A tale of two twins

[oregoncoast]

Originally Posted by Kootenai Rider

I just got off the phone with NORRA, they're officially changing our class to the SL class.

See you in Mexicali, you won't be hard to find.

[Bronco Driver]

Two vintage bikes. Where are the vintage riders?

[LC Garage]

Originally Posted by Bronco Driver

Two vintage bikes. Where are the vintage riders?

Hey Bronco, I'm the token vintage RIDER on Paul's OSR team, started my first motorcycle race in July of '72, this is my fortieth year of racing (mostly dirt track, some MX and a dozen years driving or crew chief-ing race cars), I'm just a few years from social insecurity.

Looking forward to having a great time in Mexico and trying to keep up with these kids and their go-fast SL350!

[azcagiva]

It seems that everyone that races in Baja has to have a team logo. I spent some time designing this thing last night. I am no graphic designer and had a little trouble with the program I was using. Anyway with no further adieu, I present....


Let me know what you guys think. I might even have some time to make up some stickers.

-John

[azcagiva]

Originally Posted by LC Garage

Hey Bronco, I'm the token vintage RIDER on Paul's OSR team, started my first motorcycle race in July of '72, this is my fortieth year of racing (mostly dirt track, some MX and a dozen years driving or crew chief-ing race cars), I'm just a few years from social insecurity.

Looking forward to having a great time in Mexico and trying to keep up with these kids and their go-fast SL350!

Ed, (bronco driver), was one of my teammates in 09, our cumulative age for a group of 4 was 199 years. I wish he was able to race with us this year.

(If you look at his avatar that is him at the start jump of the 09 Baja 1000)

-John

[HalfFast]

Originally Posted by Bronco Driver

Two vintage bikes. Where are the vintage riders?

Well. I am older than the bike so does that count?

A few weeks ago John and I had an itch that only a bit of Baja could scratch. I drove down from San Jose Cali and John drove down from Camp Verde AZ and we planned to meet at the top of the Laguna Salada lakebed between Rumorosa and Mexicali. I was of course running late but we did find each other and had a great ride south. I brought my big pig KTM 640LC4e and John rode his BRP. The plan was to ride down and get some fish tacos the first night in San Felipe. Other than that the rest of the ride was just for fun with no specific plan. We might go to Alphonsina's or even BOLA if we felt like it. Just the kind of Baja ride I like.


Since we hadn't ridden Baja since the 1000 in November it was a great sand and whoops tune up for us. We covered some ground on the big bikes knowing full well that we were not going to be able to make that kind of time on the SL once it was re-assembled. Half of the challenge of riding the Sl is going to be keeping that motor alive to cross the finish it seems. It was funny, at every rest stop one or the other of us would say...... "you know the SL won't go that fast through here". It kind of became our mantra for the ride.....

this is what John looks like when he tells me we can't ride the Sl that fast!!! lol

And this is me saying yeah yeah!


We rode a ton of sand road and found a little vineyard in the middle of nowhere with a little fixer upper house and shriveled up vines. John thought they must have run the wells dry.



The lakebed was pretty dry but did have one sneaky muddy section that really pulled the wool over John's eyes. He was ripping along in what seemed to be dry terrain when his rear tire broke through the crust into a thin layer of mud. I could see his bike yawing sideways at high speed on a rear knobby that now looked like a smooth slick. He later told me he thought he had a flat until I goosed it and went by doing my own little yaw dance. At one point I had the rear step out so far sideways I was sure a high side was imminent. Disaster averted, it was a blast to slip and slide across the lake and head for La Ventana. Days later when we returned by the same route you could see our tracks and the silliness we wrote into the lake with our bikes.

Well, the first day didn't go exactly as planned. I was running late earlier and forgot to get gas in Rumorosa so that axed our plan of riding through the Sierra Las Pintas and the old 1000 course to Borrego and Zoo road. We really wanted to ride those technical wash and whoops sections but instead we had to settle for a long drone down the highway hoping to find gas north of San Felipe.

We found gas at the last tienda/llantera on the right before the military checkpoint but it was expensivo..... 80 pesos a gallon. Pumped out of a gravity fed tank lashed to the top of a Ford Aerostar van. only in Baja...

