A Tribute to Gary Nixon

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picture courtesy of phillybeef via : www.southbayriders.com

picture courtesy of Mahony Photos

Gary Nixon (January 25 1941 – August 5 2011) was an American motorcycle racer who, when on Triumph motorcycles, most notably won the A.M.A. Grand National Championship in 1967 and 1968. He was also a former winner of the Daytona 200 motorcycle race on a 500cc Triumph, claiming a victory in the 1967 event. Nixon was also known for his partnership with legendary tuner Erv Kanemoto when they won the 1973 U.S. National Road Racing Championship for Kawasaki. In 1976 he competed at the international level, laying claim to the Formula 750 world championship until international politics denied him that prize. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2003. He last resided in Maryland and participated in vintage motorcycle racing as well as testing motorcycles for the locally produced syndicated public TV automotive review program MotorWeek.

Nixon suffered a heart attack on July 29 2011 and died on August 5 from complications.

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Vintage MX: 1974 Bultaco Pursang

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Jeff Buchanan via : www.ultimatemotorcycling.com
Pictures via : www.theowencollection.com

In 1973 Bultaco rider Jim Pomeroy shocked the racing world when he became the first American to win a Motocross Grand Prix. It was the Spanish GP, and to cap off the moto win, Pomeroy famously wheelied across the finish line and flashed the peace sign.

The crowd went nuts. Bultaco rewarded Pomeroy's continued loyalty to the Spanish brand (despite a flood of offers from other manufacturers) by naming their 1974 Pursang after him.

Bultacos had a beauty all their own. They had shapely, extremely thin fiberglass gas tanks-so thin that the head fins stuck out on either side.

Bultacos (or "Buls" as they were affectionately known) had superb handling. In corners, their ability to either pivot in soft or hard soil, or to rail berms with equal aplomb, made them extremely accommodating for a range of riding styles. Despite the limitations of suspension travel they managed to be relatively stable (for the period)... Read more

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Just dreaming before the week-end

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all pictures copyright : Doug Klassen

and dont forget to visit his great blog : www.40on2.blogspot.com

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Steve McQueen's Husqvarna to be Auctioned

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Courtesy of Bonhams



Following Bonhams' highly successful inaugural motorcycle sale in Las Vegas earlier this month - where approximately 200 motorcycles brought buyers and sellers together from around the world for a sales total exceeding $2.5 million, the world's leading auctioneers of motor vehicles is proud to announce its third annual auction at the Quail Motorcycle Gathering.
Hosted on May 14th at Quail Lodge in Carmel, California, Bonhams' sale of "Exceptional Motorcycles & Related Memorabilia" will include what is understood to be the very motorcycle featured on the front cover of the August 1971 issue of Sports Illustrated being ridden by none other than "The King of Cool," Steve McQueen... Read more




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John Parker

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Via : www.offroadmotorcycles.ca



The above photo is a perfect representation of the ‘Johnny Parker’ era I remember so fondly. I was just a little kid in the stands at Welland County Speedway, watching Parker hammer around with a ton of ’70s hair streaming out behind his Kawasaki or Harley XR750. My parents used to ‘sugar me up real good’ and force me to have a Saturday afternoon nap so I had a fighting chance of staying up long enough to watch the finals. Invariably the show would run late, and lots of times I’d fall asleep on the wooden bleachers listening to the ferocious sound of a pack of XR750s.

The next morning I’d tell my friends all about the races, and before long we’d be scraping our knees to the bone racing our bicycles around in circles. Naturally I’d be rocking the 111 of Johnny Parker, I mean, by putting his number on my Schwinn how could I lose? Besides, it was an easy number to replicate with electrical tape.

Parker, who holds five CMA #1 titles, 21 National Titles, 32 Provincial titles also has the record for the most National wins in a row and has won the coveted White trophy. Of course he has a small handful of rivals, but it’s safe to say he’s pretty much dominated Dirt Track in Canada.

