Racing is Hard on Equipment

     It's not a saw blade, it is what's left of a rear sprocket on a strutted Sportster after a hard run across the country. 

     I first noticed extreme chain and sprocket wear during Stampede 9, when my Sportster was strutted. 
     I wrote about that unusual wear in my "belt vs Chain" post (click on the label below).

     I think that there is something about a strutted Sportster that causes heavy chain and sprocket wear. Perhaps it is the lack of any "cush drive", like we see in many other chain driven motorcycles. 

     Gordon Porritt (#4) finished 33rd despite the extreme chain and sprocket wear. 
     

Richie Pan and Michael Napolitano, A Terrible Accident

     On Saturday morning we all took a ride through the North Carolina country side. We stopped at a roadside fruit stand and I took this photo of Michael Lichter taking a photograph of Richie Pan. 
     Late that night Richard Pannarra and Michael Napolitano were hit and killed while crossing the street in Southern Pines, North Carolina. 

Smoke Out 16

     The Smoke Out is, by far, my favorite motorcycle event. It's not the largest rally by any means, but it has more going on than all the others.

     The palatial Stampede compound, where we were front and center on the happenings at Smoke Out 16. And there's a lot to take in.

It's always fun to check out the mini bikes and mini bike racing.

Diesel bikes, could be the next big thing. 

Two stroke choppers are cool. I sure like this one.

There are bands to listen to,

cute girls to enjoy,

and loads of bikes to look at.

Stampede 10, Barstow

     Stampede 10 would be the last Stampede. The last great American race. Because it was the last chance to be part of something so unique and challenging, 57 riders came to Barstow, California from across the country to measure their grit.
     

Grampa David Gooden rode his classic shovel head.

Speedo brought a sport bike technology chopper.













Benny Cisak and Phil Crank doing some last minute adjustments.

Mike Shocp brought his really clean sporty.

Steve Aretz had the first two stroke to compete. His Suzuki GT550 really looks sweet.

Bob Marshal and his fully loaded KZ-1000 Police bike. 

Pete and Jennifer Cushing going to Stampede 2 up. A great way to honeymoon. 

F-Bomb always rides a small displacement bike. This year was no exception. He brought his Honda 250 Rebel in a Sportster frame.

Sue and Steff Brooks, aka Mr. and Mrs. Mayagi

So on Sunday morning at 0600 June 14, 2015 Charlie Davis put his bike in gear and that started the last Stampede.

A Video of the start can be seen on YouTube at:

              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zv-DCwZy1A 

Stampede 10, The Route

     Stampede 10, the last Stampede, is over and it's safe to say that no one is still out on the course. It's time to reveal the route. This is the map that was given to the racers the day before the start.     

Stampede 10 Results

     The tenth, and final edition of The Stampede started in Barstow, California and finished 2815 miles later in Southern Pines, North Carolina, Stampede 10 started on June 14, 2015 at 0600 hours.  As of June 20th at about 12:15 am these are the people that have finished. The Stampede is over and, while this list is not official, I think it is correct. Looks like 47 people finished the Last Stampede on 46 bikes. Good Job, Congratulations.




