Muddy Waters MX

Bultaco Pursang Revival

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:44:33 GMT

A 32-year-old Spanish automotive designer and a partner plan to relaunch the historic Bultaco motorcycle brand with the release of a modern 450cc motocross bike with retro-modern styling taken from the beautiful 1970's-era Pursangs.

Jim Palau-Ribes and partner Roger Gubert have been working on the project for seven years and hope to build a prototype 450cc bike this year. They have formed a company named Pursang Motors for the venture. Whether the two can actually pull this off or not is open to question, but it would certainly be nice to see them succeed. Found via Motocross Action Magazine.

History of World Motocross Championship?

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:48:19 GMT

Motocross MX1 is publishing a short series of articles on the History of World Motocross Championship. Part 1 of the series is up now. Parts 2-4 will be published in the next few weeks.

If they are as poor as Part 1 there isn't much point in reading them. Not much history here — there are about 5 2-sentence paragraphs to cover the period from 1957-1972. Bummer.

Racing a Sportsman-class CZ 125

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:30:33 GMT

Let's hear it for Steve "Souper" Clark and the Sportsman-class 125 project code-named Lester! Owned by the infamous Giles Nelson and the subject of ongoing and endless modifications and improvements by "Dr. G" Larry Garcia and "CZ Guy" Lee Holth, this little beauty throws some dirt at the 2007 Chehalis Classic. Nice work, guys! Now let's see some more.

What's your MX passion story?

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:34:48 GMT

I was talking to a friend today, reminiscing about when I was a kid and first learning about MX. I got my first mini-bike — a Briggs & Stratton-engined number with 10" inch wheels — when I was 9 (I think.) But I clearly remember sitting in my fifth-grade class at Bell Elementary in Tyler, TX drawing pictures of dirt bikes, mostly the Suzukis of DeCoster, and Robert.

That would have been in 1970. A childhood friend, Greg Berkhouse, and I used to draw pictures in class and sell them to fellow students for $.10 - $.25 each. By 1972 I had saved enough paper route money to pay for a Honda SL70 - my pride and joy. It cost $452 brand new. I used to sit in class in Jr. High (what's now called Middle School) and read Dirt Bike, Modern Cycle, and Motocross Action instead of the text books.

Man, those were the days. What was your childhood passion?

How do you feel about the AMA?

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:28:08 GMT

Last night I got an email from Tony Wenck, producer of Pit Pass Radio, to let me know they're interviewing AMA CEO Rob Dingman on tomorrow night's show. Tony asked if I had any questions I wanted him to ask.

It's short notice, but one of the things I want to do is gauge the feelings of the vintage community on the AMA, so I put together a short (4 question) survey I'm asking my fellow vintage enthusiasts to take. The survey is being sponsored by Motorsports Publications, LLC, the distributor of classic European magazines. When you complete the survey you'll be entered in a drawing to win a free, 1-year subscription to Classic Dirt Bike magazine!

I also submitted the following questions to Tony (thanks to Rick Salazar for his input.):

It's apparent that significant, positive changes are underway at the AMA, but there is a legacy of mistrust among much of the off-road community (at least in TX and across the southeast where I have always lived) that the AMA has taken our dues and done nothing to promote or protect our rights. One of the ways to address this type of mistrust is improved transparency into an organization's sources and uses of funds. Are there plans to improve visibility into the AMA's financial operations, and let the members see where the money comes from and where it goes?
I was very encouraged by the recent profile of AMA Board Chairman Stan Simpson in American Motorcyclist. He seems to have a very strong off-road background and may be the kind of personality that can legitimize the AMA in the minds of many off-road enthusiasts. Does the organization have a plan for uniting the fractious, scattered, and highly individualized off-road rights efforts into a more cohesive, nation-wide effort?
While the AMA is distancing itself from the business of professional racing (a move I applaud,) the men who risk their health and lives for a career in racing are still motorcyclists and deserve representation. In many cases they are icons and our heros, and we owe them a lot. Seeing people like Danny Chandler and David Bailey living near poverty or going without needed medical care for lack of funds is a tragedy. Does the AMA have any plans to develop (or push for) long-term benefits/pension plans for the professional athletes in our sport? (I realize this could ultimately put the AMA at odds with the very companies they sold the racing organization(s) to.)
In the professional arenas where the AMA is still involved, are there any plans to alter current rules favoring a specific technology (four-stroke engines) and level the playing field for other approaches?
Also in professional racing with AMA involvement, are there any plans to restructure the purses to better support the smaller teams and independents rider who fill the gates but do not finish in the top 5?
As a corporation, does the AMA see any future role for itself in preserving, or even acquiring, private land for use by off-road enthusiasts?
The disability rates for our professional athletes are among the highest in major professional sports. Does the AMA see any role for itself in researching causes, impacts, and solutions?
Recently a long-time AMA Congress delegate from District 36 wrote to Cycle News with a some interesting, if uncomplimentary, observations. What role does the AMA see for the district structure and the Congress in the future?

