jaylael

I doubt I could forget the guy smashing into a pair of D-8 caterpillar blade at 100mph. Not much left to worry about for that guy. I was comparing it to Billy's untimely death at the end of Easy Rider. Might be a stretch but I thought they were comparable in that someone dies a violent death at the end. What did I miss?

Wade's friend Jack, Jack. Check out the Hodaka Wolverine Motocrosss bike, built by Harry Taylor around 1999. The bike had been salted away for quite a few years until the VDR Hammer and Tongs Race at Washougal. I was the lucky guy who got to race this incredibly trick works Hodaka! The thing has a Super Combat Frame which has been altered just enough to fit Harry's custom made airbox, '76 Honda CR 125 elsinore seat, tank, fenders, forks, and front wheel. I guess that would make it a Hodelsinore. This thing just flat hauls butt! The thing would yard right past some pretty fast bikes , drag racing up the big hill at Washougal. What a kick in the pants! I managed 3rd in 125 vintage expert. A Hodaka was on the podium! The winner, Grayson Hart on his very fast Honda CR 125, Followed by Randy Webber, on a very nice YZ 125, and myself on the Wolverine.

Blimey! 10,000 hits! That's got to be a new record for views in the air cooled monoshocks column.

Vanishing point is the clear winner. The film gives the viewer a sense of who the main character is and why he is doing what he's doing. The film has some similarities to "Easy Rider", a troubled, good looking young man on a trip through America, allbeit at speeds well over 100 mph, which ends badly. Why would you risk drawing attention to yourself by going so fast? What if the guy just obeyed the speed limit? Not much of a movie there. All I remember about Bullit was an endless chase scene which ends badly for the Dodge Charger. What else happened? It's been nearly 40 years ago since I saw either one.

Use the correct puller, remove the flywheel washer before using puller. Try to use thin rosin core solder on the condenser if soldering is required. Get the wires bundled together neatly and perform the solder job quickly so as not to heat the new condenser anymore than is absolutely needed. (assuming this is the soldered on type of condenser setup) I have ruined a new condenser trying to solder the wires on with the wrong type of solder, thus overheating the delicate internals of the new condenser. That's all that springs to mind at the moment.

google motoplat UK They have some good info and Steve Hardaker is sharp as they come, hard working and honest. He is actually in Spain, but does really good work in this field. His web site has great tech tips. I can't say if those readings are going to cause no spark, but the early Cota 247should have point type ignition, so another coil from anything from a Maico to a Bultaco should make the bike run with points that are working properly and a fresh condenser that is good. I'd be replacing the points and condenser and setting the timing first, then look at replacing other components.

Air cooled two strokes with iron cyl, such as this run long and well on a mixture of 40:1

You'd almost think you were seeing the future of our sport, in about a decade when gasoline is precious like high brow perfume, $1200.00 and ounce. The lads will sit and fondly imagine the days when an extravagance like a "big" 250 two stroke are nothing but a fond memory in our collective conciousness. The grand kids will watch old movies of Dougie Lampkin, Fuji Gas, Toni Bou and marvel at the antiquated machinery, while riding one of these bikes! However in reality these things can't possibly be nearly as good at real sections, in the real world. That Sherdaka 125 looks awesome, but it sort of just rams into the rocks, where the real Sherco goes up effortlessly. Engines make allot of diference and even though it is incredibly light I can't imagine it having the kind of power that a real trials bike makes. This is a fascinating machine for sure. I'd have to say I'm sceptical about it being a world class trials bike. I'd love to try one out!

Check out these two images by Reese Dengler from the AHRMA northwest web site, taken at the Premier and Classic race at Chehalis this past weekend. One shows me leading Troy Luchini, number 94N, and the Black Knight on the CZ. Other photo was captioned, "Editors note: There were no motorcycles at the Chehalis P & C weekend which were worth more than Jay's house". Good one Reese! This refers to some snide comment I had made months ago on a yahoo chat group. Man I guess somebody reads those things.

