Riding Into History - May 2011 - Grand Marshal's Historic Ride

Riding & Dining with Number 34! Kevin Schwantz



I have had the great pleasure of participating in the numerous facets of this outstanding event over the years. On Friday May 20th I checked off one area that I had missed, the Historic Ride. Arriving at the World Golf Village at 9 AM RIH Chairman Larry Meeker was busy registering riders as former Chairman Bill Robinson lined up the riders & bikes on the starting grid. The green flag was scheduled to drop at 10 AM for a 55 mile Florida back road ride into the Ancient City of St. Augustine, FL. The destination Harry's Seafood Bar & Grill on the waterfront in the shadow of the Castillo de San Marcos (the fort built by the Spanish in 1762). How fitting that we are indeed Riding Into History in the nations oldest city. Yes, old bikes, old riders, old city and the old fort all adding up to a great ride.

The ride did not disappoint. We followed 2 lane blacktop roads along the banks of the St. Johns River and then through farmland and Florida jungle to the ancient brick streets of the old city to Harry's.  I picked a couple of my favorite bikes and positioned to ride with a BMW R60 and a beautiful 67 Velocette 500 Single. Ahhh, the sound of that big thumper! It was motorcycling at it's best, 50 bikes and riders lead by the legendary World Champion road racer Kevin Schwantz riding a Suzuki GS 1000 E.

Lunch was a treat, the best of company, conversation and food. I took the opportunity to talk with Kevin about some racing topics as he remains a part of the highly successful Suzuki AMA Pro Racing teams.  A real insight on the tires and new pavement at Daytona, cooling the fuel, etc. 

Riding Into History is without question one of the premier motorcycle events in the US. The all volunteer leaders and staff present a world class event and do things the right way. Put RIH on your schedule.

All this for the benefit of The Wounded Warror Project: http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Photos of the Grand Marshal's Historic Ride: ttp://rides.webshots.com/album/580203777gkltyb

Riding Into History - May 21, 2011



Riding Into History is the premier motorcycle event in Florida, bringing classic and vintage bikes together with motorcyclists all for the benefit of a most worthwhile charity, The Wounded Warrior Project. This years 12th edition promises to be one of the best. You can be there and be part of this great event for as little as $10!

Laura Allen, The BSA Girl, displays her '67 Thunderbolt at the 2010 RIH

Meet legendary world class racing champion, Kevin Schwantz, this year's Grand Marshal.

You'll see over 300 vintage, classic & custom motorcycles displayed in the pristine setting of the World Golf Village near the ancient city of St Augustine, FL. This is an event that you must experience first hand. Once you do you'll be back year after year.  

for details of Riding Into History 2011: http://www.ridingintohistory.org/home

for photos of past RIH events, check my photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/tomrose101

Poster from 2010 featuring the art of world class motorcycle artist Don Bradley.

I will publish photos of this years event on Monday May 23rd.

Fishing with Gavin Marchal Andrews

Freshwater fishing action in Central Florida!

           

I have been fishing Florida’s freshwater lakes and streams all my life. I have been on the water with come great guides and fishing buddies over the  years. However, the last few years I have had the opportunity to pair up with a guy that just seems to know how to catch fish under all conditions. Last week Gavin took me to his favorite spot. We’ll just call it Lake X, somewhere in Central Florida. No, he will not allow me to share his secrets. But if you ever have to opportunity to go on a fishing trip with Gavin Andrews, don’t pass it up. I guarantee you’ll have the time of your life. And you will catch fish!

  

   Don't pass up a chance to go fishing with Gavin----------------

You will catch fish!



The Daytona 200- Great Day for The Italians at Daytona!

The Daytona 200- Great Day for The Italians at Daytona

 March 12. 2011

The 70^th edition of America’s most historic motorcycle race has gone into the history books with a spectacular finish seeing 6 riders in competition for 1^st place on the final lap. Two of those riders crashed (uninjured) at the finish line as Jason DiSalvo rode the Ducati 848 to a first ever victory for the Italian manufacturer. All this with a light breeze, temperature in the 70s and a sunny Florida sky. Sounds great, doesn’t it. Well it could have been had it not been for the promoters, AMA Pro Sports & Daytona Motorsports Group who managed a great race to mediocrity.

1. Competitors were provided (sold) tires that were unreliable and unpredictable under race conditions. This after live tire tests, one in January and another “secret test” in February.

2. At about 18 laps, the first of 2 pit stops, front tires showed excessive wear and began to fail. The seriousness of the situation was emphasized when Danny Eslick crashed due to a front tire failure on lap 25 of the scheduled 57 lap race.

3. AMA & Dunlop got together and decided to stop the race (red flag) for a mandatory front tire change for all riders. (can’t argue this from the standpoint of rider safety, but, it should not have been necessary, see # 1)

4. Mounting and changing a front tire should take a maximum of 15 minutes.   Teams that I talked to said they were ready to go in 30 minutes. However the red flag lingered for almost 2 hours. Then the controlling AMA people shortened the race to 142 miles because they did not have enough tires to go the 200 miles, particularly considering the questionable tire reliability.  

5. The long delay allowed for the eventual winning Ducati/DiSalvo team to replace the engine that blew out on the final green lap before the race was stopped.

6. The delay resulted in SPEED TV abandoning the race leaving viewers to a tape delay late night continuation.

Summary: Some great riding and racing overshadowed by poor race management resulted in the Great American Motorcycle Race being relegated to a 15 lap sprint with no live TV coverage. The winner required 2 engines to run for 142 miles. They should have had a DNF/blown engine instead of the winner’s trophy. 

Daytona 200

The Daytona 200 is the most historic and arguably the most prestigious motorcycle race in America. This years race at Daytona International Speedway will be the 70th running of the event that began in 1937 when Ed Kretz averaged 73.34 mph aboard his Indian Sport Scout to outrun a field of 86 on a race course that combined the sand of the beach and the asphalt paved highway A1A.

With any major sporting event there is always the story, and the many stories within the story.  Often the story within can outshine the story itself.  One of this years stories will be Sorrento, Fl racer Pat Mooney's Daytona campaign.

I will follow the Daytona 200 again this year as I have for many years, and I'll follow the Mooney Campaign with in depth coverage as it all plays out from beginning to the checkered flag on the afternoon of March 12, 2011.

Watch the slide show of privateer Pat Mooney at Daytona. Finished 22^nd, the British rider on the American bike. Through the speed traps in excess of 165 MPH! A salute to the little guy in the big race.

visit the Pat Mooney Racing page: http://patmooneyracing.blogspot.com/

e-mail Tom Rose at: tomrose43@gmail.com

 

International Vintage Motorcycle Swap Meet and Bike Show - Back by popular request!

Success demands repeat performance.

The 3rd annual International Vintage Motorcycle Swap Meet & Bike Show is scheduled for the Lake County Fairgrounds in Eustis on March 7th, 8th & 9th 2014. This year hosted by the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club. The tradition continues, a 19 year history of vintage and antique motorcycles at this location.

To learn more check the web site: www.vintagemotorcyclealliance.com/ 

This classic British BSA and German BMW were
seen at Eustis at the inaugural 2012 event.

The Eustis Vintage Show & Swap Meet have been a long time traditional part of Bike Week. Don't miss it!