point when he needed to part with the bike, he called up Doug and a passed on the bike to the one guy that he felt most deserved to ride the ’47.

If you’re into old motorcycles, you have to check out the Viking Chapter, AMCA show at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds June 12 – 13th. With over 150 vintage bikes in their indoor display, you’ll see one of the largest and most diverse collection of old bikes in Minnesota!

AMCA Viking Chapter Bikes Displayed: Ron Spargo-1939 BSA M-20; Paul St.John-1942 Harley 45; Kerry Rasmussen-1947 Indian Chief; Tim OKeeffe-1958 BSA C12; Dan Rustad-1960/87 Harley Custom; Doug March-1965 Sears Twingle; Craig Kotval-1968 Gilera; Doug Nelson-1967 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport; Cal Spooner-1970 Honda Rocket Moto- Bicycle; Doug Marsh-1970 BSA Victor; Tom Whittles-1972 & 1973 Harley Sprints; Bob Hopf -1976 Honda CB750 Super Sport; Craig Kotval-1976 Honda Super Sport

6

CLUB NEWS

Viking Chapter Display at the Donnie Smith Show, March 28 & 29, 2015. (more photos)

Special thanks to Tim O’Keeffe (who organized) and Dave Glennen (who co-ordinated) bikes and shifts for the show.

The Brits are back Thanks Dave!!

Indian Maiden And some Vintage Japanese

Cal what have you done now! Treasure Hunting 7

CLUB NEWS

Viking Chapter Vintage Bike Spring Ride, May 23, 2015 (from the Editor)

We met up at the Freedom Station in Prescott . Rain threatened but never struck and Doug Nelson led us on one of the twistiest turniest rides I’ve been on for a long time. Doug’s route, in his own words (kinda reads like a poem): Out of Prescott on 35 south …. Down to OO - left turn …. Up to Hwy 10 east - right turn …. Down to O - right turn …. Down to 35 south - left turn … Down to EE - left turn … Down to D - right turn …. Down to 35 south - left turn …. Down to A - left turn … Up to Hwy 10 east - right turn …. Down to U …. then right turn into Plum City - Lunch at Molly's on Main (Great Lunch) and a visit to the fish pond where enormous trout are made fatter by the curious who feed them.

After lunch we headed out east from Plum city on U …. then down to CC - left turn to Lund …. Down to J - then left turn down to Stockholm.

From Stockholm the ride continued down on 35 south to Nel- son, then the group crossed over to the Minnesota side to Wa- basha, then rode 61 up to Red Wing and then headed back to the cities.

Da Guys ….. Chillin!

Rides & Riders: Kerry Rasmussen- 1946 Indian Chief; Gary Kloss-1970 Moto Guzzi Ambassador; Stan Me- whorter-1971 Triumph TR6R; Doug Nelson- 1975 Moto Guzzi Ambassador; Chet Grabowski- 1977 Kawasaki KZ1000; Tim Gadban-1978 Honda GL1000; Brad Tomes-1979 Harley FLH80; Ron Spargo-2000 Moto Guzzi; Bob Hopf -1998 Harley Softail; Mike Warner-2007 Moto Guzzi Breva; Brad Peterson-2013 KTM Duke 690; Paul St.John-2014 Can Am Spyder

8

CLUB NEWS

Ton-Up Club Spring Social , May 30, 2015 (from the Editor)

What a glorious day ….. plenty of sunshine …. lots of bikes …. craft brews and motorcycle brethren (sisters too!) …. one of the more cross-pollinated turnouts of the year. Sparkling customs, the rattiest of ratbikes, some beautiful restorations …. something for everyone. The Viking Chapter, the VJMC and many other vintage bike enthusiasts rode in to the Ton-Up Club’s Spring Social at the Club Jeager on Washington Avenue in Minneapolis. I rode in with a fellow member and Washington Avenue was abuzz with healthy throttles and exhaust …. must’ve been good because several complaints were called in!

Love those Dixie cup air filters!!