I'm just beginning to shake off the soreness from this two day vintage extravaganza. I feel so fortunate to be able to attend such an incredibly special event. As a member of the AHRMA community, these events seem almost like family reunions, only at this one, everybody likes eachother. It's so wonderful to have all these friendly people who share the common bond of their love for vintage motorcycles. From the white haired grandfatherly presence of our stalwart trials marshal, Derek Belvoir, to the fresh faced youth such as James Bodkin, just beginning his soon to be stellar trials career, on a nice Kawasaki KT 250, this is a varied and quirky bunch, usually ready to stop and chat with you, or just share the experience of the vintage scene without saying anything. In the midst of all these wonderful folks, there is such a neat vibe of excitement and outright joy to be a part of something so special. Derek Laid out a very technical trial around a scenic farm which was varied in many ways to keep it fresh for the rider. Several entirely new trials sections proved to be quite challenging, more than enough to take some points from the best riders, yet not overwhelming for those further down the list. I managed to win the modern classic expert class on ten points with my old friend Rod Smith in second with fifteen. Then the real fun was set to begin with the banquet dinner in the barn. You had your choice of steak or chicken with all the fixin's for a paltry twenty bucks, and then when you rounded the corner standing in the cue, you could see all sorts of volunteer chefs, preparing the food including national flat track plate holder Randy Skyver, wearing an apron and barbequeing steaks with a big smile. After dinner there were five kinds of desserts to choose from, delivered on a tray, followed by a presentation about the lifetime of contributions to motorcycling by none other than Joe Bolger, the inventor who brought us the Bolger OSSA machines of the mid to late seventies. Joe proved to be an entertaining speaker and really quite a comedian! He brought the house down with raucous laughter several times. Truly a kind, humble person telling humorous stories about his life in motorcycling. Dick Mann even granted Joe the right to call him "Bugs" after all this time. The banquet in the barn was sublime. Sunday dawned cloudy and gray but dry. Dick Mann had laid out yet another gem of ingenious scrambles track design, utilizing some additional features of the terrain at Gray's Farm. There was a new gully at the west end of the track which had not been used previously, and also a left hand drop away turn that was always a thrill to go down. There were BSA's Matchless, Triumphs,Greeves, DOT, Honda twins in Elsinore Chassis, on down to the Hodakas,and even one Moto Beta. In my class which is classic 125 expert, there were three riders, myself, Troy Luchini, a very capable rider on his Suzuki TS 125 Duster, which seems to really go well, and a new guy on a black CZ 125. Since he was dressed all in black from head to toe he seemd a natural for the "evil doer" bad guy personna like in championship wrestling, and by days end, Troy and I had joined forces against the black knight, and eventually we wore him down. I suspect next year he will be back to test us again, and we will be ready. Troy finished first, I finished second and the CZ guy was third. (Since I am running out of time I will add further details of the scrambles when I get inspired.)

I really couldn't pass up that combination. It was like really a no brainer. If the mood strikes me I think I might treat this bike as my canvas and create different color schemes just for fun. It could be like a mood ring. Thanks for the nice comment. I think it's beautiful too. Dave's comments may have been inspired by section 10 at the Chehalis national this year. There was a simple off camber turn on mud that became slick as ice during and after a surprise rainstorm during the trial. Dave got soaked and section ten became pretty slippery to say the least. All good fun.

Around year 2000, this guy in our club named Jack got sucked into the back tyre of his Sherco so hard it had the tire flattened against the rim and two guys had to gingerly turn the back wheel to get him out, while he was being burned on the exhaust. Now picture that scene with studded back tyre. I am going to upload this awesome portrait of the Sherdaka by Jake Meteer

This probably is an irrational project allright. The product of a long winter and years of daydreaming about a "modern" Hodaka. Once I get this bike done and parked on the lawn at Hodaka Days, my suffering will all be a distant memory. Next to all the amazing project Hodakas out there, this one will be just one more. This photo of the Sherdaka on the lawn at the Hodaka Days bike show in Athena Oregon, represents to some degree, the realization of that dream which was hatched over "too many beers" all those months ago. Looking back on the project thus far, and looking forward to the future, I see BOLD NEW GRAPHICS. Now I understand why bike manufacturers introduce changes in fits and starts, as creating truly new bikes can be very tough. Since I have treated this thread like my personal blog to some degree, I will add that the Fall Premier and Classic weekend at Chehalis Washington is coming up this weekend, two days from now. I intend to ride the Tree Frog Type3, and sport the white shirt and tie in the trial. The featured legend at the festive dinner will be Joe Bolger. In the past there have been some fantastic presentations and reminiscences from their fellow old guy cohorts. I always look forward to this event. Sunday I will be racing the Combat Wombat again which has been working very well.

Steve had to work so he wasn't able to attend. Ishy never brought his Fantic, and never rode in the trial since he was the trials marshall and I'm sure that was plenty enough to keep him busy. No one rode vintage, but I managed 3rd expert on saturday and fifth on sunday riding the Sherco. The low scores did not reflect the difficulty of the sections especially on sunday the riders were almost all just riding super well and especially Jay Terry who had five points on the DAY (sunday) in old feeble (sr) expert class, which was brutally competitive. I had the Hodaka trials bikes lined up there on display and offered free test rides to anyone who seemed interested. Swoosh Dave most likely went to the VDR race at Eugene oregon today. I look forward to hearing about it.

