Talked with Steve again this evening just as he was finishing the final 30 miles to the Lake Express Ferry which would take them to Milwaukee. He said it had been a gorgeous day. About an hour before I talked with him Ginger began to lose power again and he's been playing with the carbureator to keep her running. He knows it is yet another blown head gasket! So he will be taking the cylinder off again to replace it tonight after all the festivities at the Harley-Davidson museum. I told him he needs a different batch of head gaskets.....but I know it's not that simple (sounds like I expect him to run to the nearest auto parts to get them - ha!)
The ferry was scheduled to leave at 4:00 pm and he arrived about 3:40, so he had time to spare. All he had to do was get the bike to the museum to finish for the day. He says several others are starting to need repairs after today's run. He passed a Henderson that was done for the day with serious engine trouble. All in all, despite the odometer issue, he remained on course throughout the day.
Tomorrow's run will be a relatively short day as it will only be 214 miles with a lunch stop in Monroe, Wisconsin hosted by Kutter Harley Davidson, followed up with a hosted dinner at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamose, Iowa. It will also be a day where they don't have to start until 9:00 a.m. Awesome!
I'll keep you posted........
Sunday, September 9, 2012
She doesn't like the rain...
By 8:30 am the rain began and continued soaking the riders on Day 2 of the ride. Steve had his ToadSkinz on and was completely dry on the outside, but hot and wet on the inside. Ginger began to protest and lose power in the wet, rainy mess and finally just before lunch blew a head gasket. She's been doing that recently in the prep for this race to lead Steve to question the head gaskets he's gotten recently. ??? So the new race was on to make to the motel in Sandusky, Ohio where he met up with his dad, Buck and Dick Jones and son, Justin Rinker. Justin knew what to do, and amid the video camera, camera flashes and questioning, he and Steve tore into replacing the head gasket and check for any other damage. They completed the repair, serviced the bike - which included cleaning out and drying out the magneto -- and Steve took a test ride around 10:30 pm ....only to have a flat tire. Tires were swapped out and Ginger was put to bed with the promise of a better day.
Steve left WV with the start of a cold and talking to him on the phone includes "gentle" reminders to take his cold medicine that I packed as I can tell he's now got a full-blown cold.
Buck & Dick spent a big part of the day trying to track down parts for Marcin Grela from Poland, to no avail.
Steve also told me that he and his dad sat down for an hour interview with reps from the Motorcyclepedia Museum in Newburg, NY before the race began, so it will fun to go up for a visit after this is over to see their video of all the interviews, pictures and start of the race, when it's complete.
Day 1, Steve received a perfect 210 scores along with 56 other riders. However, 4 riders did not start, 3 received no score, and 8 others received only partial points. Day 2 scores have not been posted.
I talked with Steve just after he blew his head gasket and didn't talk with him anymore until I was awakened this morning by a phone call from him singing "It's a beautiful morning", so I knew he got everything repaired and was on the ride for Day 3. He said everyone was pushing to get to the Lake Express ferry in time ... if not, they were done for the day. He is currently riding with Josh Wilson (a fellow 101 rider) from Virginia this morning and expecting Jeff Alperin to catch them soon, which will be a good thing as the new front tire is not close enough to the magnet for the odometer to read correctly. He fears that it may be an interesting day to follow the route map and that he may be taking a few minor detours. It's quite ironic that I'm always the one to blame when we're "LOST" when I'm with him regarding "my" map reading abilities, but he just calls them "minor detours" when I'm not.
He's promised to call when he's on the ferry as it will be a 2 hour ride across the lake to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Today's ride is a total of 300 miles and will include a hosted dinner at the Harley Davidson Museum with a Parc Ferme' for all the riders bikes which will close at 8 pm this evening.
Go #7!
Steve left WV with the start of a cold and talking to him on the phone includes "gentle" reminders to take his cold medicine that I packed as I can tell he's now got a full-blown cold.
Buck & Dick spent a big part of the day trying to track down parts for Marcin Grela from Poland, to no avail.
Steve also told me that he and his dad sat down for an hour interview with reps from the Motorcyclepedia Museum in Newburg, NY before the race began, so it will fun to go up for a visit after this is over to see their video of all the interviews, pictures and start of the race, when it's complete.