Now, a whole bunch of years later, I got to know John a bit through his job as Shop Operations Manager of the motorcycle department at Budds BMW where he’s taking care of our long-term test BMW G450X. Honestly, I was a bit nervous about meeting him since he was a hero of mine as a kid, but before long we got talking about dirt track and all the people we both knew. A few days later we were hanging out n his garage, digging through old photos and talking motorcycles, just like a pair of kids who never really grew up.

Parker is still racing, winning and psyching-out the younger racers in the pits. And he’s just as fast as ever, finishing second to Don Taylor in 2009. He’s long been associated with Kawasaki Canada, and his home business, John Parker Racing, is a leader in dirt track engine and chassis technology. For motoheads, like you and I, the amount of craftmanship that goes into a Pro-level dirt track bike when compared to your average motocross bike is sick. Sick enough in fact to make even factory MX bikes look downright agricultural. They say a picture tells a thousand words. If that’s the case, then the following thousand or so photos can give any classic adventure novel a run for the money.

The following pics are from John Parker’s personal archives, unless otherwise noted.
















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Vintage Excelsior, Indian at Vegas Bonhams

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Bonhams is pleased to announce the addition of several important motorcycles from two renowned collections to their inaugural motorcycle sale in Las Vegas on Jan. 6.

First, from a famous Texas-based collection best known for its numerous and exquisite automobiles come several motorcycles - something the owner was increasingly focused on before his untimely death in 2009.


Some of those being offered include a 1935 Rudge 250 Sport, a 1952 Triumph Thunderbird 650, and a 1957 Moto Parilla175 MSDS.

Of significant note, however, are two tremendous examples of early American motorcycles, both formerly owned by Otis Chandler - a rare 1911 Curtiss Marvel Single 500 and the first year production 1901 Indian F-Head "Camel Back."


Then, from the collection of another Gulf State-based aficionado come 23 motorcycles of diverse makes and models. Included are two motorcycles from legendary maker Vincent - a 1939 HRD Meteor and a 1952 Black Knight Special with sidecar - and the incredibly rare, show-stealing 1916 Excelsior "Big Valve" Factory Board Track Racer in original paint condition.

Both collectors are known for their tasteful and diverse interests in motor vehicles and, most importantly, for their demand for quality. As such, the models offered from these collections can be regarded as some of the best examples in existence.

Additionally, all the proceeds from the latter gentleman's collection will be donated to a designated non-profit organization... Read more




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J.N. Roberts

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James Nelson "J. N." Roberts is a semi-retired off road motorcycle racer from Southern California. In the 1960s and 1970s he was a top desert racer on two wheels in the United States.


Roberts won the Barstow to Vegas race four times in a row. He also won the Mint 400 three times and the Baja 500 and the Baja 1000 twice each. He teamed with Malcolm Smith to win the motorcycle division in the 1967 Mexican 1000, later to be known as the Baja 1000.


Roberts also represented the United States at the 1971 and 1972 International Six Days Trial, a form of off-road motorcycle Olympics. After his racing career, he became a stuntman in the American Film industry. Roberts appeared in the 1971 film On Any Sunday in the 2005 film Dust to Glory, and in the 2008 film, Full Circle, The Legend Lives On, playing himself.


He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2009, Roberts was inducted into the Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame.



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Don Castro

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Don Castro is an extraordinary dirt-tracker and roadracer who battled handlebar-to-handlebar with some of the greatest motorcycle racers of all time during the 1970s.


Many consider the early 1970s as one of the greatest periods for dirt-track racing in the history of the sport. Castro competed against famed racers and Hall of Famers Gary Scott, Kenny Roberts, Mert Lawwill, Chuck Palmgren, Gene Romero, Dave Aldana, and others. His win at the 1973 San Jose, Calif., half-mile is considered to be his greatest victory .


