My great uncle Jim Smith with his 1912(?) Indian taken in front of his barn circa 1920. He rode it with wife on the back from Pittsford Vermont to St. Augustine Florida. Trip took 3 weeks and they had TEN flat tires! They did it again several years later with a side car attached(for their luggage). The 2nd pic is a 1928 Harley JD l striped and lettered that competed in the 2012 Motorcycle Cannonball run from Newburgh NY to San Francisco CA. He came in 11th out of about 70 pre-1930 motorcycles. About 3000 miles over a period of 17 days. View attachment 6202981 View attachment 6202983 View attachment 6202981 View attachment 6202983
Hello, My brother and I had been desert motorcycle racing for several years until we both went off to college. During the vacations, we took off for whatever race was happening at the time. But, when summer came, we were torn about going surfing or desert motorcycle racing. By 1964, he was leaning toward the surf scene and I was getting better at racing in the desert plus, several paved track early “scrambles races,” now called motocross. During one of our desert races, our 250 Greeves Scrambler bikes conked out for one of many times in various races. We always made it back to the pits, but one time a neighbor was also a novice class racer, but he rode a larger Triumph 500. He said his goal is to get a Rickman Metisse 650 Triumph for his last desert race bike. But that those were the top of the line in design and cost. So, he was happy with his 500cc Triumph for the desert races. He allowed me to take out the Triumph for a short ride around the outskirts of the pits and see how much power and handling it offered. In my recollection, when we were geared for the sand washes, short hill climbs, rutted desert roads and crevices, by the time some of the courses got to the dry lake portion, we were passed by the larger Triumphs, especially the 650 cc versions. But, the 500 also passed us by like we were standing still, despite the full throttle acceleration and lowered body angle to gain as much speed as possible on my own 250cc bike. Even at full throttle, those Triumphs came zipping by at speed. Yes, they were in a larger cc displacement class, but still, when racing all together, it is nice to see others racing, but not as they go by faster than what you are doing. Speed envy…Yikes! Jnaki When we were older, we had our share of the long desert drives to get to the race courses scattered all over the Mojave Desert portion of So Cal. Those long drives made the weekends seem rather short due to spending time in the El Camino. So, as the years moved on, the closer motorcycle tracks began to offer more “European Scrambles,” a long course built around hills, flat stretches and around hills for a varied experience. All within sight of the pits and the general public. Saddleback Park ... in the outskirts of the city of Irvine, near the lake. The drive to get to the race course took minutes, not hours… It was more time prepping and racing, less time driving to and from the race. Before the morning races began, the pits locations were taken and now the support group walked across the track at various points to get to a nice view spot for that portion of the course or a larger view of the races. The staging area and start going slightly uphill, then down to the left on a sweeping curve, into a narrow opening large enough for almost three bikes. The starting line anticipation going up that hill was daunting. The downhill portion was a steep drop down and into a narrower road, only a few bikes could get through safely. But, everyone tried to get through at once and of course, a jam up occurred. Several times, my powerful lightweight Greeves Challenger allowed me to be in the lead or within the top three heading up hill. But, the downhill into the narrow opening did not always go as planned. A few times, I got around the track ok and other times I was out in front, only to be clipped at the narrow opening and pushed off of the track course, ending the race before one lap expired. My solution to this type of racing was to get a faster bike with more power to get me way out in front and not be clipped going downhill to the narrow opening curve. The Rickman Metisse Triumph 500 cc was looking good, until one last flip on the Greeves Challenger and the shoulder put me out of action for months. So, the 250 Greeves got sold and the Rickman Metisse purchase was put on indefinite hold. YRMV Rickman Metisse custom 500cc, not a 650 Triumph motor, still on hold…
Nice! A good friend of mine was a Rickman dealer in Massachusetts (North Gate Cycle in Revere) in the late 70s. He actually preferred a 360 CZ for motocross. They also sold Laverda and later Yamaha after Triumph. Remember seeing a V-Max there for the 1st time. Sitting out front idling you could barely hear it until the rider launched it and it took off like a land based missile!
Hello, Yes, that era of the lightweight CZ, Husqvarna, Bultaco motorcycles were far out there for being powerful and light. They ruled the desert classes for a while. We did not have to take it from that surge of 360 cc bikes as we had finished our desert racing era in 1967 and had to get serious about finishing college. So, we both sold our two Greeves desert motorcycle bikes and moved on in life. In reading about the next level of motocross racing using the lightweight bikes and the results for the 360 desert bikes running in the 500cc classes made us think we would have purchased the triumph 500-650 cc Rickman Metisse as a classic. Even though it may have been outclassed from 1968-70 time line of those 360 lightweight bikes. But, as 20 something married folks, time and money were fleeting and it was difficult to get a Rickman Metisse in those early years. Jnaki As it was, the Rickman was like buying a 73 Porsche 911 coupe, just for the classic styling and future proof as it was a classic and remains so, today. I wish I had a 500cc Rickman Metisse sitting in our garage, although I would have modified it for the street, if it was possible. Yes, they had a street version, but it looked like all other lay down/forward style bikes. Ours would have retained the upright stance, but with desert history still around in a field of blaaaah bee stinger sounding street bikes. Old school never goes out...YRMV.
Jack Lilly was know as Crocker jack of the booze fighters M C he got to see his restored bike and sit on it before he passed his granddaughter said it was the only time she’d saw her grandfather smile
A useless Knucklehead, can't evade a high-speed pursuit, beats you to death, and you lose your dentures.
The Jalopy Journal