9

CLUB NEWS

Snapshots from Der Sherboyganring by Chris Spargo

On a 50 year old 180cc aircooled twin, the displacement of each cylinder is the equivalent of about two shots of good barrel aged scotch. Every bit of that displacement is needed to get the little bike rolling over 100mph up Road America's famous uphill front straightaway. It seems to go on longer than you think, markers on the edge of the track finally telling you the corner is coming up. Those little double shots have been spinning 13k RPM, top speed in top gear, for over 15 seconds. On bigger, faster machines, this is where you would sit up, grab the front brake hard, and then tip it into the fast right hander. Since we're traveling 110 instead of 175mph, a gentle tap of the lever and a knee out pulls the bike through turn one and down to turn three.

Once through the right hander, you accelerate through your aging gear- box. Light touch, no more force than necessary - mechanical sympathy ensures long working lives for equipment that never expected to see this kind of action. I'm lucky to have five gears, many machines have four or At Barber: Chris at top in yellow helmet even three.

Approaching the Sargento bridge now, and you're reminded it's time for your yoga class. A lot of these bikes are NOT big, and are NOT built for comfort. In my case, I'm folded up so tight that I can't physically lift my foot up off the peg without standing up first. We're really rolling now, top gear again for another 10 seconds or so, but now we're going downhill, and turn five is coming up FAST. 105mph. 110mph. 115mph. Markers on the right this time, 5, 4, 3, brakes! Stand on both the front and rear, and you get a sort of gentle slowing effect, as if your buddy pulled your emergency brake on the highway. You're staring at a series of haybale walls at this point, so it's a relief when the drums start to grab harder. Left up the hill out of five, like climbing a little mountain, and pitch it hard into six. This is tricky on anything, as it's blind until you're well and truly past the bridge and over the top of the hill. The narrow power bands and limited number of gears always conspire against you here, never seeming to have the right gear to drive out like you'd like. A little slower is better than breaking down here, so you choose a taller gear and try and hold on to your speed. The track is uncharacteristically patchy and rough here, so with skinny 18" tires and vintage suspension, more than a few folks have visited the gravel trap.

Now fast right seven, which always seems to create a vicous patter in the front wheel when you're at the limit. Could be the track, could be the bike - could be you. On something this small, an otherwise good handling bike can be ruined by having your body in the wrong place. Maybe my suspension fluid is still cold, or my sticky race tires have a bit of a flat spot that has to be worked out. All part of the equation.

More hard braking downhill, again the drums are adequate - just. Under another bridge and tip into the fastest roundabout you've ever seen - the Carousel. This is the great equalizer, where tiny vintage bikes can run around big fast ones in spite of their 2" wide tires. Manage your inputs to the controls, all things in moderation - especially on never-ending corner like this, smooth is king. Coming out of the Carousel, you approach what was once one of the great gut-checks of the modern world, The Kink. In the old days, you would exit the carousel, grabbing gears, looking at a steel barricade on the outside of a VERY fast sweeper. I swear it snapped it's teeth at you when you went by. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your point of view), a chicane has been added to slow everybody down and force the armco barrier to go hungry.

Then you enter the tunnel. "There's no tunnel at Road America" you say, knowingly, but this is a tunnel of trees, not stone. It's more of a very, very high speed Sunday drive in the country for a moment. The sounds of all manner of engines echoes off those trees, and for a moment, you're all teenagers, on your first motorcycle, tail on fire, trying to make sure your buddy knew you were there first. You've been screaming flat out for another 10 seconds, leaned over. You have enough time to listen to the engine and have a chat with yourself about terrible things real and imagined that could go wrong in there. Am I ABSOLUTELY SURE I put both cir- clips on the piston? Is that detonation I hear? So much thermal load can erode a hole in the top of a piston in the blink of an eye. Finally you arrive at Canada Corner. Heavy braking again (thanks drums!), and save as much speed as you can for the last couple corners. Last corner before the front straight, 2nd gear? 3rd gear? Neither one is optimal, so we'll just lean on the motor a little harder, every bit of speed those little cylinders can generate gets carried all the way up the hill past start finish. Motor is fully heat soaked now. Tires are hot. Suspension is working. You can still feel your toes. Nothing has broken loose or fallen off or given up. There's another bike in front of you like yours, fighting all the same electro-mechanical-emotional issues you are. It smells good, of course, because it's a two stroke …. Let's go get him.