Day 1, Steve received a perfect 210 scores along with 56 other riders. However, 4 riders did not start, 3 received no score, and 8 others received only partial points. Day 2 scores have not been posted.
I talked with Steve just after he blew his head gasket and didn't talk with him anymore until I was awakened this morning by a phone call from him singing "It's a beautiful morning", so I knew he got everything repaired and was on the ride for Day 3. He said everyone was pushing to get to the Lake Express ferry in time ... if not, they were done for the day. He is currently riding with Josh Wilson (a fellow 101 rider) from Virginia this morning and expecting Jeff Alperin to catch them soon, which will be a good thing as the new front tire is not close enough to the magnet for the odometer to read correctly. He fears that it may be an interesting day to follow the route map and that he may be taking a few minor detours. It's quite ironic that I'm always the one to blame when we're "LOST" when I'm with him regarding "my" map reading abilities, but he just calls them "minor detours" when I'm not.
He's promised to call when he's on the ferry as it will be a 2 hour ride across the lake to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Today's ride is a total of 300 miles and will include a hosted dinner at the Harley Davidson Museum with a Parc Ferme' for all the riders bikes which will close at 8 pm this evening.
Go #7!
Friday, September 7, 2012
And her name is Ginger....
Just got final text from Steve this evening. He reports that Ginger has been serviced and put to bed. :)
The 1929 101 Scout was christened "Ginger" at the start of the Cannonball today, a far cry from "Damn-It" and she apparently has responded to the gentle touch and words of encouragement rather well on Day 1.
Today's ride was a gorgeous day and the bike ran really well ...... others weren't so lucky.
Earlier in the day, Steve reported that he is paired up with fellow Cannonball Rider Jeff Alperin and "the Beast" (his 101 Indian Scout) and they had a great ride from Newburg, NY to Wellsboro, PA for a total of 210 miles. There were a couple minor malfunctions, the first being that Steve's antique doctor's bag on his luggage rack is quickly coming apart from the dry-rotting leather. He had hoped it would hold up longer, but he's got a back up that he installed this evening during service. The second, more comical, as the saddle bag came off on the one side of the bike which held tools, his spare gas can and one of two small fire extinquishers he is carrying. Jeff was following at the time and thankfully was on the opposite side of the bike, so he got to see it all unfold....... and extinguish. Yeah, the fire extinquisher was the only fatality. Everything was gathered up, pictures were taken and the riders were on their way again.
Tomorrow's run will go a total of 320 miles from Wellsboro, PA to Sandusky, OH where he hopes to meet up with Justin and Jared and crew.
The 1929 101 Scout was christened "Ginger" at the start of the Cannonball today, a far cry from "Damn-It" and she apparently has responded to the gentle touch and words of encouragement rather well on Day 1.
Today's ride was a gorgeous day and the bike ran really well ...... others weren't so lucky.
Earlier in the day, Steve reported that he is paired up with fellow Cannonball Rider Jeff Alperin and "the Beast" (his 101 Indian Scout) and they had a great ride from Newburg, NY to Wellsboro, PA for a total of 210 miles. There were a couple minor malfunctions, the first being that Steve's antique doctor's bag on his luggage rack is quickly coming apart from the dry-rotting leather. He had hoped it would hold up longer, but he's got a back up that he installed this evening during service. The second, more comical, as the saddle bag came off on the one side of the bike which held tools, his spare gas can and one of two small fire extinquishers he is carrying. Jeff was following at the time and thankfully was on the opposite side of the bike, so he got to see it all unfold....... and extinguish. Yeah, the fire extinquisher was the only fatality. Everything was gathered up, pictures were taken and the riders were on their way again.
Tomorrow's run will go a total of 320 miles from Wellsboro, PA to Sandusky, OH where he hopes to meet up with Justin and Jared and crew.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Still getting ready....