Born on Dec. 28, 1949, Castro grew up in Hollister, Calif. When he was almost 16, he got a Honda 90 so that he would have a means to get to-and-from work. But Castro didn't just use the small bike for transportation—he began racing around town on it, drawing the attention of the police, who reported his shenanigans to his father.

"He made a deal with me to buy me a 500 Triumph if I would stop running around town on the Honda," Castro says.


So at the age of 16, Castro began racing in Sportsman TT races as well as competing in hillclimb. At the age of 18, he transferred to the Expert Sportsman class. He turned pro novice in 1968, and then junior in 1969.

"I did well until I broke my leg at the Triumph factory," Castro recalls. "I signed with Triumph to get free parts and a motorcycle, and then [Hall of Famers] Gary Nixon and Dick Mann invited me to play soccer. We both kicked the ball at the same time and Dick broke my ankle. I couldn't race four nationals, and then I won six in a row. That was 1969. I was in the running for the title of Junior of the Year but Dave Aldana beat me out on points."


In 1970, Castro became a pro expert and got a Triumph factory ride. His first roadrace was at the famed Daytona track in Florida, where he finished third on a three-cylinder Triumph.

"I didn't want to get beat. I just loved to go fast," Castro says. "I'm kind of dyslexic and don't know if that helped, but when you go 120, 130, 140 mph, everything slows down.

In 1971, Castro raced short track, TT, half-mile, mile and road races. He finished ninth that year aboard a Triumph.

In 1972, Castro was a privateer aboard Triumphs and had his van and equipment stolen.


"I tried to regroup but I didn't regroup very well," Castro remembers. "I asked K & N if they had an extra bike I could ride, and they did. So I flew to Tulsa [Okla.] and got the Yamaha running. I rode for them for the rest of the year."

1973 proved to be a good year for Castro. He got a factory contract with Yamaha, teaming with Roberts. At the San Jose, Calif., half-mile during the time trials, five riders broke the old lap record. Roberts beat the record by a full half-second by turning a lap of 4:26:08. Hall of Famer Mark Brelsford turned a 4:26:43. Also coming in under the old record were Hall of Famers Cal Rayborn, Mert Lawwill and Gene Romero. Castro was the sixth fastest qualifier.

All but one of the 12 competitors in the 20-mile National final would be be future Hall of Famers: Kenny Roberts, Castro and Chuck Palmgren on Yamahas, Rex Beauchamp, Lawwill, Jim Rice and Brelsford on Harley-Davidsons, and Gary Scott, Mike Kidd, Eddie Mulder and Romero on Triumphs. Randy Scott was also on a Triumph... Read more




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"Pops" Yoshimura

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Hideo "Pops" Yoshimura (October 7, 1922 - March 29, 1995) was a motorcycle tuner, race team owner and manufacturer of speciality motorcycle accessories. He is remembered for his ties to the beginnings of AMA Superbike racing and the Suzuki factory racing team. He was born in Fukuoka City, Japan.


Yoshimura was called into military service during the Second World War where he was trained as an aircraft mechanic. After the war, he began tuning motorcycles for American servicemen stationed in Japan and in 1954, he opened his first shop, with his wife and children helping him. In 1971, he moved his business to Los Angeles at the beginning of the four-cylinder superbike era. He gained a reputation as an excellent motorcycle tuner.


In 1976 the AMA introduced a racing class for production based bikes and Yoshimura established himself by entering fast, reliable Kawasaki Z1 bikes. In 1978 he switched to Suzuki bikes and began winning races. Steve McLaughlin won the 1978 Daytona Superbike race while Wes Cooley and Mike Baldwin won the prestigious 1978 Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan. With Wes Cooley as his rider, Yoshimura claimed the AMA Superbike national championship in 1979 and 1980. Yoshimura formed a close relationship with Suzuki and eventually his team became the official Suzuki factory racing team in the United States. His company experienced success as one of the world's largest performance aftermarket sportbike exhaust manufacturers.