Note: Chris will be racing at the AHRMA races at Road America Raceway in Elkhart WI, June 5-7 (see page 14 for details) See video of Chris racing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA6tpq1bRYw

10

CLUB NEWS

You Did What ???? By Ron Spargo

I recently acquired a 1971 CB350 Honda from a long time riding friend. He bought the bike new for his wife who rode it for one season putting on a total of 2100 miles. After a minor get-off that broke the clutch lever and her riding spirit the bike was relegated to the back corner of the ga- rage never to be ridden again. I have known about this bike for well over 30 years and each time I visit my friend I ask what he is going to do with it. On our last visit I once again asked about the Honda in the corner. Understand that I have never made an offer to buy the bike. My friend asked me “What would you do with the bike?” I responded “The bike is all there and other than a few decades of dirt and dust is in great shape. It should be preserved as a runner rather than restored, chopped or turned into a café bike.” My friend looked at me, looked at the bike, put his hand on his chin and said, “I just decided what to do with the bike. I’m giving it to you!” So now it’s up to me to do something with the little Honda.

I sent an e-mail announcing the arrival of the Honda to a few friends and got several positive responses – mostly from friends who were surprised that this lifelong Brit bike guy would let a Honda into his shop. One of the responses was from a riding friend (not yet a member but I’m working on him) who sent me this short story:

“That 350, in the same color scheme but one year newer, is the bike that my older brother and I rode from San Diego to Lincoln NE, “two-up” in 1975. After selling all his stuff and buying a cheap fair- ing we had $27 between the two of us for gas, food and accommoda- tions. Ran out of money in Denver but sold a pocket knife for $1 and gratefully accepted a five from a stranger. After 3 days ride mom was glad to see us, hungry but safe and sound. Great memory!”

I’m pretty sure there are a lot more stories like this one out there and we would like to hear them. They may be stories from a time when we all did things on or with our bikes that will make us smile or even laugh out loud - experiences that we may not have shared with any- one for too long a time or stories that need to be told again. These stories, long or short, are part of what makes motorcycling the grand time it is. Tell us your story. You don’t even need to sign your name but I’ll bet a few of us will know who you are. Some of us may even have been there with you!

When Everybody Played Outdoors by Jerry Hatfield (excerpt from his book “Indian Chief Motorcycles 1922-1953”)

Harold Mathewson ran a small Indian shop in Fresno, California. Small, but efficient. Mathewson outsold the local Harley-Davidson dealer, and not many Indian dealers could make that claim. But times were hard enough that Mathewson supplemented his motorcycle income with a job as the rural deliv- ery agent for the local newspaper, the Fresno Bee. Of course, Mathewson in- sisted that all his delivery riders use Indians.

Club life was important in motorcycling and Mathewson had a clubhouse a few miles outside Fresno. One of his members, Franky Rogers, turned colors and bought a used Harley from the highway department. This, however, wasn’t just any Harley-Davidson. The motorcycle had been used by Patrolman Sprouts Elder, who earlier had achieved international fame as a speedway racer. In fact, Elder had practically invented speedway, and decades later is still the subject of much prose by motorcycle journalists of Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. This was an ex-Elder bike because Elder had a horrible crash with it, a crash that finished his motorcycle-riding days forever.

11

CLUB NEWS

When Everybody Played Outdoors (cont.)

The ex-Elder Harley had special heads, barrels, cams—the works—and had been timed at 106 miles per hour. That was some going for a side-valve Harley Seventy-four with full road equipment. Franky Rogers lost no time in riding it out to the Mathewson club- house, and on the way back home that evening he trimmed by a wide margin the club’s favorite Indian hotshoe, R. V. Drown. Drown, who rode a new Chief, was despondent.

The next day, Mathewson called the West Coast Indian distributer Hap Alzina. Mathewson had favors due, and he cashed in his chips. Alzina agreed to ship a special Chief motor to Mathewson. This was a way-out Chief engine, with special heads, “Swiss cheese” pistons, special porting in the barrels, drilled connecting rods, and you name it. The special Chief had been timed at over 120 miles per hour on a dry-lake run.