It is 10:00 pm the night before the Motorcycle Cannonball Endurance Race and I've just talked with Steve. There are still riders and pit crews in the parking lot making repairs and getting bikes ready for tomorrow's start. He's been helping out fellow 101 riders with their bikes. However, he has decided to call it a night, hoping that his excitement doesn't keep him up as he'll be up and out by 6:00 a.m. His start time is just past 7 a.m.
Today's practice run and rider's meetings went well.
Tomorrow, Day 1 of the race will have the riders traveling 210 miles to Wellsboro, PA.
And so it begins.....
Today's practice run and rider's meetings went well.
Tomorrow, Day 1 of the race will have the riders traveling 210 miles to Wellsboro, PA.
And so it begins.....
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Bringing you up to speed!
Well......after the last post Steve decided that the blogspot must be jinxing him with his progress on getting his bike ready for the Cannonball.....so he decided NOT to post anything else until the race. So, while I won't go into detail on his glitches or preparations, I will say that they guys left this morning and have arrived in Newburg, NY. They are registered and have passed inspections and are ready for tomorrow's practice runs and rider's meetings.
Here's just a few things that I do know:
1 - He's decided to talk more softly to his girl and she has taken a liking to him. While I don't know her
name, it is no longer Damn-It. :)
2 - That after riding many evenings following him on my bike over the last month, I know that he can go
90+miles before he runs slap out of gas.
3 - That he is determined that he will ride over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, no matter what it
takes to get his girl there.
4 - That he was loaded and ready to go on Friday and then unloaded when fellow 101 rider Doug Wothke
#88 called and needed a hand on some repairs on his bike on his way up from Alabama.
5 - That he's decided that his cannonball number #7 is his lucky number.
So, I hope to update with information about the day's runs as I get the info from him.
Go Motorcycle Cannonball Rider #7!!!
Here's just a few things that I do know:
1 - He's decided to talk more softly to his girl and she has taken a liking to him. While I don't know her
name, it is no longer Damn-It. :)
2 - That after riding many evenings following him on my bike over the last month, I know that he can go
90+miles before he runs slap out of gas.
3 - That he is determined that he will ride over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, no matter what it
takes to get his girl there.
4 - That he was loaded and ready to go on Friday and then unloaded when fellow 101 rider Doug Wothke
#88 called and needed a hand on some repairs on his bike on his way up from Alabama.
5 - That he's decided that his cannonball number #7 is his lucky number.
So, I hope to update with information about the day's runs as I get the info from him.
Go Motorcycle Cannonball Rider #7!!!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Time to Ride"Damn-it"
Monday, February 6, 2012
It's Done...... Or is it????
Well my CannonBall Ride was done about four weeks ago and the cold weather prevented me from making any kind of nice test run. But I couldn't wait so I took to the road anyway, and man was I ever surprised! The motor runs great, clutches are nice, and the ole girl just falls right in gear. Then came the big surprise as I pulled out on the road and came up to some speed the bike was a nightmare... It was bouncing all over the place, so I limped the bike back to my shop. As I am riding back (doing about TEN) I was trying to think what the hell was wrong. Then I remembered the rear wheel I used came off one of the race bikes and I had to spoke the wheel over to run center of the frame... AH-HA! I left it on the bike and never took it back off to check for true.. So the back wheel came off and that took about 4hrs out of my life. The wheel was not only out of true but looked alot like the egg I had for breakfast.. So while the rear wheel was off I took it to our local Yamaha shop and had it balanced. I also took the front wheel over as well, but the shaft on the machine wouldn't fit my hollow axle so I brought it back and done it "ole school".. I had also found that the front bearings had loosened up on the front a bit. So know its all done again!
But wait there's more.. I have a neat old tool that is used to spread the leaf spring apart so you can grease them and I like using it. So I started to grease the springs and once I spread them apart I found a broken leaf. Not the main but the second long one with the clamp.. I didn't now how well 20 year old paint held parts together. So with a quick call to Kent Tompson I had what I needed on the way (more to this parts order later). Now the front end is coming back apart, I rob a spring pack from another 101 in my project pile's and get it back on its feet...
So whiled sitting on the lift the bike has broken a leaf spring, sprung a leak in primary, and oil was pouring out of my shifter tower... My dad keeps telling me I will never make it through the state of Pa... I am starting to believe him......