Yoshimura died of cancer in 1995. He left a legacy as a master craftsman, tuner and fabricator and was one of the pioneering personalities of superbike racing. In 2000, he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. His son continues to operate the company which still enjoys success in the AMA superbike class with rider Mat Mladin winning six championships in seven years, and Ben Spies winning the 2006-2008 championships.





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Gary Nixon

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1967 and 1968 AMA Grand National Champion

Gary was inducted into the Motorcycle hall of Fame in 1998.

Gary Nixon's AMA racing career was marked by both extraordinary success and courage. Nixon's perseverance and talent at home and abroad made him one of the most popular and most respected racers in the history of the sport. Nixon rode a Triumph to back-to-back AMA Grand National Championships in 1967 and 1968.








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The 2010 Concours d'Elegance in Vegas

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The Motorcycle Hall of Fame is inviting owners of original and expertly restored classic motorcycles to participate in the 9th annual Motorcycle Hall of Fame Concours d’Elegance: A juried show of the country’s finest original and meticulously restored vintage motorcycles.


Who? Owners and restorers of the country's finest vintage motorcycles (like the Taglioni-designed Grand Prix bike in the photo above) . The classes are:

* Antique American to 1953
* Classic American 1954-1975
* Antique British to 1964
* Classic British 1965-1975
* Antique European to 1964
* Classic European 1965-1975
* Antique Japanese to 1970
* Classic Japanese 1971-1975
* Antique Competition to 1969
* Classic Competition 1970-1975
* Classic Specials & Customs to 1975


What? The 9th annual Motorcycle Hall of Fame Concours d'Elegance.

When? Saturday, November 20, 2010


Where? Red Rock Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada

Why? See, appreciate and be judged against some of this country's finest restored motorcycles.




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Coast-to-Coast Motorcycle Cannonball Winners

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by Bryan Harley


They’ve done it! After 16 days and 3294 miles in the saddle, riders participating in the Coast to Coast Motorcycle Cannonball Endurance Run for Pre-1916 Motorcycles pulled into the Santa Monica Pier this weekend after a grueling cross country race. Of the 45 vintage motorcycles that started the event in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, 37 were still running at its end. Ten of those posted perfect scores of 3294 miles ridden within the allotted time frame. As miles wore on, metal fatigue began to take its toll and motor mounts, kick stands and fender tabs started breaking off, but the engines began running better than ever. This is a testament to the hard work of the support crews and the camaraderie between teams who helped out one another to keep the motorcycles running and in the competition.



Despite the fact that 10 riders finished the contest with perfect scores, Brad Wilmarth was declared the winner. His 1913 Excelsior was the oldest motorcycle with a perfect score, a fact that handed him the overall title. He also won Class II for twin- and four-cylinder, single-speed motorcycles. Wilmarth was awarded a painting by David Uhl entitled “Baker Cannon Ball” for his efforts... Read more




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Roger DeCoster to KTM Factory Team

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How can i miss that ... ? sorry to give the info so late but i had to make a post on it even late.

The final day of the FIM Motocross Grand Prix of Benelux unveiled one of the year's biggest news as KTM announced that Roger DeCoster will become the manager of the company's new factory team in the USA.

After reaching success in the FIM Motocross World Championship with Stefan Everts as their Offroad Race Director, KTM aims at succeeding also in the USA courtesy of Roger De Coster's contribution.

In the Sunday morning of the Benelux Grand Prix, KTM CEO Stefan Pierer, Head of KTM Offroad Sports Department Pit Beirer, KTM Offroad Race Director Stefan Everts and former World Champion Heinz Kinigadner gathered in a press conference to announce the signing of Roger DeCoster.

The latter was then phone-called in America and added his comments on this new exciting challenge he is about to take part in.


The signing of DeCoster represents a major step forward in vaulting the Austrian company into the global motocross arena. KTM has already reached the top level of the mx sport in Europe and the World Championship GP series and will now also be a dominant force in US competition.

