It was a beautiful day for racing yesterday, and Travis, Joel and myself piled into the Little Big Rig and headed out on a long trip to Kent, Wa. We stopped at an IHOP along the way, and I had the split decision breakfast. It was very good. We then trucked the rest of the way to the track, and unloaded the bikes. A quick tech inspection got us cleared for action, and we waited for the competition to arrive. And then they didn't. So it was just Travis and myself to race in the moped class. Sabatino had some excuse, Jesse had blew up his moped, CJ couldn't take time off work, Naz couldn't find leathers in time (but did get some that very day!) and so forth and so on. In fact, the turn out was pretty on the diminutive side, and then one scooter crashed, and another blew it self up, so there were only about 6 bikes to race in the 5 classes.
So we all raced on the track at the same time. Which was interesting. Travis even managed to pass and beat one of the scooters in the race. Judge Reinhold performed pretty well, but insists on fowling spark plugs, even while giving a lean indication at top speed. Aside from switching plugs after each race, the bike worked well considering it was nearly 100% WOT the whole time. My leathers were the biggest hit of the track, and I have vowed to have a bike that looks just like them, so expect that hobbit frame to come together over the next month. I was very surprised, being my first time on the track, how fast it feels versus how slow it looks, as well as how well Gazelle tires hold the track.
I did end up low siding, but I'm pretty sure I hooked my pedal causing me to drop it, rather than the tires just letting go. Racing is a pretty intense sport, it takes a lot of effort to move around a 100# machine, I couldn't imagine a 250cc or even larger sport bike. I anticipate the next race, and hope to be passed by many more mopeds.
My bike was a little quicker, I think his had a higher top speed, but we were good contenders for each other. It is much more fun to race trying to pass and prevent being passed, than to just be on the track by yourself. 
Travis and Naz both were in top form, and took first and third places, with second going to Sabatino. I also got to race in the pewee novice class for a bit of extra track time, and was finally able to beat my nemesis, this 7 year old girl.
I also forgot to turn my fuel valve off and run the carb dry before pulling the subframe off the bike, so in order to get it in the trunk without that gas smell, I simply gave the bike a push start and let it use the rest of the fuel. 
So we all raced on the track at the same time. Which was interesting. Travis even managed to pass and beat one of the scooters in the race. Judge Reinhold performed pretty well, but insists on fowling spark plugs, even while giving a lean indication at top speed. Aside from switching plugs after each race, the bike worked well considering it was nearly 100% WOT the whole time. My leathers were the biggest hit of the track, and I have vowed to have a bike that looks just like them, so expect that hobbit frame to come together over the next month. I was very surprised, being my first time on the track, how fast it feels versus how slow it looks, as well as how well Gazelle tires hold the track. 
I did end up low siding, but I'm pretty sure I hooked my pedal causing me to drop it, rather than the tires just letting go. Racing is a pretty intense sport, it takes a lot of effort to move around a 100# machine, I couldn't imagine a 250cc or even larger sport bike. I anticipate the next race, and hope to be passed by many more mopeds.
A customer came in and did some extra body work on her motorcycle frame. Joel came and worked on his Maxi as well as did some blasting. I made a new bracket for the exhaust on the magnum. It's much better off now, and Naz came and zapped it for me with the tig. I rode it home, and had a little trouble with rain shorting out my cracked spark plug cap. My Free Spirit got the TCCD motor, and that thing really pulls pretty impressively for a 50cc slug on a Puch. 14 Bing and a bullet pipe, 16 x 45 gearing. The brakes, on the other hand, were pretty faded, so I pulled the wheel open to clean them. Lo and behold, the lining had separated from the shoes and was fused to the drum. So instead of the lining pressing against a rotating drum, the lining rotated with the drum and the metal shoes pressed into the lining. Total failure. I need to order some new brakes for this rig, and then it will be blast city commute-mobile.
In other news, Gorilla came down to the shop today and worked on his maxi. This bike was painted at least 3 times, rattle can on top of rattle can, so in order to expedite the sand blasting, I explained that he should go scorch the paint off the bike with my weed burner. This is what he brought back inside. 
I imagine Gorilla is the kind of guy who likes to burn his marshmallows when he makes a smore too. Be sure to meet this guy at Whisky Business 3!
