The Racing Blues

Me and Henry weren’t thinking about CCS Vintage racing until we got a call from Tash. He got the itch to beat everyone, but needed a bit more than his CB350. He knew who to call.
So a little scramble, and the 2 bikes were ready with plenty of time to spare! Usually we’re down to the wire, but we had 12 hours before we had to leave for the track.

Saturday morning, crack of dawn, we were on our way to Homestead Miami Speedway.





Saturday would be all day practice, and then we race on Sunday.




Practice went great. The Z1R (the blue/white one) ran great for Tash. He has raced the bike in the past and quickly got comfortable. A couple of missed shifts ‘tween 3rd and 4th were the only real issues. Henry was also running good on the bike we call the Rolex (root beer orange). We shook out most the issues at Jennings, but it started weeping a bit out the base gasket.



I was kept on my toes, but had little breathing room. I also had a bit of help from Tash’s son Michael. Thanx!





Sunday morning, race day! Bikes looking good, riders feeling good, Tash looking to win. 8 bikes ready to duke it out in the combined heavy and light weight vintage race. All we’ve got to do is get through practice!




Well, Henry did. Those missed shifts of Tash’s on Saturday(I had heard one- ouch) had taken their toll. Something happened to cylinder #4. I won’t know for sure until the head is off, but I say it’s a broken valve spring. Hopefully the damage is minimum.






Being the gentleman he is, Henry offered up the Rolex for Tash to race. He only had a blast around the parking lot and warm up lap to get familiar, but he was Gung Ho!
Let’s go racing!




Tash took off. Holeshot, first into turn 1. Looking good! Then he ran off track, but got right back into it. Started picking off everyone one by one.
Then it happened, he pulled off early. End of the race for us. The oil from the base gasket wet up his boot, causing it to slip off the peg a couple times. Better safe than sorry, especially since there ain’t no money to be won.



On the bright side, we went racing! I also got excellent input from Tash on both of our bikes. He loves the way the Z1R handles (I have done a lot to develop it), and we now know the Rolex’s engine has the power that Jap George claimed it would have. Thanx Tash. So till next time, which is October 2nd, I believe.
See ya.