1.   Chris Schreiber    #25    arrived   3:20   am     local time Tuesday     time- 48 hrs. 20 min
2.   Ray Watson (me) #16                   4:03  am                                                  49:03
3.   Jon Degroot         #34                   7:25  am                                                  52:25
4.   Benny Cisak        #38                   7:40  am                                                  52:40
      Phil Crank           #39                   7:40  am                                                  54:40
5.   Rob Dought        #17                   11:50 am                                                  54:40
6.   Pete Cushing       #4                    11:58 am                                                  56:50
      Jennifer Cushing #4                             
Pete and Jennifer rode 2up. Pete was the last finishing position to qualify for a Hardass patch. The rule is one bike one patch so Jennifer did not receive a patch.
7.   Rick Hansen                     12                                    4:05 pm
8.   Rob Staples                      40                                    5:25 pm
9.   Bob Marshal                    27                                    8:37 pm
10. Mr. and Mrs. Mayagi
      Steff Brooks                     21                                    9:27 pm
      Sue Brooks                       23                       
11. Andy Stevens                   33                                   10:25 pm
12. Jerry Lee                          14                                    12:38 am                 Wednesday
13. Valarde Gonzales             1                                      2:21 am
14. Caleb Johnson                  12                                    2:30 am
      Greg Mead                        ?                                      
15. Beardo                              35                                    3:44 am
      Jer Jack                             6                          
16. Jesse Issac                        48                                     12:35 pm
17. Nick Hanson                    45                                     2:30 pm
18. Paul Corey                         ?                                      4:25 pm
       Barak Weirenf                  37                                   
19. Mike Shocp                      41                                    4:55 pm
20. Grampa David Gooden     7                                      6:10 pm
21. Chuck Lawrence               28                                    6:15 pm
22. Dean "Fuzzy" Howes        5                                     6:36 pm
23. Ivan                                    22                                   7:20 pm
24. Joshua Bouber                   50                                   7:45 pm
25. F Bomb                              10                                   9:28 pm
26. Tom Sr.                              42                                   10:23 pm
      Tom Jr.                               43
27. Richard G.                          24                                   10:24 pm
28. Isaac Sanchez                     51                                    2:20 am              Thursday
29. Charles Davis                     13                                    3:10 am
30. Steve Aretz                          3                                     6:17 am
31. Brian Larimer                     12                                    12:53 pm
32. Rich D....?                          11                                     1:05 pm
33. Gordon Porritt                     4                                      7:10 pm
34. Jamie Taylor                      29                                     7:20 pm
35. Jay Jacobs                          26    started Tuesday 6/16 3;56 am, finished 1:25 am 6/19
36. Richard Shoup                   49                                     1:48 pm            Friday
37. Aron Bowen                       31                                     6:35 pm
      Jeff Hampton                      19                 
      Jimmy Curtis                      20
38. Rick Lighthart                    30                                     9:04 pm
39. Dale McCoy                       15

My Stampede Bike, Done

 My Stampede bike is ready to go. 

Charlie and Velardi's Birthday Party

     Charlie Davis (El Nomad) and his cousin Velardi Gonzales had their birthday party at the Pour House Bar and Grill in Star Valley, Arizona. Outside, a cold rain was falling but inside old friend met and new friends were made.

Velardi, Jill and Charlie

     Mr. Mayagi, Steff Brooks, rode from Washington State as did last years Stampede winner Chris Schreiber. Brandon Fletcher who finished 9th last year, Skip Lindenstruth who rode in last years Stampede, Bob Marshal who finished Stampede 7 and F-Bomb who has ridden in most of the Stampedes were there. I recognized a Vulcan 500, that I think belongs to Willie Jack from Stampede 8 and is called the White Buffalo and I know there are other names I should have remembered.    

     There was a great band, everyone had a great time and before anyone left we got together for a group photo.

    

 The Pour House Bar and Grill was unfinished last year but Charlie and Valardi were able to hold the party there anyway. This year the interior was complete and it was really nice. Old wood taken from an old rail car is used throughout the bar. It is a really nice place and we had breakfast there in the morning. If you happen to be in the Payson-Star Valley of Arizona stop in.

My Stampede Bike for 2015, Paint

     I decided that I wanted to paint the bike myself and I wanted a high quality paint job, a high quality "rattle can" paint job. I don't have a paint gun or compressor and I've never done any automotive quality painting. So I started...
     I know a few of the basics. First get the metal as straight as possible and as clean as possible. I used a self etching primer and a sanding primer over that. For the fender I sanded the primer until any imperfections were filled. I wet sanded with 500 grit and 1200 grit, on the theory that the better the primer coat finish the better the final coat finish.

      I decided not to pull the engine to paint the frame so I masked it off and primed. I used a chassis paint for the frame, fender struts, seat mountings and other hardware. It has a good semi-gloss finish and, I hope, is extra tough. 
     For the fender I used Rust-Oleum gloss black automotive enamel. I had a couple of ideas about how to do a good rattle can paint job that were wrong, but after a couple of restarts, I got the paint on the fender and after 48 hours curing time, I wet sanded, very lightly, with 1200 grit just to knock off any orange peal. 
     I used Turtle Wax Polishing Compound and a small random orbital polisher, which brought the paint to a high gloss. 

     I sent the oil tank to Custom Coating in Ukiah. They used a chrome powder coat with a clear top coat. I am very  pleased with the finish.

     I put everything back together, I think it looks pretty good and I'm a lot more comfortable with what it takes to do a good paint job.