Barber Vintage Racing

Why do we do it?

Worked all day for 2 days, then drove all night,

living off gas station food and pepto.

Scrambled all the next day, sorting out the bike on 2 hours sleep.

Started from scratch on race day with the 'B' bike,

cause I found issues with the 'A' bike late the night before.

But all that suffering couldn't keep that smile away!

After all, I was at the Barber Vintage Roadraces.

The turnout was amazing, and the weather was beautiful.

The Ask Henry Racing team was there in full force,

Henry and I, that is.

Harry Vanderlinden is our rider now.

He used to race these things when they were new,

 and now is a track day instructor for Kevin Schwantz.

Henry met him the year before working at the Held Leathers booth.

So, we had 1 day of practice on friday. Then, on Saturday and Sunday, there was 1 race per day.

On Friday, the track crew towed bikes off the track 59 times!

That's just crazy.

Here are the contenders.

The race was red flagged 1st lap, so they had a bit of lounge time.

Check out our #1 fan. Kevin Schwantz himself.

He was racing a Manx Norton that event.

There's always victim when you go racing!

We got an unofficial 4th on saturday.

(I kinda forgot to transfer the scoring transponder when we switched bikes. Good thing we didn't win!)

Not bad, considering one of the floats gave up, dumping gas into the cylinders.

Sunday was a success, we got on the box with a 3rd!

A very respectable 3rd.  1 and 2 were the Kawisaki with the #1 plate for 2 years,

and a hot shoe who came to ride a Ducati. They just took off.

Harry couldn't catch them, but was way in front of the rest of the field.

Pretty damn good for having less than 20 laps on the bike.

Next time...We Win!

so.....

Any good biker has gotta include some sexy pictures of women.

Am I not right?

This year, being my third time at the track, I finally got to the Barber Museum.

I tried my hand at filming my experience, to better share with you all.

So, keep your eyes out for it, it is now in Brando's hands...



I did have the honor of atracting the interest of a photographer,

Alexander Richburg.

Here are a couple of his shots:

Thanks, man.

You even get a good look at the new tattoo I got over the summer.

So, before I wrap it up, I must give props to those whom I must.

And, check out Vicki Smith's account of here very successfull

Ducstock event, that was held at the Barber Races.

http://photos.ducati.net/Ducati-Events/NCR-Ducstock-2011/19533898_PB9zCD#1529961191_NrR2cdp

Now, some upcoming event announcements:

See Ya!

Who's the Man!

Now, I am a pretty humble man.

But sometimes credit is due.

What you see is a Suzuki Water Buffalo,

a 750cc liquid cooled, 2-stroke, triple.

I have, of course, heard of these motorcycles.

But the only water buffalo I have ever seen were on PBS. 

This bike was completely dismantled by a previous owner.

The top end of the engine was even taken apart.

That is how I received it.

The reference material was useless, and the parts were marginally organized.

And this is how it was delivered!

Ok, I'm over it now.

We are going Racing this week!

Ask Henry Racing will be fielding 2 bikes in the AHRMA Vintage Superbike races

being held at the Barber Racetrack this weekend, October 8 and 9.

It's gonna be a great event. Racing, swap meet, and the first year of Ducstock.

See ya

-Josh

The Kracken

I'd like to introduce:

The Kracken

Just another Kawi from Liberty City, out of

my friend Eddie's shop.

Now that is as pure American as apple pie! 

Crazy Eddie always has a couple of these layin' around.

See ya, man.

Hangin' in South Beach

I Love Florida!

The Sunshine State.

This past weekend, I got the chance to spend a couple of days

chillin' out down in Miami.

And I got paid!

I started a motorcycle rental for props business, targetting the

film and fashion world down here in South Florida.

This weekend it was all about Gilli's 1970 Triumph.

This shoot is a TV commercial for a French eye glasses company. 

 

But enough of all of my usual banter...

That's a wrap!

Thought you'd like it.

And of course, lurking in the back ground

was Mean Machines' very own stealth camera rig...

See ya

-Josh

NYC 2011

I just got back from my annual trip up north.

A bit short this year, I was only able to sneak a day trip into NYC.

 So, I headed straight over to 6th Street Specials, checking

out the good old East Village as I went.

That's the 6th Street crew. Before my time.

6th Street Specials

Only  a quick visit this year, unfortunatly. Hugh and Fumi were of course

present, and a few of the old gang ended up showing up.

Also, there are always  great bikes to check out.

 Trackmaster Triumph! Hugh built this one to race, of course.

The frame was Gary Fisher's.

This is an old BSA Goldstar in a very cool, very rare factory rigid frame,

used for dirt track and at Daytona (when it was on the beach).

Last year I had the pleasure to bring both frames back to Florida to repair. I'll tell you all about it in a future blog.

Bonus, I found the liscense plate from the first Triumph I ever built!  

And of course, I couldn't leave empty handed...

Listen Up Everybody!

Fumi has taken it upon himself to raise money for a very noble cause.

A group of bikers in Japan decided to do what the government refuses to do,

they are bringing food and supplies to the many people who are still in areas affected

by radiation, and are in great need.

So please, buy a t-shirt, and support this cause.

http://2f2l.blog123.fc2.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Go-Save-Your-TOMODACHI-project/199183800122436?sk=wall

I  BETTER  SEE  ALL  OF  YOU  WEARING  THIS  SHIRT! 

A Day in the Life...

Just another day

 at Mean Machines

Here's a look at what's been goin' on.

I love working on Rich Silver's Rocket Gold Star Cafe' Racer.

He's had me do quite a bit of modification in the last couple of years.

This time around, I installed an air scoop on his rear brake plate. Cool stuff.

The cafe racer craze has gone crazy this past year.

The Cafe Racer TV Show is filming another season, with even more builds!

My friends Rich at Desmopro, and Hugh at 6th Street Specials are both building

bikes for the show. Hugh was on the first season (check out my post from last summer).

This year he's actually getting paid for the build! (1st and only for the show!)

I caught Rich before he left for his final filming up at Little Taladega.

Got some spy photo's for ya'all.

shh!

So, now it's my turn!

This Daytona was bought on e-bay, and beleive it or not,

it was not ready to ride as advertised!

Unless you sit while I push!

It was going to be a restoration, but, with my influence, the decision to build a cafe was made.

Stay tuned, it is currently 100% disassembled.

Here's another cool bike I've been working on.

Triumph Trackmasters rule! True American specials.

I just made this nifty repair of a very dismal situation. It is the

primary chain adjuster plug on a Triumph 650. It used to be a leaker... 

I even got Brando to get his hands greasy. He insisted. Something

about all the time he put me out lately...

Definatly working it out, he also got my lathe to work!

Yay!

Now I can waste  concentrate more on this computer thing.

Where do I put the grease?

This is way cool!

1917 Thor

My friend picked this up.

Want it? Call me, I'll hook it up.

954-213-2177

All I can say...

Snap-On Truck

You who know, understand.

Till next time

See ya

-JOSH