We finally made San Felipe and got those wonderful fish tacos from Maria on the Malecon. I hadn't eaten a bite all day and was pretty hungry. I think all I had in my stomach was Monster and water....I figured I rode about 260 miles on an empty belly.

John got right to work washing the salt off my bike!!!! nice.


It seems lately that every time I show up in San Felipe they throw a party... this time was no different. The street outside the hotel was blocked off and vendors and kiddie rides lined both sides of the road. we missed the giant burning man they hoisted up on a crane , lit on fire and shot fireworks out of but made it back to the party in time to see the main fireworks show. We were both amazed to see how close it was and how many of those fireworks went awry landing on vehicles and buildings adjacent to the stage. It was pandemonium but in a good way.

After a good night's sleep we planned to ride down to Alphonsina's and possibly bay of LA. My front tire was wearing a bit funny and while getting gas John noticed I lost a sub frame bolt which put us even further behind schedule. That KTM has a tendency to rattle the bolts out of the darnedest places. Usually only happens in Mexico though.

After a quick fix we were back on the trail.


We made it to Alphonsina's and found the gas station in Gonzaga was closed so we decided to just book a room and have a terrfiic dinner on the beach. I think this may be the best halibut and shrimp platter I have ever had.

There are no bad days at Gonzaga Bay

And a beautiful sunrise. I got up just in time to catch this.


The final day we decided to ride the 340 miles north from Gonzaga Bay to Tecate in my case. We ended up riding as much dirt as we could retracing our steps from the previous two days. In spite of a toasty chain and a missing sprocket bolt on my KTM.

I loaded my bike, jumped in the truck and drove 8 hours home ending a 840 mile day in my own warm bed.

Man I love Baja!

[oregoncoast]

Just wondering if you will be sharing info and pictures of that sweet oil cooler system you are putting on your SL. We'd love to see it



Nice ride report.....I'm envious that you are able to go down to Baja so easily.......you guys are very lucky!

[HalfFast]

Originally Posted by oregoncoast

Just wondering if you will be sharing info and pictures of that sweet oil cooler system you are putting on your SL. We'd love to see it



Nice ride report.....I'm envious that you are able to go down to Baja so easily.......you guys are very lucky!

Seeing as I am 800 miles from the bike I haven't even seen the alleged oil cooler. I just hope this bike comes together in time for the rally. It is being built out of many parts and is a long way from finished.

And pretty soon you will be in Baja with us having a nice cold one in Bay of LA and beyond.

[advrockrider]

What brand are the bags you have on the XR? I like the look of them, how do you like them? Thanks

[azcagiva]

Originally Posted by oregoncoast

Just wondering if you will be sharing info and pictures of that sweet oil cooler system you are putting on your SL. We'd love to see it



Nice ride report.....I'm envious that you are able to go down to Baja so easily.......you guys are very lucky!

The oil cooler is still in the developmental stage. Since my dad won't let me use the cappellini setup off his road race bike I am designing my own. I should have some pics up here soon.

-John

The bags are dirt bags rockrider, and they work well. They are the best I have found for spirited off road riding.

[wrk2surf]

how bout the honda steering tube mounted cooler off the XR's

[Mr Fast]

John's right. I ain't loaning him my Motocappelini oil cooler set up. However as one of the co-founders of LAMEco, we have been working on another system. All I can say is that it's similar to the first British bikes total loss system & a five gallon can. We're still working on the weight distribution. Should also help keep the dust down!

[oregoncoast]

Originally Posted by Mr Fast

John's right. I ain't loaning him my Motocappelini oil cooler set up. However as one of the co-founders of LAMEco, we have been working on another system. All I can say is that it's similar to the first British bikes total loss system & a five gallon can. We're still working on the weight distribution. Should also help keep the dust down!

Now thats funny stuff right there!

[Swarthy_Red_Beard]

Right on john and allan! Definitely wish i could make it down there with you guys. Good luck with the build. I'll be checkin in and seein the progress from across the atlantic. Maybe i'll get a wild hair and blast down if the weather is nasty when i get home.

Yeeha

[CrashDBad]

Since I can't commit the time to race or chase, I ill try to meet you guys in Cabo for a couple of days to celebrate!