CL450 from space •Inside: VJMC regional rally in MO • Event coverage from MI, IA, LA, TX and more • Vespa sidecar on a GS1100 • Give your butt a break • Hundreds of classifieds! Vol. 30, No. 5 October 2009 $5 4 Editor’s letter Check out the club’s new site. 6 Missouri Rally Good times at the VJMC regional rally in St. Joseph, Mo. 8 Not the last ride Modifiying a Suzuki for rideability after an accident. 12 New rally makes waves A good start for Virginia show. 14 Woodstock washout Weather keeps a good event down. 16 Michigan rally hits its stride Parade laps go to top mph. 18 VJMs on target at shootout Texas rally brings out the best. 20 CL450 from outer space Period mods from an aerospace engineer. 22 VMD at Mid-Ohio The sights and sounds of summer fun. 26 Louisiana show spreads disease Got OBD? The dr. probably can’t help. 28 Alleviating my aching butt Staying fresh on a long ride. 30 Japanese bikes in force at ‘Big One’ AMCA event welcoming more VJMs. 33 Classifieds What do you need? On the cover This period-modified CL450 was found at a California meet with full log details included in the deal. CL450 from space •Inside: Event coverage from MI, IA, LA, TX and more • Vespa sidecar on a GS1100 • Give your butt a break • Hundreds of classifi eds! Vol. 30, No. 5 October 2009 $5 October 2009 www.vjmc.org 3 FROM THE EDITOR VJMC magazine October 2009 As many of us head into the cold, non-riding will enjoy them. If you have created a YouTube Vol. 30, No. 5 dreary months of winter, Jon Radermacher, the video or have seen one that you think we should President VJMC’s webmaster, has prepared an online treat add to our playlist, please let us know by sending Stuart Covington that will help get us through to riding season. He an email to [email protected].” 978-582-3335 [email protected] has revamped the entire VJMC website (to be un- Other features of the new site will include: veiled soon), to work better and be more intuitive • Homogenized look across the entire site. Editor Brendan Dooley for our surfing. • Modernized login system with ability to [email protected] “The site in general is much cleaner and better change your membership contact info. organized,” Jon said about the new design. There • Member index completely overhauled. Art Director Rhonda Cousin will be a common look carried through the pages, • A members-only menu appears on every and members will be able to log out from any page page once user is logged in. Classified ads Gary Gadd as they surf. • Google-powered search window on every 817-284-8195 “Another big improvement is the search win- page. [email protected] dow. This appears on all pages except for the home • New “Tech experts network” page consists Display Ad Director/ page. It will search the entire site for the terms of contact info of volunteers who will an- West Coast Rep Bob Billa entered, even if it is on a members-only page.” A swer questions. 760-636-3288 separate search targets the inside pages of maga- • New list of external tech links to take you [email protected] zine PDF files, so members will be able to find places that have detailed info about your Mountain States Rep those stories they’re looking for in the available make and/or model. Hal Johnson archived issues. “You’ll find it has a much cleaner and con- 402-660-6710 [email protected] “The login system has been significantly sistent look, better functionality, and new features overhauled,” he said, and members will need to that I am sure that you will enjoy,” Jon said. Central States Rep create new, original login names and passwords. I agree. And, since my garage here in Wis- Volunteer Needed These will automatically be entered and remem- consin is detached and not heated, I have to say I Northeast Rep bered by the site. am still looking forward to winter a little bit. I’ll George Duffy 805-602-6239 One really cool page on the new site will be be in the den with a Jameson, surfing our new site. [email protected] the video page. “We’ve gone through YouTube When the Packers aren’t on, of course. Southeast Rep and created a custom playlist of videos that are Louise McCarthy-Dutton about or related to VJMs,” Jon said. “Some videos Happy riding ... what’s left of it for 2009. 954-993-3993 [email protected] are about major events like Barber’s Vintage Fes- tival, others are home videos about restorations or - Brendan Dooley Membership Director Bill Granade personal collections. In any case, we are sure you VJMC editor 813-961-3737 [email protected] Mission statement: The purpose of this organization is to promote the preservation, restoration and enjoyment of vintage Japanese motorcycles (defined as those 20 years old and older, until 2011. We will embrace 1990 until then). The VJMC also will promote the sport of motorcy- cling and camaraderie of motorcyclists everywhere. © 2009, Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club of North America, an IRS-approved Not-for-profit 501(c) corporation. All rights re- served. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission. The VJMC magazine is published six times per year, in February, April, June, August, October and December. The views and opinions expressed in letters or other content are those of the author and do not necessarily represent VJMC policy. The VJMC accepts no liability for any loss, damage or claims occurring as a result of advice given in this publication or for claims made by advertisers of products or services in this publication. 4 www.vjmc.org October 2009 Malcolm Knows Retro! “If you’re looking for great coverage of motorcycling’s '60s, '70s and '80s glory days, look no further than Moto Retro Illustrated. Whether you’re talking dirtbikes, streetbikes or minis, Mitch and his crew have created an intelligently written, wonderfully photographed and thoroughly entertaining magazine.” —Malcolm Smith PHOTO © JOE BONNELLO PREMIER ISSUE: '60S, '70S & '80S MOTORCYCLING LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN! Lawson and the ELR UNADILLA'75 The Bike The Man The Legend e’re blushing, of course, but we think Malcolm’s got it right. Moto Retro Illustrated is the only full-coverage— Wdirt, street and mini—retro magazine around, and because it’s written by folks with decades of journalism, riding and racing experience from the very eras and categories we’re covering, you know the stories are gonna be good. Route 66 & CB750 | Yamaha’s FiRst monoshoCkeR | hodaka supeR Rat ameRiCan honda’s 50th | pRoJeCt CR480R | JeFF WaRd: still Rippin’ We’re more expensive than your average magazine, but we’re worth it. Moto Retro is large-format, glossy and printed on thick, luxurious paper. We dig deep and go behind the scenes on the bikes, technology, collections, collectors, races, ISSUE ONE AVAILABLE racers, events and people you remember from the glory days of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, and we limit advertising so you get a magazine that’s packed to the sidepanels with great stories, killer photography and hair-raising tales NOW! from Back In The Day. • Eddie Lawson and the ELR So subscribe to Moto Retro Illustrated today and you’ll soon know retro as well as Malcolm Smith! • 1975 Unadilla Trans-AMA Moto Retro Illustrated is quarterly (4 issues per year) and available only through our website or by mailing a check or • Honda CB750 and Route 66 money order to Moto Retro Subscriptions, P.O. Box 202, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274. Yearly subscriptions are • Yamaha’s fi rst monoshocker $39.59 (U.S.) and $54.95 (International). • Hodaka Super Rat • Jeff Ward, and much more! www.motoretroillustrated.com Regional rally in MissouriPlenty of bikes and bench racing in St. Joseph By Hal Johnson rain. It did not dampen the spirits of the riders however and, aside from one wiring issue, everybody returned to the downtown Holiday Inn with bikes intact. The show and shine was a showcase of Japan’s finest, with the Best in Show award going to Ron Covell’s 1967 Honda CB450. St. Joseph, Mo., was the site for the This all-original Black Bomber had been first VJMC Region 6 rally, which took place purchased by his father when Ron was just over Labor Day weekend. The agenda was 13 years old, and has been in Ron’s posses- filled with plenty of time for bike talk, a sion since. It was truly a cherished family show and shine on Saturday afternoon and, heirloom. of course, riding. A group of approximately 15 partici- Next year pated in an all-day ride on Friday which The Region 6 Rally, MetricFest, for 2010 was dampened, literally, by a persistent will be held in Omaha, Neb. Mark your VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB BOARD MEMBERS President: Commercial Ads Director: Magazine Editor: Stuart Covington Bob Billa Brendan Dooley 55 Howard St. 760-636-3288 [email protected] Lunenburg, MA 01462 [email protected] 978-582-3335 Webmaster: [email protected] Classified Ads Director: Jon Radermacher Gary Gadd [email protected] Vice President: 3721 Holland St Steve Passwater North Richland Hills, TX 76180 891 Hickory Drive 817-284-8195 Board members at large: Anderson, IN 46011 [email protected] 765-649-5755 Hal Johnson [email protected] PR Director: Roger Smith 402-660-6710 4525 Hillview Shores Drive [email protected] Treasurer: Clarkston, MI 48348 Bill Granade 248-628-6262 Jim Townsend 13309 Moran Drive [email protected] [email protected] Tampa, FL 33618 813-961-3737 Secretary: Randy Mayes Tom Kolenko [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 6 www.vjmc.org October 2009 calendar for Aug.