Ok let me tell you about the parts order. I am running the original 6 volt system on my bike. Same DU7 generator that was on it when my dad bought it 16 years ago.. So I have been playing with some LED's in the headlamp.. They glow well, but you can't run them at nite. I was also talking to Randy Walker about my light deal I had and I plan on using a LED and take a original Mazda if I need to run it in darkness. Randy also suggested that I put some tape on the lens so when I had to take off the outer ring I don't drop and break the lens.. I laughed and replied "done that last month"... So --- The bike is still on the lift and I decide to do the tape thing and guess what?? Broke the second one!! I run to the phone and have Kent put another lens in with the leaf spring...
Last week the weather was nice here so back outside I went with the bike and this time it ran great!! I like checking out every ones blog's and Jeff Alprin's site is really neat. I also like the fact that Jeff calls his bike "The Beast". Fighting with my 101 I have given it a nickname also.... From now on it will be called "DAMN-IT" So if you walk by us on the run and you here me saying phrases like "come on Damn-it", or "what now Damn-it".. You will know that I am calling her by her name!!
I also have my map thing on the handle bars, added foot rest to the front spill bar, and installed a pair of ugly ass break lights... I will try and post a video of my bike this..... Oops wait a minute!!! I will try and post a video this week of Damn-it with all her mods..
Anyway I hope that I am not the only one laying in bed at nite fixing things along the road and pushing there bike to the next gas stop... Or am I?? Someone posted on the cannon ball site that the event starts now and not in Sept, boy are they right. Hopefully the bike is done for now and I should start thinking about myself a little. Damn-it wont be very happy pulling my big butt up some of the hills that we will face.. Thanks for taking the time to read my problems and hopefully your build is going a whole lot better. Steve
But wait there's more.. I have a neat old tool that is used to spread the leaf spring apart so you can grease them and I like using it. So I started to grease the springs and once I spread them apart I found a broken leaf. Not the main but the second long one with the clamp.. I didn't now how well 20 year old paint held parts together. So with a quick call to Kent Tompson I had what I needed on the way (more to this parts order later). Now the front end is coming back apart, I rob a spring pack from another 101 in my project pile's and get it back on its feet...
So whiled sitting on the lift the bike has broken a leaf spring, sprung a leak in primary, and oil was pouring out of my shifter tower... My dad keeps telling me I will never make it through the state of Pa... I am starting to believe him......
Ok let me tell you about the parts order. I am running the original 6 volt system on my bike. Same DU7 generator that was on it when my dad bought it 16 years ago.. So I have been playing with some LED's in the headlamp.. They glow well, but you can't run them at nite. I was also talking to Randy Walker about my light deal I had and I plan on using a LED and take a original Mazda if I need to run it in darkness. Randy also suggested that I put some tape on the lens so when I had to take off the outer ring I don't drop and break the lens.. I laughed and replied "done that last month"... So --- The bike is still on the lift and I decide to do the tape thing and guess what?? Broke the second one!! I run to the phone and have Kent put another lens in with the leaf spring...
Last week the weather was nice here so back outside I went with the bike and this time it ran great!! I like checking out every ones blog's and Jeff Alprin's site is really neat. I also like the fact that Jeff calls his bike "The Beast". Fighting with my 101 I have given it a nickname also.... From now on it will be called "DAMN-IT" So if you walk by us on the run and you here me saying phrases like "come on Damn-it", or "what now Damn-it".. You will know that I am calling her by her name!!
I also have my map thing on the handle bars, added foot rest to the front spill bar, and installed a pair of ugly ass break lights... I will try and post a video of my bike this..... Oops wait a minute!!! I will try and post a video this week of Damn-it with all her mods..
Anyway I hope that I am not the only one laying in bed at nite fixing things along the road and pushing there bike to the next gas stop... Or am I?? Someone posted on the cannon ball site that the event starts now and not in Sept, boy are they right. Hopefully the bike is done for now and I should start thinking about myself a little. Damn-it wont be very happy pulling my big butt up some of the hills that we will face.. Thanks for taking the time to read my problems and hopefully your build is going a whole lot better. Steve
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