Modern Man

Modern man has made many a stride over the eons. We have learned to glean milk from a bovine. Someone had the temerity to make beer, thank goodness, praise be to the gods. For some reason we have weapons that make no sense whatsoever, technology that runneth over. And there have been many an improvement to the trials motorcycle since an early 1900's Rudge took on the first motorcycle trials loop back in the plestocine era.

What we have here is the modernization of The Captain . This past saturday Pap was kind enough to let him ride his modern Sherco 250 2t . The Captain duly blitzed the section we call the skate ditch (three guesses as to who's responsible for the wall climbs there.....) and then he quickly handed the beast back to Pap. It seems he had the same problem I have with the modern trials machines, everything just happens so damned quickly.

For example, you twist the throttle on your vintage bike and yeah, somethings gonna' happen and it'll be within the realm of control, probably. You twist the loud grip on a modern bike and chances are if you're a vintage cat you're working on the big backwards wheelie and maybe giving up one of your nine vintage lives. Insane power.

And the brakes. Man, the brakes are not to be believed. On your trusty vintage steed with drum brakes it takes a healthy pull on the front lever with a couple of fingers to haul things down, a good stomp of the rear pedal to maybe (maybe) strategicly slide the back tire and set up a turn. With the lack of weight on the modern ride and the braided stainless lines with DOT 5 fluids and floating disc systems, absolute stopping power (or flipping over the bars face first) is only a one finger touch away. Amazing.

The Captain looks good though, don't he? But, alas there's no green modern bikes.....

LOTD (Link of the Day)
Wikipedia on trails.....

The Butterflies

Now, I've heard the term "locked up like a pair of dogs" and I've even seen it a couple of times. But I've never before seen butterflies locked up......

Dry Clutch.....

Dry clutch and carbon fibre too.

Pure Sex.

Even if'n it is a Ducati.

No, Over Here.....

The Captain pointing out the good line to Caulkboy a.k.a. the birthday boy. Happy 30th Barry!

This past weekend we spent practicing out at the Ranch. It also gave Troy a chance to get his feet wet at the Ranch. Literally.....

And, we laid out about a dozen or so of the fifty sections required for the ITSA (International Twinshock Association) North American National Championship Two-Day Trials. Come on out on Sept. 29th and 30th and see some of the best vintage trials riding around. Not only are the bikes old but some of the cats at the controls could be considered vintage also!

Riding the Logs.....

The Captain, riding down the logs.

Well, not really.....he got close though, way closer than I can.

For more killer vintage trials action, with the action provided by our buddy Murrayman at the Lenoir City Tennessee trials this past week-end, go HERE . I would suggest you not be drinking anything while you view this video......

No Smoking, Please

The Captain , along with a few other folks that are near and quite dear to the skatetruck household, has decided to forego his personal sponsorship of Marlboro Lights activities. This road travelled is not an easy one, and we only wish him the best of luck.

P.O.

This is the old Denver, TN Post Office. It was moved to a museum site on a hill overlooking Waverly when the T.V.A. flooded the Johnsonville area.

What a Turkey.....

A young jake out at The Ranch who has obviously decided that I represent absolutely no threat at all.

I know, I know, they're supposed to be dumb as hell and (according to popular belief) you're supposed to kill 'em off so as to avert disease within the breed (huh?).

But, they sure are fun, and a bit majestic in my opinion, which we all know my opinion ain't worth spit.

i will tell you this, they have a distinct and seriously effective defense mechanism that I'll bet you a beer that you've never heard of, or seen.....If you are ever banging down a serious back-road, like maybe a fire-road or the like way off in the boonies on your dual-sport bike. And you surprise a flock of wild turkeys, they will take flight and try their dambdest to take a major shit on you as you pass beneath them.

If that ain't a major distraction when you're trying to concentrate on riding your motorbike I don't know what is.

More Motard 2

Here is the new to America Aprilia 450 v-twin. Sweet sounding and oh so sexy. I had to drag Sam away from it's pit bodily....The mechanics were super nice, they just cleaned up Sam's drool when we split.



Interior of the Graves transporter.



The podium with Graves Yamaha's Mark Burkhart holding aloft the really bad Copley Stratocaster that is supposed to be the winner's trophy (ugh, Music City and all, doncha know...). He is flanked on his right by 2nd place Jeff Ward, and on his left by 3rd place Chris Fillmore, riding the Kawasaki.

For a good report on the racing go HERE to Cycle News.

I apologise for all the still life pictures, all my action pics sucked, I must say. For a good action pic go and visit The Captain HERE .

Supermoto

1. Jeff Ward's 2nd place Honda CRF450F still ticking off the heat of the main under the canopy in the pits.

2. Winner Mark Burkhardt's tire/wheel rack.

3. Rabbit Ears for part of the crew.

more to come.....

Stunt Show = Stoopid

Or, white people acting badly.

Why in the name of all that is holy does the AMA include this type of bullshit during the downtime of their racing programs. The AMA, who supposedly is the championing parent of SAFETY for motorcycling in America. Check out this cats safety gear. This is the St. Louis Stunt Club, or some such horse hockey.

Sorry for the graininess of the photo, but it was not worth the trouble to walk down for a closer look. Boring does not even come close to describe such activity.........


Footnote: The AMA is the American Motorcyclist Association. And, I provide no link here for the simple reason that if you want to hook up with them, you are on your own, I will not be party to your deception. I am a member only for the purpose of obtaining a competition license, period.