Meanwhile, Franky Rogers and the Harley-Davidson shop had been spreading the word about an upcoming match race between a used Harley and a new Indian Chief. At home in his garage Mathewson and a couple of friends secretly swapped the stock Chief engine for the special Chief engine. The special motor was too clean, so the boys gave it a good exterior coating of dirt and oil, mak- ing it look like a proper newspaper delivery cycle. The stage was set.

A few days later the club met again and following the usual preliminaries, minutes of the last meet- ing, old business, new business, and the like, the real business came up. It was about midnight when Franky Rogers on the hot Harley VL and R. V. Drown on the very special Chief, headed for their match race along a 1.5 mile paved stretch alongside a eucalyptus grove. To Mathewson’s amazement, several hundred people were on hand, in cars and on motorcycles. Most of them were Harley people who had come to see this embarrassment of the Indian guys. They included a dealer and his entourage who had come from 60 miles away, and this in a day when driving on dirt roads was mainly a 20-mile-per-hour experience. Cars and motorcycles on both sides of the road turned on their lights for the racers. There was a lot of betting, and some reckless types wagered as much as $10, a week’s pay, if you had a job.

The two riders rode out ahead for a mile and a half, until the taillights almost disappeared and then could be seen turning around, the two tiny headlights staring back at the crowd. The motors could be heard, even at that distance, as the race began. Then a roar, and then silence again. Somebody had missed a shift. The pair made a U-turn and went back to the starting point. Off again, it became clear the boys were using a rolling start this time. With an edge of 15 miles per hour or more, the Chief rider got to the crowd with a 200-yard lead on the Harley rider. The Harley rider was so embarrassed he went flying by and continued home—no stopping for him in the middle of the Indian celebration. The Indian fans in the crowd were honking horns. The Chief victor, R. V. Drown, walked among the fastest of the Harley riders. Although women and children were present, Drown crowed loudly and profanely, challenging the ancestry of all the Harley riders, while pointing out that he had merely removed his newspaper bags in preparation for the outing; and since he had gone to that much trouble, Drown reckoned he should get in a few more fast miles. The Harley riders, of course, couldn’t resist a run. The special Chief ran seven more times and won these matchups even more handily. The Milwaukee faithful among the crowd had dispersed long before the last VL was trimmed, but the Springfield fans stayed on.

How could people, some of them not even serious motorcycle fans, get so worked up over an informal race? Americans hadn’t yet come under the full spell of indoor entertainment via the radio, let alone television. Air conditioning, too, was a pipe dream. Mo- torcyclists had the better of it, for there was no better toy than a motorcycle for chasing away the heat of the day. But motorcyclists or not, in the summer time you played outdoors. For fun you met up with real people, and you either played games or you watched other real people play games. At such times you forgot about the troubles of a very troubled era. Motorcyclist or not, you were out in the world and it was exciting.

12

CLUB NEWS

R.I.P Sir Geoff Duke (1929 – 2015) (from the Editor)

Six-time motorcycle racing World Champion and six-time winner of the Isle of Man TT Sir Geoff Duke passed away on Friday, May 1 at the age of 92. Duke was the standout figure at the famous Isle of Man race for a decade and was declared the first rider to lap at 100mph, though this was later corrected to 99.97mph.

Duke retired from the World Championship at the end of the 1959 season at the age of 36, with an envi- able record of six World titles and 33 Grand Prix victories. Duke is also credited as the first motorcycle racer to wear one-piece leathers & was awarded the OBE in 1953.

Duke had the good fortune to ride for Norton just as it adopted the advanced and supple McCandless chas- sis to carry the rugged 350 and 500cc “Manx” dohc single-cylinder engines. Before the 1950 season, the new bikes were exhaustively tested at the MIRA proving ground, the French Montlhery oval, and the Isle of Man.

With smooth, fluid hydraulic damping in place of jerky dry friction dampers, and with weight forward in stability-enhancing fashion, the new “Featherbed” chassis could pass the previous “garden gate” factory Norton on the outside in corners.

Duke was being paid 10 pounds a week for his work in the factory and nothing extra for being a factory rider, as well. In the 1950 Grand Prix season, Norton’s archrival was Italian maker Gilera, whose four-cylinder bikes had at least a 10-horsepower advantage over Duke’s Norton. Yet Duke easily pulled away again and again, and would have been champion that year had his tires not come apart at crucial races. In 1951, Duke triumphed over Gilera in the 500cc class.