After thanking Tony Cairoli and Claudio De Carli for the MX1 World Title victory of two weeks ago in Brazil...

Stefan Pierer says: "The acquisition of Roger De Coster to take over our factory team in the USA heralds a new era for KTM. We now enjoy a worldwide network and we are a real global player. Roger DeCoster is one of the great figures in the sport of Motocross and we are delighted that he has agreed to manage our new team. KTM is now "Ready to Race" in the biggest and most competitive Motocross competitions in the world."


Pit Beirer says: "We are honored that we can welcome a man of Roger DeCoster's credentials and stature into the KTM family. With him as the head of our new KTM USA factory team we will be a major force in the USA and Europe and we want to attract the very best American riders into our team. Roger has had a superb racing career and a distinguished and successful career in team management." ... read more




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British Only Austria

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Motorcycles and spareparts for many English bikes

16H, 19s ,7R, 95R, A10, A10R, A10RGS, A10RR, A50, A65, A7, A7ss, Ajs, Amal, Ariel, atlantic, B31, B32, B33, B34, Beiwagen, Bianchi, Bill Lacey, Black Shadow, BOA, Bonneville, British, British Only, British Only Austria, Brooklands, Brough, Brough superior, Brough Superior Motorcycles Co... and many more



Brand: AJS

Engine No. R10/140470
3-speed Gearbox
Hand gearchange with the bike
Rider George Rowley
Isle of Man and Brooklands
1932-1939 Amal Testbike

Price: EUR 39500






Brand: AJS
Frame No. M127668
Gearbox No. M6104592
Identyfication No. on crankcases 11734
This bike is not original. It has been in 1 family owner ship for a long time. The gearbox is M6.
This bike comes with a spare pair of crankcases M746776 (Ident. No. 11481)and a spare cylinder head

Price: EUR 14,000



Brand: Norton

First owner Eric Oliver 1957
Raced in the Isle of Man
Matching Engine and frame number
This Motorcycle has nothing to do with Jim Gleave, Atlantic
This motorcycle is in Austria, with us

Price: EUR 29,500







Brand: Vincent

Vincent Racer
Very Fast
Meteor
Engine No. F5AB/2/3502
Frame No. RC/1/5475
no documents available

Price: EUR 15,000













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The Motorcycle Cannonball Route

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Via : www.motorcyclecannonball.com

This is the route for this year’s Motorcycle Cannonball. In working on this route, we have tried to fulfill several criteria:


A coast-to-coast route across the United States. We start on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, in Kitty Hawk, the birthplace of aviation. Our finish, after about 3300 miles on the road, is on the Pacific Ocean beach in Santa Monica, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.


Approximately a two-week schedule. We start on a Friday in Kitty Hawk, and finish in Santa Monica two weeks later on a Sunday. The route is 17 days total, 16 days on the road, and one rest day in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The day off is the Friday a week after the start, a weekday when shops are open. The two days before the start in Kitty Hawk we will have registration, vehicle inspection, an optional practice run along the outer banks of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, a short classroom session, and a hosted welcome reception.


Most days 250 miles or shorter. Our goal was for all days to be at most 250 miles, but in the West there just aren’t enough cities at appropriate locations with sufficient hotel/motel rooms for a group our size. Only two days are longer (300 and 280 miles), and they are both after the rest day, on roads that are fairly flat and straight (across the great plains of Oklahoma and Texas).


Also on the 300-mile day, we gain an hour as we cross a time-zone boundary. The typical schedule for a 250-mile day for the single-speed class, assuming the vehicles maintain 35 MPH on straight flat roads, will be an 8:00 AM start and 5:00 PM finish, for a total of 9 hours on the road. This schedule includes a 45-minute lunch break and three 15-minute refueling/rest breaks. Motorcycles in the faster classes will spend less time on the road... Read more




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