I can't save you from yourself. The cost of "building" a TY 80 adds up quickly. I imagine doing the same to a big pre unit british single would be ten times that. That's a distinct advantage to playing with Hodakas, allthough they aren't usually that cheap to buy parts for either anymore. When it comes to your choices in motorcycling, I say follow your heart. Be that a need to ride a Montgomery Ward scooter, or a Harley Chopper.

Time to go looking through those old NATC results. This guy was amazing. You're probably right about the name, but it's got me wondering. No doubt this guy was well up the results list. I often wondered if they were just one and the same guy doing both. Did the motocrosser ride Kawasakis? OK You have to be right. It was Eddy Kessler. It's been a long time ago. My first race was in 1975, a pitiful attempt to race 100 cc expert on a terrible and slow Hodaka 100B. I never raced in a national mx. Only bush league stuff from 1976 through 1983, and then I was back trialing, 1984 to present, with the exception of my attempt at Rodeo in the summer of 1993 when I travelled on the montana rodeo circuit as a "rookie" bareback rider. That was really something. Anyway I'll dig out those old NATC programs, and look at the stats. Someone's gotta' know the guy.

Keith Lynas a www.ossaplanet.com sells OSSA spares, but they are especially rare to find the later stuff in the USA. The early models were very well represented here, but by 1980, they were no longer considered a viable alternative to Bultaco etc. To an aspiring trials rider in America at that time, it was not a very attractive option, therefore TR 80 items were likely not brought into America in any great numbers. The point to this is that ossaplanet is not likely to have much for these unless it interchanges with earlier bikes. Good luck in your quest.

It just came to me. The guy's name is Micky Kessler. It's funny how you remember people who you only met once all that time ago.

Two different bikes for sure. One is a 74 type and other is 76 type. The older one must be Darrow's bike. It has the KX kickstarter to go with the KX clutch cover, and apparently a Sammy Miller muffler. This bike must be a fair bit lighter than stock. Just the weight reduction from the exhaust alone would be like 2 or 3 pounds I bet. It looks as if Darrow riveted some white nylon to the skid plate allowing it to glide over those grippy granite rocks. I bet this was a very effective machine. The relocating of the swingarm pivot which I had done to mine, transforms the bike's handling, making it feel allot lighter, and softens up the back end because of the different leverage ratios applied to the shocks. I bet Curt Comer has some KT pics in his archives, and how about Gary LaPlante. Those guys had bikes similar to the Darrow bike and rode them in the nationals. I remember a guy from Texas who rode these as well. His name eludes me at the moment, but I remember he was super nice and a really talented rider. There is also guy from California, who built a mono KT 250 who was at Donner National in 1976. This bike looked so cool, but I understand it didn't work super good. I would love to see some photos of that bike. It had a snail type expansion chamber on it!

This will be waiting for us at the Lolo Pass Point event.

I think you're being too hard on them ole' boys. In fact this years AHRMA event at the Farm, had a two foot log submerged in a muck hole and the series of sidehill root nadgery turns too back it up, just on section 2. Also the level of difficulty will vary with the location. A great number of the guys who ride AHRMA vintage trials probably couldn't cut it riding NATC nationals even in the support classes. This does not make them inferior, only different. This is what they like. I think what these guys are trying to tell us is, In order to really understand what trials fundamentally is at it's purest, is found at the controls of a big british single such as an Ariel or BSA, pre unit trials bike. The flow and rythum, the finesse that is involved while turning on an off camber rooted up mudbank, between two trees, while retarding the spark just a fuzz to enhance the traction of the giant beast, making the job look easy with a dazzling clean, and getting a smile out of someone who saw it. In this guys eyes it would be shameful to touch the clutch, but to use the great big English flywheels for that super down low chug chug. These are ways for these guys to glimpse this elusive moment of perfection as they see it. I do understand this, but since it does take all kinds, I am just pleasing myself. I don't choose to afford that bike, because it isn't my thing, but at it's core THIS IS what AHRMA founders are trying to pass on to us before they are dead. Show a little respect, these guys will be gone soon enough and then after that it will be us. We really aren't that different. The twinshocks will come eventually. Right now I think allot of people miss the point about what AHRMA is trying to be and to do.

Steve: I practiced while winning the Chehalis National on six points and winning the Expert class at a COTA wednesday night trial,(on Sherco) even while getting a five for running out of gas. I don't imagine me and the little Hodie will give you much trouble. I have been getting beaten consistently by Ishy all summer long. Looking to turn the tables, but it makes trials interesting just to see what's gonna' happen next. Maybe an upset?

Racerhead 33 contains Jay Lael photo on Combat Wombat

This sounds like it will be fantastic. I will be there with my vintage bike to ride int lines against the foreigners.

Just get yourself a welder, an angle grinder, some cuttoff wheels, and get to work.