I will post the survey results — summary statistics and no names, of course — here when I have enough response. If I get 100 responses by tomorrow afternoon I will forward the results to Tony at Pit Pass to share with Dingman. Please be sure and catch the interview tomorrow nite.

2008 Moto Guzzi Classics Piemonte Tour

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 01:41:27 GMT

Vintage Moto Guzzi aficionado Patrick Hayes of Fremont, CA has posted an awesome photo essay of his 2008 Piemonte Tour on a classic Guzzi Falcone. The photos of the Italian countryside are beautiful, and the Guzzi collections are stunning. I am envious.

I realize Europe has had 10x the number of years as the US to come to terms with their history and its importance, but I really admire the way the manage to keep so much of the old, especially in Italy. This kind of trip would truly be an event of a lifetime for someone in the US.

Moto Guzzi Classics Piemonte Tour 2008

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:59:56 GMT

Vintage motorbikes by Ridley

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:21:36 GMT

Here's a cool vintage bike for the garage or golf course — the Ridley Vintage Motorbike. Ridley is the company that makes automatic transmission street cruisers. Yeah, I know... I don't understand that either but whatever floats your boat is alright with me.

Anyway, I think these are pretty cool little bikes. They're expensive, though. The frame kit costs $1,440. The engine is another $560, for a whopping total of $2,000 for a 70cc bicycle. Well, I guess it's not that much. Decent mountain bikes cost $2,000 these days. And they don't have motors...

The Ridleys aren't quite as cool as these board track racer mopeds with the Whizzer engines, but still a pretty cool thing to have around the house.

Old school pitbike races - SL70 and XR75

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 02:51:03 GMT

Recently my old school friend Ronnie Welch sent me a bunch of pictures from TVRC's annual "King of the Ant Hill" race in Texas. If you were under the misguided belief that pitbike races were some new phenomenon, well, let me assure you that the only thing truly new in dirt biking is the backflip.

There were plenty of cool XR75s, including some single-shock models using aftermarket swingarms. But Ronnie was representin' for all the Po' Boys who had to ride 'em like they came from the factory. His beater SL70 was sporting nothing more than a Green Weenie filter and a DG-style megaphone.

Wish I had been there. I have two SL70 project bikes sitting around the house here somewhere if I can ever get back to them...

Vintage tall tales from dirt bike legend Super Hunky

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:59:23 GMT

Here's a great MX story by Rick Sieman, aka Super Hunky, rider, racer, and former editor of Dirt Bike Magazine. Hunky has been everywhere, done everything, and has more stories than any 10 normal people. He's an undisputed icon in the dirt bike world.

My friend and fellow Weedie Bill Ramsey, owner of Motorcycle Accessory Shop in Mesa, AZ, recorded this little video at an AZ awards banquet. Bill wants some support to get Rick to sit down with a mic and a video camera and record lots of his stories. Rick has already put his stories into the highly entertaining book "Monkey Butt" (available on his site,) but I think video is a fantastic idea. Video can capture a person in a way that print never can. Sometimes this is good, sometimes it's bad. But this sample shows that with Rick, it's good.

As many of you know, Rick is battling prostate cancer. Things look good for him at present, and all our hopes are that he continues for a full recovery. But this still serves as a reminder that none of our legends live forever and now is a great time to get SH to put his legacy on video.

If you would also like to see this please take a moment to post a comment in support. Maybe we can show enough enthusiasm that Rick will take the bait.

Terrific vintage racing video from 2008 Nostalgia Scramble

terrywfrazier@gmail.com — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:04:48 GMT

Here's some top-notch racing action from the 2008 Nostalgia Scramble at Kendal, Cumbria, England last weekend. The rider in yellow is 67-year-old Terry Challinor. Found via RacerX and artist Rob Kinsey.