What do top riders do when confronted with superior power and accelera- tion? They use what Freddie Spencer and Jorge Lorenzo used in their re- spective eras: corner speed. And the Norton, its mechanical grip enhanced by longer suspension travel and smoother damping, was just the bike for that style.

Duke’s riding style was “with the bike,” his body centered over the machine, leaning as it leaned. In later years, he became known for his view that the later knee-down, body-to-the-inside riding style was “a fad that will pass.” Former 250cc World Champion Kel Carruthers points out that Duke’s style was, in fact, progressive in his time—a necessary step from past to future—for before him the admired style was to lean the machine, not the upper body.

When Norton’s financial state prevented developing its own 500cc four, Duke went to Gilera, where, in addition to winning three 500cc titles, he helped to modernize its chassis as Norton’s had been.

On Sunday, May 10, 2015, the hearse carrying his coffin took Duke on his final lap around the 37.73-mile Snaefell Mountain Course that is home to the an- nual Isle of Man TT. He was followed by thousands of fans on motorcycles and in cars and will be forever remembered for his outstanding contribution to the world of motorcycle racing.

13

CLUB NEWS Meets, Rides & Runs Road America AHRMA Races at Elkhart WI, June 5-7, 2015

For directions, information, camping availability, etc. contact: www.ahrma.org/

14

CLUB NEWS Meets, Rides & Runs (cont.) British Biker Cooperative (BBC) Motorcycle Rally & Show, Blue River WI, July 17-19, 2015

On July 17-19, 2015, the BBC will celebrate their 35th Annual British Biker Cooperative - Motorcycle Rally and Show at Eagle Cave Natural Campground in Blue River, Wisconsin. The event offers a weekend of activities including group rides and bike games, a Motorcycle Show, music both nights, comfortable shaded camping with dedicated quiet areas, and refreshments. An assortment of on-site amenities include a restaurant, camp store, showers, and cave tours through Wisconsin's largest commercial cave. The event formally kick-starts on Friday, but the BBC encourages riders to arrive early to avoid the rush. The BBC Rally location is 60 miles due west of Madison, Wisconsin near the Wisconsin River and features many area attractions including rides along the majestic Mis- sissippi River, Frank Lloyd Wright's Spring Green, and The House on the Rock. This event offers a great opportunity to see both rare vintage and late model British motorcycles in action on some of the best riding roads in the Midwest. All motorcycle enthusiasts are welcome.

For additional Rally information visit our BBC web site at www.britishbiker.net or contact Peggy Kasper email: [email protected] WEEKEND PASSES ONLY-NO DAY PASSES

National Motorcycle Museum Bike Show, Swap Meet & Rally, Animosa, Iowa, June 20, 2015

15

FUNTIME Seen In Passing …….

16 year-old Maureen Swift rides with Tornado Camping out 1940’s style - with your honey, Triumph Smith around the Wall of Death – U.K. 1949 & sidecar, Victrola and formal dinner attire!

16

WANT ADS

WANTED - HRD/Vincent project bike, basket case, pile of parts or a WANTED - B.S.A Bantam – Prefer late model single part, sheet metal, tools, books, etc. w/4speed but will consider any year and condition. Please contact me about the items you have. Thanks, Tim. Call Ron Spargo at 952-443-2020 or Email [email protected] or call 651-675-6560, 9am - 9pm MN [email protected]

FOR SALE - 1954 Matchless G9 500cc Twin

Price: $6000 Contact Dave Moot at 952-703-0373

FOR SALE - 2007 Honda VFR800 Interceptor

25th Anniversary color scheme with Honda factory color matched hard luggage 7,758 miles

Over $900 worth of accessories (with all original parts included) - Helibars -replacement handlebars (1 1/4" taller, 1 1/2" rear- ward) - Honda Tool Set (was not part of stock gear sold with cycle) - Kaoko Cruise Control - Oxford Heated Grips - Zero Gravity Windshield

Price: $7000 Contact Dena Natins at 612-770-3818

17

CLASSIFIED

18