Motorcycles

Sportster is absolute worst to kick

 

Hello,

My brother and I had been desert motorcycle racing for several years until we both went off to college. As the waning years rolled on, coming home from apartment living and getting back into the home life backyard garage was fun. But a little daunting. During our college apartment atmosphere, it was studying, housekeeping, cooking as well as long naps. So, coming home was a step in the right direction.

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. He sold his desert bike and bought a van + new surfboard. My involvement in Scrambles races took a lot of time and preparation, but at least, the road trip to the events were less than the 2 hour one way drive to the desert locations. I still had my old longboard in pristine condition sitting in the rafters.

Soon, no more desert racing and more local OC race tracks for the Scrambles races. A lot of people liked the atmosphere of being able to watch the racers from track side, instead of hill tops way out on the hot desert environments. So, those Scrambles races were getting popular out West and some began to call them Motocross from the term coming across the ocean from Europe.

In my recollection, in our 250cc Greeves Motorcycles, 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, now, a large number of race bikes were all prepped almost the same gearing, motor prep and stock parts. Competitive races were tight and fun. No one was so far out in front and everyone still wanted to be leading around the short turns and sweeping curves of the course.

Jnaki

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, sitting where ever the grounds allowed.

Saddleback Park ... in the city limits of Irvine, CA .

The closest course was 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 massive race bike dealers and community all had their favorites. When I rode my friend’s Husqvarna 250, it was like riding a 500cc Triumph. A little throttle and almost a neck snapping acceleration.

Needless to say, he did better than I did with his new Husqvarna motorcycle. But, I was getting better in my starts and positioning during the races to plot my course between all of the other riders jamming the course, in the laps.

So, a few Baja, Mexico road trips for unusual Scrambles races and more fun to be had was now pushing the importance of finishing the last two years of college. I had to make a decision and with a new event in my life of being a college student, meeting my future wife, the bikes got sold and we were now beach lifestyle folks that has lasted to this day… YRMV

 

I disagree, all my sportsters started on the 8th or 9th try.